Please Help Me! I Am Looking For Great Hot Dogs!
Last night while I was changing TV stations, I came across a show highlighting the best hot dogs in the United States. I watched the show long enough to hear of a place in Chicago called Superdawg. Not only have I never been there but I have never heard of it. This place was particularly interesting to me because in July, I will be going to Chicago for a friend’s wedding (congratulations S.B.) and Superdawg is located there. I love a good hot dog! And get even more excited for a GREAT hot dog! I really love a good hot dog at the ballpark. It adds to my enjoyment.
During the show when they were highlighting Superdawg, they mentioned that when you get to the counter and try and order a hot dog they will quickly say they don’t serve hot dogs and basically kick you out of the line just like Billygoat Tavern in Chicago and the famous Soup Nazi place in NY that Seinfeld highlighted in one of their shows. (Of course you have to say you want a Superdawg.)
Superdawg is located at 6363 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago IL 60646.
Have you been there?
I would love to build a list for people to visit while we are traveling the United States.
- Where is the best hot dog you have ever had?
- Where are the small little hidden gems that we never hear about that serve great hot dogs?
I look forward to your comments.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Weird you mention hot dogs. I was watching “Cook’s Tour” on the Food Network last night and Anthony Bourdain was taking the viewer on a culinary tour of NYC. He went to Papaya King on the Upper East Side. He claims it to be the best hot dog in NYC and seeing that he is Anthony Bourdain, i believe him.
June 23rd, 2008 at 1:43 pm
One of my best friend’s is from Chicago and he claims Portillo’s to be the best in Chicago. He even orders them online to grill out now that he is in NY. I have to agree it’s one of the best I have ever had. I also checked with a native Chicago co-worker and the first word out of his mouth was Portillo’s as well.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Personally the best hot dog is the one I do on my grill…burn the #### out of it to get that good crunch! Other than that, I have heard of a place in North Jersey (Steve Schlesinger, help!) that has been touted as THE BEST hot dogs. Apparently they deep fry the little suckers to get just the right amount of crunch and cholesterol. If anyone out there knows the name of this North Jersey gem, please let us know.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I just went to Coney Island a couple of weeks ago and had an original Nathan’s dog. This is the last year for Coney Island’s amusement park and also Nathan’s.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Nick Tahou’s in Rochester, NY. There’s nothing like your first garbage plate. I prefer mine topped with red hots, but you can get your with white hots (pork hot dogs), cheeseburgers, even steak or pork chops.
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Photo.aspx?RefID=218&PhotoID=4115
June 23rd, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Bette Anne
I think you are referring to Rutt’s Hutt - an institution in northern NJ, not far from Giants Stadium in East Rutherford. People drive from great distances to go there.
Just to add my two cents, there is a place in Long Branch on the jersey shore called Max’s that is incredible - have not been there for years but spent many of a summer weekend grabbing a dog or two there.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:24 am
While I’ve never been to SuperDawg (to close to the suburbs to get my attention) I’d direct you to a couple of local gems. Portillo’s is good (and right downtown if you’re not up for a trip) but if you like your dog charred Muskies in Lincoln Park is the way to go. For a true hot dog lover adventure, Hot Doug’s on California Avenue is a utopia of Hot Dogs of every kind. Count on Doug to greet you at the counter and be sure to go on a Saturday when you can get his duck fat fries.
June 24th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Like Paul, I was at Nathan’s a few weeks back (on a Sunday at 1:30 AM). You must eat at the original Nathan’s at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues. Do not eat at the ones on the boardwalk, as they are franchisees and get their hot dogs from a completely different vendor. They are not the same hot dogs. Also there is no rush as Nathan’s is not closing. I asked Famous Fat Dave (tour guide, cab driver & glutton) if it were true that both the amusement park and Nathan’s were closing. Here is his response:
“They said that last year and it turned out not to be true. But no one ever said Nathan’s was gonna close. That is a mistake.
Thor Equities bought up a bunch of land there and they already tore down a bunch of stuff to build to condos and expensive domed amusements and hotels but then it looks like they ran out of money and the carnies put up rides on that cleared land so you can’t even tell right now. As soon as the economy recovers they’ll probably tear more stuff down and start building. It’s a real shame.”
