Chicago-Style Hot Dogs in New York

I believe Shake Shack already has them.

Then there is this....

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkinthe ... ruck_1.php

Shake Shack's lines are ridiculous. Perhaps I'll have a better chance at satisfying my occasional cravings with this food truck.

Good luck to you sir

Conversely, there is the news that Nathan's is taking another stab at invading the Chicago area; this time in the northwest suburbs (Arlington Heights?).

Buddy

I've really never found a hot dog in NY as good as a "Chicago dog." I just don't think they replicate it.

FWIW, the lines are no longer (as) insane at Shake Shack because there are now numerous Shake Shack's in NYC.

DutchMuse wrote:I've really never found a hot dog in NY as good as a "Chicago dog." I just don't think they replicate it.

FWIW, the lines are no longer (as) insane at Shake Shack because there are now numerous Shake Shack's in NYC.

Walked through Madison Square Park on Monday afternoon and the line seemed as long as ever... I don't have a ton of points of reference, but it was at least as long as it was after my lunch at EMP last summer. Are other locations less mobbed?

kl1191 wrote: Are other locations less mobbed?

I have had extremely good luck at the 86th St location (near Lexington)...as in, no wait at all. The only time I have been to the Madison Square Park location, we waited for 45 minutes or so.

I went to the new Battery Park City location on Monday night. The line was only 5 people long at 7:15pm. The UWS and UES locations have slightly longer lines but are still manageable.

So much about the Madison Square Park location's lines is dependent upon how nice a day it is, given that there is no cover in case of rain.

The Shack Shack version of a Chicago dog is split and griddled, and lacks the poppyseed bun. A few other things were also incorrect from my friend's point of view. Overall, my ex-Chicago friend said it has improved over the years but still isn't up to par.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:Conversely, there is the news that Nathan's is taking another stab at invading the Chicago area; this time in the northwest suburbs (Arlington Heights?).

Buddy

That's funny. I wonder if Nathan's got the idea from a neighbor of their's out in Coney Island a Chicago-Style Pizza joint right kitty-corner from the main Nathan's on Surf & Stilwell. (I believe ReneG has a picture somewhere.)

Jo,

This is actually Nathan's second attempt at gaining a foothold in Chicago. They were here, I think somewhere in the Gold Coast or Rush Street neighborhood, back in the '80s or '90s. Didn't last very long. Maybe they'll have better luck in the burbs.

Buddy

Just curious and honestly not trying to be an a-hole, but why would you want to get a Chicago hotdog in NY, when you live in Chicago? It's like people who shop at Banana Republic in other cities, not sure why one would bother.

Josephine wrote:I wonder if Nathan's got the idea from a neighbor of their's out in Coney Island a Chicago-Style Pizza joint right kitty-corner from the main Nathan's on Surf & Stilwell. (I believe ReneG has a picture somewhere.)

Even odder, it was a hot dog place. Not sure if it's open these days.



Big Al's
3007 Stillwell Av
Brooklyn NY

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:This is actually Nathan's second attempt at gaining a foothold in Chicago. They were here, I think somewhere in the Gold Coast or Rush Street neighborhood, back in the '80s or '90s. Didn't last very long.

Nathan's opened in 1989 on Rush near Cedar, where Proof is now. I don't think it lasted even two years.

Shaggywillis wrote:Just curious and honestly not trying to be an a-hole, but why would you want to get a Chicago hotdog in NY, when you live in Chicago? It's like people who shop at Banana Republic in other cities, not sure why one would bother.

Like many other LTH contributors and/or readers, I do not live in Chicago.

Shaggywillis wrote:Just curious and honestly not trying to be an a-hole, but why would you want to get a Chicago hotdog in NY, when you live in Chicago? It's like people who shop at Banana Republic in other cities, not sure why one would bother.

I'm having a really hard time figuring out where you are going with the Banana Republic analogy. Please expound.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:Jo,

This is actually Nathan's second attempt at gaining a foothold in Chicago. They were here, I think somewhere in the Gold Coast or Rush Street neighborhood, back in the '80s or '90s. Didn't last very long. Maybe they'll have better luck in the burbs.

Buddy

In 1990 Nathan's opened up at Rush & State. They didn't last all that long.

I'd rather have a carvel

I'd rather have a(nother) good Jewish deli.

Buddy

Suiname wrote:I'd rather have a carvel

QFT.

Was at a wedding in NY last weekend where the Groom's cake was a Fudgie the Whale ("To a Whale of a Husband" for the Simpsons aficionados out there)...damn good. Starting to wonder if Gurnee is too far to drive for ice cream.

BuddyRoadhouse wrote:I'd rather have a(nother) good Jewish deli.

Buddy

Ageed, Mannys is good but Id like one on the northside. If there was something like Katz's here, lookout arteries.

The best part about Carvel isn't the ice cream, but those crumbled cookie things they put between the layers on their ice cream cakes.

As a Chicago transplant to Connecticut, I've tried Shake Shack's version, but other than using a Vienna brand dog (grilled...yikes!) and some of the same toppings, it's not in the ballpark. Though to be honest, they're not trying to duplicate a Chicago dog...they're just using it as a template.

The closest thing to a Chicago dog I've had nearby is actually at Sonic who, while not using Vienna dogs, actually gets everything else right from the steamed poppyseed buns to the celery salt to the sport peppers...While it's not a great dog, it certainly satisfies the craving.

How often do you get into NYC? The following non-Shake Shack places have a Chicago Dog on the menu:

Growler Bites & Brews
The Snap Truck
Custom American Wine Bar
Forgtmenot
Frankies Dogs on the Go
Mikey's Burger

I haven't tried any, so can't vouch for them.