Hot Dog Heaven: Hot Doug's

Hello Everybody. One of my primary interests in life, as documented by the 'good eat's' section of FeldmanHood, is (you guessed it), 'eatin' good', even exceptionally if possible. This post connotes that of the latter's quality. I went to hot dog heaven, and am back to document it.

While Chicago has provided many exceptional eating experiences (refer to the 'CHI' section of, good eats..) in my career here, that is to be expected. The 'the second city' offers the full gamut of culinary options. However, it is of note, that while Chicago competes with New York and other worldly cities with top-flight restaurants, the city is associated more-so with grub than with gourmet. From The Billy Goat

Taver SNL skit, made famous by exulted Chicagoan John Belushi, to the Wiener Circle, a downtown institution, Chicago is known to serve (politely or not), hot dogs. Further to the point, within a mile of the titular hot dog heaven is Kuma's Corner, a would be hamburger heaven, if not for slightly stiffer competition.

Hot Doug's though is the reason we are here. I've eaten at said variety of Chicago restaurants. And while I've had superb experiences at many, I reserve blog posts only for the truly worthy, the other-wordily; Hot Doug's more then meets my criteria.

To set things strait, Chicago has more hot dogs available than any city in America, I'll venture. Some hairy relationship regulates only 'Vienna Beef' style hot dogs to be sold in the city. And sold they are. Placed anywhere in the Chicago-land area, one can be confident a hot dog vendor is no more than a 2 minute drive away (from my experience).

Hot Doug's is no different. Their regular menu features only variations on Vienna Beef dogs. Nothing to write home about there. The specials menu though, is what lifts the experience from earthly to heavenly.

Below I've copied two specials menus. One lifted from a random Sacramento food blog, and the current one (as of this week) with the ones we ordered circled.

My apologies for those hard of sight for my lack of enlargement. For conversations sake, no selection on the left special menu appears on the right special menu. Further, having been to Hot Doug (heaven) only last Saturday (two days ago), 2/7 burgers we feasted on are already expired.

The general essence is of an 'encased meat' (not Vienna beef, or necessarily beef at all), topped with toppings and cheese. One of our favorites was the 'Teriyaki and Mandarin Orange Chicken Sausage with Spicy Peanut Sauce, Caraway Havarti Cheese and Toasted Coconut'. Less exotic, but no less angelic was 'The Sonoran Dog: Jalepeno and Cheddar Beef Dog with Jalepeno Mayonaisse, Jalepeno Bacon, Pinto Beans, Tomatoes and Onions.

My final words though are a warning. Arriving at Hot Doug's around 9:50 in the AM, we were served within about 10 minutes of the 10:30 opening. However, leaving around 11:15AM, a 30-60 minute line had developed around the building, supposedly a regular occurrence. Punch your ticket to heaven early.

(A hat with each color representing a color on the typical Chicago Vienna Beef hot dog, produced by one of Chicago's finest street-wear boutiques, LDRS)