Chicago-style hot dogs are a staple in the Windy City, and for good reason - they're delicious and easy to customize.
The classic Chicago dog consists of a Vienna Beef hot dog served on a poppy seed bun. The hot dog is topped with mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, sport peppers, and pickle spears.
Chicagoans love their hot dogs, with many vendors serving them up at street carts and ballparks.
Chicago Dogs
Chicago dogs are a staple of the city's culinary scene. You can find them at hot dog stands, restaurants, and even Home Depot locations - yes, you read that right!
Some popular variations of the traditional Chicago dog include the "Depression Dog", which features a steamed natural-casing dog with mustard, onions, plain relish, and sport peppers, wrapped with hand-cut french fries. Others, like Boz Hot Dogs, offer a unique nacho cheese sauce with jalapeño peppers.
Here are some notable hot dog vendors in Chicago:
Chicago's Dog House is a great place to try some specialty sausages, like the Tijuana Street Dog or the Midway Monster Dog.
Chicago's House
Chicago's hot dog scene is a treasure trove of flavors and variations. The traditional Chicago-style hot dog is a must-try, with its "neon-green" relish made by adding blue food coloring to sweet pickle relish.
If you're looking for a more authentic experience, try a "Depression Dog" from a popular hot dog stand - it's a steamed natural-casing dog with only mustard, onions, plain relish, and sport peppers. You can also try a cheese-dog, which is a Chicago-style dog with cheese sauce.
Some vendors, like Byron's Hot Dogs, offer a twist on the classic by adding lettuce and cucumber to their Chicago-style dog. Boz Hot Dogs locations even offer a unique nacho cheese sauce with pieces of jalapeño peppers.
If you're in the mood for something more adventurous, check out Chicago's Dog House in Lincoln Park. They offer a range of specialty sausages, including the Tijuana Street Dog, which is topped with melted chihuahua cheese, bacon, onions, jalapenos, and hot sauce.
Here are some of the specialty sausages you can find at Chicago's Dog House:
- Tijuana Street Dog: melted chihuahua cheese, bacon, onions, jalapenos, and hot sauce
- Midway Monster Dog: colby cheese, giardiniera, bacon, and barbecue sauce
- Snoop Dog: beef chili dog topped with chorizo, cheddar cheese, and onions
Chicago's Dog House is a great place to try some of the more unique hot dog variations, and it's definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.
Clark Street Dog
Clark Street Dog is a must-visit for any Chicago hot dog enthusiast. Located at the crossroads of Clark and Halsted, this iconic eatery has been serving up classic Chicago-style hot dogs to Cubs fans, concertgoers, and hungry patrons for years.
Their menu is a familiar one, featuring Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and crispy fried shrimp. You can even opt for a meatless hot dog option if you're looking for a vegetarian twist.
The traditional Chicago-style hot dog at Clark Street Dog comes with all the fixin's, including mustard, onions, relish, sport peppers, and a pickle spear. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try a cheese-dog, which adds a layer of melted cheese to the classic dog.
If you're in the mood for something a little different, Clark Street Dog also offers a "Depression Dog" option, which features a steamed natural-casing dog topped with mustard, onions, plain relish, and sport peppers, all wrapped up with hand-cut french fries.
Kong Dog
Kong Dog is a local Chicago chain that took the city by storm in 2021 with its Korean-style corn dogs.
Their concept is simple: a wiener or mozzarella stick is battered, deep-fried, and then coated in an eclectic variety of ingredients and sauces.
You can channel your inner child by decorating your dog-on-a-stick with fried potato, cereal, ramen crumbles, Hot Cheetos, and more.
Kong Dog now has several locations in the city and surrounding suburbs, making it easy to try this unique twist on a classic Chicago dog.
Popular Vendors
Chicago dogs are a staple of the city's food scene, and you can find them at many popular vendors throughout the city.
Gene & Jude's is a must-visit for any hot dog fan, with their iconic "depression dog" featuring a hot dog topped with mustard, brown relish, onions, and sports peppers, all served with a side of hand-cut fries.
Their hot dogs come in a bun without poppy seeds, a nod to the classic Chicago-style hot dog. You can find Gene & Jude's at multiple locations in Chicago, including 2449 W Armitage Ave, 3057 N Ashland Ave, and 7242 S Western Ave.
Jimmy's Red Hots is the longest-standing hot dog stand in Chicago, with over 65 years of serving up tasty Vienna Beef hot dogs on steamed buns accompanied by fresh-cut greasy fries.
Fat Johnnie's is another iconic hot dog stand, known for its humble exterior and delicious hot dog and tamale combos like the Mother-in-Law and the Mighty Dog.
Here are some of the most popular vendors to try:
- Fluky's
- Gene & Jude's
- Hot Doug's (closed)
- Portillo's
- Superdawg
- Redhot Ranch
- The Wieners Circle
- Woody's Chicago Style
- Jimmy's Red Hots
- Fat Johnnie's
- Vienna Beef Factory Store
Ingredients and Similar Recipes
To make a classic Chicago-style hot dog, you'll need the right ingredients. The classic combination includes 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 4 split poppy seed hot dog buns, and 4 all-beef hot dogs.
You can also customize your hot dog with toppings like yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, small-diced white onion, and halved and thickly sliced tomato. And don't forget the sport peppers and dill pickle spears for added flavor.
