Jeff's Red Hots: where "everything" includes sauerkraut

Jeff's Red Hots is one of those places I had been driving past for a long time and had always wondered about. The thing that always intrigues me about these places is the signage; Chicago has a wealth of awesome-looking fast food stand signage, and seeing it always makes me wonder if the food is any good.

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The interior was packed with neighborhood locals when I walked in, and the line was good-naturedly heckling the owner for messing up a customer's order (not dipping a beef juicily enough). "No talking from the peanut gallery," the owner yelled back. There is a toy steam engine going around a rail up near the ceiling. Every few seconds it passes in front of a menu showing very reasonable prices for all the usual suspects:



Hot dog "with everything" not only had the pickle, relish, onion, pepper and tomato, it also had a big forkful of sauerkraut layered on top. i wasn't expecting it to be as delicious as it was. The natural casing dog was nestled in the steamed bun with just enough of every topping to form a well-balanced sandwich, and the kraut added its own savory acidity to the other pickled ingredients.



The boisterous owner Steve and his friendly daughter Georgia told me that Jeff's has been offering the Chicago kraut dog since it opened. When Steve bought the place from the original owners, he kept the kraut around because Jeff's had become known for it. "We get people from all over the city and the burbs who come here for kraut on their dog. No one else does it." Hey Steve, could it be due to the heavy Polish influence on the Northwest side? "I dunno, we just always did it this way".

I'll definitely be back for the Chicago-style kraut dog, and now I wish more stands offered this combo. Actually, I just wish for more stands like Jeff's. I've found my new favorite fast food stand in Chicago.

3901 n Cicero Ave

A better shot of the kraut on the dog. The Fries were freshly dropped to order and resembled MCds fries at their best.

Hi,

I will bet if you had said, "Chicago-style" you might have had the iconic hot dog dressed style.

Stashes (RIP) in Highland Park had sauerkraut available as a topping. One time I ordered everything expecting Chicago-style and got everything including sauerkraut and few other odd toppings.

At Costco, they have sauerkraut available at the food counter for the asking.

Regards,

eating while walking wrote:Hot dog "with everything" not only had the pickle, relish, onion, pepper and tomato, it also had a big forkful of sauerkraut layered on top. i wasn't expecting it to be as delicious as it was. The natural casing dog was nestled in the steamed bun with just enough of every topping to form a well-balanced sandwich, and the kraut added its own savory acidity to the other pickled ingredients.

Those who enjoy crunchy shredded vegetables on their frankfurters should consider a kelpdog at Ivy's in Edgebrook.



Actually they call it a Japanese Dog—it comes with teriyaki sauce, wasabi mayonnaise, seaweed salad and pickled ginger (Hey, it sounds Japanese. Let's toss it on!). The bright green color should gladden the hearts of those who relish massive doses of food coloring.

Thanks for the report on Jeff's, a place I'd wondered about too.

Ivy's Burgers, Hot Dogs and Fries
5419 W Devon Av
Chicago
773-775-2545
http://www.ivyschicago.com/

Ever since this post reminded me to stop in and get them logged in on the Chicagoland Hot Dog Stand Tour I've been a regular. In fact I'd put Jeff's in my Top 10 Chicago Hot Dog Stands. I put them there based on an overall score as it's a classic Chicago Stand. From the friendly owner who's most always there at the register to the signage and of course the product. It's hard to beat their plump Vienna Beef Natural Casing Wieners with a side of always cooked to perfection frozen fries for $2.90. While I'm a purist as far as ketchup goes, I welcome the kraut when at Jeff's, it doesn't necessarily help or hurt in my eyes. Also fantastic are their double cheeseburgers, often overlooked at dog stands I love this style many of the spots around town put to use. Two char-grilled (fresh, pre-formed) patties with two slices of American cheese on a sesame seed bun. Everything is what you'd get on the Chicago dog including kraut plus ketchup. Thanks for the tip.


Double Cheeseburger, hold the ketchup

Jeff's Red Hots
3901 N Cicero Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
(773) 777-1513

Every time I go to Jeff's I like it more. Great prices, friendly staff, and true-blue neighborhood feel. Stopped in today for a hot dog with everything extra kraut ($2.75) and a char burger ($2.69).


As Da Beef says, this is a good solid hot dog stand burger. Not gonna blow you away but you can tell they take special care when grilling the patty and putting it together. It's like what a Whopper might taste like if Burger King gave a damn.


At 1PM Jeff's was hoppin, a diverse mix of neighborhood locals chatting and Christmas music in the air. The owner Steve (I think) seemed to know everyone by name.


I need to come here more often; I always leave feeling happy.

I've long espoused Jeff's as my favorite stand in the city for a Chicago dog. Sadly, I only ever snag some when going to the Portage for an event or Halloween shopping at Fantasy Costumes.

Jeff's was also the first place that I, a California transplant, saw the weird creepy hot dog squirting itself with ketchup and mustard that is apparently ubiquitous in the Chicagoland area (despite the blasphemous ketchup).

gnarchief wrote:I've long espoused Jeff's as my favorite stand in the city for a Chicago dog. Sadly, I only ever snag some when going to the Portage for an event or Halloween shopping at Fantasy Costumes.

Jeff's was also the first place that I, a California transplant, saw the weird creepy hot dog squirting itself with ketchup and mustard that is apparently ubiquitous in the Chicagoland area (despite the blasphemous ketchup).

