The Most Scrumptious Hot Dogs in Chicago

Gene & Jude's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (2468) • $

"Traditional Chicago staple. Dont let the long line detour you away. It goes quickly as the staff work their butts off! Simple and basic menu, hotdogs, tamales, fries and pop. There really isnt any seating inside so we ate on the trunk of my car. Maybe bring camping chairs if you plan to eat in the parking lot. Remember no ketchup, not even for the fries. You can also ask for fries not on the dog."

Johnnie's Beef

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1796) • $

"Cash only. I think I forgot to mention that in other reviews. When people say "neighborhood gem" this is the standard I assume will be met. Johnnie's is the original "spot."I'm living in Nevada now and pretty much whenever I see a place that advertises Chicago Italian Beef, I give them a play. Some are tasty almost none can pass (there's one place in Henderson...that's for another review--it's all about the hot peppers.)The ice, the beef, the rolls, the fries-- oh yes oh yes...the fries.I was scrolling through my drafts and realized I hadn't posted this one... so what you are feeling is my wistful nostalgia. My heart !!I'll drop in one last time when I go to pick up and move my parents later this year. Then my memories will become the thing of myth and legend. Enjoy!"

Superdawg Drive-In

★★★★☆ 4 (1983) • $$

"This is such a classic. You see the iconic dawgs on top of the building and you know you're in for a treat. I always order a hot dog, and I'm not really a hot dog girlie other than superdawg! My husband swears by the superdawg, my kiddos love the chicken midgies, and you cannot skip a side order of onion crispies. If we're going late at night (because it's open super late if you have a craving!), the pineapple shake is always a 10/10. I love that they do drive up if you want to have a car date, but that they also have plenty of picnic tables for a nice day! Service is quick and kind no matter which way you order. It's a staple in the neighborhood. There's no competing with it! :)"

Paradise Pup

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1087)

"I couldn't leave Chicago without tasting one of their infamous hot dogs. I found small fast food cart a few minutes away my hotel near O'Hare airport. This street side stand had all the hallmarks of a genuine hole in wall culinary site - wow great hot dog - hot crunchy salty fries and lots of other tasty food cart meals. The service was great and now that I've completed the first part of my quest for authentic Chicago treats I'm going to search for some of their local pizza !!Bon Appetite Ronn just RonnThe hole in the wall food guy"

Fatso's Last Stand

★★★★☆ 4.1 (954) • $$

"Since these folks do not steam their hot dog, they grill it, it is going to taste a tad different. It still works amazingly well, and this one had all the trimmings to make this hot dog special. Love the little way they make the endings all cute.Prices are a tad on the high side but they serve alcoholic milkshakes! I thought about ordering one but figured to back off. Maybe I will get one of these and a hot dog before I leave this city.The floors were very sticky so points lost for ambiance.Great late night snack food overall."

Flub A Dub Chub's

★★★★★ 4.5 (762) • $$

"Tater tots were perfectly crispy and seasoned and a great amount. Chicago dog was made well with plenty of toppings, including a heavy dose of celery salt and relish. The Tuesday deal was $7 for the combo! Happy to try a new Chicago dog, and the environment is fun with all the hot dog-themed drawings (they hold a contest every week!) to look at and talk about. It's very satisfying and I'd be happy to go again!"

The Wiener's Circle

★★★★☆ 3.6 (1116) • $

"Came here to get cussed and fussed out. That didn't happen, but the food was good. My son and I watched some videos about this place and thought it would be a fun place to visit. When we went in, they were not too busy. They weren't super friendly, but not as rude as we expected. This might have been because I had a kid with me.They talk pretty fast and take orders pretty quickly. The prices are good and the food came out fast. I did notice that the cashier asked all of the other patrons for tips. Again, she probably didn't give me a hard time about a tip because I had my son with me. I ordered the Char Cheddar dog with fries. My son ordered a cheeseburger. The fries were really good. it seemed like they were fresh cut. They were seasoned perfectly, not too salty. No ketchup needed for the fries. The cheddar dog was amazing. All of the flavors blended well. If I had known it tasted so good, I would've ordered two. My son said that he enjoyed his burger.Char Cheddar Dog 1-5=4.5.Fries 1-5=4."