Here are some similar recipes you might enjoy: Mexican Hot DogsItalian Beef SandwichesSpicy Corn and Shishito SaladChicago-Style Italian SausageOven-Fried Hot Wings
Preparation
Chicago-style hot dogs are cooked in hot water or steamed before adding the toppings. The typical preparation method is to cook the hot dog in hot water, but some vendors like The Wieners Circle only serve char-dogs, which are cooked on a charcoal grill.
The char-dogs are easily identifiable because the ends of the dog are sliced in crisscross fashion before cooking, producing a distinctive cervelat-style "curled-x" shape as the dog cooks. This method gives the hot dog a unique texture and appearance.
A traditional Chicago-style hot dog weighs 1⁄8 pound (2.0 oz; 57 g) and features a natural casing, providing a distinctive "snap" when bitten. This natural casing is a key component of a classic Chicago-style hot dog.
The buns used for Chicago-style hot dogs are a high-gluten variety made to hold up to steam warming, typically the S. Rosen's Mary Ann brand from Alpha Baking Company. These buns are designed to keep their shape and structure even when steamed.
Discover more: Natural Balance Dog Food Making Dogs Sick
Ranch
Redhot Ranch is a hot dog stand that's been around since 2005. It's become a staple in Chicago and is considered one of the best hot dogs in the city.
Their specialty is a "depression dog" topped with mustard, relish, sport peppers, and onions. You can get this delicious hot dog for just $4.29.
A "depression dog" at Redhot Ranch is a stripped-down version of the Chicago-style dog, gussied up with fresh toppings.
Ingredients
When you're making a delicious hot dog, the ingredients you choose can make all the difference.
The unsalted butter is a crucial ingredient in this recipe, adding a richness and depth of flavor to the hot dog.
You'll need 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, which may seem like a lot, but trust me, it's worth it.
The hot dog buns are also a key component, and you'll want to use poppy seed hot dog buns for the best flavor.
Each hot dog bun has a specific size, with 4 split poppy seed hot dog buns required for this recipe.
The all-beef hot dogs are the star of the show, and you'll want to use bun-length hot dogs for the best results.
You'll need 4 all-beef hot dogs, and they should be preferably bun-length for the best flavor.
The condiments are also important, with yellow mustard and sweet pickle relish adding a tangy flavor to the hot dog.
You'll need ¼ cup of sweet pickle relish, which may seem like a lot, but it's the perfect amount.
The small white onion and small tomato add a fresh and crunchy texture to the hot dog.
You'll need 1 small white onion, diced into small pieces, and 1 small tomato, halved and thickly sliced lengthwise.
The dill pickle spears and sport peppers add a salty and spicy flavor to the hot dog.
You'll need 4 dill pickle spears and 4 to 8 sport peppers, depending on your desired level of spiciness.
Finally, you'll need some celery salt to bring all the flavors together.
Here's a list of the ingredients you'll need:
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 split poppy seed hot dog buns
- 4 all-beef hot dogs, preferably bun-length
- Yellow mustard
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 small white onion, small-diced
- 1 small tomato, halved and thickly sliced lengthwise
- 4 dill pickle spears
- 4 to 8 sport peppers
- Celery salt
Similar Recipes
If you're craving a real Chicago-style hotdog, there are plenty of similar recipes to try.
Chicago-Style Italian Sausage, a recipe by J. Kenji López-Alt, is a great alternative to a hotdog. It's a flavorful sausage made with Italian seasonings and spices.
If you're looking for something a bit different, you might enjoy Oven-Fried Hot Wings, a recipe by Eric Kim. This dish is a twist on traditional buffalo wings, with a crispy oven-fried exterior and spicy sauce.
Here are some other similar recipes you might enjoy:
- Mexican Hot Dogs by Kiera Wright-Ruiz
- Italian Beef Sandwiches by Sarah Copeland
- Spicy Corn and Shishito Salad by Lidey Heuck
- Chicago-Style Italian Sausage by J. Kenji López-Alt
- Oven-Fried Hot Wings by Eric Kim
- Labneh Dip With Sizzled Scallions and Chile by Alison Roman
- Refrigerator Corn Relish by Martha Rose Shulman
- Chili by Ali Slagle
- Korean Fried Cauliflower by Julia Moskin
- Hot Mustard and Honey Glazed Chicken by Kay Chun
- Nashville-Style Hot Tofu Sliders by Kay Chun
- Sausage and Egg Tater Tot Casserole by Romel Bruno
- Spicy Chinese Mustard Chicken Wings by Julia Moskin
- Hot and Numbing Stir-Fried New Potatoes by J. Kenji López-Alt
- Chile-Oil Noodles With Cilantro by Judy Kim
- Hot Dogs With Pico de Gallo by Genevieve Ko
- Ground Beef Chili With Chocolate and Peanut Butter by Aaron Hutcherson
- Mushroom Pasta Stir-Fry by Hetty Lui McKinnon
- Pepper Steak by Eric Kim
- Sichuan Celery and Tofu Salad by Mark Bittman
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Chicago dogs steamed or grilled?
Chicago dogs are typically steamed, but some are grilled and referred to as "char-dogs" to balance the flavors
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago-style_hot_dog
- https://blockclubchicago.org/2018/07/18/a-short-history-of-chicago-style-hot-dogs-and-why-we-love-them-so-much/
- https://www.timeout.com/chicago/restaurants/best-hot-dogs-in-chicago
- https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023284-chicago-style-hot-dogs
- https://secretchicago.com/chicago-best-hot-dogs/
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