The Dogfather: Mob Dogging 7/7/14

As the Hot Dog Adventure continues, Chris and I are finding and remembering joints way off our beaten path. The Dogfather, located in Bartlett was a place Chris knew from his family. Deciding to zip over there before I had work one day proved to be more than worth it.

Tommy's Red Hots: Third Luck's a Charm Dogging 7/3/14

Sometimes life gets in the way of things you want to do. Sometimes you find two closed down Hot Dog locations in one day. Unfortunately, both of these managed to happen to Chris and me. After not being able to get together for hot dogs in a few weeks, we tried to squeeze a trip in before work one day. There was one fairly new place near where Chris works that we decided to try. We walked up to the door and it was closed. So Plan B it was. Amazingly enough, this place was also shut down. There were only two other Hot Dog joints left in the general area. Fradillio's which, for better or worse, was already covered and Tommy's Red Hots. So, without much hesitation, we were of to Tommy's.

Kojak's: Who Loves You Dogging 6/9/14

Growing up in Cary, Kojak's was THE place to go for a hot dog or really, any of the traditional Chicago fare. Whatever the neighboring towns offered, just wasn't worth it. I spent countless high school lunches piling into friends cars and flooding the small eating area with hungry teenagers. Even more afternoons after class. Recently new owners took over and instantly I felt a sense of worry. A fear of losing something that I love so much.

Fradillio's Hot Dogs: Substitute Dogging 6/2/14

For the first time on our hot dog adventure, Chris and I decided to stay local. Also, for the first time we had to call an audible. Our original plan was to head over to Downtown Dogs in wonderful downtown Algonquin. One problem stood in our way. They were closed. So I guess that is a place for another day. Fortunately, we live in an area full of hot dog joints to fill the void. Fradillio's was just that place.

Express Grill & Jim's Original: Double Dogging 5/20/14

 

There is a reason I called this page a 'Hot Dog Adventure.' This was the night that proved why. There was no decision to go get a hot dog until around 1:30am when we began to discuss how obsessed with hot dogs we were becoming. Chris knew of a couple of places near where he went to college at UIC that were open 24 hours. So off we were to enjoy dogs from Express Grill and Jim's Original.

Mr. Pup: Meal On A Bun Dogging 5/12/14

Growing up in the Chicago Suburbs, every town seems to have their own hot dog vendor. This place becomes the one and only place to get a hot dog. No one else seems to make them right. It is impossible to pinpoint what the difference is. I think it comes down to familiarity. For me, Mr. Pup in Des Plaines was this place as a child. It was the location I had my first Chicago and I knew it had to be one of our first stops.

Gene's & Jude's: Late Night Dogging 4/30/14

Originally, we had a different plan to start on our hot dog adventure. However, after a night of drinking and watching hockey, a new plan was born. We decided to make the trip to one of the areas most storied of hot dog vendors, Gene's & Jude's.