"You must try the duck fat fries, you won't regret it."
(in 343 reviews)
"Chicago, hands down, has the most amazing encased meats in the nation."
(in 112 reviews)
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- Hours:
Mon-Sat. 10:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good for:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- None
903 reviews for Hot Doug's
Review Highlights
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I like this place so much that I break my 2 "I will never" statements about buying food.
I Never #1 - I will never go get cash special for a restaurant. They should take credit/debit cards.
For Hot Dougs, I will ATM it without even blinking,
I never #2 - I'm not going to wait in a long line for food. This is Chicago and there are too many places that have delicious food.
For Hot Dougs, I break this rule except when it's below 0 and that's where I draw the line. The line moves Ok - but it's is so worth what's inside.
Ok - now the inside.... it's the Mecca of encased meats. A dozen or so celebrity named sausages.... my favorite is the Marty Allen - Beef, Pork, and Garlic, Grilled....with my favorite toppings and a side of Duck fries! Damn... I've made myself hungry....
Then there's the specials - They've got a specials menu that's about as large as the regular menu, but it's headlined by a Celeb of the week, and a game of the week. The selections are amazing, and totally worth straying from your normal favorite..
http://jimandbrittneye.../
Still on our quest to make our way through the Á la Card list, we decided to take an afternoon off for Jim to experience some serious sausage. Even though it was 1pm on a February weekday, the line still wrapped around the building, as usual. But we weren't swayed.
The first time Brittney went to Hot Doug's, she was still eating meat. And visions of ostrich sausage and duck fat fries danced in her head. This was going to be interesting...
When we finally reached the counter after 45 minutes of taking turns to be in the sunlight and rubbing our denim-clad jeans with our hands, I approached Doug with a plea. "It's great to see you again, Doug. Kate says hi. So... well... um, last time I visited, I still ate meat, but now I don't. Is there any way I can order one of the special sausages but get a veggie dog instead? I'll pay the price for the special!" Without hesitation, the ever-friendly Doug replied, "Why would you do that? You can pay the price of a veggie dog. What would you like?" The Pete Shelley (AKA veggie) is only $2.75. Doug is a saint!
After some friendly hassling from Doug about "when I'd be coming back over from the dark side," I ordered the Pete Shelley with apple chutney and manchego cheese.
Although I did miss the heartiness of a real-meat sausage, these ingredients could make anything taste like heaven. Whether this was meant to be boar, rabbit, or dinosaur, it likely would've been a little juicier with some animal fat, but the cheese and chutney were really tasty.
I also ordered the Pete Shelley with Chipotle Dijonnaise and Burning Nettles Smoked Gouda Cheese.
Again, a veggie dog is a little slight for such a big bun, but I paid under $3 for some awesome ingredients. Good show, old chap.
...and of course, cheese fries (minus the duck fat). These chips are cooked in, um, regular fat?
My heart might have stopped momentarily after ingesting maybe half of these, but that didn't stop them from being delicious.
Jim, being the meat fanatic that he is, was like a kid in a candy store... Or like a man in a sausage store. He ordered the Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Sel Gris.
In honor of this great city, he also ordered a traditional Chicago dog... and how could he resist the duck fat fries?
Hot Doug's is a serious must for all that call themselves Chicagoans. It's not in the most convenient location in the city, and there will definitely be a wait, but it's well worth it. Hot Doug's never disappoints.
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1/27/2008
This place is a serious gem. Based on a few pushes from an old flame and a coworker who actually… Read more »
I'm just going to echo what 900 other reviews have already said. Hot Doug's actually lives up to all the hype.
1) Got there right when they opened on Saturday AM and I didn't expect a 40 min wait, mostly outside in the rain and cold. I kept asking myself, "Who [else] eats hot dogs at 10:30AM?!" And then I realized that these were my kind of people, in my kind of town. God I love hot dogs.
