- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
The Wiener's Circle
Categories: Restaurants American (Traditional) Restaurants Fast Food Restaurants Hot Dogs American (Traditional), Fast Food, Hot Dogs [Edit]
2622 N Clark St(between Wrightwood Ave & Drummond Pl)
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
(773) 477-7444
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 10:30 am - 4 am
Fri-Sat 10:30 am - 5:30 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night
- Alcohol:
- No
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Dive-y, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
535 reviews for The Wiener's Circle
Review Highlights
"They loved her and gave her free cheese fries."
(in 108 reviews)
"It's one of the best late night shows in town."
(in 103 reviews)
"Order the double chocolate shake."
(in 39 reviews)
Loading...
535 reviews in English
-
Review from Jake S.
Harwood Heights, IL
2/4/2012
The food in there is OK - the biggest plus : late hours.
Dont order milkshake :) -
Review from Ashley D.
Boston, MA
the food is terrible and not even worth the one star. the entertainment on the other hand is every bit a 5 star rating.
the hot dog i had a bite of was mediocre at best and the cheese fries were disgusting and should be labeled a health hazard. i don't know what kind of fake canned cheese they put on top of those rock hard fries but thank god all of these people are coming in drunk.
now the chocolate milkshakes... worth every penny. for $20 i got to see a smile on my friend's face for the rest of the weekend and will have stories to tell my children and grandchildren. -
Review from Mimi T.
San Jose, CA
1/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Late night food stop!
Their burgers were tasty and my god was the line long.
Oh be careful with parking, those guys are QUICK!
I guess they're known for their 20 dollar milkshake. Oh my god. That's all I have to say about that.
Oh yeah the customer service is freaken awesome. :) no lies. -
Review from Rick T.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
Seriously? It's well past midnight and you're Yelping The Wiener's Circle? Like, what? If the Circle's reviews don't check out you're gonna opt for Alinea at this hour?
Get your drunk thunder thighs in here and order up some char dogs. Give Poochie some lip and be made fool of. -
Review from Arielle B.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2012
Ohhh Wiener Circle. I honestly can't tell you if the food is good because I never remember eating it. But I mean it's a hot dog, you know you're not getting Michelin rated food. Come here for the experience.
So here's my advice:
Don't come until after 1 am.
Bring out of town guests.
Have a thick skin.
Ask for "more ketchup..b*tch!" (just like that)
AND ORDER A CHOCOLATE MILKSHAKE!!!!!!! -
Review from Zak F.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
The bars are now closed
And your gut is now calling
Put some food in this B
I got no time for stalling
If sticks and stones don't break your bones
And you can handle mean words and inconsiderate tones
Then Weiner Circle is your perfect place
Where food and curse words interlace
The food is tasty
but that's not why I go
it's the experience that draws me
this place puts on a damn fine show
If its your first time
Then one thing is for sure
Get yourself a Chocolate milkshake
Youll come crawling back for some more! -
Review from Amanda B.
Champaign, IL
1/15/2012
Get drunk.
Wait until 3am.
Go to Wiener's Circle.
You will not regret this decision.
Just one thing: For the love of all that is holy, do NOT order a chocolate milkshake. Unless you really want one. And also do NOT ask what is good on the menu.
You don't want to know.
Just order a chardog with everything on it and get some fries, too. But be ready with this order by the time you get to the counter, because they will not hesitate to yell at you. When you're done ordering, get out of the way. The worst is over. Soon you won't care about this terrifying experience you've just had because you will be enjoying one of the best hot dogs in Chicago.
I love you Wiener's Circle. You're totally worth the nightmares. -
Review from Erica K.
Chicago, IL
1/6/2012
Well, if the weather counted as part of my review it would EASILY get another star. Who can argue with it being warm enough to eat outside on December 30th?!?
But alas for The Wiener's Circle, they cannot reasonably take credit for making it warm. And their hot dog was just so so, even while tipsy and craving hot dogs. I didn't go in to order but the BF did. He doesn't mind a hilarious attitude and being made fun of, but he said this crew was just annoying. Not at all inventive with their insults.