June 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Martinsville Speedway
340 Speedway Rd.
Ridgeway, VA
June 25th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Yocco’s in good old Allentown, PA. Yocco’s claims to be the Hot Dog King (though my son calls it yuckos). I think it is an acquired taste. Steamed bun and secret sauce. Highly recommend it if you are ever passing through!
June 25th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Thanks for clearing this up Ed. I listened to too many locals who were convinced it was going away. Even at Nathan’s, people were talking about how sad it was to see the area change. Your posting prompted me to go do some looking. Here’s a couple of sites about the future of Coney Island:
http://www.thefutureofconeyisland.com/
http://www.thecidc.org/
June 25th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Hands down, without question, the best hot dogs in Dallas are at Fuddruckers. I know, I know. You are thinking “Fuddruckers?”. Trust me!
June 25th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Everyone knows the best hot dog in the world is served at Nathan’s in Coney Island. My son is nine. I bought him a Halal hot dog on the street recently, just due to circumstances. We had just had a few hot dogs at Nathan’s twice in the previous week (gourmands that we are). I asked him if he could tell the difference. He said: “Nathan’s is much better. The bread on this one isn’t even real.” OK - small sample size and self administered. I get it researchers! So let’s get down to the bias: My heart is in NY and the taste of a juicy, nicely browned, all beef, garlicky dog, with a warmed bun, deli mustard and classic sauerkraut, is a wonderful taste memory that brings me back to my own childhood. If there is anything that comes close in NY - it is Katz’ Deli, with incredible knishes, serious knockwurst, crunchy pickles and Dr. Brown’s soda, which is truly the taste of NY.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Super Duper Weenie, located in Fairfield, CT has been recently featured in Reader’s Digest as the 100 Best New Discoveries. David Letterman’s “intern” Stephanie visited Super Duper Weenie one weekend looking for the “ultimate hot dog” experience! Stephanie explained how much she and her friend Coco loved their Super Duper food! Even Julia Roberts makes appearances at this restaurant because of their “irresistible” hot dogs
June 25th, 2008 at 9:51 am
There are two places for me that have the best hot dogs. They are both very out of the way. The first–Puka Dog in Poipu, Kauai, Hawaii. Technically they are polish sausage, but they are more like a good hot dog. The buns are incredibly good and they have an array of tropical relishes. All they do is the hot dogs and lemonade. Yet the line is always long and worth it. (We learned about this place from the Food Network and then found it while on vacation. Two of our boys ate almost all their meals there as it was just across the street from our hotel.)
The other is in Provo, UT just south of BYU’s campus–J-Dawgs. There is always a line and their secret sauce is excellent. And the price–$3.50 for a dog and a drink. A pretty good deal.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Pink’s on La Brea and Melrose and Carney’s on Sunset!
June 25th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Merrill,
I’ve got the perfect place for you. A while back I used to frequent Chic for business. I had a college buddy that lived out that way. Wiener Circle is not just a great dog, but an experience. Please go at night when they can serve you the “right” way. Trust me, you will write about this on the back-end. These guys are packed every night. Go in understanding that you might get abused if you ask questions. Enjoy.
The Wiener’s Circle
2622 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614-1523
Phone: (773) 477-7444
A
June 25th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Walters in Mamaroneck, NY. They have been at the same location since at least WWII. I remember when they were 2 for 25 cents. They have changed their formula a bit in recent years, but still excellent …. but cost a lot more than $.125 each…..
June 25th, 2008 at 10:02 am
To echo Steve’s point, Max’s in Long Branch NJ has those foot long grilled hot dogs that you simply don’t want to know what’s in them, because they’re so darn tasty.
Another Jersey Shore tradition is the WindMill, also in Long Branch on Ocean Avenue, the original building has a WindMill on top. They’re now franchised throughout the Shore. Very tasty dog.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Mike MacLoed has the call - Nick Tahou’s. However, singling out the dog and not the infamous plate from Nick’s, I would have to go with a Zweigle’s White Hot locally produced in Rochester and the official provider to the Buffalo Bills.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Being from New Jersey, this is a favorite topic.
I am still partial to any Sabrett’s hot dog stand in New York, but then I have not been in the city for several years. Hopefully they have not changed. But, Nathan’s or Papaya King will do in a pinch.
At home, I have found that you can get all natural casing Sabrett’s at Publix. They have to be the natural casing ones, not the skinless, so that you get that satisfying “pop” and an explosion of flavor when you take the first bite.
Other stores carry Thumann’s which are not bad. Boars-head in the natural casing doesn’t cut it.