2) Hot Doug's excels at both the bread and butter dog and the gourmet. Best Chicago Dog ever! Had mine deep-fried (!!!) and it had perfect snap with fresh, high-quality toppings. The wild boar sausage was fantastically tender and well-paired with the smoked gouda
3) If possible, avoid sitting at the counter facing cold, starving patrons waiting in line. It made me feel truly gluttonous to be inhaling my duck fries and multiple hot dogs with people literally going hungry right before my eyes.
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O to the M to the G. Finally made it to this mecca of hot dog joints on a cold October morning. Showed up at 12pm (bad idea)...waited for 1.5 hours in shorts (just came from a run to lessen the absurd amount of calories I was about to devour). By the way, great crowd of people to wait in line with-friendly, hilarious & hungry. The group behind us brought a six pack of beer-very smart people...I'll be stealing that idea on my next Doug run.
In my tummy!...ordered the Dave Kingman (Sante Fe chicken sausage-little bit of a kick to it!), the B.L.T. (who knew bacon sausage even existed?!), and a corndog. I loved the corndog-great breading & perfectly deep fried. (Can't beat it for $1.50!) The B.L.T. had the perfect mix of coleslaw & cherry tomatoes but I didn't really get that "bacony" taste. The duck fat fries were yummy...perfect ratio of crunch to soggy! Doug was even there to take our order!
I'm not a huge hot dog fan, but Hot Doug's is pretty amazing. I would recommend not going on a weekend unless you are in line when they open the doors. Our first attempt was foiled after waiting for an hour and only moving maybe 5 people deep in the line.
We went back on a Monday morning before noon. I couldn't believe a line was already forming on a week day. After eating here, I can see why. Doug is really great about explaining what extras should put on your hot dog selection to guarantee an explosion in your mouth. While the Chicago style hot dog is an easy choice, don't neglect the specials board. Everything our table ordered was delicious. For a hot dog joint, I was really impressed.
I give four stars only because the wait was so insane the first time we went.
And did I mention how cheap the food is? Three of us ate for less than $15. It was ridiculous.
Are you all out of your minds? It's a flippin hot dog stand!!! I've tried most of the regular dogs and a few specialty sausages and they are good but certainly not worth waiting in line for more than 10 minutes let alone an hour. And yes I've had the duck fat fries(a few years ago early and only waited 10 minutes). Are the fries good? I guess but it's a flippin french fry.
Don't get me wrong, I like the place and Doug is really nice but something is going on in Avondale.
I think it's something in the water making you fools wait in line for an hour for sausages and burgers from Kuma's.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm duck fat fries. My boyfriend and I went there on a Friday at prime-time lunch time, while it was raining..you know what that means..I waited outside in the rain, sweet! Well, luckily, the rain must have deterred some people, because we only waited about 30 minutes. While we got 3 hot dogs, 2 of the specials and the game of the day, and I really truly only fully enjoyed ONE of the 3, the experience in itself was worth 5 stars. the duck fat fries were amazing! i am DEFINITELY going back.
All (hot) dogs go to heaven because these are simply well...divine!
The line is always out the door but it's cool because your iPhone will keep you busy. Doug actually has worked there every time I have been and he's a pretty interesting character. Try the foie gras dog and while you are at it, get the duck fat fries (drooling over the memory of that absolutely sinful treat) but they are only available on Friday and Saturday.
There is absolutely nothing like a Chicago hot dog and these are the best. The skin breaks as you bite in making that gentle snapping sound that warns you of the meaty, juicy, warm flavors about to assault your taste buds. You will need to take a moment after your first bite and just be in the moment - you literally won't be able to talk because you are so overwhelmed and happy.
When I come back to Chicago, it's definitely a place that I make every effort to eat at and die of happiness for a little while.
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Okay, so, being from Los Angeles, the hot dogs here are done one of two ways: relish, mustard, ketchup and maybe some jalapenos. . .and then there's the ghetto dog way. . .the link wrapped in bacon and grilled on a baking sheet on top of a shopping cart by a Mexican in downtown LA. It's then piled high with grilled onions, peppers, and what else, but a giant jalapeno. Oh and the bun is rolled around in the bacon grease to make it extra delectable.
