Happy National Hot Dog Day! Chicago is famous for its variety of foods, including the iconic Chicago hot dog. It’s almost too much goodness in one meal.
A traditional Chicago hot dog has an all-beef frankfurter on a bun with poppy seeds. Then topped with mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, pickles, sport peppers, and celery salt.
It’s a must try in Chicago and if it isn’t for you then at least you can say you gave it a try before knocking it! If there is one takeaway from reading this, let it be that here in Chicago, we do not put hot dogs on ketchup and that is considered blasphemous.
Here is our list of places near our docks where you can buy a Chicago Style Hot Dog. Now let’s get right into it!
Museum Campus: Kim and Carlos Hot Dog Cart
By spending the day at Museum Campus, we’re sure you’re going to if not all than at least one museum on the campus. With museums comes walking and with walking comes an appetite. This hot dog cart knew exactly what they were doing and where to set up shop!
Kim and Carlos Hot Dog Cart has two locations at Museum Campus. One right in front of the Rainbow Cone between the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum. Coming off our water taxi head straight up the hill and cross the Chicago Lakefront trail to go upstairs. They’ll be there waiting to serve you a delicious Chicago Style hot dog. The second location is only a short distance, located just East of the Field Museum.
Chicago dogs aren’t the only food item on their menu. They offer vegan options, polish sausages, and more. Nothing says summer like a hot dog with a bag of Lay’s potato chips and a pop to wash it down!
Navy Pier has a variety of options to match what your appetite has a taste for any day. From sit down restaurants to quick bites, the options are there! One of the quick yet delicious food options at Navy Pier is America’s Dog and Burger.
Two Chicago brothers founded the restaurant, also known as AD&B, and it has been around for three generations. So they know a good dog! Not only do they serve the classic Chicago style hot dog but also other styles of dogs, burgers, chicken sandwiches, wraps, and more!
Two brothers, AD&B, traveled across the country in a jeep. They wanted to taste hot dogs from different places. Their goal was to bring back the best hot dogs to Chicago. They have been inducted into the National Hot Dog Hall of Fame with only a few locations!
Michigan Avenue: Relish
If you find yourself near Michigan Avenue, there is a lot for you to do, see, and eat! You can head over to the Art Institute of Chicago and get some hot dogs for lunch! After viewing all of the exhibits in the Art Institute you will spark up an appetite, look no further outside from the Institute, you’ll find Relish across the street!
Relish is a busy hot dog stand near us that serves Chicago style hot dogs all day. Small but popular, this stand knows how to make a mean hot dog with great proportions. Try their shaken lemonade to cool off and wash down the delicious dog you just enjoyed.
If this place is not convenient for you, there is another Relish location near Navy Pier and Jane Memorial Park in front of Lake Michigan.
200 S Wacker/Willis Tower: Luke’s Italian Beef
A cozy old school spot where the menu has an array of options is Luke’s Italian Beef in Chicago near the Willis Tower. As you step in, checkered cloth tables and fun decor surround you. For being located in the Loop, Luke’s Italian Beef has a reasonable priced menu!
This place is a hot spot for Chicago workers on their lunch break. Meaning if people from Chicago come here often, you know its the real deal! While this place is filled with Chicago natives during lunch hours, do not let this discourage you from visiting. The service is quick and they’ll get your food to you in a jiffy. Here, you can try it all, get a Chicago dog and an Italian beef as that is their specialty.
