Superdawg
Name: Superdawg
Location: Chicago, IL
Meal: Chicago-style hot dog and a chocolate milkshake
Type: Hot Dog Joint
As previously noted Chicago food is a food lover’s paradise. Two foods in particular scream ‘Chicago’ to the outside world louder than anything else: deep dish pizza and the Chicago-style hot dog. As someone who drew up outside Philadelphia with the Pat’s vs. Geno’s cheesesteak debate I find it interesting that with so many independent hot dog stands in Chicago there is not the contention title of ‘best’ the City of Brotherly Love provides. The hot dog stand that normally tops the lists and gets the calls for television shows is Superdawg. Superdawg has be operating for over 50 years and still provides friendly carhop service. Located in a largely Polish neighbor on the North Side of Chicago you’ll be able to find it quite easily thanks to their famous hot dog characters on the roof. What awaits you after you park is the pride of a city tucked inside a small box, covered in fries.
A Superdawg is is constructed of a steamed hot dog in a poppy seed bun topped with: yellow mustard, bright green relish, chopped onion, a whole dill pickle spear, and a pickled green tomato. The hot dog is then stuffed in a box and covered up with french fries. Chicagoans pride themselves on pointing out that ketchup is not an option. I was willing to indulge them though I have been known to top a hot dog with ketchup every now and then (Pennsylvania kids are raised to love Heinz). The hot dog comes together well, this is no 7-11 quickie dog so you’re in store for some bold tastes and a some rewarding chewing. The pickled tomato is an acquired taste, of course I tried it but I wasn’t a fan of its acidity so I moved on after a nibble or two. The fries are good, apparently they are made fresh on site ; I have no complaints but they weren’t the greatest fries I’ve ever had . The star of the meal is the hot dog: plump, juicy, delicious.
Chicago-style hot dogs are on my top American foods list, not the top 5 or 10, but probably the top 25 list. Chicago is quite proud of their hot dog and likes to point out the differences of theirs compared to the rest of country (they like doing this with pizza too). Being a working town Chicago is well represented with their hot dog, its utilitarian, honest, and luckily delicious.
Superdawg Box
The iconic Maurie and Flaurie Superdawg
Superdawg does not use Vienna beef, they use an unknown company to produce their own recipe of hot dog, but they are one of the few hot dog stands in Chicago that does not use Vienna beef. please call Superdawg for confirmation of this fact, but they do not use Vienna beef, which really does distinguish them from the many other locations to bye a hot dog in Chicago.
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