So when I came to Chicago, even as a dog lover, I was a little hesitant at first to try the dogs here. Pickle, onions (bleh), tomato, and CELERY SALT? That's some crazytalk man. But I mean, it's a Chicago staple, you've got to try it. So my friend and I, being crazy foodies, decided to take the metro, transfer twice, and take a bus all the way to Hot Doug's for some of the best (we've heard) dogs in the city.
After a 90 min trek. . .we made it. The line was wrapped around the building, but there were empty seats inside. Apparently the owner won't let you sit before you eat! But that ensures that everyone who orders food will get to sit and enjoy their meal! And even though this method doesn't seem to make logical sense at first, somehow it all works out.
My friend and I, between the two of us, ordered five dogs: The Dog w/ everything (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) Shrimp and Pork Sausage with goat cheese (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), the Marty Allen w/ everything (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), the Atomic Bomb aka spicy sausage with pepperjack cheese (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and the Saucisson Alsacienne aka bacon sausage with double cream brie (http://www.yelp.com/bi...). . .oh and of course, an order of small fries. The owner took our order, and I have to say, he is the nicest dude and super efficient. He approved my ordering The Dog with everything on it.
Out of all the fancy dogs I had that day, I actually preferred The Dog. I loved the crunchy pickle, the sweet onions, the juicy tomato and the celery salt. . .yum. I thought the Saucisson Alsacienne was super rich, especially since it was piled high with creamy brie, and the Atomic Bomb was quite spicy as well. I mean, I love cheese and all, but I think I got a near overload, since halfway through the meal, my buddy and I were eating the hot dogs sans the cheese.
I would definitely come back again. . .even though the bill was crazy. . .I think the five dogs and small fries plus two sodas set us back maybe 45 bucks! Insane, but the food was great, the store and service were good and they also have some interesting soda brands in the fridge!
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Ok, so yes I waited over an hour for a hot dog, WTF. But, honestly, the hot dog, polish, and brat were all pretty damn good. The fries in duck fat were also very tasty. Will I wait an hour again, probably not, but maybe 45 minutes. Should have been 5 stars, but note to Doug, add a window for carry out. DUDE, you have to work on getting those lines moving a wee bit quicker.
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I am not a fan of waiting for anything for more than an hour and a half.
This place has proven me wrong time and time again. Thank you Hot Doug's for remaining gigantic part of my life.
Stop what you are doing and go to Hot Doug's right now.
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My fiancé and I used to go to Hot Doug's when it was on the other side of the river on Roscoe and Western. We would go 3X a week for lunch when we were in high school. After the fire, we were incredibly disappointed because Hot Doug's seriously has some amazing dogs!
A few years ago however, I was back on break and randomly driving down California when I had discovered that Hot Doug's had risen from the ashes! Whenever i'm in the area I always try to stop in, especially for the duck fat fries--YUM!
The only bummer: be prepared to wait in uber-long lines. Hot Doug's has become quite the celebrity among chicago hot dog places. Not entirely worth the wait if you're just getting a chicago dog, but definitely worth it if you're going to try one of the specialty sausages and meats.
Wow! This place really makes some damn good hot dogs. We were heading back home to SF and made the trip on our way back to the airport and prayed that there wasn't going to be a long line. Well we were in luck. It is Tuesday around 2:30 in the afternoon. Still a line, but not wrapping around the block as we feared.
We tried a whole bunch of different hot dogs and they were all very good. Being very critical of our hot dogs we had discussion about whether this actually beats out Top Dog from the San Francisco area. I will have to admit that Hot Dougs comes up on top here. Everything we had was oh so yummy. We pretty much tried out half the menu or more.
One of the ladies ordered the Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage. This thing is super good, but really heavy. She had to get something different since it was rich and she couldn't handle since we ate right before this too. This means I got more than one bite....yummy, yummy, yummy!!!
As with everyone else...this place rocks. Went here for the first time last week and was fortunate that the chill in the air seemed to scare off the line.
