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    Nicky's Hot Dogs

    4.4 (129 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs
    Open • 10:30 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Nicky's Hot Dogs Photos

    NICKY'S HOT DOGS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Lenten favorite is back!
    Dolores Z.

    Pepper and egg sandwiches for Lent, egg scrambled and combined with peppers, cooked on the flat top with a little oil, fresh when you order it! Fries were thin and crispy, fresh from the fryer. Order was taken promptly at the counter and shortly delivered to the customer (me). Hot dog stand ambience, if you want to you can eat at the little counter in the front window. No frills, just good, fresh fast food. Parking on the street or in the small lot.

    Counter
    Steve S.

    Best fries & hot dogs around! Excellent mozzarella sticks also. They've always been generous with the fries! Order at the counter & food is ready pretty quickly.

    Milton H.

    The roast beef was just "ok". The chili cheese fries were pretty decent. The prices are a bit steep and they charge one dollar for a refill which is completely wrong in my opinion. If it wasn't for that I would have given them four stars.

    Hannah H.

    I AM SO IN LOVE WITH NICKY'S!!! This gem of a place has been around since the late '60s - this small carry-out place that some counter seating offers hot dogs, burgers, Italian beef, sausages, grilled chicken, steak sandwiches, hoagies, gyros, fried shrimp and fish, and various sides (YES, they even have pizza puffs!). I came here and ordered: +the Big Baby Double Cheeseburger with everything - this was kind of like a smash burger with patties that had crispy edges, loaded with toppings, and super juicy - YUM! +a Gyro sandwich - an amazing gyro sandwich - I asked mine to be well-done/crispy, and it was perfectly delivered! Stuffed to the max in the fresh buttered up pita with fresh toppings +Chili Cheese Fries - probably the best chili fries I've had - the chili was ON POINT, and the cheese was thick and creamy, and not your typical 'thin, plastic-y, nacho cheese' sauce! +a large RC Cola - so refreshing! Everything was made-to-order, piping HOT, and so so so good - I couldn't scarf down the food fast enough, and I was only planning on sampling so that I had room to check other eateries afterwards. It wasn't happening - I couldn't stop! Staff here are very friendly and efficient; they make your food 110% on point! There's a lot adjacent to the place, and it can get tight; super popular with the locals and it gets filled quickly. There's also street parking, too. Check Nicky's out - this is quintessential Chicago eats! LOVE! +delicious food - 110% on point! +amazing chili cheese fries! +yummy gyros! +Big Baby Double Cheeseburger - yas! +friendly staff! +parking lot available

    Small fries
    Michelle H.

    This lil spot is small but mighty. It was hoppin' the entire time we were there. So I wasn't very hungry but wanted a snack until mealtime so I ate a couple of nuggets n fries, hubby got the hot dog special, which I took a bite of...everything de-lish. I'm hoping to bring my appetite back before I leave the city. The small fries are super plentiful but the large fries are sized re-diculous!!

    a sign for the restaurant
    Anthony D.

    The Best spot for the best Burgers and hot dogs ! A little spot on Archer and Austin that's been around forever! Great service by some of the fastest workers around ! The home of the Big Baby ! You will never be disappointed! You have to try their Pizza puffs and Gyros! Highly recommend

    Barbara S.

    Coming from California Nicky's is on point compared to Tommy's Burgers. Everything was very tasty and yummy. Staff was great, nice.

    Y C.

    So My Husband and myself Drive from the West Burbs for This Nickys hot dogs "ONLY". We have been to nickys hot dogs on 35th western which we do not like.. Their fries are fat and different. We been to the Nickys on 47th st by cicero and we were NOT Satisfied.. once we find a Great Place to eat we Stick with that place and are Loyal Customers to them. If i could give Nickys 20 stars i would. This Nickys is a Great Franchise to eat at. It is not just some hot dog stand... They are Kind ,Great Customer Service , Fast and safe with serving their food. It is Always Clean. The Employees are Always smiling and just make you Feel like Family. We have met the Father and Son who work their. Very Friendly and welcoming to Everyone. I do not know of Any business that takes care of customers and treats them like Family like Nickys does. We Highly Recommend this Nickys . THEY ARE WORTH THE TRIP. Their food is Always hot and Delicious... The other Nickys are a Disappointment so do not waste your money at those other Nickys come to this one on Archer /Austin You will not be sorry. We Love Supporting This nickys.. Thank You to the Owner & Son and their Staff.. We are Very Pleased with their business.

    Beef sausage combination sandwich with hot peppers.

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    7 months ago

    great food service friendly atmosphere always stop in for the gyro!! everything on the menu is excellent!!

