Photograph: Nick Murway for Time Out
From classic Chicago dogs to Detroit-style Coneys, these stands are the best in town—just don't ask for ketchup.
Written by Elizabeth Atkinson & Morgan Olsen
Written by: Jeffy Mai
Contributor: Isaiah Reynolds
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The hot dog is in the pantheon of iconic Chicago foods, right up there with deep dishpizza and Italian beef. And you probably don’t have to go very far to get a good one as there are esteemed hot dog vendors in all corners of the city. Whether you’re atraditionalist who believes ketchup should be a banned condiment or a Michigander who prefers a Coney Island hot dog, the following places are sure to satisfy. Some have been around for a long time and are among the most iconic restaurants in Chicago, while others offer the best cheap eats. There’s even a local mini-chain of stands located inside Home Depot stores, as well as Korean-style corn dogs coated in unique toppings. So there’s no need to wait until your nextcookout or ballgame to enjoy a wiener, our guide to the best hot dog restaurants in Chicago will show you where to get one any time you desire.
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- Hamburgers
- West Loop
Drawing inspiration from Hamburg, chef Jorge Kauam’s German-American concept offers a variety of smashed burgers, sandwiches and sausages, including a Chicago-style hot dog dragged through the garden.
Chicago's best hot dog stands
- Hot dogs
- Norwood Park
price 1 of 4
Despite a renovation in 1999, this hot dog drive-in is still as old-fashioned as ever, with uniformed servers bringing your order directly to your car window. Apparently scared of copycats, the owners have trademarked almost every dish, the main draw being the namesake “Superdawg,” an all-beef frank so plump it’s hard to remove it from its cartoon-covered box. After a meal of hot dogs, fries, burgers (try the delicious, double-decker “Whoopercheesie”) and “Supershakes” (actually not very super), expect to literally roll yourself home.
- Hot dogs
- Suburbs
price 1 of 4
Don’t ask for ketchup when you order one of the legendary dogs that come topped with a fistful of fries at this standing-room-only institution, which has been serving ’em up since 1946. The surly types behind the counter don’t go for weak stuff like that. Claim your place at the end of the perpetually long line and entertain yourself by watching potatoes being cut and fried into perfect greasy strips while you wait. Once it’s your turn, order your dog with everything, then count your blessings for the wax paper–wrapped bliss that lies before you.
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- Hot dogs
- Little Italy, UIC
A little walk-up shack on the UIC Campus with no seating, Jim's Original doesn't look like much. But a solid rendition of a Vienna beef Chicago-style dog with fries sets you back just a little over $6, and the grilled onions are a nice touch. Open until 1am, Jim's Original is just as good for lunch as late night munchies. A second location is now open in Bucktown.
- Hot dogs
- Lincoln Park
price 1 of 4
The folks behind the counter at this classic roadside shack have had enough of drunk yuppies' crap. So much so that they’ve developed their own brand of smack-talking that’s now synonymous with a late-night dog run here. Get your Chicago red hot with the traditional fixings—mustard, onion, neon-green relish, pickle spear, tomato, celery salt and sport peppers—an order of thick-cut fries, a big, fat lemonade and someverbal abuse. And don't forget the chocolate shake.
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- Hot dogs
- Logan Square
price 1 of 4
The M.O. at Redhot Ranch is minimal selection and flawless execution. Juicy depression dogs (a stripped down version of the Chicago-style doggussied up with mustard, onions, relish and sport peppers) aretoppedwith a handful of fresh-cut fries that are crisp on the outside and pillowy inside. Dining with a group? Toss in a pound of fried shrimp for the table. It’s all served until midnight every day.
- Hot dogs
- Humboldt Park
price 1 of 4
Like Gene & Jude’s, Jimmy’s is a purist’s hot dog stand. No seating, no char-anything, and for crissakes, no ketchup. You’ll find nothing but tasty Vienna Beef hot dogs and Polishes served on steamed buns with loads of greasy, hand-cut fries. As a consolation for the much-maligned ketchup lover, Jimmy’s offers a decent house-made habanero hot sauce. This spot is open late, which is the best time to catch sketchy parking lot antics.
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- Hot dogs
- Avondale
price 1 of 4
Any contractor or DIYer who’s been to a Home Depot in the city has probably seen a hot dog stand located near the exits. What you may not know is that the stands aren’t run by the hardware giant. They’re a part of a mini-chain, dubbed Fixin’ Franks, found only in select stores around Chicago and the suburbs. The quality will surprise some, but it shouldn’t—the dogs are made with products sourced from Makowski’s Real Sausage in Bridgeport. There are also additional goodies like Polish sausages topped with J.P. Graziano giardiniera.