There were 6 of us which with the seating in there can be a challenge. We were in line for about 10 minutes, ordered and took an open table. About 5 min later out came the food.
The Weisswurst I had was excellent as were the cheese fries I shoveled into my pie hole.
I will be back to try more things. The BF has yet to be there so I am sure when they return from vacation at the end of Oct, we both will be there to great them.
Side note: the service was excellent!! Not rushed and everything was explained well. For example: I was one of 2 Americans in the group; the other 4 were not fluent in English but this did not deter the workers.
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What a classy, classy hole in the wall. Ha! There's no other way to describe this little gem. We bought something like 5 dogs and a humongous bag of crispy fries with cheese for around $12. The steamed dogs were delicious and the fries... mmm. I really kind of wish they had "specials" more like your typical hot dog joint but otherwise it's an amazing experience. They serve the sort of hot dog that Chicago should be famous for.
Went to Hot Dougs @ Lulas yesterday, I almost died. There aren't any descriptions that will help you make the choice to go, just go.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/14/2008
A chef of the people. Never bowing to convention nor safety. Hot Dougs: encasing the world one… Read more »
After watching Anthony Bourdain rave about Hot Doug's, I booke a flight and flew to Chicago to see what all the hype was about....It was good, but not great.
I gave it a fair chance though. I tried 5 different hot dogs & the duck fat fries:
The Chicago Style Hot Dog
The Keira Knightly - fire dog
Paul Kelly - bratwurst soaked in beer
The Dave Kingman - chicken sausage sante fe style
The Elvis - polish sausage
The BEST was by far the Paul Kelly & Keira Knightly....full of flavor! The others just tasted like boring Oscar Meyer weiners you could buy at your local grocery store. The duck fat fries were delicious though. Then again anything fried in fat & has the ability to clog your arteries is always happy on the taste buds.
The line is super long ( I waited 45min), but it should be expected.
Overall it was good, but not great.
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Who gave this one star? Maybe they waited too long. It doesn't matter though. I went today at around one and really only waited fifteen minutes. I got a Fire Dog (which I refuse to call Kiera Knightly, because I don't think she's hot) and the game of the week: three chili wild boar sausage with chipotle dijonnaise and smoked gouda. And it was delicious. I tried to the foie gras and duck sausage, which was also delicious. As it was my first time getting boar, I was nervous (which I shouldn't have been because I love meat) but when I ordered, Doug was very excited that I did and said "Good, because it's really delicious." And that's when I knew that I had made the right decision.
The fire dog was delicious too; the fact that you can hear the casing snap is awesome. I love it for sure.
I don't think there really can be anything else to be said. I'm sure you've been told to go. So go. If you don't like waiting in line, forego the weekend and skip the duck fat fries. Go at the off times. Just do it. It's delicious and well worth it.
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There is nothing I can say about Doug that has not already been said.
Hot Doug's is a one-in-a-billion hot dog shop, and Doug is a hero in the food world.
I hope Hot Doug's continues to be an iconic beacon for the reinvention of comfort food and American cuisine.
Great stuff ... I was this place on travel channel on a couple of their shows ....
So good! I enjoyed it a lot. The best part is the unique game hotdogs, these are hotdogs you probably won't find anywhere else, everything from kangaroo to rattlesnake hotdogs.
I myself had the kangaroo, when i was there, and boy was it worth the wait. Doug, himself, was there and greated me with a warm welcome, just like he did on the tv! TRY THE FRIES!!!!!
So if you are in the mood for something out of the ordinary, DEFINATELY GO HERE!!!
I don't know when this place is not busy.
But go. Just go.
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Moved to Chicago, felt I owed it to myself to try Hot Doug's, now make it a fairly regular occasion. Yes, it is worth the wait. A 2 hour wait? No. 30 minutes or less? Consider such a small line a gift from the gods, get in line and prepare to be amazed.