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    19 days ago

    Great chili cheese dog, the prices were good and they serve RC Cola. The fires could have been warmer and saltier but I still ate them.

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    1 year ago

    So good! Must get the hot dogs and Big Baby. Extra onions. Best Chicago style hot dogs and awesome service.

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    3 years ago

    Nicky's has great Chicago style dishes. The employees create a really friendly environment. Pride of the Southwest Side!!!

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    3 years ago

    Every thing about this small place was outstanding, their service was second to none. Yes I would recommend this place.

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    3 years ago

    Always great food and service I have been going to Nicky's for over 27 years ! Place is clean and staff very friendly!

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    3 years ago

    Great food as always! Friendly employees and great prices. Always has fresh fries and delicious food.

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Nicky's Hot Dogs

    Review Highlights - Nicky's Hot Dogs

    “I always get a big baby, fries, and a lemonade, but I would definitely try something else on their menu.”

    Mentioned in 38 reviews

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    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

    3.9(7.4k reviews)
    10.0 mi•River North, Near North Side
    •$$

    Kari's Rating 8/10…read more As someone who is always at This Portillo is considering it's very close to where I live, it was decently busy this Sunday evening around 7:30. There was a large cluster of individuals in line to use the kiosk because they seem too scared to talk to a human-even though there's absolutely no line to talk to the women up front. It's kind of sad realize how antisocial people have become but also, I know it's beneficial to use a kiosk for the company because they're getting really fast data results, people tend to add more of their order because they're not being watched and they're able to do it in an antisocial way. Honestly, it's actually really fascinating. This place is always busy so as normal, we waited for about 20 minutes. It's OK, it looked like they were a little bit short staffed as 95% of the population of the restaurant was waiting in line. It's usually backed up at this location as it's super busy and very popular but tonight, I can't tell if it's because they're just backed up, or if no one can hear the number because they use those funny one liners after each number which makes it harder to hear the actual number called. I think this location-as it is mostly a tourist spot-is usually very clean. Tonight, it was not. I think it might've just been that one table around us, but whoever sat there before the fries were all strewn about and the sauces were all over the table cloths and there were napkins everywhere, and it just looked kind of bad. Since it's not normally like this, I figured it just was a one off or it might've just happened.

    This place is wild. From the ordering system to the wonderful lady calling out the orders ready,…read moreit's a food hall trip. And the French, er, Italian Beef, outstanding, even with all the hype. And I can't compare it to the others, I can only compare it to the French, sorry, yea, French dips I've had everywhere else. Great. HOWEVER....the chocolate cake shake stole the show! Period. Yes, definitely worth a stop here when in Chicago.

    Photos
    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago
    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago
    Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

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    Jim's Original - Polish Sausage Sandwich

    Jim's Original

    4.2(803 reviews)
    8.2 mi•University Village
    •$

    A LOCAL CLASSIC! I…read moreloved this spot so much I ended up coming back twice. It has that classic late night comfort food vibe and feels like one of those staple spots you have to try at least once. First night I ordered a polish hot dog with everything on it and a fish sandwich w/ extra grilled onions. Super cool that your order comes with fries and I added a cheese cup both times. In my opinion the fries were mid the first go around, but second time they were better. Definitely tasted better dipped in cheese. They were kinda airy in texture, if that makes sense. Polish hot dog was around a 6.5-7/10 for me. It did taste better warmed up the next day. What I was most obsessed with was the double cheeseburger and fish sandwich! both were easily a 10/10. Super good prices and worth the money. Also, the chile peppers were sooo bomb and hotter than I expected ! I wanted to eat them all, but they were packing some serious heat! The lemon Italian ice is where it's at, make sure to order one! You can also mix it with strawberry, but both times people recommended the lemon and now I see why. The line gets super active and busy past 10-11pm, but during the daytime it's way less crowded. Even when it gets packed the line moves pretty quick. They stay open late and close at 1am which is nice.

    Taste: 5 Creativity/Authenticity: 5…read moreAtmosphere: 3 Service: 5 Bang for your buck: 4 Chicago known for hotdogs, pizza, Italian beef and popcorn!! I didn't get it but after a long night that hotdog killed it!! Got the polish original and the all beef and both were banging!! And the fries wth is up with Chicago and their amazing fries!? Service here as good as it gets fast and easy. And price man worth it!!

    Photos
    Jim's Original - Short line today

    Short line today

    Jim's Original - Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich

    Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich

    Jim's Original - Sign from around the corner.

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    Sign from around the corner.

    Superdawg Drive-In - Superdawg (all the "trimmings"): A hefty Chicago-style hot dog that is absolutely LOADED!