I had a hot dog that was pretty good in Orlando a couple of weeks back. It was a little stand shaped like a hot dog on Colonial Blvd. Not quite a Sabrett, Nathans, Papaya King. This was a Chicago brand. But not bad either. It had a mild taste.
Chicago has a good reputation for hot dogs, but I am partial to New York, myself. The same goes for pizza.
By the way, I lived in Atlanta for 15 years. As a native New Yorker/New Jerseyite, I would advise staying away from The Varsity. I found it to be a great disappointment. The servers were rude and the dogs were bland.
Another question, what do people put on their dogs? I prefer a very little mustard, lots of relish, some kraut and sauteed onions.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Back in 1973, Papaya King had a spin off which is named Gray’s Papaya. Its 3 locations in NYC (one of which is way too close to my apartment) serve the best (and fastest) doggies around (I like mine with fresh pineapple juice).
You can read all about it on Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray’s_Papaya
Immortalized in film and television, there’s no need to go to the upper east side for an excellent dog.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:15 am
I think the best hot dog place in Dallas is Wild About Harry’s on Knox. They serve all types of dogs as well as homemade frozen custard!
June 25th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Obviously you struck on the one topic that Chicago has that New York or Boston cannot claim equality on. Since Chicago was the meat packing center of the U.S. for such a long time that the hot dog is truly the “meal on the bun” in Chi-town.
First, there is no place you get a bad hot dog in Chicago.
1) Superdawg is good
2) Portillo’s is better
But the best dogs, if you can find them, are sold by the street vendors, of which Mike North (the sports announcer) is famous for outside of Sox (the only Sox) park. The meal on the bun must include not only the traditional condiments (mustard, relish, onions) but also tomatoes, peppers, celery salt and topped with a pickle spear and covered with the best thin french fries that Idaho offers. That’s a Chicago hot dog! Best MEAL in the world!
Throw in a “bunched” hot tamale and savor the taste.
Your Chicago White Sox Friend
June 25th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Chicago’s Super Dawgs is right down the street from my office and have yet to try it - it is actually a drive-in - like in American Graffiti- Everyone here raves about it, but I have had Chicago dogs and they put hot peppers and all kinds of crap on it. So I’m not inclined to try them.
I’m a Jersey guy, and a purist - so Rutt’s Hut (dogs are called “Rippers”) and Nathan’s (at 42nd Street if it’s still there - with an Orange Julius) are my picks.
Although I have to give props to the Atlanta Braves dogs - and of course those at The Stadium (that would be Yankee Stadium for the non-cognoscenti) are pretty good.
Best of the Best - Sinai Kosher Foot Longs (get them at Costco) and burn ‘em on the Weber. Now I’m hungry and it’s only 10 a.m!
Didn’t realize I had so many opinions about hot dogs. I think I may qualify as a hot dog mavin!
Oh did I mention the University of Georgia Dawgs! Battling with Fresno State Bulldogs for college baseball champs?
June 25th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Michael H - I have been to Pinks - you are 100% right - it is great.
Thanks for your recommendation.
Merrill
June 25th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Walter’s in Larchmont, NY for sure! But Bob prefers The Meritt Canteen in Bridgeport, CT for their bacon chili cheese dogs!
June 25th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Merrill, Portillo’s is good, but my second favorite hot dog place is Nana’s on Irving Park Rd. in Streamwood. Not only are the buns warm, the extra onions are great and then they pile thick, fresh sliced french fries on top! They make a chili dog that is outstanding! Enjoy and welcome back to Chicago.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Sheri,
Since I am in Dallas - I will need to check that one out very soon.
Thanks.
Merrill
June 25th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I just had my first (and last) SuperDawg. Sorry Chicagoans, this was a mediocre - steamed hot dog. Steamed - do you believe it!?
The good news is it comes with a tasty pickled tomato (big surprise there) and an outstanding milkshake. Go for the shakes and leave the dogs behind.
You might want to check out the website http://superdawg.com if you are interested to see their 50’s decor and the two 12 foot hot dog icons a top their building. Pretty funky. The dogs have faces and their eyes light up!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Jeffrey - I am so sorry the experience wasn’t great. The TV show couldn’t have raved about them anymore.
Appreciate you trying them out.
Merrill
June 25th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Merrill,
Don’t know if it was still there when you went to Hofstra but there was a hot dog truck that used to park just off campus called Fromms Franks. Great dog and cheap too which was important as a student!
