The Definitive Chicago Style Hot Dog Recipe

Chicago Journal ^ | 8/1/21 | Chicago Journal

[DallasBiff]

Here is what you need to know to make this Chicago classic.

Vienna Beef All-Beef Frank

S. Rosen's Mary Ann Brand Poppyseed Buns

Yellow Mustard

Sweet Green Pickle Relish

Chopped White Onions

Tomato Wedges/Slices

Pickle Spear

Sport Peppers

Dash of Celery Salt

[dznutz]

And never any ketchup on a Chicago hot dog. Some places in Chicago will give you a hard time if you ask for ketchup.

Vienna had a production plant on the south side of Chicago, on Pershing Rd. & Morgan which had a small store with a deli open to the public, they sold sandwiches there. Didn’t work too far from the place so if we found the time, we would slide by and get the best corned beef sandwiches, fresh and piled high on rye bread, with mustard and a pickle.

[Fuzz]

Shrug. Certainly not hot dogs. 😁

[dznutz]

I have lived in the Chicago area nearly forty years and I still can’t deal with the neon blue-green relish. I like foods to resemble something in nature.

I always get my dogs without relish, that neon green looks radioactive, I don’t get the appeal.

[broken_clock]

Ketchup does not go with a hot dog.

[Fuzz]

https://youtu.be/5HCOAUg-ARg?si=gpLLhrwnWNywdStR

Anthony Bourdain in Chicago eating dogs.

[Fuzz]

Oh. Then I guess he does!

[Clutch Martin]

Hot dog, mustard, dill relish, cheese, wrapped in a flour tortilla. Side of frijoles chili...

[mairdie]

I’ve made them fried with the squared off buns, also fried, with cheddar cheese melted on them. But I’m having barely remembered memories of poppy seed buns and wondering if they were particularly sweet, or what.

Strange to think of onions on a hot dog. My memory of growing up in Chicago is sans onions. When Uno’s opened in the Boston area, I was remembering the lines around the block in Chicago and went right away. VERY different taste. The owner explained that they had had to change the recipe from dried onions for Chicago, to fresh onions for the Boston restaurants.

There were, of course, onions on the tiny hamburgers from White Castle, now available in the freezer dept.

[broken_clock]

Ha, I always liked that scene. My Bavarian Mom tended to have mustard, onions and pickles ready for the dogs but us kids would experiment with other condiments much to her horror ;-)

[Tijeras_Slim]

I haven’t had a decent hotdog since Howard Johnsons went under.

[P.O.E.]

HoJo’s hot dog buns were unique - crust only on the top & bottom, white sides.

I used to get their clams strip sandwiches there too.

[Some Fat Guy in L.A.]

Freddy’s used to make a decent Chicago dog, but they quit selling them. Now I don’t go to Freddy’s much.

[Rembrandt]

“I haven’t had a decent hotdog since Howard Johnsons went under.”

or fried clam strips.

[LouieFisk]

Meh - all a guy needs is the hotdog, a bun and some mustard and/or ketchup.
Making, using or consuming sauerkraut in any way, shape or form would be a capital offense if we lived in a just country.

[mairdie]

HoJo was the only place I could drink clam chowder. Something not the same at other places. LOVED their clam strips.

Another Chicago food memory is the peanut butter cookies made by the Chicago School District and available for lunch. Unique.

CPS PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE RECIPE

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups = (5 sticks OR 1 and 1/4 lbs.) unsalted softened room temperature butter
2 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups brown sugar, packed
1 pound peanut butter
3 eggs
5 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
1) Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
2) In a large bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add both sugars and mix until no granules remain, about 5 minutes. Add peanut butter and mix until combined. Add eggs; continue to beat on high speed for 1 minute.
3) Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir until well-blended.
4) Drop dough by heaping tablespoons onto greased baking sheets. Flatten the dough with the palm of your hand to form 3-inch circles that are 1/4 inch thick.
5) Bake cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned on the bottom.

Makes about 9 dozen cookies.

[Beowulf9]

Ahh your family is so delightful with their charming poetic names and things…

Jk 😆

Family traditions ❤️

[Dr. Sivana]

Hot dog, mustard, dill relish, cheese, wrapped in a flour tortilla. Side of frijoles chili...

You should try a Sonoran hot dog. They are pretty good!

[Dr. Sivana]

But I’m having barely remembered memories of poppy seed buns and wondering if they were particularly sweet, or what.

Neither the bun nor the poppy seeds are sweet.

A typical Chicago dog has chopped, uncooked onions on it/ That's part of the "drag it through the garden" experience. If any Chicago places (I lived in Chicago for 3+ years) used dried onion, I didn't notice. I wouldn't go to Uno's for a hot dog anyway. (I was a pizza cook at Edwardo's for a short period).

[Dr. Sivana]

Freddy’s used to make a decent Chicago dog, but they quit selling them. Now I don’t go to Freddy’s much.

Freddy's is actually the only place I can find in Phoenix that uses the New England style rolls. Its okay. Undersized and over-priced. If you want a Chicago Style Hot Dog from a chain, there's always Portillo's. They make an honest Chicago hot dog.

[Clutch Martin]

“You should try a Sonoran hot dog. They are pretty good!”

I have, in Arizona they are good!

Cheers!