Chicago Style Hotdogs

[Biggie]

[Moved from BOston - The Chowhound Team]

I had a Chicago style dog while traveling through the city last year and I'm hooked. While I enjoy my Kayem franks every once in a while, I buy a lot of hot dogs and sausages from the Crawford Sausage Company http://www.crawfordsausage.com. Good luck finding the poppyseed bun, or those "sports peppers" - I haven't had any luck yet

[Biggie]

a hot dog should never require ketchup, unless you're under the age of four

I do have a habit of putting sriracha on my hot dogs every once in a while though :-)

[Darren72]

"a hot dog should never require ketchup, unless you're under the age of four"

Way to be accomodating! :)

[sixelagogo]

According to my father, he almost didn't ask my mother to marry him 40 years ago because while at a ballpark, she went to go get him a dog and came back with one covered in ketchup.

[sixelagogo]

Yer in good company with yer love of chicago hot dogs. They truly are the epitome of Hot Dog Heaven. It's not a weekend in Chicagoland without downing at least 3 dogs in less time than it takes me to wipe my chin of mustard.

My favorite place is a suburban chain called Portillos. After traversing all of Chicago four years ago in search of "The best Chicago dog EVER" my sister and I each agreed that Portillos knows how to do it up.

They do "gift boxes" and will ship out a chicago kit to anywhere in the US. Here's a link http://www.portillos.com/

[Darren72]

You can buy everything you need for an authentic Chicago style dog from http://www.viennabeef.com/

Vienna Beef is the supplier to most of the traditional corner hot dog places in Chicago. This is the exact same stuff (they even have the bright green relish). They have gift packs that include everything...buns, condiments, etc.

[Akatonbo]

I was glad to see they include the celery salt - absolutely essential. Now, it's my opinion that a Chicago dog should never include ketchup - am I right?

[Darren72]

Correct. Although since this is chowhound and people love to fight about what's "right", I'd say ketchup is not traditionally on a Chicago style hot dog, but some people like it. :)

In fact, I remember that if you asked for ketchup at Fluky's (which is now U Lucky Dawg), they'd hand you a few of those foil packets! Also, when I last went to viennabeef.com, they had a web poll asking what your favorite condiment is. The choices were mustard, relish, and celery salt. No katchup. :)