This 50 year old institution on Devon and Milwaukee Avenues remains truly amazing. Turning fast food into the sublime, Superdawg combines all the qualities of the standard Chicago hot dog (no ketchup, kosher pickle, celery salt, mustard, onion, and relish) while adding a few superdawg classics: the tomatillo, hot peppers (known as sport peppers in the Chicago restaurant industry), and a special atomic green relish. (The tomatillo, by the way, is traditionally set aside by teens who will later "whip them" out of the car at passerby.) The whole concoction is heaped on 2 classic bases: the Sinai 48 kosher dog (with skin that bites back) and the poppyseed-studded Maryann bun. It all "lounges comfortably on a bed of superfries," in a retro box depicting the Superdawg himself on a lounge chair. The fries are damn near close to the best in chicago.
Best of all, this 40's style drive-in still offers car hop service. It's busy all year round. All action is supervised by the same short order cooks who've been working on the Superdawg line for decades. Presiding over this empire of the automobile age are Florrie and Morrie, the 2 gigantic hotdogs with (slightly demonic) glowing and winking eyes. The whole place, upgraded but never changed substantially, is pure 50s chic. The wonderous storefront was the set for the opening credits of the short-lived TV series, Crime Story. I've spent my whole life going to this place and there's simply nothing to compare. I've been there in the Vista Cruiser with mom and dad; hung out with my teen friends in the 69 Chevelle, and now take visiting kids and friends in the Caddy. Embodying the extraordinary beauty of the everyday, Superdawg is one proof of the existence of god.
A note about Chicago hot dogs: order ketchup and prepare to be mocked by anyone present, including the folks taking your money. When forced by traumatic circumstance to order a dog with ketchup, most Chicagoans will loudly explain to anyone listening "sorry, they don't know any better." On this point, Superdawg will cave in to the pressures of market capitalism by offering ketchup packets (when pressed) but refusing to apply ketchup to their product in any way.