I thought the cheese fries were only ok as well. So yeah, Wiener's Circle, I'm just not that into you. No hard feelings. -
Review from Michael B.
Chicago, IL
12/24/2011
CHOCOLATE MILK SHAKE!!!!!!!
My FoodTube Video Review: http://youtu.be/lzYWBb... -
Review from Arie W.
Manhattan, NY
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love going to Wiener Circle after a night of drinking at the bars. It's the perfect ending to a night, even more fun when you're completely sober because you get to watch the crazy drunk people make total a$$es out of themselves.
Food is solid, wouldn't change anything. The cheese fries are amazing, super duper cheesy and a little gritty, but still amazing. I always order a hot dog and they always give me a chardog. The workers are definitely rude and lazy, but they know that they are and so do all the customers.
A couple things to note: Tipping is mandatory. If you get a hot dog and fries for $7.25, they'll ask you to pay $8, sometimes $9 if they feel like it. Seriously. But when you're coming straight from the bars and can barely walk straight, not only do you not notice, you just don't care. The staff is rude, in a funny way, but what's more annoying is when customers come in and try to one-up the staff. Come on buddy, you just look like an idiot and your comeback ain't that witty. Parking can be terrible as everyone in Chicago decides to hit up Wiener Circle the exact same time you and friends do. There's parking in the back, but it gets filled up quick so street parking may have to be an option. There are no actual tables to sit down inside, only bar stools along the windows. There are outside picnic tables, which are only useful in the summer.
Just don't ask for a chocolate milkshake, because either 1. you'll get one, or 2. they'll ask you for a vanilla milkshake in return. If you don't know what that means, go and find out. -
Review from Erik H.
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
The steamed, natural-casing dogs here are delicious. The biggest differences from the standard Chicago dog (besides the fact that you can get them charred) seem to be that they put two pickles on instead of one and that they add some pepper on top. The pepper added a nice little flavor kick, but the double pickle was a bit too much. Luckily that can be easily fixed.
The fries were also pretty decent, being nice and crunchy. They give you one metric crapton as well, so a dog and fries should fill you up. Overall, The Wiener's Circle has a nice take on the classic Chicago-style hot dog that mostly works. -
Review from Helen S.
11/10/2011
My friend was in town and he had a car, so I let him drag me around Chicago. This was one of the place we ended up, and it's apparently a big deal.
He went up to the booth and placed an order, but he's way too polite so the waitress didn't cuss at him. In fact, I think she flashed him a smile and called him a dear. We sat for awhile to watch the show, but the insults weren't flying. So anticlimactic.
I didn't order anything but I tried his fries and they were terrible. The cheese was grainy, I have no clue how cheese can achieve such a texture. It tasted like aritificial cheese-from-a-can (or what I assume that stuff tastes like cause I've never tried it) and it was way too salty. I don't think I would come here again unless I'm incredibly drunk. -
Review from Scott K.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
You hear soooo many great things about places so you get very excited to try them only to be disappointed. I understand the novelty there....rude staff, go in when wasted etc. and I am cool with that. What I'm not cool with is how bad the food was. We had cheeseburger, chardog and cheesefries. The cheesebeurger was dry and burned, and whatever that cheddar cheese concoction they use for the fries and the burger is terrible. It reminded me of the taste you get when you throw-up in your mouth (a little graphic but true). The dog was fine but you can't really screw that up. Sometimes people flock like sheep just to flock. I'll be an eagle not a sheep on this one and will never go back.
-
Review from Maria N.
Fountain Valley, CA
10/19/2011
Enjoy some kick in your food? Then give this place a try bcs along with the kick in your food, you'll get a side kick to your ego!
These hotdogs have that charred layer of skin on them which gives you that snappy crunch with every bite, which I love! And just like the hotdogs, you better have some tough skin when stepping into this joint bcs these ladies don't have the patience to be polite.
Just order up and shut up or you're gonna get cut up by these large and in charge ladies spewing insults and profanities at your face. Crybabies and entitled, snotty brats need not enter. It reminded me a bit of home and the lousy service you get on Bolsa...ahhh, there's no place like home :) (Thanks Chi-town for your warm charm and the nostalgia!)
