Hot Doug’s

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I don’t really know what to say about Hot Doug’s. It has quickly become a Chicago institution. It is one of the only places in town where you will see a line of people waiting an hour or more in the freezing cold to eat lunch. On Fridays and Saturdays your hour-long wait is rewarded with fries cooked in duck fat. Every day your hour-long wait is rewarded with the loveliest encased meat you’ll ever eat. A recent trip rewarded us with plates of duck fat fries, a Blue Cheese Pork Sausage topped with Sir William Pear Cream and Smoked Almonds, a Three-Chili Wild Boar Sausage with “Muffaletta” Djionaise and Cumin-Gouda Cheese. Seriously.  If you’re in Chicago or planning a trip to Chicago or live within driving distance of Chicago: go to Hot Doug’s. It is magic.

Hot Doug’s

3324 N. California (California and Roscoe)

773-279-9550

M-Sat 10:30am-4pm

13 comments to “Hot Doug’s”

  1. I’ve lived in Chicagoland my whole life and have never been there… Now, I must go!

  2. My favorite! The absolute best in encased meats. I’m so glad you reviewed Doug’s! mmmmmmmm

  3. I agree it’s an institution – I’ve had coworkers, friends, random people, all telling me I have to go. In theory, I think I’d like it. But OH MY WORD all the duck fat? It makes me so nervous. One of these days I’m just going to have to go for it.

  4. Mara and Shannalee: You have got to go! No excuses. Just prepare for it by eating lots of fruits and vegetables the day before. I think you’ll love it.

  5. Holy hot dog. That place sounds unbelievable!

  6. I lived in Chicago and there is absolutely nothing on earth like a Chicago hot dog. The closest I’ve come is The Shake Shack in NYC, where the Chicago dogs are pretty much right out of Chicago.

  7. This place has been on my list for a while. The next time we’re in Chicago I’m going to set aside the time and stand in line! It looks so good.

  8. I dragged my hubby to Hot Dougs last summer. As a former Chicago native, he said it was just OK and not worth the wait. I thought it was great, but not worth a 1.5 hour wait. We like The Weiner & Still Champ in Evanston just as well and no wait.

  9. Heather J says:

    March 19th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

    Interesting. Very interesting. I wonder which meat choice would be most appealing to a commoner who’s not into blue cheese?

  10. I want some of those fries right now!

  11. oh man… that looks awesome and dangerous.

  12. All Hail Hot Doug.

  13. Have you tried the exotic meats yet?

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