Jeffy Mai Editor, Time Out Chicago
- Hot dogs
- Sheffield & DePaul
price 1 of 4
This Lincoln Park shop serves a by-the-books Chicago dog with all the standard toppings, but we're always eyeing the cheeky specialty sausages. The Tijuana Street Dog is topped with melted chihuahua cheese, bacon, onions, jalapenos and hot sauce, while theMidway Monster Dog comes loaded withcolby cheese, giardiniera, bacon and barbecue sauce. And then there's the Snoop Dog—a beef chili dog topped with chorizo, cheddar cheese and onions.
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- Hot dogs
- North Lawndale
price 1 of 4
In business since 1938, it feels like nothing has changed at Dave's Red Hots in decades, with flyers tacked to the wall and yellowing menus. Thelineupstars Vienna Beef links (they've been inducted into the Vienna Beef Hall of Fame) slicked with mustard and decorated with a thinly sliced pickle and peppers, with relish and onions only by request (as several signs remind you). The fries are hand cut and have a crisp edge, and the steamed bun is soft and pillowy. To eat, squeeze into the tiny wooden booths or hop on one of the stools by the counter.
- American
- Bridgeport
price 2 of 4
Kevin Hickey’s neighborhood gastro-tavern offers a host of Midwestern comfort fare, from fried cheese curds to an irresistible Duck Inn Dog. The sausage is a blend of all-natural beef and duck fat, and it’s garnished with Chicago-style toppings such as house-made relish, beer mustard, tomatoes, onions, pickled serrano peppers, a dill pickle and a dash of celery salt. There are also chicken and vegan variants of the dogs. If you feel like really indulging, add shaved black truffles for an extra $35. Duck Inn Dogs are available to purchase at local grocery stores and online, too.
Jeffy Mai Editor, Time Out Chicago
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- Hot dogs
- Loop
price 1 of 4
This grab-and-go spot inLakeview and Ravenswood dishes out Vienna Beef hot dogs, Polishes and bratwursts with killer French fries—crispy, salty and packed with grease to help wash down whatever it is you ordered. Be prepared to pick your toppings, or if you're just not sure, get everything. You won't regret it.
- Hot dogs
- Loop
price 1 of 4
Devil Dawgs is here to tempt you with a laundry list of loaded hot dogs. They've got Chicago dogs, Coney dogs, New York dogs and evenIcelandic dogs, which are topped with dijon mustard, ketchup, house-made remoulade, shallots and onions. Pick your poison and toss in a fresh strawberry shake while you're at it.
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- Hot dogs
- Chicago Lawn
This hole-in-the-wall shack has been around since the ‘70s and proudly proclaims its dogs are “fit for a king.” You don’t have to be royalty, though, to tell that these dogs are some of the finest around. And they’re available every which way, from the traditional red hot to double dogs smothered in chili. For something truly unique, order the Mighty Dog—a glorious combo of hot dog plus tamale on a bun finished with cheese, chili and other fixins’.
Jeffy Mai Editor, Time Out Chicago
- Hot dogs
- West Ridge
price 1 of 4
In the pantheon of Chicago hot dog stands, Wolfy’s deserves a seat on the dais. The room is sparkling clean and the staff is sweet—think of it as the anti-Wieners Circle. Though it offers a lot more, take a cue from the iconic signage (an impaled hot dog on a sparkling fork) and stick to the sausages. The Vienna beef char-grilled Polish is near perfect, but it’s Wolfy’s hot dog, one of the best in the city, that will make even the most jaded hot dog fan smile.
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- American
- Portage Park
price 1 of 4
From the outside, this looks like your standard Chicago red hots joint. The menu will make you feel like it too (keep it simple, a Chicago-style dog with fries and a soda will do you right), but the inside feels like there's just a tad more care, with a neon sign over the food prep line and yellow accents throughout the dining room. Locals know this joint well, with their regular lunch orders—you'll feel like you may have just stepped back in time.
- Hot dogs
- River North
price 1 of 4
There’s no denying that this über-efficient local chain serves a damn good wiener. With city locations in River North, the South Loop and Avondale, Portillo’s pays homage to the Midwest with classic Chicago-style hot dogs as well as chili-cheese dogs and a char-grilled Maxwell Street Polish sausage.
