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Jun 2010  |  By Peter Gianopulous  |  Comments (5)

4 Great Hot Dog Stands for Summer

TAGS: hot dog stand, Chicago hot dog, Irving's Red Hots for Lovers, Michael's Chicago-Style Red Hots, fRedhots and Fries, Wiener and Still Champion

You know you’re going to eat at least one this summer (okay, a few more than one) so make that dog count! You don’t have to go to the city to get a great hot dog.

Here are our favorites:

Irving’s For Red Hot Lovers
Wilmette

I know it’s sacrilege, but I’ve been ordering Irving’s red hots charred on French bread with all the trimmings since I graduated from baby food. I’m still cooing to this day.

Michael’s Chicago-Style Red Hots
Highland Park

An obvious choice, but a stop at Michael’s makes everyone feel like a 9-year-old all over again, especially if you end your meal with the house’s fantastic Yogen Fruz soft-serve.

fRedhots and Fries
Glenview

In addition to true oddities like smoked Alaskan salmon hot dogs, Fred Markoff offers the heftiest Chicago-style dog I’ve ever tasted: a half-pound foot-long monster conveniently called the “Big Foot.”

Wiener and Still Champion
Evanston

There’s fierce debate to this day from Northwestern students as to who has the best Evanston dog. The tie-breaker for me? The Champ’s skill at the deep-fryer, which produces a fine corn dog called the “dippin dog.”

Where is Superdawg, you ask? Peter has a great review, but you’re going to have to wait for our July magazine to see it. Did we leave out your favorite dog? Leave a comment and tell us why it’s your favorite.