Hot dog toppings

[tower912]

Anything goes, depending on my mood.  Guac and salsa?   Love it.   My general go to is catsup, sweet relish, onion cheese.

Foot long chili with onions and cheese?  Woot

Don't like it?   Who cares?   Make it your own damn way.

[Galway Eagle]

Gotta have a good snap.

I love a Chicago dog, but really underrated is a KC dog at dog haus

[4everwarriors]

Anything goes, depending on my mood.  Guac and salsa?   Love it.   My general go to is catsup, sweet relish, onion cheese.

Foot long chili with onions and cheese?  Woot

Don't like it?   Who cares?   Make it your own damn way.

Eye sea yur bedder, hey?

[tower912]

Not done yet.   Light at the end of the tunnel may not be a locomotive.


Hot dog toppings related....
Local legendary chili dog restaurant licensed their sauce to a local microbrewery/pizza joint.   The result is a chili dog pizza.   Hot dogs, secret sauce, mustard, onions, cheddar.  Had to try it once just to say I did it.   Pretty good.

[shoothoops]

I am open to any hot dog toppings, or non toppings, whatever one likes.

I don't eat hot dogs all that often these days, but no hot dog experience was better than when I was 4 years old in kindergarten. My mom would pick me up from school at lunch and sometimes she would take me to the nearby Dairy Queen.

After ordering at DQ, they gave me a tray and I would walk down the assembly line watching them make my food. There were grill marks on the hot dog, golden crisp hot fries, and we'd go sit by the window and enjoy a nice lunch and chat. Then, when the meal was over, we would walk up and hand the employee a silver coin, that they gave me with my meal. And then they'd give me a hot fudge sundae. It was a pretty great hot dog experience. 👍

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Plain.

[lawdog77]

Every time I am in Chicago, I have to go to the Wiener's Circle (it may not be the best, but it's a habit I started when living in Chicago in the early 90's). Just get 3 of the traditional chicago dogs, hate their fries and chees BTW. Used to always hit Hot Dougs (well actually would have my assistant wait in line for them). Love me some chilidogs as well.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm pretty open to anything. But I have to admit there's something deliciously nostalgic about a hot dog in a bun with nothing but ketchup and mustard. How my mom made them growing up, never had any complaints.

[Galway Eagle]

Every time I am in Chicago, I have to go to the Wiener's Circle (it may not be the best, but it's a habit I started when living in Chicago in the early 90's). Just get 3 of the traditional chicago dogs, hate their fries and chees BTW. Used to always hit Hot Dougs (well actually would have my assistant wait in line for them). Love me some chilidogs as well.

Honestly as much of a gimmick that the wiener circle is i think they do a solid dog.

[Skatastrophy]

Best hot dog is after a long day hiking when you're camping, roasted over a fire. The best chicago dog is the hot dog stand in front of the Shedd museum on a hot day. Third best is Devil Dawgs, but mostly because of their milkshakes. Forth best is Downtown Dogs, there's a reason there's a line of construction guys outside during normal times.

Anything goes on a hotdog. Even pigs-in-a-blanket like my dad made (a dog wrapped in Pillsbury biscuit dough) are awesome.

I agree with Chicago style dog zealots, though, that if you already have tomatoes + relish on a dog then ketchup is no longer needed. Both are accomplishing sweet + acidic.

Whomever said "plain" up above likes the crust cut off their sandwiches.

[GooooMarquette]

(Cheating)

I haven't eaten a hot dog in maybe 20 years. [ducks...]

But when I have a brat (ai'na), it's grainy brown mustard and some sautéed onions and peppers.

[Coleman]

Chicago dog, dragged thru the garden (everything on it)

[Coleman]

Every time I am in Chicago, I have to go to the Wiener's Circle (it may not be the best, but it's a habit I started when living in Chicago in the early 90's). Just get 3 of the traditional chicago dogs, hate their fries and chees BTW. Used to always hit Hot Dougs (well actually would have my assistant wait in line for them). Love me some chilidogs as well.

