One of the first hot dogs that I ate in Chicago was at DownTown Dogs and I remember it well. It was freezing and just a couple of days after the snowpocalypse of 2011. I had found myself sheltering here after having bought myself a rent deposit cheque from the ‘cheques cashed’ shop on the…
Tag: hot dog
Portillo’s – History, Tradition and …. Hot Dogs!
Portillo’s has been serving Hot Dogs and associated street foods to the good people of Chicago for over 50 years. Established by Dick Portillo in 1963, it now has around 42 other sites across the states. The first Portillo’s hot dog stand known as “The Dog House” opened in 1963 on North Avenue. By 1966,…
The Dog Joint
I was attracted to the Dog Joint by both the name and signage, inside “Top Gun” was on the television, some classic scenes played out as I waited for my hot dog first; Maverick: She’s lost that loving feeling. Goose: She’s lost? No, she hasn’t. Maverick: Yes, she has. Goose: She has not lost that…
Wieners Circle – Nice Charburger
I have to be honest I was really confused when I got over to the Wiener’s Circle. I thought that it was one of Chicago’s famous hot dog joints, but as you can see the sign outside proclaims that it is the “Home of the Char-Broiled Cheddarburger” So what to do? I came here to eat a hot…
Byron’s – Golf tips with my Hot Dog? You must have seen me coming!
As I approached Byron’s hot dogs on Lawrence the first thing I saw was on old style sign high up above the power lines, then as I walked through the car park there was a whole wall painted yellow with the Byron’s sign, a Chicago Dog and a Vienna Beef sign. I love this…
Desparately Seeking Hot Dog – “preferably of the cheap and nasty variety”
I should have known better, and I did know better, but that did not stop me pretending to believe that I could get a nice hot dog from a random kiosk in the UK. I was strolling along the banks of the River Trent and feeling quite good that I had chosen my lunch…
Christkindlmarket Daley Plaza
I love a good German Christmas market, but you know I do know that they are just a really poor imitation of the real thing, and I wish that people would travel to experience the real thing. Is that harsh? I don’t think so, having eaten some really bad food at some of these clones that…
Flub a Dub Chub’s
“You had me at hello” Awesome name and it would have been rude not to enter to see if this place lived up to a start such as that! The shop is downstairs in the basement and it really is quite a unique spot. The walls are strewn with drawings from kids and big kids alike…
Budacki’s Drive In – What more do you want? Dogs, Burgers, and Italian Beef
If ever there is a guilty pleasure heading my way then this place fulfils it. Cheap Dogs and Great Signage, enough to draw you in and prices that walk the food away. At the end of a sunny October Chicago day with temperatures flirting with the low 70’s, it was impossible to resist the temptation of a Chicago Dog …
The Chicago El Stop Food Hunt Project 