The 20 Essential Hot Dogs in Chicago

[Bru]

Chicago, the sausage capital of America, keeps on offering a smattering of wonderful new spots serving traditional Chicago-style hot dogs dragged through the garden, as well as gourmet spots with inventive toppings. As always, the ketchup is only for the fries and young children who don’t know better.
For the 2019 edition, Old Town Social was removed due to shutter and Duk’s, Portillo’s, Jim’s Original, and Fat Johnnie’s make room for new wieners. The encased meat additions include Lola’s Coney Island, Maxwell Street Depot, and Morrie O’Malley’s.

https://chicago.eater.com/maps/best-hot-dogs-chicago-restaurants

1. Superdawg Drive-In
2. Wolfy's
3. Hot "G" Dog
4. Byron's Hot Dogs
5. Wiener Circle
6. Gene & Jude's
7. Dog Haus Biergarten Lincoln Park
8. Chicago's Dog House
9. Red Hot Ranch
10. Original Jimmy's Red Hots
11. Allium Restaurant and Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
12. Downtown Dogs
13. Lola’s Coney Island
14. Fatso's Last Stand
15. Devil Dawgs on State
16. Big Guys Sausage Stand
17. The Duck Inn
18. Maxwell Street Depot
19. Morrie O'Malley's Hot Dogs
20. Fred & Jack's

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[Mook]

Legit Dogs here in Elgin is pretty good.

 

[Lead Pipe]

Gene and Jude's sucks so bad.... Portillos makes a hell of a Chicago dog.

I just started a new job in Grayslake and there is a legit place here called Sammie's.

 

[10sec]

I think Portillo's should be used as a control of what is better or worse. I'm not sure how much better you can make a hotdog than the way you get them from Portillo's. Unless do you a bunch of weird shit to it.

 

[b4black]

Looking at the map, the author must live in Lincoln Park and not travel much.

I thought maybe this was 'Chicago' only, but Gene & Jude's is River Grove. There are many, many great places to choose from outside the city.

 

[Sprayin]

Gene and Jude's sucks so bad.... Portillos makes a hell of a Chicago dog.

I just started a new job in Grayslake and there is a legit place here called Sammie's.

There is one of those in Lake Villa too. Sammys is pretty good, but nothing special.

 

[DEEZUZ]

Never been to a single one of these

 

[Bub]

How we gonna act like Home Depot isn't the best hot dog. fuck outta here Chicago, lemme get a 2*4 a bag of softener salt some ship lap panels and a two dog special with a pepsi.

 

[Chet Donnelly]

Gene and Jude's sucks so bad.... Portillos makes a hell of a Chicago dog.

I just started a new job in Grayslake and there is a legit place here called Sammie's.

Gene & Jude's might be the most over rated eatery in all of Chicagoland.

Never forget the first time I went there people were telling me how it's the greatest place on earth. Was average at best.

Weiner Cricle doesn't belong on that list either. Food is mediocre...but it is amazing to get a "chocolate shake"

 

[radioguy6]

Gene & Jude's doesnt even make a true chicago style dog either. Where is the pickle, tomato and celery salt? Might as well put ketchup on it

 

[Pressure Ratio]

Gene & Jude's might be the most over rated eatery in all of Chicagoland.

Never forget the first time I went there people were telling me how it's the greatest place on earth. Was average at best.

Same here. The dogs and fries are very 'meh'. The only thing going for that place is its hours and ability to feed a lot of people quickly.

 

[Spivitz]

Gina's in Bensenville pretty good, better than Gene and Judes IMO
maybe That is not saying much

 

[Shawn1112]

Gene & Jude's doesnt even make a true chicago style dog either. Where is the pickle, tomato and celery salt? Might as well put ketchup on it

This^^^^^
Way overrated as others said.
Nana's in Hanover Park claim to fame is they are related to Gene and Judes.
Big fucking deal, you suck too, lol.
Firehouse Dogs in Schaumburg makes a pretty good dog.
Jimmy's (#10 on list) on Grand and Pulaski is awesome!
I pretty much grew up on Jimmy's.

 

[Shawn1112]

Gina's in Bensenville pretty good, better than Gene and Judes IMO
maybe That is not saying much






View attachment 39059

They are very good as well, I also like their gravy bread

 

[guspech750]

I’m going to add pretzel dogs to the list.

http://www.gnarlyknots.com

Awesome creamy mustard.

 

[Shawn1112]

I’m going to add pretzel dogs to the list.

Home

Awesome creamy mustard.

Now thats how you ruin a hot dog, lol

 

[Fish]

Gene and Jude's sucks so bad.... Portillos makes a hell of a Chicago dog.

I just started a new job in Grayslake and there is a legit place here called Sammie's.

All of yall suck. Gene and Judes is awesome.

Sammies started in EGV. There are 2 of them.

Meh.

 

[frank]

I grew up about two blocks away from gene and Jude’s , I stop in when in the area and still have some friends that run the place, Not sure what the draw is to them, I have had better and prefer Portillo’s over them.

Biggest thing is if you live in river grove, Franklin Park, Schiller and some parts of Chicago you don’t have many choices of hot dogs places, closet portillos is northlake or hardwood heights, which are both too far to go for some of those towns.

Also gene and Jude’s is really one of the few places that is open late anymore till 1-2am. Most pizza places are done by 10pm now.

 

[Fish]

Im not going to say its THE place to go, but Im not going to say its absolute shit either.

 

[Intel]

9. Red Hot Ranch

Many a night stumbling home down western to grab some Red hot ranch. Simple cash only no frills place.

 

[TonzKnock-G]

Vienna beef or go home

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

RIP Toots

 

[Shawn1112]

RIP Toots

Toots on Montrose and Central?

 

[Pressure Ratio]

I’m going to add pretzel dogs to the list.

Home

I remember my mom getting these in frozen packages somewhere. I love thos things.

I have never heard of Gnarly Knot. It's in my area. Will check this place out for sure.

 

[Atomicles]

WTF is Sammies? Are y'all talkin about Big Sammy's?