The Dogout

We catered from this local restaurant in Deerfield and while it was our first experience with Dear…read moreFranks, it did not disappoint. The service for online ordering was seamless, the prices very reasonable and the customer service quite outstanding. We had direct communication and real time updates from the in-charge catering staff. We made last minute changes and those were courteously accommodated. Our food was delivered fresh and on time. Thank you Jerry for the superb customer service and communication. Dear Franks will be added to our pool of catering services for tasty bites!

I went to Dear Franks of Deerfield based on the recommendation of my husband who goes here often…read morewhen he's in the office. When you visit you will notice that lunch and dinner food (hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages etc.) and dessert foods (ice cream, teas, milkshakes, etc.) are served in separate areas in the restaurant. I went here for dessert and was not disappointed. They had a small variety of ice creams but they were really good. I got the triple chocolate ice cream and my husband had the Oreos and cream. The ice cream had a lot of flavor in a small scoop. The atmosphere is super fun. The walls are drawn on in crayon. I had so much fun trying to find messages in the scribbles. Dear Franks of Deerfield has great food and is super fun. Dear Franks of Deerfield comes highly recommended.

#1 1 Hot Dog combo

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Gene & Jude's

4.2(2.6k reviews)

18.6 mi

Obviously we had to come to Gene's & Jude's…read more Long before we planned our Chicago trip, I can remember seeing a feature about the place on TV. It was a no-brainer. The place is kind of out of the way, but hey, we had a car and some free time, so why not? I, of course, got the Hot Dog w/ Fries ("mustard, relish, onion, sport peppers") and yep it's a superior dog. I'm not sure if the copious fries really added anything to it, but the snap of the wiener and the tasty condiments added up to an extremely enjoyable experience. I can see why Gene's & Jude's is so highly regarded. It's a cool place (and super affordable, too).

The good: Vienna Beef hotdog and Rosen's bun…read more The bad: WAYYYY TOO MUCH mustard (my bun was a soggy mess) & the fries were too greasy and undercooked (floppy not crisp) For how much it's raved about, I can't say it measured up I'll stick with Bob-Os and Paradise Pup.

The inside of the restaurant

Single Hot dog/with Fries

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Nov 2025.

Superdawg Drive-In

3.3(561 reviews)

5.0 mi

Apparently, when you are visiting Chicago, you have to try a superdawg…read more... The flavor was all there, the bun was a bit soggy. I absolutely loved the nostalgia. And apparently the locals just love it

The food was solid, but the service was slow. Not ideal for late night munchies if you're in a…read morehurry. Arrived at 8:00 and didn't get food until 8:30. I suspect it was because they were busy cleaning up before they close at 9:00? The burger was juicy and ample. But this place is best known for their dogs. Nice, snappy sausage with all of the trimmings. I love the pickle spear and pickled green tomato on the side. The crinkle fries were crisp on the outside and fluffy inside.

Cheers! Supertamales, Superdawg, pineapple shake

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U Dawg U

4.4(123 reviews)

8.3 mi

U Dawg U is the fast food equivalent of a comfort blanket--quick, crave-worthy, and there when you…read moreneed it. If you're in the Northbrook area, this place has a solid chance at satisfying your hunger. It's one of those carryout spots that gets you in and out faster than you can say "Chili Cheese Dawg," and sometimes, that's exactly what you need. U Dawg U is an order at the counter (or online) and take to go type place in a strip mall. No frills. Just a counter, a soda machine, and a few other people at midday standing by for crave-worthy fast food. Note there is easy parking out front. If you're around Happ Road and need dawgs that hit the spot fast, U Dawg U has you covered.

Jumbo dog, regular dog... Double delicious! The deliciousness only surpassed by the kindness of the…read moreowner and the workers

Sweet Potato Fries

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Inside menu board

Josh's Hot Dogs

3.9(188 reviews)

4.4 mi

Found this place while Dashing. It's a quaint store front shop. It was loaded with some wrestling…read morememorabilia but a lot more supporting local youth team. I ordered the two hot dog special that comes with fries and a drink, I was able to get one of my favorite drinks, red crème soda. Before I settled down my food was ready quickly. The hot dog was a natural casing dog which I loved. The hot dog had a good snap. It had all the trimmings of a Chicago Style hot dog and all of the trimmings was fresh. I love the fact that they wrap the dogs to stay warmer. The fries on the other hand were underwhelming. They were hot and crispy but lacked a good potato flavor. Overall, the only drawbacks were the fries and cost of the two hot dog special. I think it was one of the most expensive hot dog combos I had this year.

The food was great. I had a chopped cheese sandwich. I'm from Chicago and would definitely come…read moreback for another one. The service was great the guys behind the counter were very nice and polite. The place itself was very clean.

A dog dragged through the garden.

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Outside

Salerno's Red Hots

4.6(78 reviews)

47.9 mi

My first time here. I just wanted a couple hot dogs. But I was hungry, so I also got a combo wet,…read moresweet, and hot. And all I can say is..... thank goodness. That combo was awesome. The dogs were perfect. But what ever they use to cook the fries in???? they were some of the best fresh cut fries I've ever had, anywhere!! A really great hotdog joint in Yorkville. I'm definitely going back. (I wish I would have taken a photo of the food but it was gone in mins.... all of it. )

Wow just wow. The service is just outstanding, and the food it spectacular, decent prices aswell…read more Cassy i think her name was, was extremely nice.

Owner is awesome

Italian Beef with sweet and hot peppers and a side of large fries.