If you are coming here solely to try a Chicago-style hot dog for the first time, I would recommend going someplace else. Doug does make a mighty fine hot dog with all the trimmings (though you must specify if you want sport peppers), but that is not the real draw of this place. I've always had fantastic experiences with his Chicago dogs, Brats, Thuringers, and all the other sausage staples that he offers, but one truly owes it to one's self to order the Game Of The Week. Take a game animal sausage, such as elk, antelope, or rabbit, add a sauce and cheese that are paired specifically to that sausage, and you have a truly magnificent gastronomic experience. The best I've had is the spicy smoked alligator sausage with Cajun Remouillade sauce and St. Pete's blue cheese. It is easily one of the top five meals of my life. It seems preposterous to many that something as simple as sausage could be this delicious, but this isn't yer brudder Bill's Poolish Sahssidge from da Jool's. Doug takes his craft very seriously, and he loves his job. I'm sure he gets tired of the endless droves of people at the counter every day who still can't make up their minds despite ample decision-making time while waiting in line, but he sure hides it well. His great service, friendly wait staff and all-around great atmosphere (plus the mind-blowingly great food) make this an essential Chicago establishment. If I ever find it in myself to open a restaurant, I'm going to have a talk with him. He has obviously done something right.
If you're from out of town and you want to try a Chicago-style hot dog, there are certainly quicker and equally satisfying places to do so. But if you're serious about sausage, Hot Doug's is crucial.
I love hot dogs more than anyone else I have ever met, and the Chicago style hot dog is solely to blame for that. I now eat 4+ dogs a week and have my friends concerned about my nitrate intake. Pish posh...
That being said, Hot Doug's serves up the best hot dog I have ever had in my life. That is a pretty bold statement. They have everything you could ever want, and if they have it on the menu, the Venison dog is something I would fly back just to get. Honestly, the quality of the duck fat fries is self-explanatory. They will make you swear off fries from elsewhere altogether. They aren't always on the menu, so it's not to say the regular fries arent great... They are about a 9/10.
Not to mention that Doug is the man. I love this guy, he's always right out front and resembles Jon Favreau in big glasses, I want to be his best friend. Not only that but a buddy of mine is scheming to get Doug and his sister together to get him into the family. Can't say I blame him.
Well since I am off rehabbing from shoulder surgery, I might as well get caught up on some restaurant reviews. My wife and I finally headed up north to try Hot Doug's. A buddy of mine, DJ A. has been teasing me for a while about getting my butt up north to try this place. Well he is right and it definitely was worth the trip.
We ordered the Teuben, a corned beef sausage with russian dressing, sauerkraut and swiss cheese. I had mine without the sauerkraut, as I am not a big fan of sauerkraut (actually I hate the stuff). I also ordered a Tequila and Black Bean Chicken Sausage with Pico de Gallo, Guacamole and Habanero-Jack Cheese. It was another excellent sausage! Finally I ordered the Frankenwurst, one half pound of pure all beef pleasure. My mouth is watering as I type this review!!!
Maria also ordered the Elvis (smoked and savory polish sausage) and the Paul Kelly (bratwurst soaked in beer). She thought they were both excellent, the bratwurst was a little bitter she said, but she thought that was because of too much mustard.
We also shared some fresh cut french fries and a drink. They were good. The line was long the entire time we were there. But the line did always seem to move fast. Our total bill was less than $35 dollars. Our only negative comment would be around the size of the encased meats. If they could only be a bit bigger, it would add even more to the overall greatness of the meal.
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I'm not a biggest fan of hot dogs but man is this place awesome! If only I was there when they offer duck fat friess....*mouth watering as i'm typing*.
Went there with mi novia and I just had to order the foie gras just because I have never tried it before. It was pretty good but mi novia's elvis's dog was better in my opinion.
The service was awesome. He was very friendly and they even brought the food to the table!
Ya gotta love the decor of the restaurant. Who doesn't love eating next to a framed photo of britney spears (the old britney, not the crazy one). It seems to make the food even more delicious.