Jim's Original

★★★★☆ 4.2 (726)

"It is this easy.When you land in Chicago + you are hungry ....head to Jims. It is our tradition and I highly recommend that it be yours too.Why - because you can smell the sautéed onions as you drive up. It is one of the best sausages around for its price. Because if you want to be just like a local, it is just what you do. EXCELLENT street food and always a fun experience that is now a tradition for my hubby and I when we arrive in Chicago."

Chicago's Dog House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (607) • $

"Have to go here if you want the famous style hot dogs. It has that and plenty more styles. Chicago's Dog House is a dinky place with a big ass menu of hot dogs and side items. Get a table inside if lucky. The prices are pretty good on most things especially on the lunch meals. Came here at lunch and it was good timing because it was cheaper. It has weekday lunch specials. This is the time to come, but it's still not that expensive any other times. Get a hot dog, drink, and fries for about $8, or get 2 hot dogs and fries for about $9 or so. This is only on weekdays. A funny theme is they name some of the hot dogs for celebrities. They have styles according to the person whether they're an actor or a politician. I got the Lightfoot Dog. This is a vegan sausage topped Chicago style. Also they have a Trump Dog. It's a very burnt sausage with ketchup and mayonnaise. That's so wrong! I think it's just on the menu as a joke. That would be hard to imagine someone eating a garbage hot dog like that. Good to take to go. It gets pretty cramped in here. There's lots of interesting toppings and there's options for vegans and vegetarians."

Jimmy's Red Hots

★★★★☆ 4.2 (372) • $

"--Location/Parking--Located on the westside of Chicago, the area looks like there are plenty of parking for at least 10-12 cars. Bus stops on both sides of the street. Busy intersection, I went during the day, but at night I guess this is not the safest area. The location is not near any metro stops, but there are two bus stops I can see on the street corners.--Ambience--Old school hot dog stand. There are no seats, just a long counter on one side of the room and a large windowless area to order and pick up your food. There does not look like an area you order or pick up your food, just look at any of the employees and they will help you. The interior is a triangular hallway to order food and pick up your food. On the wall behind the counter were two vintage signs showing a couple of items on the menu. I didn't look at the menu before coming to the place. I wish I did because they had more to offer then what I expected.--Service/Staff--Staff is very blunt, but friendly. On a Sunday late afternoon there were 6 or 7 employees behind the counter, over half look like they were in high school or just graduated. The employees did correct me on the menu ordering.--Food/Products--I ordered two original hot dogs with everything. It consists of a regular size hot dog with chopped onions and mustard served with NO ketchup which they are known for and had two jalapeno pepper on top. I wish they removed the stem edge of the jalapeno peppers, but that didn't interfere with the taste. On top of it which I think was a side, I was not expecting French fries to be served on top. The fries were very salty, which I pushed off to the side just to eat the hot dog. The original hot dog was overwhelmed by the jalapeno peppers, which was disappointing, because I love peppers, but I don't remember tasting any of the sausage at all.--Capacity--Plenty of space in the triangular hallway. I can see this as a late-night food joint for a quick hot dog or tamale choice. The interior can hold 20 or 30 people, maybe 15 people on the counter on the opposite side of the room.--Overall--If I lived in Chicago and I owned a car, I might come back to try out their other items on the menu. The big question is if you don't mind not have ketchup on your hot dog and being replaced with jalapeno peppers. I might give it another go around, but the trip to the location, which is not near the L train makes it a difficult spot to visit."

Red Hot Ranch

★★★★☆ 4.2 (370) • $

"Red Hot Ranch is an institution and should be visited regularly. While I've gone multiple times for their delicious, Chicago's best burger, this time I came for their equally great hot dog. It was fantastic! A perfect mix of toppings on a wonderful Vienna wiener. Not to be forgotten are their fresh cut fries. Love, love, love!"

Poochie's

★★★★☆ 4.2 (322)

"Still amazing! I wish I could take a picture of food but I literally inhale it, lol. It is still my favorite spot in Skokie and still plan my trips to the old neighborhood around eating at Poochie's.Thanks Poochie's!"

The Clark Street Dog

★★★★☆ 3.6 (410) • $

"Ordered 2 cheeseburgers and a fry for my dinner. This was so delicious the patty was so thick and juicy! Toppings included my favs tomato, lettuce, chopped onions, mustard, and pickles for delivery French fries were so crispy and not soggy at all. Packing was great too, sealed with a staple."

