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Best
chicago hot dog:
superdawg

This
50 year old institution on Devon and Milwaukee Avenues remains truly
amazing. Turning fast food into the sublime, Superdawg combines all
the qualities of the standard Chicago hot dog (no ketchup, kosher
pickle, celery salt, mustard, onion, and relish) while adding a few
superdawg classics: the tomatillo, hot peppers (known as sport peppers
in the Chicago restaurant industry), and a special atomic green relish.
(The tomatillo, by the way, is traditionally set aside by teens who
will later "whip them" out of the car at passerby.) The
whole concoction is heaped on 2 classic bases: the Sinai 48 kosher
dog (with skin that bites back) and the poppyseed-studded Maryann
bun. It all "lounges comfortably on a bed of superfries,"
in a retro box depicting the Superdawg himself on a lounge chair.
The fries are damn near close to the best in chicago.
Best
of all, this 40's style drive-in still offers car hop service. It's
busy all year round. All action is supervised by the same short order
cooks who've been working on the Superdawg line for decades. Presiding
over this empire of the automobile age are Florrie and Morrie, the
2 gigantic hotdogs with (slightly demonic) glowing and winking eyes.
The whole place, upgraded but never changed substantially, is pure
50s chic. The wonderous storefront was the set for the opening credits
of the short-lived TV series, Crime Story. I've spent my whole life
going to this place and there's simply nothing to compare. I've been
there in the Vista Cruiser with mom and dad; hung out with my teen
friends in the 69 Chevelle, and now take visiting kids and friends
in the Caddy. Embodying the extraordinary beauty of the everyday,
Superdawg is one proof of the existence of god.
A
note about Chicago hot dogs: order ketchup and prepare to be mocked
by anyone present, including the folks taking your money. When forced
by traumatic circumstance to order a dog with ketchup, most Chicagoans
will loudly explain to anyone listening "sorry, they don't know
any better." On this point, Superdawg will cave in to the pressures
of market capitalism by offering ketchup packets (when pressed) but
refusing to apply ketchup to their product in any way.

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