    Superdawg Drive-In

    4.0(2.1k reviews)
    14.0 mi•Norwood Park
    •$$

    We made the trip to the original Superdawg location for one final Chicago meal before heading to…read morethe airport, and we were glad we did. It is a little off the beaten path for visitors staying downtown, but the food and classic atmosphere made it worthwhile. My partner ordered the Superdawg and really liked it, especially the bun. The toppings made the bun wet and a little difficult to eat, but that did not stop him from enjoying it. I ordered the Supercheesie burger, and it was very good. The fries were also good.

    Superdawg is a Chicago area institution as an old school drive-in business with carhop service…read more It's probably been over 20 years since I last visited this place. There were two dozen stalls in which you could pull in your vehicle and use an intercom box with the menu printed on the side to transmit your order. A worker would then bring the food/drink to your parking space and use a handheld device to swipe your credit card. Alternatively, you could do what I did which was park and then walk up to a service window and order from there. Adjacent to the service window was a door that led to a room with countertop seating which served as a dine-in area. There were also a few canopied tables on the sidewalk at the edge of the parking lot. Their Chicago-style hot dogs were the featured products, however most of the menu was made up of other fare like fish/shrimp sandwiches, burgers, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, french fries, shakes, malts, sundaes, cones, etc. The price for the namesake Superdawg was now a whopping $9.30! I ordered one of those that consisted of a cardboard box packed with a poppy seed bun containing a pure beef hot dog dressed with all the trimmings. Those ingredients were golden mustard, tangy piccalilli, a kosher dill pickle, chopped Spanish onions and a hot pepper. Included in the box was Superfries which were extra crispy crinkle cut french fries. I also purchased a regular size Mellow Vanilla Supershake. I took a seat at a countertop inside the dine-in area which had only customer when I walked in. As I opened my box, it was packed so tightly that you couldn't even tell there was a hot dog inside (see my photo). The Superfries lined the top while the pickle and sport peppers also surrounded the poppy seed bun. I finished the fries first that I felt were overdone. The hot dog was normal size with a good snap to the frank. The neon green relish was unique as the bright color stood out. For a hot dog and a measly amount of fries, the cost felt high in my opinion. That being said, I didn't try a similar combo at any other spots around town for comparison. The vanilla milkshake was thick and creamy and the best part of my order. I gave a three star rating for my dining experience at Superdawg.

    Photos
    Superdawg Drive-In - Maurie and Flaurie

    Maurie and Flaurie

    Superdawg Drive-In - Cheese burger

    Cheese burger

    Superdawg Drive-In - SuperDawg. (keepsmilingphoto.com)

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    SuperDawg. (keepsmilingphoto.com)

    Gene’s & Jude's - Single w/ extra mustard

    Gene’s & Jude's

    4.2(2.7k reviews)
    10.1 mi
    •$

    As a very long and faithful patron, I thought I should contact you about my experience Labor Day…read more Along with another couple, we visited Gene and Jude's and were terribly disappointed with the quality of the hotdog (sausage). The skin was extremely tough and not the usual snappiness. It was like you had to gnaw through it. All four of us agreed. I don't know if it was an anomaly or if you changed the recipe with Vienna or, God forbid, vendors. This is not a criticism, but an alert to fix a potential issue.

    Looking at fries piled directly on top of a hot dog, my back immediately warned me, "That is a…read moredangerous game to play!" But I had to see what the hype around Gene & Jude's was all about. ​I caught them at a great time with a short line. Their menu is delightfully simple and typical classic Chicago style with minimalist topping choices (mustard, relish, onion, sport peppers) so ordering was a breeze. A single dog with fries and a medium drink came out to about $9. ​While waiting, I loved watching their team work like a well-oiled machine behind the counter. Fresh hand-cut potatoes were dropping into the fryer, and the assembly crew was constantly building dogs and piling massive heaps of steaming fries on top. High output, fantastic energy! I even asked one of the prep guys if I could snap a picture, and he was super cool about it. ​The meal itself was awesome. The fries were piping hot, perfectly salted, and very generous in portion. Once I dug down to the dog, that first bite took me by complete surprise, the snap of the natural casing and the flavor were incredible. Before I knew it, I was clearing the paper wrapper and completely understanding why people order double dogs or multiple single dogs. Be warned it will have your back talking to you too. Lol! Highly recommended legend!

    Photos
    Gene’s & Jude's - The inside of the restaurant

    The inside of the restaurant

    Gene’s & Jude's - Single Hot dog/with Fries

    Single Hot dog/with Fries

    Gene’s & Jude's - Nov 2025.

