We all know of the famous Chicago dog. Chicago is loaded with hot dog carts, stands, trucks, and restaurants ready to serve an all-beef frank with yellow mustard, diced onion, neon green sweet pickle relish, tomato slices, a dill pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt all on a soft poppyseed bun. You know who’s eaten one by the poppy seeds in their teeth and the mustard on their shirt.
As someone raised on a farm in Central Illinois I grew up eating hot dogs with ketchup. Le sigh. Much to the shame of my Chicagoan grandparents, I did not have a true Chicago dog until I was in my teens. When Portillo’s finally graced Champaign with its presence, I had just returned from living in Europe after 14 months. I spent the fall of 2017 eating Chicago dogs and picking poppy seeds out of my teeth.
As mentioned, a traditional Chicago Dog has an all-beef frank. Unfortunately, some vendors do not always follow that rule. For me, much like Thanksgiving day, the meat is not the star here. Though us downstaters could choose to be picky, I will not deny myself the chance of a pickle on a hot dog based on Big City principles. So for those of you who are not a fair-weather hot dog fan like myself, here are five takes on the Chicago dog in Champaign-Urbana.
Dave’s Dogs
We found the food truck Dave’s Dogs, parked on Springfield Avenue in front of the Grainger Engineering Library. A red food trailer with only one guy running the show. He took our order and made our food. The jumbo beef hot dog ($5) isn’t marketed as a Chicago dog, but all of the toppings are available.
The jumbo dog was as the name states: jumbo. As we lovingly call it in our house, it was a soggy water dog; hot-held which means it came out quick! This has to be incredible for college students in a hurry — and also good for me who was not in a hurry but hungry. Since it was not labeled as a Chicago dog, it did not come on a poppy seed bun but a sub-style bun instead. He loaded it up with toppings (no extra charge) and between that, the jumbo dog, and the bigger bun, it was a lot of food. For an extra $2, add a soda, and you’re on your way.
Dave’s Dogs
1301 W Springfield Ave
Urbana
M-F 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Martinelli’s Market
The Chicago dog ($6.95) at Martinelli’s Market is the most expensive hot dog on my list. It was served up on a house-made brioche split top bun and run through the garden. All that famous Chicago dog flavor with the added bonus of a buttery toasted bun — a flavor I did not know was missing from a Chicago dog. Martinelli’s seems to go the extra mile so, of course, if they’re going to make the bun, they’re going to have to use an all-beef dog. The bun-to-dog ratio was perfect, and I will be back to order this hot dog.
Martinelli’s Market
500C N Walnut St
Champaign
M-Sa 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Su 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Niro’s Gyros
As a lifelong Niro’s Gyros fan who strictly eats the gyros, I begrudgingly ordered the Chicago hot dog ($3.79). I’m glad I did. With all the appropriate toppings, the grilled hot dog came out quickly. Not sure if it was an all-beef frank, but the flavor was spot on. Unfortunately, there was no poppyseed bun which was a bummer. Still, it was a perfect snack for walking around Hessel Park or while waiting in line at Jarling’s.
Niro’s Gyros
401 W Kirby Ave
Champaign
11 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily
2001 W Springfield Ave
Champaign
9 a.m.to 11 p.m., daily
Windy City Express
At the best price in town, the Windy City Express Chicago dog ($2.39) cannot be beaten. We went through the drive-through, and our order came out quickly. Cheers to the person who loaded this dog up; you can tell they know what they are doing. Despite not being listed as all beef, this hot dog checked all the other requirements: neon relish and diced white onions plus everything else on a poppy seed bun. We made it a meal with fries and a drink for a total of $4.89.
Windy City Express
410 N Race St
Urbana
M-Th 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
F 10:30 to 11 p.m.
Sa 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Su 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Seven Saints
If you think there is only one way to plate (or bun) a Chicago dog, then you should see what they are up to at Seven Saints in Downtown Champaign. Their Chicago-style hot dog slider ($5.99) may not be a traditional take on the Chicago dog, but it has all the traditional flavors. A grilled Vienna all-beef frank, sliced and cut to fit the bun with diced red onion, dill pickle chips, sport peppers, neon sweet relish, tomato slices, yellow mustard, and celery salt all stacked up on an adorable poppyseed slider bun. The bun was grilled which was a nice touch, and the kitchen did a great job making sure all the ingredients fit despite the small circumference of the bun. Overall the slider was a bit more money than the other dogs, but it was a more upscale alternative to the typical on-the-go style.
Yes, I just referred to a hot dog as upscale. There are no rules anymore.
Seven Saints
32 E Chester St
Champaign
Su-Th 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
F+Sa 11 a.m. to midnight