During my Christmas vacation I spent a lot of my time doing what I truly enjoy doing – watching cooking shows.
Although I love learning simple ways to make pie crust or how to make a fruit plate look aesthetically pleasing, there are times when not only do I not want to cook anything, but I want something simple and inexpensive to eat.
The perfect food to cheaply fill my tummy is the hot dog.
Hot dogs may get a bad wrap, but quite honestly, I don’t care what they’re made out of – they’re delicious to me. A good hot dog satisfies my hunger, but not all dogs are created equal. Forget Ball Park and even Nathan’s, the Chicago Vienna beef hot dog is king.
For those who grew up in Chicago and Northwest Indiana, you know exactly what I’m talking about. For those who don’t, just know that this is the most flavorful hot dog you will ever eat and you must have one before you leave this Earth.
When I saw that a new eatery called Chicago Hot Dog Company was opening on the city’s Northwestside and serving Vienna beef dogs, I practically drove past every day to see when it was open.
I knew Chicago Hot Dog Company would be good, but serving Vienna dogs and naming your business after the city that just does hot dogs right, in my opinion, is very bold. I went to see for myself if they were the real deal or just posers.
One Saturday afternoon, my husband and I visited Chicago Hot Dog Company. The restaurant’s brass refurbished a space that was once a La Bamba burrito joint and made it into a urban oasis that has an industrial yet modern feel.
We walked to the counter to order and I was surprised that although I came to check out the hot dogs, there was so much on the menu that made me say “maybe I should consider something else first. I can always have a hot dog later.”
I stuck to my guns and ordered the Chicago Hot Dog, made with iconic Chicago style hot dog ingredients of mustard, relish, sliced red tomato, chopped onions, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. I took it old school and ordered a second dog with only ketchup, mustard and relish. My husband ordered the Stockyard Bacon Burger.
Other items on the list I am dying to try are the Italian Beef, Maxwell St. Polish, the Stockyard burger and the Char Broiled Yard Bird.
The hot dogs and the burger were phenomenal, but I guess what I like most about the Chicago Hot Dog Company is that nothing was over $6 and it reminds me of home and when I was younger. There was nothing like cruising the streets of Chi-Town with my parents listening to the oldies on V-103 FM. It was almost a ritual that my dad would find a food stand and order me a few hot dogs, while he ordered a pork chop sandwich for himself and an Italian beef for my mother. Any hot dog stand would do, but the food on Maxwell Street was the best.
I’m glad I can have a little slice of home and nostalgia right here in Indianapolis. People originally from up north, you have to check out Chicago Hot Dog Company. They are the real deal. For those who call Indy their hometown, go see exactly what Chicagoans and Lake County-ans love. It may make you want to move to Chicago!
For more information on Chicago Hot Dog Company, call (317) 579-2507 or visit chdcompany.com.
