Lots of good points above. It's clear enough that Doug has his avid fans, many who seem to have no problem understanding why someone might be willing to spend an hour waiting to get inside, and some who even offer that doing so might in fact be fun (I'll pass, thanks).

I suspect that many on line were as observed out of towners, brought in by positive national press, though it's also clear that locals were there as well. If you're looking for Roasted Artichoke Chicken Sausage with Curry-Butternut Squash Raita and chopped Mixed nuts on a Saturday afternoon, I guess you're stuck. Que up or shut up. On the other hand if your taste in tube meats runs to the less exotic, as it does for Rob (Vital Information) and myself. and you're just looking for a good Chicago dog or Polish there are certainly other options where the food will be just as good or better (at least you'd get poppy seeds on your bun as the Lord intended). Wieners Circle would be the closest .In fact I tend to prefer the ambience there, especially late at night, when the psycho counter women are raging in full force ( Talk about your unique Chicago experience. I can't help smiling as I imagine what might happen if you tried ordering anything with Curry-Butternut Squash Raita and Chopped Mixed nuts from them )... But that's why, as a sage once observed, that Baskin Robins serves 31 flavors.

Next time I want a Thuringer or interesting game sausage ,or to show Gabe what Hot Doug's is all about , I'll go on a Tuesday.

kuhdo wrote:If you're looking for Roasted Artichoke Chicken Sausage with Curry-Butternut Squash Raita and chopped Mixed nuts on a Saturday afternoon, I guess you're stuck. Que up or shut up. On the other hand if your taste in tube meats runs to the less exotic, as it does for Rob (Vital Information) and myself. and you're just looking for a good Chicago dog or Polish there are certainly other options where the food will be just as good or better (at least you'd get poppy seeds on your bun as the Lord intended). Wieners Circle would be the closest .

Exactly. Most of the time I'm also in the traditional Chicago dog or polish camp and don't even consider Hot Doug's. Hot Doug's is a "special occasion" encased meat emporium for me. I'd also like to add Jimmy's as another relatively close alternative for dogs in the Jene & Jude's minimalist school (skip the polish) if the lines are too long at Doug's.

Jimmy's Red Hots
4000 West Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60651
773-384-9513

Kuhdo, I totally appreciate the reluctance to stand in line at Hot Doug's for a classic hot dog. The only place I'm willing to do that is at SuperDawg, and even then it's for a "whoopskidawg" which is a lovely, doctored-up polish. So maybe I'm not a good one to recommend a "classic." Plus, I grew up in South Dakota, and we put ketchup on our Ball Park Franks out there. No lie.

I'm an avid Hot Doug's fan. There was a 6-month period where I was there every week, and considering I can only go Saturdays, that's quite a lot for me. When someone asks me the impossible question, "What is your favorite restaurant in the city?" Hot Doug's is always in consideration. It's affordable, creative, and I've never had a bad meal there. I only live 1/2 mile away, and I'd rather be standing in line hearing other people chatter about sausages than sitting in a car. I can understand people not wanting to stand in line, but it doesn't bother me much. I guess I don't have much of a life outside of eating, so it beats the alternative of sitting around at home!

Susan, doesn't everyone outside of Chicago put ketchup on their dogs?

Love,
John

John, I'm not embarassed about the ketchup thing. I hadn't seen the light until I moved to Chicago. However, I'm still lamenting the fact that I grew up thinking that hot dogs (and perhaps Hillshire Farm Kielbasa) were the only forms of "encased meats."

I missed a lot, and now I'm making up for it! Like you, I feel that standing in line at Hot Doug's for a half an hour seems like a small price for the payoff. And to think my husband had to literally drag me there the first time...

I guess the OP got the answer to his question, but just to summarize:

Waiting in line at Hot Doug's away from the lunch rush: 10-30 minutes

Chowing down a coriandery kangaroo sausage, duck fries, and a (75¢ !!!) Dr. Brown's while listening to the Buzzcocks: Priceless

Mr. X had not been to Hot Doug's before this weekend. I was helping a friend take her tree to recycling so we sent Mr. X on ahead to get in line at Hot Doug's. I knew there was going to be a line, but did not convey to him how long it might be. Thankfully, he was in a good, accommodating mood. He called me when he was about 40 feet from the entrance. We were't done with the tree (and I knew he wasn't getting inside too soon!) so he was to call me with the specials when he got inside. We joined him in line when he was about 6 feet from the door (and still in a good mood.)

