The last couple of times I've been there I was extremely disappointed in the hot dogs. Don't think they deserve their reputation at all. I would pass on them.iblock9 wrote:Mustard's Last Stand
1613 Central Street
Evanston, IL, 60201
(847) 864-2700
a Northwestern and evanston institution in the shade of Dyche Stadium.
I still love Portillo's hot dogs and especially the Italian Beef. Their grilled chicken and fried chicken sandwiches have gone way downhill. Still love the onion rings and always order your fries well done.Portillo's
9400 Skokie Boulevard
Skokie, IL, 60076
(847) 933-0700
Corporate dog maligned by many but will do in a pinch when you need a dog late or just want a drive thru z
The hot dog there is a Red Hot Chicago and the last time I remember having it, it was good.Wilmette
Irvings for Red Hot Lovers
3207 Lake Avenue
Wilmette, IL, 60091
(847) 251-6300
Used to be a favorite of mine but has declined over the years since Irving died. Still a serviceable dog.
Need to check them out.Glenview
fRedhots & Fries
1707 Chestnut Ave
Glenview, IL, 60025
(847) 657-9200
New arrival and GNR award recipient. Exotic dogs, great fries with dipping sauces.
I grew up in Highland Park and this was my main hot dog joint from age 7 to 18. In my opinion Michael's peaked in the 80's when they were getting big reviews all the time, but they don't seem to be as good as before. They're still not bad though. Decent burgers.Highland Park
Michael's
1879 2nd St
Highland Park, IL, 60035
(847) 432-3338
Hot dog emporium that has grown from a small counter in the 70s to a mega-stand serving dogs, fries and everything in between. I find Michael's to be consistently good, not perfect.
It seemed in Highland Park you were either a Michael's fan or a Stash's fan. I rarely went to Stash's and never liked it. However nowadays it's not bad at all.Stash's
610 Central Ave
Highland Park, IL, 60035
(847) 432-6550
When Stash owned the restaurant it was much better but the fries are still pretty good. Huge menu.
Always! Great list, you have it covered well. They really should rename Dempster St. to Hot Dog St. One day soon, I'm going to do the Dempster Hot Dog run (Poochie's, Herm's, Weiner and Still Champion). Hot Dog Island is gone, right? They were great when they were on Golf Rd.I hope this helps.
Ram4 wrote: Hot Dog Island is gone, right? They were great when they were on Golf Rd.
abqandrea wrote:For the record, I just had my very first Chicago dog
Ram4 wrote:I grew up in Highland Park and this was my main hot dog joint from age 7 to 18. In my opinion Michael's peaked in the 80's when they were getting big reviews all the time, but they don't seem to be as good as before. They're still not bad though. Decent burgers.iblock9 wrote:Highland Park
Michael's
1879 2nd St
Highland Park, IL, 60035
(847) 432-3338
Hot dog emporium that has grown from a small counter in the 70s to a mega-stand serving dogs, fries and everything in between. I find Michael's to be consistently good, not perfect.It seemed in Highland Park you were either a Michael's fan or a Stash's fan. I rarely went to Stash's and never liked it. However nowadays it's not bad at all.iblock9 wrote:Stash's
610 Central Ave
Highland Park, IL, 60035
(847) 432-6550
When Stash owned the restaurant it was much better but the fries are still pretty good. Huge menu.
LAZ wrote:Natural casing Vienna dog, poppyseed bun, pickle, tomatoes, onion, mustard, sport peppers, neon relish, celery salt at The Dog House, a seasonal walk-up stand in Irving Park. There are a few picnic tables if you want to eat there.
The Dog House
4501 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630S
(773) 205-2050
In September 2004, the last time I was at The Dog House, they were using skinless Vienna Beef. Now that they switched to natural casing I will stop for a dog soon.Rene G wrote:I wonder when they switched to Vienna Beef. They used to serve Red Hot Chicago dogs.
April 2009
Da Beef wrote:There really arent that many place's that do it to the exact specifications. Budacki's drive-in has a really good Chicago dog (cheap too) with all the necessities but the poppy steamed bun and maybe the relish, which I always order w/o anyway so I wouldnt know.
TonyC wrote:Can someone "explain" Budacki's to me? I've never been.
TonyC wrote:
Can someone "explain" Budacki's to me? I've never been.
Choey wrote:In Chicago, decent hotdogs are fungible.
TonyC wrote:Da Beef wrote:There really arent that many place's that do it to the exact specifications. Budacki's drive-in has a really good Chicago dog (cheap too) with all the necessities but the poppy steamed bun and maybe the relish, which I always order w/o anyway so I wouldnt know.
I'm bumping because Budacki's has somehow opened a Los Angeles branch, next to USC of all places. And Budacki's, beyond the Bourdain mentions, don't really appear on the board, aside from the casual chicken wings mention ( )
Can someone "explain" Budacki's to me? I've never been.
TonyC wrote:Da Beef wrote:There really arent that many place's that do it to the exact specifications. Budacki's drive-in has a really good Chicago dog (cheap too) with all the necessities but the poppy steamed bun and maybe the relish, which I always order w/o anyway so I wouldnt know.
I'm bumping because Budacki's has somehow opened a Los Angeles branch, next to USC of all places. And Budacki's, beyond the Bourdain mentions, don't really appear on the board, aside from the casual chicken wings mention ( )
Can someone "explain" Budacki's to me? I've never been.
chitrader wrote:Yep, I saw that too. But it seems from the comments here that I won't make a special trip for it.
TonyC wrote:thanks team! i especially enjoyed the Portillo reference.
TonyC wrote:thanks team! i especially enjoyed the Portillo reference.chitrader wrote:Yep, I saw that too. But it seems from the comments here that I won't make a special trip for it.
O, but what if we made a "meet-n-greet" out of it? and they have beer. BEER. And Beef!!
I think I'll drop by the next time we hit the shuttle exhibit. 'SC area has far and few good eats.
stevez wrote:Next time I'm out there, we'll do a side by side taste test. I'm curious how Cali-Budacki's compares to Cali-Portillo's. (Do they pronounce Portillo's correctly out there, or is it pronounced as a Hispanicsized Porteeeyo's?)
JeffB wrote:An possibly important thing people are leaving out - and why it might make sense in LA and might make sense to have good wings - Budacki's is Korean owned and operated....[/b]
OC? I think there's a thread for that. Also another one on PHXeater.Tony, headed your way soon. Ws just in LA/SM for a quick trip that involved no good eats. So, where to eat in the OC?
riddlemay wrote:On the Brown Line recently, as it was making its way around the Loop, some young Eastern European tourists asked me (I must have looked like an authority of some sort) where they could find a good Chicago hot dog somewhere near their stop, which was Randolph and Wabash. Searching my memory bank, the best answer I came up with was Gold Coast Dogs, just north of that stop.
What answer would you have given? I'm asking in case any young Eastern European tourists who are getting off the Brown Line at Randolph and Wabash ever ask me about hot dogs again.