Another tip - don't leave here without trying their chocolate milkshakes!!!! Seriously....where else are you gonna find a place that serves a chocolate milkshake for the lactose intolerant? Try it! You won't regret it **hint hint wink wink nudge nudge** ;p -
Review from joseph f.
10/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Perfect drunk food to ease your hangover! Double cheeseburgers and hotdogs are awesome, and by awesome I mean by drunk off my ass standards. I do remember the cheese is really dense, salty and a little weird tasting. I wouldn't go there during the day, but like I said this is drunk food.
Feel free to swear back at the servers, as they dish it out as well. During the weekend you can order a chocolate shake.... -
Review from Michael S.
Chicago, IL
10/24/2011
The food is disgusting and terribly overpriced. They make up prices on the fly and screw up orders. Oh, and it's cash only.
The ONLY reason I'd take anyone there is for them to experience their first "milkshake" - note, this is not your typical chocolate dessert. -
Review from Jon R.
Auburn Hills, MI
"When in Rome"
I missed out on the chocolate milkshake but.....
Chicago-style char-dog with the works: check
Fries: check
Drunken customers: check
Foul and aggressive language: check
Mutual/reciprocated verbal abuse: check
Definitely going back to Lincoln Park!!!!
This hotdog joint has a potential for late night reality TV!!!!! Just saying..... -
Review from Serena S.
Chicago, IL
10/22/2011
Ignore the drunken children.
This is my favorite hot dog. Oh it is so good. They char it to a crisp, and put nuclear kraft mac colored chedder on top. Sooooo bad it's sooooo good. The fries are hot and yummy too.
And you get a show for with your meal. There's always some group of drunk guys, usually the short one is the guy that brought them all there. Then the short one gets all excited to yell perverted things at the employees and look like a top dog for once in his life, and those girls put him right back in the dog house. It is so awesome. -
Review from Frank C.
Bloomingdale, IL
10/24/2011
My wifes favorite. If you want a char dog this is where you go. I love the char cheddar burger with some cheese fries....then I pass out from being in a cheese coma. Go there, you will love it. Some people take offense to their service because its a little different than others :) I love it, its all in good fun.
Frank Campeglia (The Food Club) -
Review from Kimberly J.
Chicago, IL
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had great expectations of this place, so maybe that was why i got disappointed. The hotdogs were okay, but nothing special.
They are cash only, but have an atm inside the place. -
Review from Joe S.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2011
Granted, I've only gone here when it's like 2am, but I thought the hot dogs were garbage (maybe they're better during the day). Just sloppy, generic tasting hot dogs with crappy cheese fries. There's much better places to go to get a good Chicago-style dog & fries.
Apparently part of the "draw" here is that they yell at you too...
Uhh. Being yelled at while you're being served crappy food...
I guess some people are into that. -
Review from Mary H.
9/14/2011
This place is right up my alley, literally and figuratively. I'm very particular about my Chicago style hot dogs, and the Wiener Circle does 'em perfectly. And their cheese fries? My god, the cheese fries...pure artery clogging goodness and I love every bite. Not to mention, I want to be BFFs with the women that work here. After dark they crack jokes, insult customers, show off their goods, make you play games for your food and still manage to make a damn good hot dog. Amazing.
Take that stick out of your butt and check it out! -
Review from Michael F.
Brooklyn, NY
9/17/2011
Perfect hot dogs. Exactly what I wanted and expected from Chicago style hot dogs. Soggy bun from all the toppings. I might start customizing, but there's no component I can give up on its own.
There was an attractive girl named poppy fields I think, ordering politely and getting no guff. There was a man who complained about "cher burger" implying cheddar burger instead of it, in reality, being a misspelled "char burger", and having some minor pricing discrepancies. He caught a lot of shit for that. There were 6 very annoying drunk white kids who seemed to be maybe 17, but they could have been 20 year olds with an emotional age of 14 and I just split the difference. They were cheerfully joked with no matter what abuse they spit out.
The logic is impossible to grasp, but the hot dogs are still delicious. -
Review from Keith A.
