The Vienna Beef Cafeteria

Mrs. JimInLoganSquare and I enjoyed our Saturday lunch at the cafeteria at the Vienna Beef factory, a first-time visit for us both. I was lured in by the story on the Chicago Works show on the Chicago public access cable station, and while the place is neither fancy nor as cheap as I expected (come on, who's getting all the profits here?), we both had a decent meal. I tried the corned beef, which was generous if a bit greasy and sliced thinner than my preference. A servicable sandwich but not something I would repeat. The accompanying fries were fresh from the grease and for me were the highlight of the meal. Mrs. JILS fared significantly better with her jumbo dog (with the works). I know it was a success because (1) she wouldn't give me a bite and (2) she had serious heartburn two hours later; the true marks of excellence in hotdogdom. The place was somewhat dead on a Saturday and it left me wondering whether things are better when business picks up during the week. (Editorial Note: The line workers were efficient but they cursed like longshormen, oblivious to the families with children that were populating the place. This is probably O.K. when it's just the factory personnel on a weekday, but it made me a bit uncomfortable with the kids about. I've lived in Chicago 13 years, but sometimes the "freedom of speech" exercised here still makes these old Hoosier ears burn a little. End of editorial.)

The Vienna Beef cafeteria is more crowded during the week, with a lot of the plant workers and some outside workers, as well. Never seen the place stuffed, though. And yes, the prices are kinda high. I'm hoping we can assume great freshness, though...

One of the best parts of the place is the deli part. You can get your hands on more Vienna products you never knew existed, plus some of their co-branded cheesecake or quiche. They'll have things on special, too. Love it when they have the turkey pastrami on sale [to me turkey pastrami is kind of like carob; if you compare carob to chocolate it's not very good, but as a sweet it works ok... turkey pastrami is very tasty if you think of it as spicy sliced turkey].

Giovanna

JimInLoganSquare wrote:Mrs. JimInLoganSquare and I enjoyed our Saturday lunch at the cafeteria at the Vienna Beef factory, a first-time visit for us both.

Mr. Square,

Count me a fan of the Vienna Beef Cafe, though I tend to stick with the well managed natural casing hot dogs. Minimalist dog for me, mustard onion sport pepper lets the dog shine through and I'm all about the snap.

9.1.06

Vienna Beef Cafe Building is not tilted, camera was at an angle


Natural Casing Dog w/fries


Frankly, our first thought was Hot Doug's, but time was short and Saturday lunch at Doug's, with probable lines out the door, is as much adventure as meal.

Enjoy,
Gary

Vienna Beef Cafe
2501 North Damen Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
773.435.2277

Hot Doug’s
3324 N. California Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
773-279-9550

When I lived in Bucktown 10 years ago, VBFS was a semi-regular quick stop for lunch. For some reason, I loved the industrial, factory-cafeteria look of the restaurant. I'm surprised to hear about the prices being high (or "kinda high"). Back then, it was dirt cheap to get a dog with fries and soda w/free refills (I think it was $2).

aschie30 wrote:Back then, it was dirt cheap to get a dog with fries and soda w/free refills (I think it was $2).

I'd put the Vienna factory cafeteria in the reasonable category. Two unlimited fountain drinks, one double dog w/fries and a chili dog w/fries - $10.90 including tax.

Since I work a couble blocks down Fullerton from Vienna Beef, I tend to frequent the cafeteria as well. It's the only place near work to get a decent deli sandwich like corned beef or pastrami -- not a sub or gourmet sandwich al la Panera. They also sometimes have some unusual specials you're not going to find anywhere else. About 2 weeks ago, I stumbled upon footlong polish. While their prices aren't dirt cheap in general, they're generally in line with others serving similar food and they also have some very reasonable Lunch Specials typically.

friendly tip:

right when you walk in, you can order 10/1lb natural casing dogs (ala Gene and Jude's, Als, Jimmy's) and then move on to the Deli or the grill to order your lunch.

It usually takes them 15 minutes or so to go grab a case for you - but most people don't even think about it because they don't have them out on display. However - they will absolutely go get them for you - so stock up your freezer.

This is also the place to get the natural casing polish, like the ones served at many good stands around the city , not otherwise available in stores. Entirely different from the supermarket stuff.

At the behest of this internet thread, I ate there today. I got the special, 2 dogs, fries & a drink, for 6 bucks and some change. I'm gonna go ahead and offer an unpopular opinion, and say that these were the quintessential Chicago-style dogs, made to perfection. This is a place I'd take visitors to our fine city, to show them a hotdog done right.

Also, they've got both Coca-Cola & Pepsico products available at the tap.

Hot Dog University offers a two day program for vendors seeking to open their own "hot dog stand." The course includes "Behind-the-Counter" training at the Vienna Beef Factory Cafe and Deli, a factory tour, and a "taste testing" in the factory kitchen. We'll be in the Factory Cafe on Thursday, March 13th during lunch.

ogre wrote:At the behest of this internet thread, I ate there today. I got the special, 2 dogs, fries & a drink, for 6 bucks and some change. I'm gonna go ahead and offer an unpopular opinion, and say that these were the quintessential Chicago-style dogs, made to perfection. This is a place I'd take visitors to our fine city, to show them a hotdog done right.

Also, they've got both Coca-Cola & Pepsico products available at the tap.

