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If we had to think of the top five hot dog spots in the city, we would need some time. There are some obvious choices — a dog in the Cell for one — and there are the famous spots, but choosing the five best would take more than a casual effort.
Now imagine choosing the five best hot dogs in the nation. Just thinking about this monstrous task made our belly expand and our eyes glaze over. Luckily, someone else did all the dirty work for us, and now we have a handy reference for a hot dog tour of the U.S.
Serious Eats asked Roadfood to compile a top five list of hot dogs all across the nation. We were ready to dismiss the list when we saw that it lacked a Chicago option, but after reading the description, we'll accept their choice of Skokie's Poochies as an acceptable substitute.
Chicagoist has never been to Poochies, but if it is half as good as the borderline obscene description, we are well overdue for a visit. From the review:
Informal though it may be, the food Poochie’s serves is exquisite. To us, a meal at Poochie’s is more delicious and more deeply satisfying than the finest, fanciest $100 dinner. Star of the menu is the humble all-beef hot dog nestled in a steamed-soft Rosen’s bun and available with the full array of Chicagoland frankfurter condiments.... Beyond taut, plump red hots that are steamed, Poochie’s offers crunchy-surfaced char dogs, cooked over coals until their skin is chewy-dark and flavored by the fire. Polish sausages are plumper, porkier sausages that are slit in a spiral pattern to attain maximum crunchy surface area as they cook.
Porn, people, pure porn.
The other four winners are Super Duper Weenie in Fairfield, CT; Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C.; Dew Drop Inn in Mobile, AL; and Pink's in Los Angeles, CA.
Poochies is located at 3832 Dempster St. in Skokie; 847-673-0100.
Image via Serious Eats.
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Poochies was great in the 1970's when we were growing up, but it's only a shadow of its former self now.
What, no love for Portillo's?
Couldn't they find Superdawg?
WHAT ABOUT MUSTARD'S LAST STAND???
and on a side note, their dogs sucked, but I miss Demon Dogs
This list is just another example of some wanna-be-food-network writers looking for totally obscure places and calling them best, knowing 90% of the readership will never have heard of any of them. It's a joke, really. One that I find very tiresome.
try morrie o'malleys in bridgeport on 35th and union. it is only open from april to november. its the shiznit.
Horse Hockey! Where is Gene n Jude's?
anything that isn't hot doug's is kind of moot to me.
Jeebus, so this is going to be just like last week's post about The Empty Bottle but about Hot Dogs.
Though, I've been to Washington D.C. and Ben's Chili Bowl is well worth stopping in for a chili half smoke with cheese especially after a night at The 9:30 Club.
In Chicago, it's all about Jeff's Red Hots on Cicero
I appreciate the writer mentioning the cell (comiskey) in this post. That said, really, the only thing to get at comiskey is the bratwurst which is probably the best I've had in the world.
Also, I have to say that the home depot hotdog stands are fucking exceptional. I also nominate the place on western and fullerton in bucktown just behind the mcdonalds.
Matty;
tried that joint, and my dog came with no sport peppers, so they were taken off route
My husband will be aghast to learn there's a list of Top 5 Hot Dog joints in the nation and Lafayette Coney Island in downtown Detroit didn't make the cut.
My sister tells me the CT place is as good as advertised.
Poochies is really good, but my favorite is Downtown Dogs on Rush St. just north of Chicago Ave, especially if you're looking for a hot dog or Polish with kraut. Other favorites on Maxwell Street are long gone.
I don't see the big deal about dogs with bright kelly green relish on them (Irish dogs). A really great dog just needs some mustard, one extra condiment (kraut, onions, or a pickle) and not all that extra distraction; it's all about the meat.
i like hot dogs too.
Super Duper Weinie? I'll have to try them just cause they have a great name.
Super Duper Weinie? I'll have to try them just cause they have a great name.
I'm actually fond of Dew Drop Inn myself...
I've been to poochies, their cheddar (for cheddar fries) is grainy and not smooth. But the hot dogs are great. Just try the cheddar before you committ to cheddar fries or cheddar dogs..
HOT DOUGS!
HOT DOUGS!
HOT DOUGS!
Yeah, this list -sucks-, however, Ben's Chili Bowl is indeed awesome, if a bit on the pricey side.
And, for my $0.02, I think the hot dogs from the cart lady at Home Depot on North Ave are quite delish. Although, my first hot dog from that cart coincided with my first food after having all four wisdom teeth removed, so the codeine may have had something to say about that.
Wow, an article about Hot Dogs in Chicago that doesn't mention Hot Doug's? You're really losing your hipster cred on this one Chicagoist... oh wait, nevermind.
being an employee at poochies for two years now i have to say we do have one of the best dogs around everyone should at least come and try it out! If i had to choose one of my favorite meals I would have to say the turkey burger, or the cheddar burger. Our fries are amazing too! i really cant compare our burgers to any other places and i've been to many! hey if u read this comment and you tell me what i wrote when u visit ur drinks will be on me!! (ill work it out with the boss)
When Harvey sold Poochies, the quality was still very high (try their hambugers). As for Pinks in Los Angeles, it sux with a capital S. A natual casing 8 to a pound mealy Hoffy all beef hot dog. Even the Viena Hot Dogs made in LA suck. So much so that the Portillos outlet in Orange County (yes I drive 50 miles for an Italian Beef sandwich) Imports their meat from Chicago. Poochies forever,I said the same thing about Wesley's The Mystic Nose