What I disliked was the long line out the door in chilly February. Worth the wait though. I'd definitely come back when I'm in Chicago.
There is parking. The wait is one hour (and a half). The encased meats are worth it. Bring a chair, a flask and a book.
It takes me exactly 1 month to forget the wait and want to make my way back to this fantastic establishment. The uber garlic dog is my personal favorite, but my friend was just as happy w/ her chili cheese hot dog. Whatever your tastes, you'll be back in that damned line. Guaranteed.
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REASON 1: Foie gras and sauternes duck sausage with truffle aioli, foie gras mousse, and sel gris.
REASON 2: Fresh cut potatoes rendered in duck fat.
Shortest review I'll ever write, because if those two things above don't give you enough of a reason to wait in line for an hour or two, then I really can't help you.
Seriously. Duck sausage hot dog topped with foie gras + duck fat fries. Your gall bladder will hate you, but your taste buds will call you God. Amen.
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Hot Doug's Rocks! I remember the first couple of times we went to try this place...the line was out the door and down the street...I looked at my wife and said not today. Then one day as we were driving by we saw only a couple of people in line...my wife jumped out of the car and I went to find a parking space. The next thing I knew there were 10 people behind her...this place is like joining a cult for encased meats!
The sausage and dogs are so good! The line is worth the wait. I have heard stories that if you are not in the door before closing...you will be locked out...so come early! I do recommend you check the website before going because Doug likes to take time off. A couple of times we went....only to find the door locked. This place makes you work for your food but it is so worth it. The website also has the current menu.
Grubbin!
What else can I say about this place. It's famous, even Anthony Bourdain No Reservations came here.
Shared half dogs with four of my buddies, so had about 8 different dogs. My fav was defiantly the Foie Gras and sauternes duck sausage w/ truffle aioli. Pretty money. We had some of the favorites too. My other fav was the rabbit dog, lamb sausage with smoked gouda, and the rattle snake sausage.
Over all, we're pretty spoiled here in the San Francisco Bay Area, so we have our own dog joints. I would just order what you like.
Pros- So many different dogs and toppings
Cons- The line was sooooo long. About an hour and a half wait.
Over rated but MUST GET!!!- The duck fat fries. They're actually pretty dry.
Here's what you need to know:
Everyone says that you are going to wait in a long long line. On a Friday or Saturday, that is true. Go on a weekday and you are likely not to wait more than ten or fifteen minutes!
Hot Doug's is hidden. People need to search to find it. It is a mecca in a barren land of large manufacturing/electric companies.
It is only open 10:30-4pm.
Check out their website for what is going to be on the menu that day. You can go one week and have a completely different experience the next week.
You can order ahead and pick up if you order more than $25. If you have 2 or 3 people ordering, that shouldn't be a problem.
Everything that everyone else says is true. You will not regret this.
My highlight last time: white wine rabbit sausage with caprese peppers and goat cheese.
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In a city overflowing with a wide range of culinary choices, Hot Doug's is the one place I make an effort to visit every time I'm in the Windy City.
What can I say that hasn't already been said? It's very affordable, the staff is really personable and for a place that basically just sells hot dogs and fries, the flavor combinations that this place produces always brings a big old smile to my face. There is a thoughtfulness that goes into designing these dogs that brings what is often thought as street food to a gourmet level.
I'm the adventurous type of diner, so I'm always leaning towards the fancier dogs, although I had a corn dog there once and that was a decidedly wise $1.50 spent. Because they have so many choices that I find appealing I use the strategy of going with a friend, ordering 2 dogs each and then splitting them up, so that we can each taste 4 different sausages. I always go for the wild game dog too and it has yet to disappoint me.
There is always a line going out the door at this place, but regardless it seems to move pretty quickly. From my experience I suggest limiting yourself to two dogs per person. Anything beyond that will take it's toll.
My dear, darling Doug...
I am fucking hot for you.
And your sweet sausage.
