The history of Chicago hot dogs is strikingly simple. The working-class city needed an affordable meal, and the Chicago-style hot dog offered everything the everyday man needed. Putting together a hot dog that meets the stringent specifications of a true Chicago dog, however, is a little more involved. If you want to get your Chicago-style hot dog experience right, here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Chicago Style Hot Dog?
Chicago-style hot dog by Navin75 is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED
A Chicago-style hot dog is an all-beef hot dog in a poppy seed bun topped with a unique blend of ingredients that includes the following:
- Sport peppers.
- A pickle spear.
- Relish.
- Yellow mustard.
- Onion.
- Tomato.
- Celery salt.
Technically, any hot dog that fits this description can be considered a Chicago-style hot dog, but for traditionalists, the requirements go much deeper. There are a lot of details that go into making a Chicago hot dog just right.
Who Invented the Chicago Style Hot Dog?
The history of the Chicago hot dog goes back to the Great Depression. The first Chicago hot dog was purportedly sold by the fast-food chain Fluky’s in 1929. At that time, the creation was dubbed the Depression Sandwich. It departed slightly from the Chicago dog you’ll find today in that it had lettuce on it. The creation was a hit because it featured a hearty hot dog and bun topped with an abundance of produce and condiments that helped it become something approximating a full, well-rounded meal. At just a nickel, the price was right for the Depression-era community.
The concept of the Chicago hot dog quickly took hold because it served the needs of the working-class community effectively and efficiently. Hot dog stands were easy to open and operate, and they were the perfect choice for construction or factory workers who wanted a cheap, hot meal quickly.
Authentic Chicago Hot Dog Ingredients
An authentic Chicago-style dog must have properly sourced ingredients to deliver the complete, robust flavor that makes the Chicago hot dog so iconic. This begins with a Vienna Beef hot dog. In Chicago, Vienna Beef has a 71% market share, so this is what you’re probably getting when you order a Chicago hot dog.
About 75% of the meat in a Vienna Beef hot dog comes from older, lean cattle, while the remaining 25% is pastrami and corned beef trimmings. These hot dogs are flavored with a proprietary blend of spices, including salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, and other secret ingredients. The spiced meat comes in a taut casing that gives a satisfying snap when you bite into the dog. A size six or eight hot dog is ideal for getting your ingredient ratio right.
This juicy hot dog is steamed or grilled and placed inside a Rosen’s poppy seed bun. Rosen’s bakery opened in 1909 and has long been part of the authentic Chicago hot dog experience. These buns are steamed, not toasted.
While most of the toppings are straightforward, it’s crucial that you get the pickle relish right. True Chicago-style hot dogs come with neon green relish from Vienna Beef. Appropriately labeled Chicago Style Relish, this relish is artificially colored to make the green hue pop. This was originally done to make the relish more appealing in photographs. Since regular pickle relish tended to look brown in pictures, Vienna Beef started adding a little blue food coloring to make the relish pop. The tradition continues today as an essential part of the Chicago hot dog experience.
As for the rest of the toppings, opt for thinly sliced tomatoes, diced onions, and a thin pickle spear. Put the mustard on the hot dog first, followed by the relish, onions, tomatoes, pickle, and sport peppers, in that order. Finally, sprinkle the top liberally with celery salt.
Why Don’t You Put Ketchup on a Chicago Hot Dog?
You absolutely should not put ketchup on a Chicago-style hot dog. This sentiment is backed by former President Barak Obama who told Anthony Bourdain in an interview that an intervention is required for anyone who wants to put ketchup on a hot dog after the age of 8. Don’t bother asking for ketchup on a dog anywhere in Chicago. Many places don’t even carry it, and those that do are sure to disapprove if you use it for your Chicago dog.
How To Eat a Chicago Hot Dog
The best way to eat a Chicago hot dog is obviously to enjoy one in the Windy City itself from an authentic Chicago hot dog stand. If you want your Chicago dog served in all its iconic glory without any foodie-inspired twists, the best destination is the hot dog stand across the street from the Vienna Beef Factory. Order a Chicago hot dog with everything, and you’ll get it exactly as it’s meant to be enjoyed.
If you prefer your hot dog charred rather than steamed, order your Chicago dog from Fatso’s Last Stand, where it comes with a side of fries. Jr’s Red Hots is another classic choice for a Chicago-style hot dog. Here, you can order your dog steamed or charred, so you can try both options or successfully serve a family with mixed opinions on how the hot dog should be cooked.
Take a Tour of Chicago’s Iconic Foods
The Chicago-style hot dog is just one of the many iconic foods you can taste in the city. To complete your foodie tour, you must also get a taste of Pequod’s Pizza. Our caramelized cheese crust makes ours the best deep-dish pizza in the city. You can’t get a well-rounded sampling of Chicago specialties without trying this pie. Pequod’s is so popular that the best way to get a table is by reserving your spot ahead of time. Request your table now and enjoy a taste of the best pizza Chicago offers.