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    Nov 2025.

    Devil Dawgs -  South State

    Devil Dawgs - South State

    4.0(1.1k reviews)
    9.2 mi•South Loop
    •$
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegan friendly

    Great place for a hot dog! This location is a short walk from the Field Museum. I had the Chicago…read moredog and tots, and it was good! You can't go wrong with a classic. Service is counter only, and you have to order at a kiosk. The interior is what you would expect for this type of establishment. Cool framed photos and memorabilia. I'll definitely return next time I'm in Chicago again.

    We went to Devil Dawgs after doing the architecture tour because we needed something to put in our…read morestomachs. My husband suggested it, so we went. At first, I was like, "Hey, get me a sandwich." But when we got there, it looked divey, so I said, you know what, let's see! We grabbed a high-top table, but listen: seating is limited, okay? Don't come in there thinking you finna have a whole big, huge party! It is a small space, but we were able to secure our seats, watch the cooks do their thing, and order our food. Everything came out relatively quickly. The whole place has a fun vibe. Pictures on the ceiling, bright colors. Of course, the name Devil Dawgs made me think about the Marine Corps. If you know, you know! I had the Dragonfruit Shake, and oh my goodness. My husband had the Maxwell Street Polish, which I absolutely loved seeing because I grew up eating them. I used to get mine off 95th & Dan Ryan.. so that brought back some memories. And Hubs tore that thing down! Now, my hot dog? Listen, the picture is diabolical, okay? But it was EV-ER-Y-THING! I need to sound it out phonetically because it was literally everything, okay?! It was loaded, messy, and doing exactly what it needed to do. And listen, I am perfectly fine with a messy dog as long as it is good, and it absolutely was! The food came out quick, fast, and in a hurry. You won't be sitting around waiting forever. If you need to catch a plane, train, automobile, or whatever else, you are going to get where you need to go because that food is coming out, okay? If we ever come back to the area, we are definitely hitting up Devil Dawgs again. For sure!

    Photos
    Devil Dawgs -  South State
    Devil Dawgs -  South State
    Devil Dawgs -  South State

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    Fatso's Last Stand - Char dog, depression style, fries, side of Merkts cheddar sauce.

    Fatso's Last Stand

    4.1(992 reviews)
    8.3 mi•Ukrainian Village, West Town
    •$$

    I had read about how Fatso's does the char dog. I made this my last meal in Chicago…read more I went with a char dog, depression style, an order of fries, and a side of the Merkts cheddar. How was it? Fries- Delicious! Fresh cut fries, made right in front of you. They were great! Huge portion, too! Merkts Cheddar Sauce- Hell yeah! Give me a gallon of this, and I will chug it! Such a tasty cheese sauce. Loved dipping my fries in it. Great combo! Char Dog- This dog was delicious! Great char, great toppings. My only beef would be the bun. It definitely could have been more soft/steamed and fresh. It held up pretty well, but there were a couple bites where it broke and flaked apart. Hate when that happens. Still...didn't ruin the overall experience. Had a great last meal in Chicago before I headed to the airport.

    Fatso's Last Stand delivers exactly what its name promises: unapologetically indulgent, old-school…read morecomfort food done right. The burgers are the shining stars -- juicy, generously sized, and cooked to perfection with toppings that strike the perfect balance of classic and creative. Whether you go for a stacked cheeseburger, bacon-loaded option, or a specialty creation, the patties are flavorful and satisfyingly beefy, with a great char and use of quality ingredients that keeps diners coming back. Beyond burgers, the menu also features hearty eats like crispy fries, loaded sandwiches, and thick milkshakes, all served with a no-frills attitude that lets the food speak for itself. Service at Fatso's Last Stand matches the laid-back but attentive vibe of the restaurant -- staff are friendly, efficient, and know regulars by name, creating a welcoming, neighborhood-favorite energy. While the pace can get lively during peak hours, especially on weekends, the team handles the rush with good humor and keeps orders moving. The ambiance is casual and retro in all the right ways, with diner-style seating and a comfortable, unpretentious environment that makes it perfect for relaxed lunches, casual dinners with friends, or late-night burger runs. It's not fancy, but when your focus is on big, delicious burgers and familiar comfort food, Fatso's delivers exactly what you're craving.

    Photos
    Fatso's Last Stand
    Fatso's Last Stand - Merkts Cheddar.

    Merkts Cheddar.

    Fatso's Last Stand - Double Fatso with Cheese + Fries

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    Double Fatso with Cheese + Fries

    Nicky's Hot Dogs - hotdog - Updated October 2026

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