June 25th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Tom,
No I have never heard of Fromms Franks. When I was at Hofstra we always went to Nathans for our dogs. In fact when my parents would visit my Mom always wanted to go their as well.
Thanks for your response.
Merrill
June 25th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Superdawg is by far the best dawgs in Chicago. The place is still run by the family that opened it in the 40s. Last time I was there the son was working the parking lot greeting people and parking them. These people clearly love their business.
The Dawgs are bigger, juicer, and garlicier than a normal Nathan’s weenie. When you’re in Chicago, it’s a must stop.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Living in LA I’ve always enjoyed the short drive to very happy to Pinks hotdog stand on Melrose Avenue. My fellow SoCal friends and I also swear by Carneys (they have several locations) I recently gave up beef so now I’m looking forthe best Turkey or chicken dogs on the planet.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Merrill, many years ago I read a book written by a Seattle school teacher who took the summer off to travel to what I think was then all 26 Major League parks in his VW. He chronicled the food, the fans, the park etc. The name of the book was Dodger Dogs and Fenway Franks, As I remember he had great things to say about both.
My favorite dogs were the ones my dad and I would have on a Saturday afternoon when I was a kid. We used to look for a hot dog stand in the Bronx that served ” Dirty Water Dogs “. The very best.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The best hot dogs in the world come from my humble hometown of Pittsfield, MA.
The originator was “The Hot Dog Ranch” on Linden St. They serve small red hots, covered with a ’secret sauce”, mustard and diced onions. You would order them 5 or six at a time (they were like the “White Castle” of dogdom). The cook would have about 50 on the grill and line them up on his arm as he put the sauce and condiments on them (the board of health has since made them put them on a tray). The rolls are steamed. They are absolutely delicious.
Even in a small town like Pittsfield, Linden Street was a “dicey” neighborhood, so a competitor, Teo’s, opened on East Street in the 60’s. The fare was the same: small dogs, onions, mustard, good sauce (like In and Out Burgers they don’t have an extensive menu, but do one thing very well).
Both places are working class bars established to serve the workers of the once thriving GE plants. They do a cash only business and you never see tourists in there. Only the natives know about them. (And if you go, leave your Yankee cap at home. This is Red Sox country!)
Nevertheless, the following among Pittsfield natives is fanatic. Every year, I go to Amherst for the UMASS Alumni Association Conference; and every year I lead an expedition of my colleagues down dark, lonely old route9, 60 miles away for hot dogs. I have been in Boston on business and have even driven to Pittsfield (2.5 hours one way), picked up 8 dogs and driven back. They are that good!
ps. Just writing this makes me hungry for them!
July 7th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I was in Chicago last week and at the taste of Chicago enjoyed a “Chicago” style hot dog from Gold Coast - it was very good.
Didn’t have time to go to a number of the other spots mentioned but will do the next time I am in the Windy City.
Merrill
July 7th, 2008 at 8:40 am
In case you missed it:
Chestnut again proves he’s top dog at Nathan’s contest
July 5, 2008
Joey Chestnut gulped to victory Friday in a fast and furious five-dog overtime round, beating legendary speed eater Takeru Kobayashi at Nathan’s Fourth of July International Hot Dog Contest on Coney Island.
The two had tied at 59 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
It was a high-stakes rematch for Chestnut, 24, of San Jose, Calif., who last year grabbed the title from six-time champ Kobayashi, 30, of Japan, who was struggling with a jaw injury.
But if anyone questioned the legitimacy of Chestnut’s claim to the Mustard Yellow Belt, he put those doubts to rest yesterday.
Sweating and wincing, he raised a fist as he accepted the belt, then leaned forward and braced himself on a long table littered with wieners, buns and water cups.
“I knew I’d be able to do it and push through the pain,” he told the cheering crowd. “I was pushed by the audience. I love you, New York!”
The competition lasted 10 minutes - two minutes shorter than recent contests - because organizers discovered that the original 1916 Coney Island contest had lasted just 10.
Some expected the shortened time to favor Chestnut, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound champion in hamburgers, chicken wings and grilled cheese sandwiches who is at his best in the first minutes of competition.
The 5-6, 170-pound Kobayashi holds titles in cow brains and rice balls and is a strong finisher.
July 20th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Did you hear about the hot dog that opened his mail and got a letter that said “You may already be a weiner…”?
