Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
155
convention, are all very colorful, with bright signs of r ed and yellow, exaggerated letter-
ing, and comic illustrations of the wieners and fries.The classic Chicago hot dog includes
a frankfurter by Vienna Beef (a local food pr ocessor and hallowed institution), heaps of
chopped onions and relish so green it could be pop art, a slather of yellow mustard, pickle
spears and fresh tomato wedges, a dash of celery salt, and, for good measure, two or three
“sport” peppers, those thumb-shaped holy terr ors that turn y our mouth into its o wn
bonfire.
Chicago is home to many standout hot dog stands and shops, but one,
Hot Doug's,
3324 N. California Ave. (at Roscoe St.;
&
773/279-9550
), takes encased meats to a new
level, featuring sev eral gourmet sausages on a bun ev ery day ex cept S unday (plan on
standing in line no matter which day you show up—and it's always worth it). Hot Doug's
also ser ves a gr eat classic Chicago dog just like many other stands in to wn, including
Gold Coast Dogs,
159 N. Wabash Ave., at Randolph Street (
&
312/917-1677
), in the
Loop just a block fr om Michigan Avenue.
Fluky's,
in The Shops at North Bridge mall
at 520 N. Michigan Ave. (
&
312/245-0702
), is part of a local chain that has been serv-
ing great hot dogs since the G reat D epression (D an Aykr oyd and J ay Leno ar e fans).
Especially popular with kids is
Portillo's,
at 100 W. Ontario St. (at Clar k St.;
&
312/
587-8910;
www.portillos.com), another local chain that specializ es in hot dogs but also
serves excellent pastas and salads (and top it off with a slice of their incredibly fudgy and
decadent chocolate cake).
Murphy's Red Hots,
1211 W. Belmont Ave. (
&
773/935-
2882
), is a neighborhood spot not too far fr om Wrigley Field. Besides hot dogs, M ur-
phy's serves charbroiled Polish sausages, burgers, and tasty hand-cut fries.
The Wieners
Circle,
in Lincoln P ark at 2622 N. Clar k St. (btw. Wrightwood Ave. and D rummond
Place;
&
773/477-7444
), is a favorite where rude order-takers are part of the shtick.
If you've got a car, head up to the legendar y
Superdawg Drive-In,
6363 N. Milwau-
kee (
&
773/763-0660
), on the nor thwest side of the city . It's impossible to miss: Mr .
and Mrs. Superdawg, in Tarzan and Jane tableaux, beckon the masses fr om the rooftop,
their beady ey es pulsing an electric r ed. Maurie and F lorrie Berman haven't changed a
thing about their place—the city's last real drive-in, with its Order-Matic ordering system
and female carhops on roller skates—since they opened for business in 1948. Their main
attraction still arrives in a red 1950s-design enclosed box that declares on one side, your
super dawg l ounges inside, c ontentedl y cushioned in sup er fries.
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