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- Hot dogs
- Lake View
Hiding in the basement of a Lakeview building, the hot dog stand with the phallic rhyme-time name means business when it comes to ketchup prohibition. If you have the gall to ask for your dog with red stuff, the clerk will take your mugshot and stick it on the Wall of Shame. What you do want in your bun is a Chubby, a plump, quarter-pound Vienna Beef with the Chicago-style works. As you eat, check out the children’s doodles of anthropomorphic hot dogs that paper the walls. Our fave: Hot Dog Elvis who's really worried about spilling condiments all over his blue suede shoes.
- Hot dogs
- Lake View
price 1 of 4
Located at the crossroads of Clark and Halsted, Clark Street Dog’s flashing, sausage-shaped sign beckons Cubs fans, concertgoers and hungry patrons, usually in various states of intoxication. The location serves up a familiar menu, replete with Chicago-style hot dogs (even of the meatless variety), Italian beef sandwiches and crispy fried shrimp.
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- Hot dogs
- Humboldt Park
price 1 of 4
Although it’s not nearly as contentious as the rivalry between the Blackhawks and Red Wings or deep dish and Detroit-style pan pizza, hot dogs are also a point of debate with our neighbors across the lake. But despite where you stand on the matter, this Humboldt Park stand is here to please. We recommend going with the Chicago meets Detroit dog, a Detroit-style Coney but with a charred Vienna sausage. For Chicago-style loyalists, the charred Vienna Beef jumbo dog doesn’t disappoint, either.
Jeffy Mai Editor, Time Out Chicago
- Hot dogs
- Ukrainian Village
price 1 of 4
True to its name, Fatso’s isn’t for the faint of heart. The menu is rife with stoner-friendly fare like smash burgers, milkshakes, mac ‘n’ cheese and a loaded Italian beef. The hot dogs here are charred instead of steamed, evoking memories of backyard barbecues and summertime pool parties. They’ve also got a deep-fried veggie dog on the menu—because even vegetarians should pig out every once in a while.
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- Hot dogs
- Bridgeport
price 1 of 4
It may seem obvious, but heading straight to the source of a product can yield delicious returns. In this case, that would be the Vienna Beef Factory Store. The company, famous for supplying the franks used in hot dogs all over the city, operates a restaurant and shop in Bridgeport. And as you’d expect, the Chicago-style dogs are a standard-bearer.
Jeffy Mai Editor, Time Out Chicago
- Sandwich shops
- Irving Park
Whether you're looking for a sandwich, a grinder, a burger, a hot dog or an ice cream sandwich, you'll find some great options at this family-owned Irving Park spot. The menu at JT's Genuine Sandwich Shop is vast, but there aren't really any duds among the offerings. The Scooby Dog is topped with Frito crumbs and pimento cheese with a sweet and sour drizzle while classic Coney and Chicago-styles are still available for the purists. See if you can save enough room for a generous serving of chili cheese fries, a corn dog to-go or a even scoop of ice cream.
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- Gastropubs
- Wicker Park
price 2 of 4
At this bar by the owners of Bar DeVille, “bangers” stand for sausage (we dig the Chicago-style Vienna Beef over the fancier brat sandwiches), and “lace” for “Brussels lace,” i.e., beer foam on the edge of a glass. Opt-in for a veggie dog or give the classic corn dog a try just to switch it up.
- American
- Bridgeport
price 1 of 4
You can smell the unmistakable aroma of sautéing onions at this 24-hour jointfrom across the street, so you better believe each menu item is imbued with that sweet fragrance. Take on the namesake Polish sausage topped with onions and sport peppers, or a classic hot dog. One of the last 24-hour spots around the city, Maxwell Street Depot isthe perfect destination for any post-club grub or just a midnight dog craving.
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- Hot dogs
- Little Italy, UIC
price 1 of 4
Korean-style corn dogs took Chicago by storm in 2021 and became a viral sensation on social media. Leading the way was this local chain, which now has several locations in the city and surrounding suburbs. The concept is simple: a wiener (or mozzarella stick) is battered, deep fried and then coated in an eclectic variety of ingredients and sauces. Channel your inner child by decorating your dog-on-a-stick with fried potato, cereal, ramen crumbles, Hot Cheetos and more.
Jeffy Mai Editor, Time Out Chicago
Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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