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After an unexpected moving truck breakdown, I found myself deserted by my friends while waiting in a lengthy queue to try the famous homemade sausages at Hot Doug's. While I generally find the idea of standing in any type of line revolting, I was lucky enough to find myself in the company of three friendly strangers who were equally obsessed with national food travel. We explored various culinary options across the United States while offering our personal experiences in cities such as Las Vegas, Seattle, Austin, New York, and New Orleans. Coupled with parking disasters and people whining about the queue, their company dramatically sped up the process.
On a number of occasions, I had to check my cell phone to determine whether SG's movers had arrived. One of the strangers noted, "If you check that cell phone while you are at the counter, I think you should have to go back to the end of the line. I countered, "If I check my cell phone when I get to the front of the line, I shouldn't be allowed back in the line." Smiles abounded. It's easy to make friends.
I was next in line. Time to play a practical joke. "Hello? Hey SG!!!!" I looked back at the strangers and smiled. No, I'm not that asshole.
Hot Doug's is not the type of place where you dally around with your order. I was ready. My order consisted of the following: Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Sel Gris ($9.00), White Wine Rabbit Sausage with Sauce Moustards, Goat Cheese, and Spicy Calabrese Peppers ($6.50), Smoked Crayfish and Pork Sausage with Cajun Remoulade and Smokey Blue Cheese ($8.50), Chicago Grilled Hot Dog with Relish, Dill Pickle, Onions, Mustard, and Ketchup ($1.75), Blue Cheese Pork Sausage with Sir William Pear Creme Fraiche and Roasted Almonds ($8.00), and Duck Fat Frites ($3.25).
On my way back to SG's place, I started snacking on the duck fries. While the fries were tasty, I was hoping for each bite to be oozing in duck fat. That simply was not the case. While nearly everyone on Yelp glorifies these fries, I would pass on them for the regular cheese fries on a subsequent visit.
We started with the duck sausage. It should be mentioned from the outset that even without the condiments, the different sausages used at Hot Doug's are extraordinarily flavorful. The use of the natural sea salt and the allegedly banned in Chicago foie gras was a nice touch, but the truffle aioli is what carried this particular hot dog. It meshed perfectly with the gamey flavors of the duck.
Even more outstanding was the expertly spiced rabbit sausage. The spicy mustards and pepper were properly doused with the pairing of the goat cheese. The result was an excellent meledy for the wine-doused rabbit. Both the duck sausage and the rabbit sausage were superb, but it is the rabbit sausage that will keep me talking about Hot Doug's for decades. Who knew a hot dog could be so decadent?
I should have avoided the crawfish on principle alone. First, it was called crayfish. What is the hell is that? Crawdads, yes. Crawfish, yes. Crayfish? Hell no. Second, and more important than a simple nomenclature issue, crawfish is out of season. So this one had that going against it as well. While this particular pork sausage had the nice flavors of an Andouille from New Orleans, the flavor combination of a poorly made remoulade with out-of-season crawfish made for a slightly underwhelming experience.
Hot Doug's thoroughly redeemed itself, however, with the Chicago Dog. We ordered ours grilled with all the toppings. I suggest you do the same. The dill pickle gives a satisfying textural crunch and slightly sour taste to complement the Dog. At less than $2 per hot dog, these are an absolute steal.
While I was quite full by the time I reached the Blue Cheese flavored pork sausage covered in creme fraiche and almonds, it was still delightful. The use of almond with pork sausage was a new concept. I liked the marriage of traditional English flavors with cuisine from the Heart of Dixie all in the heartland of America. It was enough to make Churchill swoon.
If you are in the Chicago area, I would strongly suggest that you brave the line and try at least two flavored dogs and perhaps two of the regular ones. If you are local, it would be a nice place to take a group of six and just sample a ton of nicely flavored meats. Then head over to Kuma's Corner and finish yourself off with a nice burger. Then diet for the rest of the month. Then repeat. I love Hot Doug's. Looking forward to another visit in the near future.