The overall verdict was good. I got to try the Tueben for the first time. Liked it a lot. I also had the calvados and apple chicken sausage with pomegranate cream and bergkase (?) cheese. I found this combination to be too sweet and the crunchiness of the pomegranate seeds was off-putting. Mr. X had the roasted artichoke chicken sausage and enjoyed it. We also had the duck fries for the first time. Like Susan's, our fries were crispy and quite tasty.

I did feel like I had entered the Line of Hipsters. Lots of pairs and trios of younger, possibly cooler cats than us. Although the line has discouraged me other times, I was willing to wait for the overall experience.

So, GP...I'm curious; how much fun filled time did the lucky Mr. X get to spend in line before he was afforded the privelege of sampling the holy Tueben?

kuhdo wrote:how much fun filled time did the lucky Mr. X get to spend in line before he was afforded the privelege of sampling the holy Tueben?

Ah, you are assuming I shared the holy Tueben!

Kidding. I couldn't push his good will too far. Alone -- he was probably in line 30 minutes. We joined him for the last 15-20. Once inside the storefront, things were much better. Warmer.

I like to think that he enjoyed the people-watching his wait afforded him...

Susan wrote:Plus, I grew up in South Dakota, and we put ketchup on our Ball Park Franks out there.

At Jimmy's you can't even get ketchup for the fries.

Cogito wrote:

Susan wrote:Plus, I grew up in South Dakota, and we put ketchup on our Ball Park Franks out there.

At Jimmy's you can't even get ketchup for the fries.

Do you mean Jim's on Maxwell St. ?

Saint Pizza wrote:

Cogito wrote:

Susan wrote:Plus, I grew up in South Dakota, and we put ketchup on our Ball Park Franks out there.

At Jimmy's you can't even get ketchup for the fries.

Do you mean Jim's on Maxwell St. ?

No, Jimmy's on Grand, as posted about upthread. You can't even get a pickle there. It's old school minimalist style. The first time I went there I ordered my dog with mustard, relish, pickles and hot peppers. The counter guy told me to go to Poochie's if I wanted something fancy like a pickle.

stevez wrote:

Saint Pizza wrote:

Cogito wrote:

Susan wrote:Plus, I grew up in South Dakota, and we put ketchup on our Ball Park Franks out there.

At Jimmy's you can't even get ketchup for the fries.

Do you mean Jim's on Maxwell St. ?

No, Jimmy's on Grand, as posted about upthread. You can't even get a pickle there. It's old school minimalist style. The first time I went there I ordered my dog with mustard, relish, pickles and hot peppers. The counter guy told me to go to Poochie's if I wanted something fancy like a pickle.

Now that's what I'm talkin about! Let's see what Zagats got to say about Jimmys.

kuhdo wrote:
Now that's what I'm talkin about! Let's see what Zagats got to say about Jimmys.

Kuhdo,

As an aside, Jimmy's comes as close to my platonic ideal of Learner's as anyplace I have ever found in town (in case you have not yet had the pleasure).

I understand/respect Doug's quality of life decisions that contribute to the limited hours. I sure do wish they were open on Sundays though so the weekend crowds would be split. (assuming demand wouldn't just double which might not be an appropriate assumption)

I love the place but a 45 minute wait is a really tough sell on most weekends. Why o why Doug can't you be closed on Mondays instead.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:I love the place but a 45 minute wait is a really tough sell on most weekends. Why o why Doug can't you be closed on Mondays instead.

I believe his hours are so the kids at Lane Tech can eat there.

stevez wrote:
As an aside, Jimmy's comes as close to my platonic ideal of Learner's as anyplace I have ever found in town (in case you have not yet had the pleasure).

Learner's? Why don't I know Learner's? Enlighten me please!

Ralph Wiggum wrote:I understand/respect Doug's quality of life decisions that contribute to the limited hours. I sure do wish they were open on Sundays though so the weekend crowds would be split. (assuming demand wouldn't just double which might not be an appropriate assumption).

I often thought the same thing as I generally crave Hot Doug's on a Sunday, for some reason. As much as it would benefit me for him to be open on Sundays, I'm not sure it jives with QOL/family issues, especially if his spouse held a regular 9-5 job. Damn Doug wanting a life!

kuhdo wrote:

stevez wrote:
As an aside, Jimmy's comes as close to my platonic ideal of Learner's as anyplace I have ever found in town (in case you have not yet had the pleasure).

Learner's? Why don't I know Learner's? Enlighten me please!

