Hot Doug's

A few weeks ago, when the #ChiTownChowDown crew were in town, we attempted to go Hot Doug's, the self-proclaimed encased meat emporium and sausage superstore. Unfortunately, the store was closed that day so we cooled our jets at Longman & Eagle instead. Several days, later, I attempted to go with my friend Cathy, but I was worried about being late to a meeting so I wasn't able to continue the journey. I thought I may never get the chance to go, but I set out on a food field trip and decided to commit to the journey. I'm not a hot dog connoisseur, but as I have said before, Chicagoans love their meat and how could I go a month in this city without trying a Chicago dog at one of the city's institutions?



It was a cold and blustery day which made waiting in line a little miserable, but once you are inside, you're greeted with warm and efficient service from Doug himself. For this first visit, I tried the Chicago dog (The Dog) with all the fixings. For $2 you get a steamed or grilled all beef dog (I chose grilled), a poppy seed bun, tomato, celery salt, white onions, pickle, sweet relish, mustard and hot peppers. It's tangy, salty, and a bit sweet.



I also decided to try one of the specials. Brown Ale and Chipotle Buffalo Sausage with Bacon-Garlic Mayonnaise and Carragaline Farmhouse Cheese ($8). The sausage is a bit crumbly, but has a good, slightly gamey flavor that pairs well with the salty and garlicky mayonnaise and smoky cheese.



On Fridays and Saturdays only, Hot Doug's offers duck fat fries ($3.50). I had high hopes for these, but unfortunately, they were a bit of a let down. I was looking for a more assertive duck flavor and these were also sadly under-seasoned.



I'm definitely going to be visiting Hot Doug's again, but probably on a weekday to avoid long lines. There are so many creative options on the menu and I can't wait to try them all. 

What other people are saying about Hot Doug's:
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Cameras and Cuisines


Hot Doug's
3324 North California
Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 279-9550
*Cash only
Website