Chicago-style hot dog facts for kids
 |
|
| Alternative names | Red Hot |
|---|---|
| Course | Main course |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Chicago, Illinois |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Beef, poppy seed bun, yellow mustard, white onion, sweet "neon green" pickle relish, sport peppers, tomatoes, kosher dill pickle spear, celery salt |
A Chicago-style hot dog is a special kind of hot dog. It's an all-beef frankfurter served on a poppy seed bun. This famous hot dog comes from Chicago, Illinois.
It's topped with many delicious things. These include yellow mustard, chopped white onions, and bright green sweet pickle relish. You'll also find a dill pickle spear, tomato slices, and pickled sport peppers. A sprinkle of celery salt finishes it off. People often say it's "dragged through the garden" because of all the fresh toppings.
The way the hot dog is cooked can be different. Most often, they are steamed or simmered in water. Sometimes, they are grilled over charcoal. When grilled, they are called "char-dogs."
One important rule for many Chicagoans is about ketchup. Most people who love Chicago-style hot dogs believe ketchup should not be added. Some hot dog places in Chicago don't even offer ketchup.
Contents
How Did the Chicago Hot Dog Start?
Hot dogs came to Chicago from Europe. Sausages have been around in Frankfurt since the 1200s. Later, in the 1800s, a butcher in Vienna added beef to the sausage mix. He called it a "wiener-frankfurter."
These frankfurters in buns became very popular in Chicago. They were sold at fairs and baseball games. In 1929, a place called Fluky's started selling an all-beef hot dog. This hot dog was made without pork, like kosher-style food.
During the Great Depression, these hot dogs were very cheap. You could buy them for just a nickel from carts. Two immigrants from Austria-Hungary sold their Vienna Beef hot dogs at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. Vienna Beef grew to be a major supplier of hot dogs. By the early 2000s, they were a main supplier for many hot dog carts.
Different Kinds of Chicago Hot Dogs
The "dragged through the garden" style is the most famous. It's promoted by big hot dog makers like Vienna Beef. But there are other versions too.
Some vendors might add cucumber slices or lettuce. Others might leave out the poppyseeds or celery salt. Some use plain relish instead of the bright green kind.
A simpler version is called the "Depression Dog." This hot dog is steamed and has only mustard, onions, plain relish, and sport peppers. It's often served with hand-cut french fries. The famous Superdawg drive-ins use a pickled tomato instead of a fresh one.
Many places also offer a "cheese-dog." This is a Chicago-style hot dog with cheese sauce. Some places, like Boz Hot Dogs, use a special nacho cheese sauce with jalapeño peppers.
How Chicago Hot Dogs Are Made
Chicago-style hot dogs are usually cooked in hot water or steamed. Then, the toppings are added.
A less common way to cook them is on a charcoal grill. These are called "char-dogs." You can often spot a char-dog because its ends are cut in a crisscross pattern before cooking. This makes them curl into a unique "X" shape when cooked. Some hot dog stands, like The Wieners Circle, only serve char-dogs.
A typical beef hot dog for this style weighs about 2 ounces (57 grams). The most traditional kind has a natural casing. This gives the hot dog a special "snap" when you bite into it.
The buns are also special. They are a high-gluten type. This helps them stay strong when they are warmed with steam. A popular brand is S. Rosen's Mary Ann.
Hot Dog Restaurants in Chicago
The Chicago area has many hot dog restaurants. In fact, there are more hot dog places than McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King restaurants combined!
A "hot dog stand" in Chicago often sells more than just hot dogs. You might find other foods like the Maxwell Street Polish, gyros, and Italian beef sandwiches. They might also sell corn dogs, tamales, pizza puffs, and Italian ice. These restaurants often have fun names or unique buildings.
Famous Hot Dog Places
- Fluky's
- Gene & Jude's
- Hot Doug's
- Portillo's
- Superdawg
- The Wieners Circle
- Woody's Chicago Style
Images for kids
-
A Chicago-style hot dog made by Johnniebeefs restaurant in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