Lerner's (I think that was actually the spelling) was an old school dog stand that was on Kimball just south of Bryn Mawr right next door to the Lazar's Kosher Sausage factory, though they served Vienna and/or David Berg products (depending on the best deal they could get at any given time). Both of those institutions are long gone. They sold only hot dogs and corn roll style (bunch) tamales in the minimalist style reminiscent of Jimmy's or Gene & Judes; with a limited choice of condiments, fresh cut greasy fries packed on top of the dog and served in a paper bag. When I was growing up, Lerner's was where we went for dogs...unless my Dad had a taste for one of those Goyish dogs with the tomato. I thought we had discussed Lerner's in the past. My mistake.

Ralph Wiggum wrote:I understand/respect Doug's quality of life decisions that contribute to the limited hours. I sure do wish they were open on Sundays though

And miss the Bears four (to five) months out of the year?

I know that place! I thought that might be the place you were referring to. I had a good friend who lived on Bryn Mawr and California (across from St. Hillarys) in the 1970's and we used to stop there sometimes, though often as not we'd end up at The Ranch on Devon, or Herms if we were by my house. I had forgotten the name. Thanks for the reminder.

Speaking of old school mimalist dog spots, ever go to Polk and Western? That was a regular stop for me when I lived in the area. Great fries. Demon Dogs was in a similar vein though not as good. No pickles (let alone raita!) there either..

kuhdo wrote:Speaking of old school mimalist dog spots, ever go to Polk and Western? That was a regular stop for me when I lived in the area. Great fries.

Hey Don,

Polk and Western is still a good spot.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3879

Amata

Amata wrote:

kuhdo wrote:Speaking of old school mimalist dog spots, ever go to Polk and Western? That was a regular stop for me when I lived in the area. Great fries.

Hey Don,

Polk and Western is still a good spot.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3879

Amata

Thanks for the update! I'm not surprised this little spot was picked up on the LTH Hot Dog surveilence network. I haven't been in years having switched to Demon dogs (for that style) when I moved to LP as they were quite similar and DD was much closer to home. Now that DD is gone, I'll need to stop back soon, maybe this weekend.

We go to P&W as our neighborhood dog spot. They're using skinless Big City Reds now (I don't know if they ever used anything else), and recently switched, thankfully, from Gonnella to Rosen buns.

It's a good neighborhood place, but I wouldn't drive more than 2 miles for it

The best thing there is, by far, the fries, which are generally very good, especially if you order them extra crisp.

I can say that they are twice fried, but, as A noticed in his post, they don't fry at high enough of a temperature generally.

Cogito wrote:

Susan wrote:Plus, I grew up in South Dakota, and we put ketchup on our Ball Park Franks out there.

At Jimmy's you can't even get ketchup for the fries.

But what you can get is their very (very) good hot sauce. (We need to do the LTH Condiment Hall of Fame one of these days, no?)

P&W was a Vienna stand with (no poppyseed) Mary Ann buns in my day. Fries were always the high point. Sounds like they've gone downhill. As Mr. Astrozombie recently posted...try Red Rockets for good crisp double fried fries on the north side.

I like the condiment hall of fame idea (nominations to include Seven Treasures hot sauce, Bismillah spicy green sauce and La Pasadita salsa...). Great idea!.

kuhdo wrote:

Amata wrote:

kuhdo wrote:Speaking of old school mimalist dog spots, ever go to Polk and Western? That was a regular stop for me when I lived in the area. Great fries.

Hey Don,

Polk and Western is still a good spot.

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3879

Amata

Thanks for the update! I'm not surprised this little spot was picked up on the LTH Hot Dog surveilence network. I haven't been in years having switched to Demon dogs (for that style) when I moved to LP as they were quite similar and DD was much closer to home. Now that DD is gone, I'll need to stop back soon, maybe this weekend.

My only probelm with Demon Dogs was that the fries never measured up, but the dogs were good enough.

I actually rather liked the demon dog fries. They weren't great, but there was something about them that made them very satisfying to me.

I liked the DD fries too! They needed to be hot, but when you got them fresh out of the cooker, with extra coarse salt they were great.Much better that wieners circle. They also went really well with the chili cheese treatment.
They used to have a small clipping up where Louis Szathmary said that DD had the best fries in the city.

kuhdo wrote:I liked the DD fries too! They needed to be hot, but when you got them fresh out of the cooker, with extra coarse salt they were great.

Yeah, I think it was the salt! I've been a sucker for coarse salt on fries ever since Golda's.