Hot Doug's

Hot dog themed decorations, horribly corny jokes and the irresistible smell of encased meat drifting down the block are three things to describe the fun, casual atmosphere of Chicago's most famous hot dog stand.  Hot Doug's tops most lists rating the best Chicago-Style hot dogs and I had been planning to visit the restaurant in Roscoe Village for quite some time now.  Doug, the stand owner, recently announced that the stand would be closing for good on October 3rd.  Nothing like a time constraint to coerce you into finally crossing something off of your to-do list!  (And yes, I do have a to-do list for food...)

A few friends and I made the long trek up to the North-side and were all very excited to visit such a famous spot in Chicago.  Parking was fairly accessible and as we walked closer to the stand, the line seemed to go on even longer and longer.  The line did not seem to be moving very fast and we mentally prepared ourselves for the long wait.  It was a little comforting that the line seemed a bit shorter than some of the horror stories that I read about on Yelp, where diners waited over two hours to consume a few hot dogs.  The wait is bearable if you bring quality friends.  If you do not, I would advise you to find some or go alone and bring a book or a crossword puzzle.  Luckily, I brought pretty spectacular friends so I left my Sudoku puzzles and coloring book in the car.

After we finally made it into the restaurant, it was time to order.  My recommendation is to be brave and adventurous.  Their special menu features a variety of meats, ranging from pork to alligator.  Try one of the celebrity dogs on the special menu and you will not be disappointed.  Each dog on the special menu features an unique selection of flavors that combine spice and sweetness with the savory taste of the grilled sausage.  I chose the Jimmy Clausen which is a baked ham sausage topped with mango salsa, smoked Gouda cheese and cherry mustard.  As a huge fan of both ham and mango but having had neither together in the same meal, I was blown away by the combination.  Each topping was amazing and played up the savory flavors of the baked ham.  I would definitely recommend it to diners who are looking for a great sweet and savory combination.  The mango salsa was deliciously fresh and crisp.

As for the sides, the fries are a good size to split with friends.  We went on a Thursday so we were not able to try the duck fat fries because they are only served on Fridays and Saturdays.  Disappointing but not too bad considering the hot dog was pretty filling.  There was nothing too spectacular about the regular fries but they are good nonetheless. 

It is truly amazing that Doug himself takes your order.  He makes the customer feel special and by doing so, he creates a more authentic experience for diners.  This is the reason why Chicago residents love this hot dog stand so much.  His continued presence has enabled him to connect emotionally with thousands of diners each year, continuously evoking the strong support and following of Chicago hot dog lovers.  Doug will be truly missed when the stand closes for good in October.

There is also a rumor that diners are eligible for free hot dogs for life after getting a Hot Doug's permanent tattoo.  Like many tattoos and several UChicago classes, it sounds alright in theory but has horrible repercussions in real life.  My advice? The stand is closing in October so the 60 or so free hot dogs are probably not worth a lifetime of explaining why you have a tattoo of a hot dog stand in permanent ink to future employers, significant others or family members.  Up to you.

Overall, I am happy to finally cross it off my to-do list but I doubt I will go back before final closing.  I am glad that I visited such a famous Chicago hot dog stand but I was underwhelmed with the uniqueness of the establishment minus a few key components.  The closest comparison to Hot Doug's would have to be Frank 'N Dawgs in Lincoln Park.  Frank 'N Dawgs is closer to the Loop, accepts credit cards and features healthier ingredients.  There is also no line and the restaurant is BYOB.  However, Hot Doug's has a completely different atmosphere and the line allows for a shared sense of anticipation between random diners.  The exotic flavors, such as alligator, differ Hot Doug's from the stereotypical Chicago hot dog stand.  As mentioned before, Doug taking customers' orders is also an authentic part of the visit that cannot be recreated at any other encased meat establishment.

Doug, we'll miss you.


Mary

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