Do you get the chocolate shake?

[MU82]

Anything goes, depending on my mood.  Guac and salsa?   Love it.   My general go to is catsup, sweet relish, onion cheese.

Foot long chili with onions and cheese?  Woot

Don't like it?   Who cares?   Make it your own damn way.

I just had a chili dog last night!

High quality natural-casing hot dog from a company called Hofmann's (they sell 'em in 6-packs at our local Publix, but here's a link: https://hofmannsausage.com/just-german-franks-small.html) ... topped with my wife's home-made chili (we had a big bowl of it the night before, but I made sure I put some aside cuz I knew I was gonna have a chili dog the next day) ... chopped onions ... shaved cheddar ... on a quality hot dog bun.

Wow, it was good.

Otherwise, when no chili is available, I'm a basic guy -- spicy brown mustard, sweet relish, onion. Sometimes I'll dice a tomato and throw it on there, too. Never ketchup, though I have nothing against those who use ketchup; several of my family do.

+++

Related ...

When we lived in Chicago, my son worked at a Lincoln Park place called America's Dog, right across the street from the Children's Hospital. Started as just a peon when he was a teen but eventually became asst manager and then manager for a couple years. Their schtick was that they had dogs from all around the country (supposedly): Chicago, NY, Philly, Buffalo, Detroit, etc, etc, etc. I tried a few and they were all good -- as good as any in town -- because they used very high quality dogs and fresh buns. Great onion rings, too. When Children's decided to move downtown, the owner knew his main clientele would be gone, so he ended up getting out of the business.

We didn't live far from Hot Doug's and I liked their dogs but I thought they were a little overrated. I mean, they were hot dogs, certainly no better than where my son worked. Their schtick was that on Fridays they had duck-fat fries. People would start lining up when they opened on Fridays for those ... but I thought they were very greasy and somewhat limp. I like a nice crisp fry.

Wieners Circle's dogs are fine. And they certainly have their own schtick. I always thought Portillo's served a solid dog. At lunch time, the Vienna Beef place on Damen served dogs - quite good.

[Galway Eagle]

I just had a chili dog last night!

High quality natural-casing hot dog from a company called Hofmann's (they sell 'em in 6-packs at our local Publix, but here's a link: https://hofmannsausage.com/just-german-franks-small.html) ... topped with my wife's home-made chili (we had a big bowl of it the night before, but I made sure I put some aside cuz I knew I was gonna have a chili dog the next day) ... chopped onions ... shaved cheddar ... on a quality hot dog bun.

Wow, it was good.

Otherwise, when no chili is available, I'm a basic guy -- spicy brown mustard, sweet relish, onion. Sometimes I'll dice a tomato and throw it on there, too. Never ketchup, though I have nothing against those who use ketchup; several of my family do.

+++

Related ...

When we lived in Chicago, my son worked at a Lincoln Park place called America's Dog, right across the street from the Children's Hospital. Started as just a peon when he was a teen but eventually became asst manager and then manager for a couple years. Their schtick was that they had dogs from all around the country (supposedly): Chicago, NY, Philly, Buffalo, Detroit, etc, etc, etc. I tried a few and they were all good -- as good as any in town -- because they used very high quality dogs and fresh buns. Great onion rings, too. When Children's decided to move downtown, the owner knew his main clientele would be gone, so he ended up getting out of the business.

We didn't live far from Hot Doug's and I liked their dogs but I thought they were a little overrated. I mean, they were hot dogs, certainly no better than where my son worked. Their schtick was that on Fridays they had duck-fat fries. People would start lining up when they opened on Fridays for those ... but I thought they were very greasy and somewhat limp. I like a nice crisp fry.

Wieners Circle's dogs are fine. And they certainly have their own schtick. I always thought Portillo's served a solid dog. At lunch time, the Vienna Beef place on Damen served dogs - quite good.

America Dog moved across from Halligan's for a bit. I know it's not there anymore but I used to meet a girl I was dating at Lincoln Park and walk there for lunch.

[lawdog77]

I just had a chili dog last night!

