Maxwell Street Polish facts for kids
Pork chops and Polish sausages, with the accompanying onions, on the grill.
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| Type | Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Chicago |
| Main ingredients | Bun, kielbasa, onions, yellow mustard, optional sport peppers |
A Maxwell Street Polish is a tasty sandwich from Chicago. It has a grilled or fried Polish sausage on a bun. On top, you'll find grilled onions and yellow mustard. Sometimes, people add pickled green sport peppers for a little kick! This famous sandwich started in Chicago's old Maxwell Street market. Many people call it one of the "classic foods" that Chicago is known for.
Contents
History of the Maxwell Street Polish
How the Sandwich Began
Many say that Jimmy Stefanovic created this sandwich. He was an immigrant from Macedonia. In 1939, he took over his aunt and uncle's hot dog stand. This stand is now called Jim's Original. It was located in Chicago's old Maxwell Street market area.
Right next door to Jim's, there was another place called Express Grill. They also sold a very similar sandwich. For a long time, these two stands were side-by-side. They were open 24 hours a day! This made it a bit confusing for people to tell them apart.
A Chicago Favorite
The Maxwell Street Polish sausage sandwich quickly became very popular. It joined other famous Chicago foods. These include the Chicago-style hot dog and the Italian beef sandwich. People loved its unique taste.
Moving to a New Spot
In 2005, the University of Illinois at Chicago needed the land where the market was. So, the Maxwell Street market area was torn down. Jim's Original and Express Grill had to move. They relocated just a short distance away. Now, they are still side-by-side on Union Avenue. This new spot is near the Dan Ryan Expressway.
Today, you can find Maxwell Street Polish sandwiches all over Chicago. Many hot dog stands sell them. Big restaurant chains like Portillo's and Brown's Chicken also offer them. You can even get one at most sports stadiums in the area! Many of the 24-hour stands also sell a pork chop sandwich. This was another popular item from the old Maxwell Street market days.
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The sign at the original Express Grill location on Halsted Street.
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A price list from the Express Grill.
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The menu at Jim's Original.
What Kind of Sausage Is It?
The sausage is the most important part of this sandwich. You can find this special sausage in grocery stores around the Chicago area. It's usually sold as the "Maxwell Street" type. This is a special kind of kielbasa (a type of Polish sausage). It's made just for Chicago. This sausage is usually more seasoned. It's also made from a mix of both beef and pork.
Two big companies in Chicago make this specific style of Polish sausage. They are Vienna Beef and the Bobak's Sausage Company.
