clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
A counter of three Depression Dogs laid out on white paper.
Gene & Jude’s has served Depression Dogs since 1946.
Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Where to Eat Hot Dogs in Chicago

Enjoy them Chicago-style, Detroit-style, or even gourmet-style, but never, ever eat them with ketchup

View as Map
Gene & Jude’s has served Depression Dogs since 1946.
| Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

The traditional Chicago-style hot dog comes “dragged through the garden,” but there are always new purveyors ready to shake things up with gourmet sausages and inventive toppings. The only rule is that ketchup is reserved exclusively for fries and young children who don’t know any better.

Vienna Beef has a monopoly on hot dog stands, and they’ve become the taste of Chicago. However, other sausage makers do great work, so look out for variation.

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Superdawg Drive-In

Copy Link

The special Superdawg proprietary all-beef sausage is perfectly complemented by pickled tomatoes. Enjoy it in the privacy of your car at one of the city’s only true drive-ins while admiring anthropomorphic sausage mascots Maury and Flaury, based on the stand’s owners. There’s also a suburban location in Wheeling.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Wolfy's

Copy Link

There's a certain joy driving down Peterson and seeing that iconic Wolfy's sign with the fork and lights. The jumbo char dog is the proper choice here.

Wolfy’s [Official Photo]

Byron's Hot Dogs

Copy Link

Byron's boiled dogs are probably one of the best examples of the Chicago-style dog. The empire may have shrunk — at one time Byron's had locations in front of Wrigley Field and in Lincoln Park where the massive Crate & Barrel store now stands. But the hot dogs always deliver a quality bite.

Flub A Dub Chub's

Copy Link

This delightful dog slinger is partially hidden in a basement along Broadway in Lakeview, so keep an eye out. The pulled pork chub dog is a fan favorite, and so is the quarter-pound “Chubby.”

The Wiener's Circle

Copy Link

The Wiener’s Circle isn’t a joke. Sure, most of its popularity comes from the scathing insults delivered by its counter servers late at night, after the bars empty out. But that’s just a much needed checks and balances system that’s quieted many a bro through the years. In 2021, ownership unveiled a renovation that includes a back bar and patio. The classic stand remains the same with, arguably, the best char dogs in the city.

A brown sign that reads “We sells wieners.”
The Wieners Circle has been upgraded.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Gene & Jude's

Copy Link

The Depression Dog variant is what makes Gene & Jude's an institution. Stuffed with french fries, this variant gives Chicagoans a reason to visit the suburbs.

A row of Depression Dogs on a counter. Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Fixin’ Franks/Home Depot

Copy Link

Not all Home Depots are created equal. There are six in Chicago (Avondale, Bucktown, Chatham, West Rogers Park, Chatham) and five in the suburbs (Evanston, Mount Prospect, two in Niles, Oak Lawn), all with special hot dog stands supplied by Makowski Sausage, a beloved South Side sausage maker. Fixin’ Franks also sells wagyu sausages from Vander Farms.

Chicago's Dog House

Copy Link

The spiritual successor to Hot Doug's is often on the summer festival circuit. But stop by Chicago’s Dog House’s Lincoln Park location for the full arsenal of sausages named for local celebrities, including the Chance the Snapper Dog, which contains smoked alligator sausage, caramelized onions and sweet chili sauce.

Chicago’s Dog House [Official Photo]

Redhot Ranch

Copy Link

Red Hot Ranch’s all-natural sausages with their casing that just has enough bite are no longer a secret. The double dog is the way to go, as the sausages are a bit slimmer than at most places. There’s a second location in Lakeview, and, on the South Side, the same owners run 35th Street Dogs near Sox Park which has an identical menu.

Original Jimmy's Red Hots

Copy Link

Jimmy's has instituted a complete ban on ketchup since it opened in 1954. Instead, customers can dip their fries in a house-made habanero hot sauce. In a small concession to changing times, Jimmy’s now serves a veggie dog.

Lola’s Coney Island

Copy Link

A love letter to Detroit, Lola’s Coney Island is a small restaurant that imports hot dogs, chili (from the National Chili Company, if you’re partisan), Better Made potato chips, Faygo, and Sanders bumpy cake from the Motor City. The stand also sells traditional Chicago-style red hots and a truly lovely avgolemono soup.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Fatso's Last Stand

Copy Link

Grilling a hot dog isn't a novice's task. The counter crew at Fatso's are experts: its char dog is one of the best in the city. The West Town staple now has a Lincoln Park location.

Fatso’s Last Stand [Official Photo]

Duk's Red HOTS

Copy Link

There used to be 16 locations of this chain and now only one remains along Ashland in West Town. Duk’s was famously threatened by Disney attorneys angry about the stand’s original name “Donald Duk’s.” The stand has a modest patio is open late. They serve Vienna Beef and also deep-fry their sausages, as opposed to the traditional boil or grilling methods. They don’t make places like this anymore. 

