35th st. red hots & shrimp

LTH, I have a new 4th wife in my hot dog family. As you may or may not know I am a huge fan of the "minimalist" or depression" style dog. Its a simple natural casing hot dog placed in a cheap steamed bun and topped with your choice of mustard, relish, onions and sport peppers and comes topped with Chicago style fries. What are Chicago style fries you ask? fresh cut fries made with one of those old school potato slicers that go right into the fryer after being sliced by an employee. Is it just me or is this style of fries unique to Chicago and specifically the ever decreasing minimalist dog stands?



I have been to 35th st red hots countless times after Cubs-Sox games but just never remembered how good they are (booze will do that) until I decided to try them again one day when this sign caught my eye.





Now you may or not know this but the South Side Shrimp House down the block is long gone and any time I see that homemade sign I need to give whatever it is a try. This shrimp was the exact same breading that the Southside Shrimp house used and the only difference from my memory was these were a tad smaller in size. whether or not there is a connection I do not know. It is noteworhty that I took that picture of the sign announcing shrimp when I learned of the southside shrimp houses closing when I drove there this fall to get some fried shrimp. Also they started serving shrimp when the southside closed. The price is right too. This is the best pre-game food around Comiskey. I think the shrimp is second to only Troha's in the city. Its that good. Look at the menu above, you know they excel at what they do.


half lb scrimp


The other Chicago style hot dog

Now as far as the dogs go they are a tad notch under G&J but the fries are now my favorite in the city. They use the same machine to slice the fries ala G&J and Jimmy's but the fries come out a little thinner and thus are never undercooked. Perfect every time. They will start slicing the potato for your order upon your entry so they never sit under the light. Man I love this spot and thought it needed its own thread. They have three things on the menu (four if you include the fries) and they are all better than good.

In case you wondering about my other three wives Gene & Judes and Jimmy's red hots on Grand are doing well and we still think of Demon Dogs every day she rests in peace.

35th st. red hots
500 W 35th Street
Chicago, IL 60616
(773) 624-9866

Da Beef wrote:Now as far as the dogs go they are a tad notch under G&J but the fries are now my favorite in the city. They use the same machine to slice the fries ala G&J and Jimmy's but the fries come out a little thinner and thus are never undercooked. Perfect every time. They will start slicing the potato for your order upon your entry so they never sit under the light.

I've worked at places that cut their own fries like you are talking about. Those cutters come in different sizes and if the fry is undercooked, it's because it was undercooked, not because it was thicker. I prefer the thicker cut fries, the thinner ones are typically harder or crunchier.

Beef,

I'm there tomorrow! Thanks for posting.

I've hit this place a couple of times on long south-lakefront bike rides (thus negating the benefits of the bike ride, though not as much as if I'd stopped at Manny's, I guess ) and I couldn't agree more, any virtue you'd like to ascribe to Gene's & Jude's or Jimmy's or such places is in full force here too. Classic minimalist dog, first-rate fries, great no-atmosphere atmosphere. Thanks for the shrimp house tip-- will check out in biking season!

This is my preferred place to get a hot dog before sox games. They are always fresh and love the fresh cut fries. Also a steal compared to what you get inside the park.

Cogito wrote:

Da Beef wrote:Now as far as the dogs go they are a tad notch under G&J but the fries are now my favorite in the city. They use the same machine to slice the fries ala G&J and Jimmy's but the fries come out a little thinner and thus are never undercooked. Perfect every time. They will start slicing the potato for your order upon your entry so they never sit under the light.

I've worked at places that cut their own fries like you are talking about. Those cutters come in different sizes and if the fry is undercooked, it's because it was undercooked, not because it was thicker. I prefer the thicker cut fries, the thinner ones are typically harder or crunchier.

That's true but these were like an inch less in width if that and it makes the outside perfectly crisp. I had meant to mention that the benefit of the fries at this place is because they don't have the amount of constant traffic like G&J and Jimmy's so the fries never get rushed out making them perfect every time I have been. The downside is the dog isn't as snappy as Jimmy's and G&J because they don't have the constant traffic and the dogs sit in the water for longer periods.

Sammy's red hots also does the fresh cooked fries and has a much smaller cut and they come out crispy every time if you do like them that way. Sammy's must still use the good stuff to fry the fries in because they also are some of the better tasting fries I have had. I hadn't been in 5+ years til last week and forgot how good and cheap of a meal a dog with a huge fries and can of RC is for three bucks tax included.


Fries from Sammy's on Division ave in Cabrini

da beef- thanks for the heads up. i'll be in bridgeport around lunchtime today, and plan to check it out. 35th st. usually means ramova grill to me. i'll resist that temptation, and, since i dont like my hot dog 'dragged through the garden', this place sounds great. justjoan

i just ate a polish and fries from 35th st. hot dogs, and thought the fries were fantastic. perfectly browned, from the fattest to the skinniest end of the potato, all equally delicious. the polish, which is always my choice over a hot dog because it is bigger and, hopefully, spicier, was fine but not as spicy or as garlicky as some. it was more like a fatter dog, not a bad thing. thanks, da beef, for the recommendation. my favorite fries, ever, remain those at ricobenes, under the expressway, but these were damn good. justjoan

35th St Red Hots is now serving the RHR Double Cheeseburger, with secret pickles if you so desire.

KClose wrote:. . . secret pickles . . .

Shhhhh!

Actually, thanks, for the intel.

=R=