Jay's Italian Beef & Sausage

★★★★☆ 4.1 (286)

"Jay's Beef was so delicious and were very accommodating. I haven't been back in Chicago since discovering that I can't have gluten, so I had to get the beef on a bed of French fries instead of bread. One of the greatest decisions of my life. They have the type of fries that just tastes so delicious and is the perfect texture. Crispy and soft at the same time. Real mom and pop feel in the restaurant. Definitely one of the better beefs in the city."

Byron's Hot Dog

★★★★☆ 3.9 (312)

"Cool place to stop and grab a Chicago dog with the Bryon's twist on it, tomatoes, cucumber, relish. Shame it wasn't a poppy seed bun. Not the easiest hot dog to eat. Nice dog thought nonetheless. Seating outside, covered and uncovered to eat at."

Choppers

★★★★☆ 3.8 (323)

"I asked the clerk which one he would recommend the burger or the beef. He recommended the burger. I ordered the burger and while I was waiting, I asked him for a sample of the beef after I tried the beef I got an Italian beef, and addition to my burger and had a little bit of each one the burger was really good. The price was amazing was seven dollars for, two burgers grilled onions, lettuce, tomato pickle mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup came with some steak fries and coleslaw. The beef was very good the flavor it was a little dry I did not have a dipped, but I did get gravy on the side and it was delicious with hot oil on the side. Good chocolate shake. They had a quad burger that had five patties instead of four , great service very clean .I lucked out, and I found parking small parking lot in a busy area downtown. They had outdoor seating too if you're in the area check it out."

Frannies Beef & Catering

★★★★☆ 4.3 (250) • $

"I am an Italian beef enthusiast. Possibly even an aficionado.This was perfection.Perfect beef - awesome giardiniera. Maybe the best I've ever had on both counts. Lean, tasty, and juicy and the hots were fresh tasting and vibrant. Supreme tamales - as good as Tom Toms, old brand. Necessity for an old school beef place.Actual cut potatoes for fries!Italian ice solid.The owners were there (husband / wife) when we visited, which was very nice.I wish this was near to me because I'd probably never go to another beef place again!"

Johnny's Beef & Gyros - Lincoln Park

★★★★☆ 4.3 (215) • $

"Unpretentious fast-food joint featuring standard Greek & American eats, including burgers & gyros. Can call ahead for your order or wait in line. I got the Maxwell Street Polish and it was pure perfection. Location is centered in the heart of Lincoln Avenue. The fries looked good and I would come back. The polish sausage was exactly what I needed before a day of drinking."

Jeff's Red Hots

★★★★☆ 4.4 (201)

"I've driven past this establishment/ neighborhood fixture for years but am not a hot dog/ burger kinda girl so I've never stopped in. Today as I was about to make my usual stop at Starbucks when something said, "c'mon.... Shake it up." So I waltzed in the door & ordered a polish as if I'd been a regular for years. When I got to the register I realized it was CASH ONLY & no ATM on site. The owner said " it's on me. Stop by another time & we'll get squared away." Who does that in this day & age!!? Not Starbucks. I polished off my polish at one of their many outdoor picnic tables. Then immediately went to an ATM & returned to say an emphatic thank you. That's what local business is all about. I will certainly be back to grab a polish & fries ( if I'm feeling indulgent) in the future. Friendly customer service like that is rare & deserves to be celebrated."

George's Hot Dogs

★★★★☆ 4.1 (228) • $

"Super friendly place with Jeopardy! playing on the TV in the back - nice change from sports (says me, not sure how many would agree).The fries are notably good here, and the dog is quintessential Chicago. It's a little pricier than some joints, but it's also more comfortable. I'm pretty much never going to complain about a great Chicago dog purveyor even if there isn't much to say about the dog because there isn't much variation. And there shouldn't be. Do a Chicago dog right, you have my business."

Devil Dawgs

★★★★★ 4.5 (168)

"Love me some Chicago style hot dogs !! Way to go to this location, great quality, pricing, and speed ! Definitely aPlace to check out when in town."