Wilmette, IL
10/18/2011
3 stars for the food, an extra star for the show.
lets be honest, while the dogs are pretty solid, its the sideshow that is the weiner's circle late night that is the real draw here. I came here with a friend that was from out of town. He's not here all that often, so he had to get an experience that can't be had anywhere else. I don't need to go into the fun that is late night weiner's circle as I just assume that one has an idea already.
I got myself a dog and fries. The dog was exactly what was needed at midnight. I didn't feel like goofing around, so I just got everything on it. The fries were the best part actually. Maybe it was the beer that I had been ingesting, but these were really hitting the spot.
The Weiner's Circle is cash only. It's okay in the day time, but you have to come here at night to get the full effect and realize how great it is -
Review from David N.
8/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Come here for the entertainment value. If you love shit talking, especially drunk shit talking. This is your place. After a long night of drinking, take a cab on over and run your mouth. Not only is it allowed, it's the NORM!
When you arrive the owners will greet you with what the fuck do you want?
An exchange of obscenities is exchanged and a few minutes later you'll have some decent hotdogs and some terrible cheese fries.
So why 5 stars? It's one of the best late night shows in town.Listed in: Best Burgers & Hotdogs, Chicago: Tour Guide
-
Review from Joel M.
8/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Before I moved to Chicago, hot dogs were something you ate while waiting for the burgers to cook at family BBQs. Now that I live in a city that has embraced the hot dog as an expression of it's history and individuality, I have come to appreciate the simple food.
So far, I would say that Wiener Circle has been my favorite. Something about the 'char' factor and the ingredients make it super tasty. I only ate one on this trip but I honestly could have downed three or four. The fries needed salt but were kind of soft and dark how I like them.
Good luck waiting in line on a weekend night (after the bars close), but at least you'll be entertained by the drunken badgering that takes place between the employees and the customers. -
Review from Molly O.
7/20/2011
Sometimes later at night the ladies at The Wiener's Circle scare me; so do the customers. Oh Poochie, you are the Queen of Sass.
Really good chardogs, small order of fries are enough for two, but they always need salt. -
Review from Eric B.
Chicago, IL
11/12/2011
This is the best damn horrible dive in town. Everything there will decrease your life span. If you look at the people behind the counter wrong, they will shout obscenities you've never head of before. They have graffiti all over the inside of the place - and they like it that way. And the 'cheese' is probably the most sinful thing I've ever put in my mouth. My God, it's a beautiful thing.
The burgers are kind of like Five Guys (cheaper though), and the fries are soaked in grease. Everything comes a crude brown paper bag. And do get at least the fries with their 'chedar' - it does add an extra greasy & sinful element to it. I'm polite, so they mostly are to me too. But I do sometimes have a bit of a bad boy look about me. One time they asked me what I want, and I continued staring at the menu. She shouted 'COME ON, WHAT YOU WANT, P***Y LIPS!!'
I gave it 4 stars because, although they most certainly do have that x factor that will probably have me going back, A) the the food, while sinfully greasy, and pretty good is not quite great, B) this place mostly isn't really my style - like I said, I'm mostly pretty polite & mild mannered when talking to people.
This is probably the best place to go to when you want to get drunk and have an absolutely wild bonkers time in Chicago, though, and if you haven't been to a place like this, just go there. It's actually in a good neighborhood, so you're safe, but man it really is an interesting experience. -
Review from JARED T.
Harrison, ID
11/27/2011
Pretty entertaining place to find yourself at 3am. If you're there, then you're presumably drunk, so you'll be craving the food, and you'll also enjoy the surly employees shouting vulgar insults at the line of drunk dummies. A must try experience for a late night out in Chicago.
-
Review from Andrew P.
Park Ridge, IL
1/7/2012
awesome!!! def a place worth visiting!
-
Review from Roxy D.
Ann Arbor, MI
11/12/2011
I love the Char-dog with Cheese. I don't know if the cheese sauce is actual cheese at all, but I know I love it! I make a special trip to Wiener Circle every time I am in Chicago and they have never disappointed me yet!
-
Review from Shelly M.
Santa Ana, CA
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
LOL - literally.