That creepy hot dog is actually an international phenomenon! I've seen them at hot dog stands in Paris:

Thanks to eating while walking for bringing Jeff's Red Hots to our attention. I've become a big fan and rank Jeff's at the top of my second tier of hot dog stands—more of a compliment than it might sound. Every neighborhood should be so lucky to have such a place.



Considering how well sauerkraut works as a hot dog topping, it's surprising that Jeff's is almost alone in offering this condiment. It integrates well with the usual toppings, clearly announcing its presence without dominating the mix.



Ignoring the kraut (but you shouldn't), Jeff's natural casing Vienna franks and steamed poppy seed buns are more carefully prepared than at plenty of better-known places.

As well as kraut works on hot dogs, it's even better on a Polish sausage (I prefer skipping the relish and tomato).



Now, I like greazy-sweet-mushy onions on my Polish as much as the next guy, but sometimes grease-with-grease gets boring, so switching to acidic crisp kraut can be just the ticket. There's a reason sausages and sauerkraut make a classic combination. Jeff's serves a deep-fried Polish, so if you're a fan of the style you ought to try their version.

As much as I enjoy Jeff's hot dogs and Polishes, I've come to the conclusion the ¼-Pound Superdog might be their best tubesteak (or at least my favorite, not exactly the same thing).





The Superdog is deep fried and takes on a crispy almost char-grilled character, especially on the ends. For some reason I think deep frying works even better on hot dogs than on Polishes. I'm beginning to understand why Easterners get so excited about deep-fried Rippers from Rutt's Hut in NJ, a pleasure mostly denied to us by Chicago's conformist hot dog culture. Jeff's Superdog is my favorite skinless dog in Chicago, and currently the hot dog—regardless of integument—I crave most. I have no idea if this infatuation will last.

Jeff's Red Hots
3901 N Cicero Av
Chicago
773-777-1513

I have been going to Jeff's for a decade. He has the best pepper and egg in town, fresh made with sauted sweet peppers. They are also in the top tier with grilled chicken sandwiches which is hard to pull off. Alas, the fries. While hot, unsalted and frozen. Mr. D should hold a seminar.

I dunno what it is about Christmas time but I always get in that Jeff's kind of mood this time of year. Maybe it's the always friendly and welcoming demeanor of the staff who make you feel like family, with locals who have been coming in for years and a lot of good natured ribbing in the air. Or maybe it's just the Jeff's Express making the rounds around the dining room (which I found out they will turn on upon request, bet my nephew would love that)


Char dog "with everything". Jeff's sauerkraut game is going strong.


Still one of my favorite hot dog stand burgers in the city. The patty gets an awesome char grilling and the bun is perfectly griddled every time. An unusual - but an important standout at Jeff's is the dill pickle slices they use. Thick cut, fresh tasting and best in the city in my opinion, right up there with Billy Goat tavern (whose burgers I dislike, but their pickles are beyond reproach).

Looking forward to many more in 2020!

I ate here yesterday. I'm not much of a hot dog guy so I got a double burger instead. Competently broiled, seasoned with a light hand, decently priced, worth coming back for.

But the main reason for my chiming in is to note they offer a cheese and spinach pizza puff. I didn't try it myself so I don't know if it's house-made or sourced from Iltaco, but in either case it's the only place I've seen serving a variant from the standard ground-sausage variety, which I happen to be a big fan of. Even so, I intend to return soon to try out the spinach version.

Drover wrote:But the main reason for my chiming in is to note they offer a cheese and spinach pizza puff. I didn't try it myself so I don't know if it's house-made or sourced from Iltaco, but in either case it's the only place I've seen serving a variant from the standard ground-sausage variety, which I happen to be a big fan of. Even so, I intend to return soon to try out the spinach version.

Iltaco Foods
1378 W Hubbard St, Chicago

... originally was named as Illinois Tamale Company (IL-Ta-Co).

Amazingly enough they have 15 varieties although I can only find 13...

Original (Sausage)
Taco Puff
Pepperoni Pizza Puff
Deluxe Pizza Puff
Beef Pizza Puff
4-Cheese Pizza Puff
Sausage Breakfast Puff
Ham & Cheese Puff
Gyro Puff
Pulled Pork BBQ Puff
Buffalo Chicken Puff
Reuben Puff
Spinach Puff

https://www.iltaco.com/pizza-puff-retail/

Dude, sign me up for that gyro puff.

As for the standard sausage variety... I simply can't explain why I'm so addicted to those disgustingly gross things but man I love 'em.

Drover wrote:Dude, sign me up for that gyro puff.

As for the standard sausage variety... I simply can't explain why I'm so addicted to those disgustingly gross things but man I love 'em.

I do know that...

Big Guy's Sausage Stand
7021 Roosevelt Rd Roosevelt Road, Berwyn

... carries 4 different ones...

Original, Spinach, Taco or Gyro

That alone might worth schlepping down to Berwyn...

The Tastee Freeze on Armitage just west of California used to have placards up for multiple (10+ varieties) pizza puff varieties (Italco, presumably), though I never confirmed how many they actually carried at the time.

I, too, love a pizza puff - traditional

Drover wrote:Dude, sign me up for that gyro puff.

As for the standard sausage variety... I simply can't explain why I'm so addicted to those disgustingly gross things but man I love 'em.

The Jewel by me (Mt Prospect) has them on the steam table at (I think) $1.79 or $1.99. That's a bargain, compared to the $4 typical at hot dog stands. I can't resist them at that price, so I try to make sure I've eaten before I go grocery shopping.