This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
Hot dogs and baseball is one of the greatest pairings in American history. There’s nothing quite like the snap of a dog, crack of the bat, and cheer from the crowd. Whether you root for the Sox or the Cubs, make sure you’re doing so with a hot dog in your hands. Here’s our list of the top 10 hot dogs in Chicagoland according to you, our viewers. Want more drool-worthy dishes? Tune into Chicago’s Best every Sunday night at 10pm on WGN-TV.
- Fatso’s Last Stand: Formerly Phil’s Last Stand, this Ukrainian Village hot dog joint is one of our favorites. The char dogs are some of the best around and toppings are done just right. Pro tip: There’s a secret menu that includes a behemoth known only as “the jumbo.” But shh! You didn’t hear that from us. Location: 2258 W Chicago Ave. in Ukrainian Village.
- Gene & Jude’s: This is the place where the depression dog got its start and it’s only fitting that the inspiration came while Gene was at a ball game. It was 1945 and in an effort to do something different, he decided to add fries to the beloved dog. 60+ years later, this classic Chicago stand is still serving up mouth-watering red hots to loyal customers. The folks at Gene & Jude’s keep the menu simple. So simple in fact, hot dogs are one of the only items on the menu. Location: 2720 North River Rd. in River Grove.
- Gina’s Hot Dogs and Beef: A red hot staple since 1976, this Bensenville favorite is true Chicago. Gina’s uses Vienna natural-casing hot dogs and tops them with all the fixings. If you want a little something extra, add some of their hand-cut fries. And while some places won’t even let you utter the K-word, Gina’s is a little more understanding. They don’t like it, but they’ll provide it. Now that’s teamwork. Location: 1222 W Irving Park Rd. in Bensenville.
- Skyway Dogs: Owner Bob Polk’s buns are a thing of beauty and come just the way we like ‘em: steamed and covered in poppy seeds. Skyway Dogs hasn’t changed in over 40 years and Bob says they don’t plan on changing things anytime soon. Hey, if it ain’t broke, why fix it? Order the quarter pound dog for a home run. Location: 9480 S Ewing Ave. on the East Side.
- Murphy’s Red Hots: In this dog-eat-dog world, Bill Murphy’s hot dogs shine. He knocks it out of the park with the foot-long char dog, splitting the dog down the middle and on the sides for the perfect char. Top it anyway you want but this is one place where ketchup is not allowed (well, unless you still have training wheels). Location: 1211 W Belmont Ave. in Lakeview.
- Big Star: No one can argue that Big Star is known for its tacos but just as good: the sonoran hot dog.* It’s a Vienna Beef dog wrapped in bacon and topped with pinto beans, mayo, mustard, a little serrano sauce (no, not a Major League reference), tomato, onions, and ANOTHER layer of toppings. Good dog. Location: 1531 N Damen Ave. in Wicker Park. *We were just informed the sonoran hot dog is no longer on the menu. While we are bummed, it still ranks on our list of your favorite hot dogs.
- Franks N Dawgs: There’s a reason its slogan is “five star dining on a bun.” Owner Alexander Brunacci combined his love of fine dining and street food into one at this Lincoln Park hot spot. Don’t let the extensive menu overwhelm you. Our suggestion? Order the tur-doggin: homemade sausage with crispy duck confit, herb garlic aioli, pickled onion relish, and pickled carrots. Nothing wrong with the occasional fancy dog. Location: 1863 N Clybourn in Lincoln Park.
- Jimmy’s Red Hots: Jimmy’s serves up traditional Chicago weiners but Brittney came for the veggie dog. Don’t worry, we aren’t talkin veggies in a bun. At Jimmy’s, the veggie dog consists of fries inside a hot dog bun. Now that is a vegetable we can get behind. Location: 4000 W Grand Ave. in Humboldt Park.
- Superdawg: Coming to Superdawg is like taking a step back in time. This drive-in offers carhop service just like they did in 1948. They make their hot dogs in-house and serve ‘em up with hand-cut crinkle fries. If you’re looking for the signature red tomato slice you find on other Chicago-style dogs, it might take a while. Superdawg mixes it up with pickled green tomatoes for a unique spin on a Chicago classic. Location: 6363 N Milwaukee Ave. in Norwood Park.
- H-Dogs: If you’re coming to H-Dogs, you gotta order the namesake. The H-Dog is a 100%-beef grilled dog topped with chili, cheese and onions. And for all you vegetarians out there, H-Dogs offers the Healthy Hound, a different take on a veggie dog. No matter what you order, you won’t strike out at this South Side favorite. Location: 4655 S King Drive in Bronzeville.
*List based on highest viewed YouTube videos in hot dog category