Anyway from this morning’s Boston Globe:
FENWAY
No dogging it
For vendors and fans, selling and buying ballpark franks is serious business
By Emily Simon, Globe Correspondent | July 20, 2008
Simple and straightforward, the hot dog is perfect ballpark fare. It’s filling, portable, and easy to cook. It can be dressed to suit any taste.
So why does Kevin Haggerty need spreadsheets to keep his hot dogs in line?
Because when you sell thousands of them in a single night, hot dogs become a whole different ballgame.
Haggerty is resident district manager for Aramark Corp. food services at Fenway Park. He oversees the sale of concessions within the stadium - which means he has to keep track of every bag of peanuts, bottle of soda, and ice cream cone.
And of course there are hot dogs, which involve a lot more than throwing them on the grill and sticking them in a bun.
The Red Sox may have broadened the menu in the past few years, but the Fenway Frank reigns supreme. Night after night, it remains the park’s top seller.
“On an average night we sell about 9,000 Fenway Franks,” said Haggerty.
But that number can vary for unexpected reasons. Sales are affected by the weather, the day of the week, and even the pitchers on the mound. If a pitcher is known to work slowly, “we’ll keep grilling and steaming dogs for a while longer,” he said.
Haggerty records data in his computer, so before each game, he’ll take a look at comparable games in previous months or years to ensure the order size is accurate.
Even with the best bookkeeping, though, hot dogs can’t sell themselves. That’s up to the nearly 800 Aramark employees who work the stands, carts, and suites throughout the park. Competition for sales is heated, but friendly.
“You want the best dog in the house? It’s sold right here,” said one server at a stand near the entrance to Yawkey Way.
Equally competitive is the scene in the stands, where hawkers race to sell their wares. Though vendors are not assigned specific sections, many veterans have staked out certain areas, which can make it challenging for a rookie to break in. No matter how senior they are, however, all vendors share the same burden: a heavy hot-dog bin.
Fully loaded, each bin fits 36 dogs, 36 buns, condiments, and tongs. Add a can of Sterno to keep things warm plus a belt for cash and change, and the average hawker is lugging around more than 40 pounds. Who’s ready for nine innings’ worth of stairs? To encourage these hardy hawkers (as well as other serving personnel), Aramark has established an incentive system, with awards of gift certificates.
The company also has to keep an eye on safety, after Fenway’s food stands flunked city health inspections on more than a dozen measurements on opening day April 8. It wasn’t until May 16 that the concession stands passed a health inspection.
As for the hot dogs themselves, most fans opt for the Fenway Frank, but there are three other varieties of hot dog on sale at the old ball game: the Footlong, the Gourmet Dog, and the Monster Dog. Each has its own appeal.
The Fenway Frank ($4.50) is an all-beef hot dog from Kahn’s, steamed and topped with mustard, onion, and sweet pickle relish. It’s served on a white bread bun. The Footlong ($5) is 12 inches of all-beef dog from Hebrew National, grilled and perched atop a 10-inch bun.
Weighing in at a full half-pound and nearly a foot in length, the Monster Dog ($6.75) is much thicker than the other dogs, closer to the bratwurst end of the encased meat spectrum.
Feeling guilty? Order it with an ear of corn on the side. At least you can tell mom you ate your veggies.
“You’d be surprised at the range of customers who order the Monster Dog,” said Haggerty. “Sometimes we see little kids biting into the thing, and it’s as big as their arm.”
A more recent addition to Fenway’s lineup is the Gourmet Dog ($5). Served on a poppy-seed roll, the all-beef dog is kept in its natural casing, unlike the other, skinless options. When grilled, the casing turns crispy, giving the dog a “snap” when bitten.
“We have been seeing more demand for this kind of hot dog lately,” said Haggerty. “Customers want to try something more flavorful and upscale.”
Toward that end, Fenway allows discerning fans to skip the hot dog in favor of a turkey wrap, rotisserie chicken, or clam chowder from Legal Sea Foods. At the private EMC Club and State Street Pavilion, patrons can order from a menu featuring local and seasonal ingredients, and choose from a comprehensive wine list.
But purists need not fear. Even in the lofty seats and suites, the humble hot dog claims its rightful place. “Guests in the private suites choose to order pans of hot dogs more than anything else,” said Haggerty. “It’s what people want when they come to a ballgame.”
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