Lola’s Coney Island

★★★★★ 4.6 (153) • $

"I finally made my way to Lola's Coney Island after passing by for months, and let me tell you, it was well worth the wait. Having been to Detroit multiple times, I consider myself somewhat of a connoisseur when it comes to Coney Dogs, and Lola's did not disappoint.While the chili wasn't an exact match to what I've had in Detroit, it came impressively close. But let's be clear, I'm not complaining in the slightest. In my humble opinion (and to my Detroit friends, please don't come for me), a Coney Dog is essentially a chili cheese dog. I've had this debate countless times, but my stance remains firm.I opted for takeout and added a side of cheese-drenched fries to my order. The fries were a revelation - crisp, fresh, and perfectly seasoned. The cheese had a unique blend of seasonings that elevated it beyond the ordinary. It was a delightful departure from your standard cheese.The restaurant itself exudes a cozy, neighborhood joint vibe and is impeccably clean. It's the kind of place that instantly makes you feel at home.I can say with certainty that I'll be returning for my Coney Dog fix. Having never come across a spot in Chicago that serves up these Detroit delicacies, Lola's has now become my go-to. A special shoutout to the friendly and pleasant staff member who took my order - it added an extra layer of warmth to the experience.For my fellow Detroiters living in Chicago, if you're on the hunt for an authentic Coney Dog, look no further than Lola's. You won't be disappointed."

Maxwell Street Depot

★★★★☆ 4 (190)

"Been wanting to try this place out for a while now. Finally made it in. Service is great. They work quick and efficient. They're also very friendly. Price is very reasonable and the food will fill you up. I ordered a polish and a pork chop sandwich. The pork chop sandwich was very tasty. The pork chop was very tender and flavorful. I wasn't a big fan of their polish dog. It had no snap and tasty a little mushy. I'm glad I finally gave this place a try. I certainly won't be going out of my way to come here, but if I'm ever an the area, I might be down grab me some pork chop sandwiches."

Bob-O's Hot Dogs

★★★★☆ 4 (189) • $

"I've had better beefs and the guy at the front counter was kind of rude. I'm not sure if that's the neighborhood vibe they are trying to make but I was waiting for my food and he was the same to other customers. There was a man with a leg issue that ordered some food and then asked if he could use the restroom and was told he couldn't and then had to cancel his order to find a restroom elsewhere."

Byron's Hot Dog

★★★★☆ 3.5 (229)

"My love and I were in the area after a morning of walking around Ravenswood, so we were getting hungry. We decided to pop into Byron's, at the corner of Lawrence and Paulina. The interior has a bit of a retro design appearance, with black-surfaced seating in the booths and glass block. We each decided to go with a combo meal, which includes an order of fries and fountain drink. I don't believe any of the combos were priced below ten dollars, but the amount of food gives you the impression of a good value. They were fairly busy on this Saturday afternoon, but our food came out very quickly after we placed our order. My Philly cheesesteak was sizably loaded with toppings and was a hefty sandwich. I thought it was good but not great. I actually liked the brown sack of shoestring potatoes better than the sandwich, though you needed the ketchup for the fries. My love's hot dog extended past the length of the bun, but she agreed that it was also just OK. The fountain pop admittedly hit the spot for each of us after a lot of steps that day. Try the Green River soda (yes it's green) if you'd like!"

Carm's Beef & Italian Ice

★★★★☆ 4 (175)

"I have driven by this place a lot, living in the area, and I have to say it's a little underwhelming from the outside but holy moly was I underestimating it.I finally stopped by a sunny spring day when Mario's was closed still and I was craving Italian ice. The Italian ice was a bit pricey ($3 for smallest size) and not as mind blowing as Mario's but still QUITE good with fresh frozen chunks of fruit. The COOLER part was the wide variety of food they had - sandwiches and entrees and even tacos! The taco was SO crazy good, like the ones in Pilsen.The service was friendly and they've got little tables in an outdoor patio. Neighborhood gem."

Wrigleysville Dogs

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (269) • $

"Remember when Jennifer Coolidge wanted a hot dog real bad in "Legally Blonde"? I was slightly pickier and was feeling the same way about a Chicago dog. Fortunately Jamie W. booked our hotel right across the street from Wrigley Field, so prospects looked good for us to find an authentic Chicago dog. Sure enough, we walked only one block up Clark and found this spot.I initially pooh-poohed the idea that we could get a high quality Chicago dog here, but they showcased a surgical diagram of what goes into their Chicago Dogs, and I have to admit I was impressed. So impressed, in fact, that I ordered the $11.50 Chicago Dog Combo Meal with fries, of course, and a 20-ounce Diet Coke...like that was really gonna help. I have no idea whether the Chicago dog was authentic, but it sure was tasty.The split Kosher pickle, the sport peppers, the diced onions, the florescent green relish, the celery salt...they were all present and accounted for. For lack of immediate comparison, I have assessed the Wrigleyville Chicago Dog as ultimately satisfying. So much so we came back after an Andersonville gay bar jaunt and had another dog. It worked really well after a couple of cocktails elsewhere.FOOD - 4 stars...oh yeah, this IS a real Chicago dogAMBIANCE - 3 stars...just a fast food jointSERVICE - 3 stars...not much chit-chat with the staff hidden behind the signsTOTAL - 4 stars...when you need a Chicago dog real badRELATED - Exploring Chicago? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/44c4CZO"

