A Chicago dog is an all-beef frank on a poppy seed bun with yellow mustard, onion, neon green relish, tomato, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt. Go to Superdawg for the drive-in, Gene & Jude's for the stripped-down depression dog and the Wiener's Circle for a late-night roasting.
What goes on a Chicago dog
All-beef frank, poppy seed bun, then "dragged through the garden": yellow mustard, chopped onion, neon green relish, tomato slices, a pickle spear, sport peppers and a shake of celery salt. Seven toppings. It's basically a salad that respects you.
Why no ketchup?
Ketchup is sweet and it bulldozes everything else on the bun. That's the honest answer. The real answer is that it's tradition and we enjoy having a rule. Ask for it and you'll probably get it, plus a look. Put it on your fries.
Superdawg, Norwood Park
A drive-in on Milwaukee Avenue with giant hot dog mascots on the roof and carhops who bring the tray to your window. It's a car place, so go with somebody driving sober, or bike it.
Gene & Jude's, River Grove
Just over the city line. This is the stripped-down depression dog: mustard, onion, relish, sport peppers and fries piled right on top. No tomato, no pickle, no argument.
The Wiener's Circle, Lincoln Park
The late-night char dog stand on Clark where the staff roasts you, you roast them back and everyone goes home happy. It's theater with a grill. Know that going in, and read the Lincoln Park guide for the rest of the block.
The dog's cousin: the Maxwell Street Polish
A grilled Polish sausage with grilled onions, mustard and sport peppers. Get it at Jim's Original on Union Avenue, which runs from morning until about 1 a.m. It stopped being a true 24-hour stand years ago, whatever your uncle says. See the West Loop guide.
Where else
Portillo's does a solid, easy dog alongside the beef. And the city is full of little family-run stands with a faded sign and a menu that covers dogs, Polish, beef, gyros and fries. The closest one is usually the right one. See Italian beef and late-night Chicago.
Next up: the Chicago neighborhood guides.
