Chicago - July 19, 2005

Hot Diggity Dog

Hot Dog Roundup

New York has the bagel. Boston has baked beans. But in this town it’s all about the wiener.

Celebrate National Hot Dog month (yep, it’s July) with a Chicago-style dawg from one of our fave venues, in no doggone order:

Head to Hot Doug’s (3324 North California Avenue, at Roscoe Street, 773-279-9550) for a red hot with sizzle. Try the Jennifer Garner Fire Dog (formerly the Britney Spears) for the low price of $2.25. (Maybe they should have left the name as was.)

Superdawg (6363 North Milwaukee Avenue, at Devon and Nagle Avenues, 773-763-0660) serves hot dogs on the fly. Drive in or call ahead to pick up your order curbside.

Go underground at Underdogg (1570 1/2 North Damen Avenue, at Milwaukee and North Avenues, 773-384-4030) for late-night (or early-morning) sustenance. Open until 5 a.m. on weekends.

The infamous Wiener’s Circle (2622 North Clark Street, between Drummond Place and Wrightwood Avenue, 773-477-7444) has cornered the R-rated market. Known for crass tongue-lashings, these sausage slingers put Chris Rock to shame.

Remember, doing it Chicago-style means no ketchup — just yellow mustard, chopped onions, green relish, two sport peppers,  tomato slices, a pickle, and a dash of celery salt.

And if you’re trying this at home, dress your dog, not your buns.