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What's that? You can actually walk up to Doug's, open the door, and walk inside? Apparently the answer is Yes, on a drizzly Wednesday at 11:10 am, when a work crew is reconstructing the curb and sidewalk around the entire corner. Actually, the construction probably had nothing to do with it, but it did add to the strangeness of the scene, namely--NO WAIT at Hot Doug's! Well, there was a line inside of about ten people. Child's play.
Thanks to having people in town, deflowering virgins, and various other unusual occasions, I've made it to Doug's four times so far in 2009! Way better than my average. That includes my birthday, because on my birthday I want to do my very favorite things, and that describes Hot Doug's for sure. A day off work, some great company, yummy yummy sausages, and NO WAIT--utter bliss.
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6/25/2008
There's almost nothing that I can add to the existing body of reviews. Delicious, creative,… Read more »
Does anything else need to be written about this place? Its the shit. And Doug always has awesome glasses on. When you show up and their is a line WAIT. The line is worth it all 3 hr's of that line are worth it.
This was my first review in May of 2007. Oh my, now i have Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" in my head. I've been going here since 2003 and alot has changed. Since then --
* His original Roscoe and Western location caught fire and he was closed for 9 months while looking for another place. He had a little clock teaser on his website counting down to when he would reopen. The longest 9 months of my life.
* His dogs have gone through many name changes. Britney Spears is now Jennifer Garner. Ann Margaret became Madonna which became Salma Hayek (i think). Please let me know if i'm wrong.
* I came straight here with my parents after i had a colonoscopy...that morning.
* There are now a billion more reviews for this place.
* I got a missed connection here a couple years ago when i went with my sister! It was very cute.
I love the andouille. After surfing through most of the menu, i've settled on this (well, along with a large fries and a corndog). Doug always asks how i'm doing regarding my health which is nice of him. I've become well-versed in when to show up and have never waited more than 30 min. 15 min on average. I can't quit you!
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5/10/2007
everyone complains about the line, but it's a small and very popular novelty restaurant so it comes… Read more »
Best Hot dogs in Chicago hands down.
Fries cooked in duck fat only on Friday and Saturday. ( Awesome)
The foei gras dog... out of this world....
The dogs were very tasty.
Loved the small cozy restaurant.....
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After waiting two hours for a sausage, I expected to leave Hot Doug's in a state of gustatory ecstasy. Yes the Ubergarlic was delicious, but not in an otherworldly oh-my-god-I'm-in-heaven sort of way. The duck fat fries were a greasy, salty mess; fine if you like that stuff but there are plenty of other places in this city to satisfy that lust. I also found it hard to fork over $8-9 on a single "gourmet" dog when you could walk out with a half dozen of the "plain" ones for the same price.
I'm sure it's the premise of a gourmet dog that will attract most customers here, and the menu is certainly interesting, but don't expect these sausages to change your outlook on life. I also wonder if the exorbitant wait time skews perceptions of these dogs: what doesn't taste good after you've been hungrily waiting in line for 2 hours?
If you must check it out, bring something to help kill the time, and beware of the ice cream man who parks next to the line and plays his siren song of "Turkey in the Straw," ruining the appetites of those too weak to wait it out.
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By far the best hot dogs I have had in Chicago or anywhere else. I really enjoy the variety of different sausages that they carry with their unique condiments. I was recently let down a little to find out in a Time Out article that they do not make all of their sausages on site.
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I really like Hot Doug's. The wait wasn't too bad when we got there (I didn't time it.. maybe 20-25 minutes?) and the guy taking our orders (the owner?) was really nice and friendly. Plus! We barely had to wait for a table. A group behind us tried to swoop in on a group leaving a table, but one of the waitstaff told them that we were here first, and cleaned the table off for us. So nice! The food was out within five minutes and we gorged ourselves. We ordered seven hot dogs/sausages between the three of us and shared an order of duck fat fries. Holy moly. The sausages were delicious, and the fries were amazing! I would only recommend that you don't order your sausage with "everything" on it... I was too ambitious and could barely finish my food. Just stick to what you KNOW you like.
Rock on, Hot Doug's.