A hot dog stand’s patio area in the sun. Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago

Liberation Kitchen

Copy Link

The quest for a vegan hot dog is one that comes with much peril. The sausage needs the right texture and cooked properly. The bun is also not an easy feat to execute. Upton’s Naturals, the vegan food company, knows this and has applied their commitment to quality at their restaurant, Liberation Kitchen. The Chicago-style Updog is almost a perfect copy of the original hot dog, and the toppings are expertly applied. For a true “dragged through the garden” experience, order online. This isn’t just for vegans. Omnivores looking to reduce their meat consumption would be wise to enjoy.

The Hot Dog Box

Copy Link

The father-daughter team of Bobby and Brooklyn Morelli became a sensation shortly after they opened their first location at Boxville, the shipping container complex in Bronzeville. The duo have since moved operations to the North Side to Portage Park. Selections include a signature filet mignon dog and salmon and vegan varieties.

A person’s hand reaches out with a hot dog in a bun. Daija Guy/Eater Chicago

Devil Dawgs on State

Copy Link

Started near outside the Fullerton El stop as compensation for the loss of Demon Dogs, a beloved hot dog stand/shrine to the band Chicago, Devil Dawgs satisfied the neighborhood’s yearning for great hot dogs and fresh-cut fries (if not light rock) before moving downtown. There are now additional locations in Lakeview, the Gold Coast, and Wicker Park.

Lulu's Hot Dogs

Copy Link

This classic hot dog spot near UIC has been around since 1968. In addition to Italian beef, gyros, and Polish sausages, it serves the elusive turkey leg, a classic but nowadays seldom seen Chicago street food.

Dave's Red Hots

Copy Link

Chicago’s oldest hot dog stand has been open since the early 1930s and has always been a family-owned business: first the Kaplans, then the Karms, and now the Fountains. The Karms originally refused to serve their hot dogs with any condiments besides mustard, pickles, and peppers, but restrictions have loosened over the years. Still, no ketchup is allowed.

The Duck Inn

Copy Link

The Duck Inn's duck fat dog is the kind of mad scientist genius diners have come to expect from chef Kevin Hickey, who led two restaurants to Michelin stars before opening his own place in 2014. The hybrid beef/duck link is a welcome addition to Chicago's hot dog landscape.

Duck Inn [Official Photo]

Maxwell Street Depot

Copy Link

While developers continue to reshape 31st Street, much to the chagrin of many locals, Maxwell Street Depot continues to serve Polish and hot dogs 24 hours a day.

Fred & Jack's

Copy Link

Since its humble beginnings as a push cart around 70 years ago, this Chicago hot dog stand has been serving the West Chatham community. It’s been around so long since the original owner, Jack Gullickson, purchased his kitchen equipment from Ray Kroc when the McDonald’s founder was still a humble salesman. The hot dogs and fixings are a little sweeter than at other stands, but everything is top-notch down to the sport pepper. There’s also plenty of Mexican fare, as the store is now owned by the El Gran Burrito chain.

A color photo of the Fred & Jack’s hot dog stand. Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Loading comments...

Superdawg Drive-In

The special Superdawg proprietary all-beef sausage is perfectly complemented by pickled tomatoes. Enjoy it in the privacy of your car at one of the city’s only true drive-ins while admiring anthropomorphic sausage mascots Maury and Flaury, based on the stand’s owners. There’s also a suburban location in Wheeling.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Wolfy's

There's a certain joy driving down Peterson and seeing that iconic Wolfy's sign with the fork and lights. The jumbo char dog is the proper choice here.

Wolfy’s [Official Photo]

Byron's Hot Dogs

Byron's boiled dogs are probably one of the best examples of the Chicago-style dog. The empire may have shrunk — at one time Byron's had locations in front of Wrigley Field and in Lincoln Park where the massive Crate & Barrel store now stands. But the hot dogs always deliver a quality bite.

Flub A Dub Chub's

This delightful dog slinger is partially hidden in a basement along Broadway in Lakeview, so keep an eye out. The pulled pork chub dog is a fan favorite, and so is the quarter-pound “Chubby.”

The Wiener's Circle

The Wiener’s Circle isn’t a joke. Sure, most of its popularity comes from the scathing insults delivered by its counter servers late at night, after the bars empty out. But that’s just a much needed checks and balances system that’s quieted many a bro through the years. In 2021, ownership unveiled a renovation that includes a back bar and patio. The classic stand remains the same with, arguably, the best char dogs in the city.

A brown sign that reads “We sells wieners.”
The Wieners Circle has been upgraded.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Gene & Jude's

The Depression Dog variant is what makes Gene & Jude's an institution. Stuffed with french fries, this variant gives Chicagoans a reason to visit the suburbs.

A row of Depression Dogs on a counter. Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Fixin’ Franks/Home Depot

Not all Home Depots are created equal. There are six in Chicago (Avondale, Bucktown, Chatham, West Rogers Park, Chatham) and five in the suburbs (Evanston, Mount Prospect, two in Niles, Oak Lawn), all with special hot dog stands supplied by Makowski Sausage, a beloved South Side sausage maker. Fixin’ Franks also sells wagyu sausages from Vander Farms.