High quality natural-casing hot dog from a company called Hofmann's (they sell 'em in 6-packs at our local Publix, but here's a link: https://hofmannsausage.com/just-german-franks-small.html) ... topped with my wife's home-made chili (we had a big bowl of it the night before, but I made sure I put some aside cuz I knew I was gonna have a chili dog the next day) ... chopped onions ... shaved cheddar ... on a quality hot dog bun.

Wow, it was good.

Otherwise, when no chili is available, I'm a basic guy -- spicy brown mustard, sweet relish, onion. Sometimes I'll dice a tomato and throw it on there, too. Never ketchup, though I have nothing against those who use ketchup; several of my family do.

+++

Related ...

When we lived in Chicago, my son worked at a Lincoln Park place called America's Dog, right across the street from the Children's Hospital. Started as just a peon when he was a teen but eventually became asst manager and then manager for a couple years. Their schtick was that they had dogs from all around the country (supposedly): Chicago, NY, Philly, Buffalo, Detroit, etc, etc, etc. I tried a few and they were all good -- as good as any in town -- because they used very high quality dogs and fresh buns. Great onion rings, too. When Children's decided to move downtown, the owner knew his main clientele would be gone, so he ended up getting out of the business.

We didn't live far from Hot Doug's and I liked their dogs but I thought they were a little overrated. I mean, they were hot dogs, certainly no better than where my son worked. Their schtick was that on Fridays they had duck-fat fries. People would start lining up when they opened on Fridays for those ... but I thought they were very greasy and somewhat limp. I like a nice crisp fry.

Wieners Circle's dogs are fine. And they certainly have their own schtick. I always thought Portillo's served a solid dog. At lunch time, the Vienna Beef place on Damen served dogs - quite good.

At Hot Dougs, I always ordered the unique encased meats, like Merguez or Duck Sausage.

[MU82]

America Dog moved across from Halligan's for a bit. I know it's not there anymore but I used to meet a girl I was dating at Lincoln Park and walk there for lunch.

Yep, that's the one.

Hopefully the place got your date in the mood!

[Billy Hoyle]

Love a good Detroit style Coney dog...without the onions.

Or pulled pork on top. Had that at a late night Austin food cart.

For a everyday dog, bbq sauce.

[MU82]

At Hot Dougs, I always ordered the unique encased meats, like Merguez or Duck Sausage.

Yeah, I had the duck sausage once and it was real good. I also couldn't resist buying a t-shirt that said, "There are no finer words in the English language than Encased Meats, my friend."

[Dish]

Do you get the chocolate shake?

I see what you did there.

[Galway Eagle]

Do you get the chocolate shake?

I had a cousin come visit from Ireland and took him there when someone ordered one. He still talks about seeing that like it was the wildest thing that's ever.

[lawdog77]

Do you get the chocolate shake?

There are children present!

[CreightonWarrior]

Local place here makes a great Crab Rangoon hotdog

[ZiggysFryBoy]

I just had a chili dog last night!

Wow, it was good.

I bet it was.

[Dish]

I know it's hot dog toppings as the topic, here's my unofficial Chicago hot dog place takes.

-If you grew up in Chicago or the burbs, the best hot dog place will always be the one you went to as a kid. For me, that was Tommy's in Glendale Heights. Recipe is still the same today as it was 30 years ago. It's not the best, but for me, I enjoy still because it's a total comfort meal.

-To me, SuperDawg is the best hot dog in the Chicago area. Fries are so key to a good dog, SuperDawgs doesn't disappoint.

-Portillo's dog is solid and reliable, has more snap than most other places.

-Gene & Judes gets my "Overrated" chant.

-My wife (when we were dating) lived by the old Hot Doug's location (before the fire burnt it down). Always thought the hype was too much, and while good, not worth the wait.

-Paradise Pup in Des Plaines is quality.

Places that wrap the fries in the hot dog, I don't mind getting just ketchup on the dog then. The heat from the dog/fries melts the ketchup into the fries, it's enjoyable in my opinion.