If the ladies behind the counter started a presidential campaign they'd have my vote. These ladies make you embrace your inner asshole, you'll come here and you'll just let it all out. I couldn't decide who was the biggest baddest HBIC -they were all equally amazing.
Keep the dog classy it'll be great i promise. Don't leave without placing an order of the cheese fries, they compliment the dogs perfectly.
&& seriously best chocolate milkshake i've ever had ..just be sure to eat your hotdogs pre shake or you'll be a little hesitant over taking a bite and you'll question the sanitation of your meal (just saying!) -
Review from Mike L.
Alexandria, VA
9/26/2011
As someone not from Chicago, I was expecting amazingness from all the hype of this Chicago Dog.
People asked me, "What did you think?"...my response was, "It tasted like a hot dog." -
Review from joe b.
8/31/2011
What do you prefer? A good tasting hot dog or obnoxious, rude and ignorant drunks hanging out being loud?
If you prefer a tasty hot dogs with grilled onions...and not so bad tasting fries then you are golden. But if you shy away from employees that can be kinda rude and not very helpful with some even ruder people walking in sometimes because they are drunk.. I would stay away..because it gets old...and if you are older or I say mature its not the place to be. 3 stars just because the dogs were good. -
Review from Sean F.
Winnetka, CA
11/27/2011
Well, a long overdue review will probably sink to the bottom of the pile. It's a good dog, good fries and as you've probably already read, some interesting service. It's certainly a stop if you are passing through town, and probably better spot for a dog if your are local, but it isn't 5 star dining nor is it a 5 star experience. :-)
-
Review from Jessica N.
Chicago, IL
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
It doesn't get much better than this. Classic Chicago destination. You MUST try their Chicago dog - it is SOLID.
Fries are also delish. I could do without all the harassment, but it's worth it. -
Review from D. S.
Pasadena, CA
8/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
AWESOME!!!!! This is a must if you hit up chicago. Its more entertaining at night after a couple of drinks. The dogs are good but I didn't come for the dogs. I came to get abused, watch others get verbally abused and laugh my ass off!
I ended up going here 2 consecutive nights with 2 different sets of people.
Night 1: I was scared. I was scared to order my food and so were my friends. I ended up ordering for 2 and left my other friend on her own. Good thing i did too, cuz hers was a "complicated order!"
I guess she could smell the fear on me cuz she wasnt mean to me. She just abruptly asked "what u want?" and i told her as my voice was shakey. She smelled it! My friend on the other hand asked for "no onions." Next thing you know her order was up. " The bitch with onions, Hey the bitch with no onions!" Girl, thats you. You better go get it!
We stayed a for a couple more insults and verbal rapings, then headed back to our hotel.
Night 2: came with a different group of friends more feisty and hoping to do battle with the crew at wiener circle. At first, they didn't know what to expect, but after the first insult it was on! "Lets get ready to rumble!"
It was all good fun. Insults flying, dancing in the dining room, and ended up ordering a chocolate milkshake. I'm sorry to say there is no actual milkshake and i think some of my friends are still a little bitter that there wasn't one! But it was all in good fun and even had one of my friends do the "vanilla milkshake". When it was all said and done, my friends shook their hands, smiled, said their goodbyes and promised to be back the next night!
Be forewarned, if you do decide to come out here, you better be ready to get verbally raped but thats the whole point. Its totally fun and a must must do if in chicago!!! Don't forget to order the milkshake -
Review from Lea L.
Chicago, IL
11/2/2011
Late night is when the employee's attitude flair up, but it add to the ambiance and experience for wiener circle. Char dog and cheese fries are decent. Its a place to check out, just to see the service.
Listed in: Hot Diggety Dog
-
Review from Matt M.
Chicago, IL
5/26/2011
A haiku:
An experience
on weekend nights if you are
really drunk and white -
Review from Desiree S.
Reno, NV
6/28/2011
Seriously a fan!
The people/service watching was better than many comedy shows I've attended. I went on a Friday night ordering right before the place filled up.
If you're ever in Chicago, you really just have to go see it to get it. It's worth a cab ride.
Oh yeah, and the char dog was definately good too.