FYI - In many hot dog stands, when offered a 2 dog special you may find those two dogs combined weight weighs about the same as a single dog order. You will have double the buns and toppings, but the same about of meat. I learned this talking to Mr. Slotkowski whose family was instrumental in the development of the Chicago style polish sausage.

Regards,

ogre wrote:these were the quintessential Chicago-style dogs, made to perfection. This is a place I'd take visitors to our fine city, to show them a hotdog done right.

I've lived down the street from the vienna beef factory for many years. My mom took me there for my first time. I like the cafeteria/store - good sandwiches, decent soups, potato pancakes.

The thing about the vienna beef cafeteria that boggles my mind is that, imo, the two most average things they have there are the hotdogs and fries.

The fries are bad and the dogs just....are pretty average. Sure, they are vienna and really good - but the prep just doesn't sit with me well.

I take out of towners to vienna to see the factory and maybe get a shirt or a case of dogs - but for a hot dog i very ironically take them elsewhere.

djenks wrote:friendly tip:

right when you walk in, you can order 10/1lb natural casing dogs (ala Gene and Jude's, Als, Jimmy's) and then move on to the Deli or the grill to order your lunch.

It usually takes them 15 minutes or so to go grab a case for you - but most people don't even think about it because they don't have them out on display. However - they will absolutely go get them for you - so stock up your freezer.

Ive been going to the Vienna cafeteria forever but it wasnt until I read this post a while back that I realized that Vienna sold the NC 10/1lb ala demon dog's, Gene & judes and Jimmy's right there at the deli.

Honestly I dont know why some places cant make perfect dogs. Now whenever im craving for a "original" Chicago style dog...1 NC 10/1lb wiener placed in steamed bun and topped with mustard, chopped onion and sport peppers and maybe some celery salt, I just make one at home. Now if I could just figure out how to make a replica of the perfect fries that accompany all the dogs at the places mentioned above without burning my house down.

Also the NC casing polish are amazing on the grill. I like to cut them up so they blossom like flowers and top them with grilled onions and mustard, also better then most every Polish dog's offered elsewhere.

Cathy2 wrote:FYI - In many hot dog stands, when offered a 2 dog special you may find those two dogs combined weight weighs about the same as a single dog order. You will have double the buns and toppings, but the same about of meat. I learned this talking to Mr. Slotkowski whose family was instrumental in the development of the Chicago style polish sausage.

Regards,

Really???

Guess you do learn something new everyday.

I take my family here for hot dogs and my 3 year old is always personally greeted (by name) and has a great time at the 'hot dog' house.

The fries (especially with Merkt's) are hand cut and, along with a dog, make the perfect post-Costco (right nearby) lunch.

You can actually tour the Vienna Beef factory - http://www.viennabeef.com/contact/tour.asp
They just started doing this earlier this spring, and I've done it, and let me say, as both a "foodie" and a fan of those factory videos from Mr Rogers and such, it's well worth it. Super fascinating, and you'll never eat another shitty Ball Park Frank after you see how these guys do it.
Two thumbs way up.

10-1 is pretty small. Unless you like double dogs. The better places use 8-1, and I even like to size up to the 6-1, which is the largest lamb casing available. Any natural casing over that is a hog casing and too tough for my taste.

The factory tour is pretty cool, super clean. I was amazed when I saw the lean bright red bull meat that they use for the dogs. They have to bring the fat content up by adding the corn beef trimmings.

Last summer me and my 6 year-old had two memorable Chicago hot dog experiences. The first is when we indulged a friend from LA to wait in Line at Hot Dougs on a Friday (no less) when there was also a home Cubs game. Translation: we waited almost two hours to get in the door but once we were in, Doug Sohn (sp?) was super great at reading my crowd (two hungry boys, one a cranky toddler who I took to the river to look at herons and ducks) and ordered 2 dogs on the house which came out within seconds. Very very perceptive and we think he and his dogs, all sorts of them, are brilliant. The fries were great but frankly, I could not tell the duck from the other oil.

But back to this thread! Just a few weeks later, me and my 6 year-old headed over to the Vienna Beef store to buy copious amounts of hot dogs for his upcoming birthday party/block party action. Once we saw there was a cafeteria there . . . well, we just had to try a dog, right? So we did. My son is um a purist (steam dog on sesame bun, naked) and I am from er, California (sorry) so I do ketchup. The staff along the cafeteria line were super great and really engaged us and had playful banter with us and others. We sat down and my son said, "This hot dog tastes exactly like the one at Hot Doug's. so why did we get it in only three minutes instead of two hours? In my family when someone says something like this we blush and say, "Out of the mouths of babes."

I will look into these tours. Might be a fun birthday party.

Just so you know, I told our LA friend (who is a very good sport) that next time he has a Chicago dog, he's gonna have it at the Vienna processing plant. And he is so excited about that.

bjt

bjt,

Kids are excellent at making "The Emperor has no clothes" type statements.

I once painted a bedroom for my nieces. I brought them into the rooom to show my accomplishments. The youngest pointed to the ceiling, "You're not done, there's a hole in the ceiling." Yeah, well everything was almost done except install a light.

Regards,

bjt wrote:We sat down and my son said, "This hot dog tastes exactly like the one at Hot Doug's. so why did we get it in only three minutes instead of two hours?

Kid has a point.

bjt wrote:I will look into these tours. Might be a fun birthday party.

Safety wise a Vienna factory tour doesn't seem the best place for a kids birthday party.