Chicago's Dog House

The spiritual successor to Hot Doug's is often on the summer festival circuit. But stop by Chicago’s Dog House’s Lincoln Park location for the full arsenal of sausages named for local celebrities, including the Chance the Snapper Dog, which contains smoked alligator sausage, caramelized onions and sweet chili sauce.

Chicago’s Dog House [Official Photo]

Redhot Ranch

Red Hot Ranch’s all-natural sausages with their casing that just has enough bite are no longer a secret. The double dog is the way to go, as the sausages are a bit slimmer than at most places. There’s a second location in Lakeview, and, on the South Side, the same owners run 35th Street Dogs near Sox Park which has an identical menu.

Original Jimmy's Red Hots

Jimmy's has instituted a complete ban on ketchup since it opened in 1954. Instead, customers can dip their fries in a house-made habanero hot sauce. In a small concession to changing times, Jimmy’s now serves a veggie dog.

Lola’s Coney Island

A love letter to Detroit, Lola’s Coney Island is a small restaurant that imports hot dogs, chili (from the National Chili Company, if you’re partisan), Better Made potato chips, Faygo, and Sanders bumpy cake from the Motor City. The stand also sells traditional Chicago-style red hots and a truly lovely avgolemono soup.

Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Fatso's Last Stand

Grilling a hot dog isn't a novice's task. The counter crew at Fatso's are experts: its char dog is one of the best in the city. The West Town staple now has a Lincoln Park location.

Fatso’s Last Stand [Official Photo]

Duk's Red HOTS

There used to be 16 locations of this chain and now only one remains along Ashland in West Town. Duk’s was famously threatened by Disney attorneys angry about the stand’s original name “Donald Duk’s.” The stand has a modest patio is open late. They serve Vienna Beef and also deep-fry their sausages, as opposed to the traditional boil or grilling methods. They don’t make places like this anymore. 

A hot dog stand’s patio area in the sun. Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago

Liberation Kitchen

The quest for a vegan hot dog is one that comes with much peril. The sausage needs the right texture and cooked properly. The bun is also not an easy feat to execute. Upton’s Naturals, the vegan food company, knows this and has applied their commitment to quality at their restaurant, Liberation Kitchen. The Chicago-style Updog is almost a perfect copy of the original hot dog, and the toppings are expertly applied. For a true “dragged through the garden” experience, order online. This isn’t just for vegans. Omnivores looking to reduce their meat consumption would be wise to enjoy.

The Hot Dog Box

The father-daughter team of Bobby and Brooklyn Morelli became a sensation shortly after they opened their first location at Boxville, the shipping container complex in Bronzeville. The duo have since moved operations to the North Side to Portage Park. Selections include a signature filet mignon dog and salmon and vegan varieties.

A person’s hand reaches out with a hot dog in a bun. Daija Guy/Eater Chicago

Related Maps

Devil Dawgs on State

Started near outside the Fullerton El stop as compensation for the loss of Demon Dogs, a beloved hot dog stand/shrine to the band Chicago, Devil Dawgs satisfied the neighborhood’s yearning for great hot dogs and fresh-cut fries (if not light rock) before moving downtown. There are now additional locations in Lakeview, the Gold Coast, and Wicker Park.

Lulu's Hot Dogs

This classic hot dog spot near UIC has been around since 1968. In addition to Italian beef, gyros, and Polish sausages, it serves the elusive turkey leg, a classic but nowadays seldom seen Chicago street food.

Dave's Red Hots

Chicago’s oldest hot dog stand has been open since the early 1930s and has always been a family-owned business: first the Kaplans, then the Karms, and now the Fountains. The Karms originally refused to serve their hot dogs with any condiments besides mustard, pickles, and peppers, but restrictions have loosened over the years. Still, no ketchup is allowed.

The Duck Inn

The Duck Inn's duck fat dog is the kind of mad scientist genius diners have come to expect from chef Kevin Hickey, who led two restaurants to Michelin stars before opening his own place in 2014. The hybrid beef/duck link is a welcome addition to Chicago's hot dog landscape.

Duck Inn [Official Photo]

Maxwell Street Depot

While developers continue to reshape 31st Street, much to the chagrin of many locals, Maxwell Street Depot continues to serve Polish and hot dogs 24 hours a day.

Fred & Jack's

Since its humble beginnings as a push cart around 70 years ago, this Chicago hot dog stand has been serving the West Chatham community. It’s been around so long since the original owner, Jack Gullickson, purchased his kitchen equipment from Ray Kroc when the McDonald’s founder was still a humble salesman. The hot dogs and fixings are a little sweeter than at other stands, but everything is top-notch down to the sport pepper. There’s also plenty of Mexican fare, as the store is now owned by the El Gran Burrito chain.

A color photo of the Fred & Jack’s hot dog stand. Kim Kovacik/Eater Chicago

Related Maps