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The Mean Wiener

4.0(297 reviews)

2.5 mi

We recently placed a very large catering order, Cinco de Mayo festival-party for Highwood Bocce…read moreClub, Sergio was very helpful and extremely accommodating as we set up a Taco Bar with 5 offerings including Fajita-Vegan offering, then a massive Enchiladas order that was a huge hit then provided extras for Taco Salad Bar plus all the sides (Beans-Rice, Outstanding) generous supply of Chips-Salsa. The 2 delivery's were on time and assistance in setting up was greatly appreciated! The Mexican food for the Cinco de Mayo party was a "hit", home run. The HBC and membership greatly appreciated the quality and quantity of food, tremendous service that made the event a huge success!!!

Mean Weiner you earned this absurdly mean & AWESOME Review. Ladies & gentlemen, this place is a…read moretrue gem tucked away near Fort Sheridan. Fun atmosphere, good music, excellent customer service and very clean indoor & outdoor dining area (limited seating but it's better than nothing). I have the Francheesie Hot Dog & it was great. Also, love the bread they use here for their buns. Soft, and not cheap. Fries are on point as well. Better than some of the usual cheap crinkle cut or shoe string fries. I'd put their fries on the same level as Five Guys. For the vets & active military in the area, take note they do offer a military discount and your fountain drink is on the house. Loved the experience and food Mean Weiner. Stay Mean!

24.1 mi•River North, Near North Side

Entry area where you order and get your drink.

Rama

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Lobby

Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago

3.9(7.3k reviews)

I had a traditional Chicago-style hot dog, fries, and a slice of their famous chocolate cake. I'm…read morenot usually a big fan of hot dogs, but this one was better than expected. The real highlight for me, though, was the chocolate cake -- incredibly soft, rich, chocolatey, and moist. It was the perfect dessert after dinner. The restaurant itself is super cool and full of old Chicago memorabilia and vintage items that make the place feel unique and fun to explore. If you're visiting town, it's worth stopping by just for the atmosphere alone. They also have a huge food selection and a full bar, so there's something for everyone. The service was great, and despite how busy the place can get, they have plenty of lines for self-service and ordering at the counter, which keeps things moving smoothly. Overall, a really fun spot to grab food while visiting Chicago.

Portillo's honestly feels like one of those classic Chicago hallmark staples that you almost have…read moreto try at least once when visiting the city. The atmosphere, history, and overall hype surrounding it definitely add to the experience. However, in my personal opinion, the ambience and reputation outweighed the actual quality of the food! I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich combo along with a classic hot dog. The customer service itself was actually very nice and prompt. The cashier helping me was friendly enough to let me sample their spicy chipotle-style sauce/spread that comes with the chicken sandwich, and honestly, that sauce was delicious. That said, I have to admit the hot dog itself was pretty underwhelming. I know Chicago-style hot dogs are iconic, but I personally felt like I've had better-tasting hot dogs from a Dodger Dog or even Costco. The relish here tasted oddly artificial to me -- almost like a strange paste consistency that I just couldn't get into. Maybe it's just my Los Angeles taste buds talking, but honestly, some of the best hot dogs I've had are from the street vendors off Hollywood Boulevard with the grilled onions, bell peppers, mustard, mayo, ketchup... you know exactly the kind I'm talking about!! Overall, I'd still recommend trying this place at least once simply because it's such a well-known Chicago institution, but for me personally, the food didn't fully live up to the hype.....

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Dawg Park

4.0(222 reviews)

7.8 mi

We celebrated Lambo's 12 birthday here and absolutely loved it! The chicken and rice was so…read moregood--it honestly looked and smelled like human-quality food. You can tell they really care about what they serve. Lambo had the best time, and we'll definitely be back! Thank you .

I've never been so confused at an eating establishment…read more There are dogs. I like dogs...I have a dog...but do they never accidentally pee or poop inside? Menu is really big, a bit too many options so I had to stare at it for quite a while. Food is decent. I had a Chicago style dog and chili cheese fries. My son had a cheeseburger and fries. We had two fountain drinks. The total was $40. Inflation or are these particular prices unreasonable? I don't know, but $40 for a burger, a Chicago style hot dog, two fries (to be fair, one was chili cheese fries), and two fountain drinks seems excessive. Service was pleasant. I could see how the concept works for dog people who are dog crazy. Again, food is decent, prices high, service pleasant, decor and concept a bit confusing.

Connect 4

Coconut Pineapple Shake

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Cheesy Italian Beef

Boss Dawgz

4.6(166 reviews)

30.7 mi

We stopped for lunch at Boss Dawgz. Hubby had the Chili…read moreBoss and I went with the Chicago Style, a classic. The homemade buns are like none other, so fresh and soft, and the fries...chef's kiss. Boss Dawgs has 30+ creative varieties of hot dogs plus specials and also Italian beef, brats and Polish sausage. Their buns are made daily in house from scratch, as is their chili for chili dogs. They have the best fresh-cut fries, too. I highly recommend a visit if you venture to the Chicago west burbs. The owner William is personable and we loved talking to him. He cares about his food and customers.

I came here to see what the hype's about. The different menu combinations they come up with are…read morethoughtful & creative. The soft bun, although light & fluffy, was too big for the skinny dogs they use. Each hot dog came in a styrofoam container, too big for the size of the actual dog, if they would've asked I would've taken two dogs in each container. As for the franks themselves, they tasted like Ballpark Franks or Hebrew National brand, what a disappointment. Fresh cut fries come with each dog although it is a tiny bag of fries. I really wanted to like this place but it's just mediocre to me. Come give it a try & see for yourself!