Hot Dougs: Revolutionizing the boring hot dog
If Chicago’s known for one thing, it’s their encased meats, or hot dogs. Avondale hot dog shop Hot Doug’s not only knows the signature Chicago Dog, but it also knows how to create a delicious, unparalleled gourmet sausage.
Owner Doug Sohn opened the establishment because he loved hot dogs so much. Sohn is very hands on to the point he takes down every customer’s order. The small eatery is so busy at times a queue forms around the block, so it’s best to come during the winter season instead of the high season of summer. People will even wait in the rain just to grab a quick bite.
Inside lies a small dining room with tables and chairs and a red, blue and yellow color scheme with the quote, “There are no two finer words in the English language than encased meats” written on the wall. Sohn is obviously a fan of Elvis as his mug appears on memorabilia on the walls along with assorted hot dog-themed photos. Traditional polish sausages, bratwursts and char dogs are menu staples, but why be boring when there’s daring options like sausages made from antelope, elk, chicken, duck and sometimes kangaroo. Walking in, customers are greeted by the menu board listing 10 different hot dogs with names like the Salma Hayek (andouille sausage) and Pete Shelley (the only vegetarian option), but the board also lists daily specials which tend to be more gourmet and exotic in nature such as cognac-infused lamb and pork sausage with spinach raita and manchego cheese and the mountain man sausage (venison, antelope, buffalo and elk) with cherry-vodka sauce. Top it off with celery salt, nuclear green relish, mustard, onions, pickles, tomatoes and sauerkraut.
The whole process start to finish can take a while, so just be patient. On Fridays and Saturdays, Doug’s offer their special duck fat fries which draws a huge crowd, but during the week, regular and cheese fries are available. Many hot dog stands exist in the city, but none are as acclaimed and praised by media outlets and visitors alike as Hot Doug’s.
HelloChicago Tip: During the summer and other seasons, Hot Doug's closes for a few days to a couple of weeks for vacation, so make sure to check ahead of time to see if they're open.
Posted by Garin Pirnia