Charcoal Delights

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (234) • $

"My bud and I were searching for a quick place for a late lunch, so we wound up at Charcoal Delights. Located at Foster and Kedzie, they have a convenient parking lot if you are driving. They have an extensive menu, so it might take a minute to peruse everything on the board. Once we placed our orders, the food came out quickly. I must say the service was super, as one woman knew I wanted a take-out box for my leftovers before I even asked for it. She also impressed my bud by reciting their entire week of soup specials. My bud ordered a two piece broasted chicken meal, which comes with coleslaw, biscuit, and soup. I ordered the ribs 'N' broasted chicken combo, a staggering meal including a half slab of ribs and half broasted chicken (4 pieces). My meal also came with garlic bread, coleslaw, soup, and baked potato. The soup of the day was navy bean, which was a very hearty cup filled with more beans than liquid. The broasted chicken is similar to fried chicken but allegedly healthier for you, so that's cool. The ribs were saucy and good if not great. Indeed, I had plenty of food from this combo to take home and share with my love. It cost $23.99 but since I got a couple of meals out of it I believe it was worth it."

Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots

★★★★★ 4.5 (132) • $

"Can't miss it! Our friend grew up in the area. We were visiting CHI Town. So we made the trip to this stand per his recommendation. The dog went down in 2.5 seconds hahaha! It was good!"

Luke's on Harlem

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (235)

"I had a cheese pizza and coke good for the price of 6 bucks lukes have been around for a while they have good service and the food is good too"

Roma’s Italian Beef & Sausage

★★★★☆ 3.5 (205)

"Absolutely first-rate Italian Beef, on par with the best joints. Lots of beef on my sandwich, tender, juicy, flavorful. Fries a thin and a little greasy, but fresh and hot, they really hit the spot. Yum."

Snappy Dog

★★★★☆ 3.9 (146)

"More stars because they're open late. Worker seems to be the Owner. He answered the phone when I called so I'm happy about that. Place is next door to a bar. His nails could be cleaner but thankfully he's not wearing a pear of disposable gloves doing everything like so many other places. Menu outside the door and inside the store. There's a counter to wait. But we ate in the car. Oh! The fries are not served in a separate container but they are wrapped with the dog. The chili has beans FYI."

The Hat Chicago

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (189) • $

"Could be said this place is old hat. It certainly looks like an old school Chicago greasy grill, whether that's a good or bad thing who knows. The Hat has burgers, but that's just one of many things. Also has one that's plant based. Falafel is another protein choice available as a burger or a side. A few times and I've had the vegan friendly choices. It's surprising this place has a few. The last time it was the Char Vegan Burger, which has got to be the healthiest item. It's about $8 and it's pretty big. This comes on a whole wheat bun, so you get grains and proteins. Be sure they don't put the cheese and mayonnaise on it. They don't seem to know any better and automatically put it on if you don't say to leave it off.Good place to go to even when it's late. It's open until early in the morning. The burgers include the meaty Vienna beef, but there's also the falafel and the other one for vegans."

Bunny Hutch

★★★★☆ 3.9 (131) • $

"Found this gem and it saved me and my besties lives this day. The chili cheese dog gave us hope and will to live. will be returning for more and also to blow off steam at the batting cages. great idea, genius, no notes."

Lulu's Hot Dogs

★★★★☆ 3.9 (128) • $

"First time coming here. Wanted a place to grab something to eat before heading to the Hawks game downtown. This place was absolutely a perfect spot. Located at a busy intersection, this place has tons of great hot dog options as well as burgers and so much more. I stuck with a veggie dog with fries, as well as a black bean burger. The price I paid was not bad at all! Made in reasonable time too. Decent bathrooms and dining area. Great food and staff."