57 replies to this topic

[MSwiss]

I guessed right in my first post.

Ten of the 75 are from the Chicago area, probably all within 45 minutes of each other.

I've been to six, that I recall.

Probably about 25 or 30 if I counted all the different Portillo's I've been to.

[NY Nick]

Tony's truck on 62st, only sidewalk dog I will eat.

After you see how they store the carts you would never eat them again.

[Dave Crevie]

I was at the original Portillo's Dog House countless times in my youth. There was a discount store in the nearby strip mall called Big "R," and my mother used to buy a lot of our clothes there. I would tag along, and after Ma would stop at the Dog House and buy me a hot dog and Coke.

The Coke bottles were tiny back then, compared to the ones today. It was a treat.

[Jaz]

Born and raised in Brooklyn. Spent my childhood at Coney Island eating Nathan's hotdogs, but I have learned to absolutely love our local Chicago hot dog place in Florida. What a great replacement for not having Nathan's down here.

[Bill from NH]

The Duck-in, Maine St., Brunswick, ME  Been there since I was a kid. Brunswick has the widest Maine St. in the state, it has the only Maine St. in the state.

[Gator Bob]

Been there since I was a kid

So, Bill... when were you there last?

The only Hot Dog eatery on Maine St. is "Danny's on the Mall" Now 'Danny's Dogs'... and it's on wheels.

The Duck-in must have closed before the internet was invented.

Danny Dogs

The Essential Guide to Maine Hot Dogs, June 2015

[Bill from NH]

I was there last July during my 50th HS class reunion.

 

The Duck-in has been in a self-contained white building with red trim the size of a small shed. Customers only get to duck inside a couple feet to place and get their orders. It doesn't surprise  me they don't have an internet presence. Danny's is the other end of town near the campus of Bowdoin Colllege.

[Phil Hackett]

Swiss, now look what you've gone and done! Geez, now I'm grilling some dogs, having a beer and watching the Dodgers.

 

Excellent!

 

You're grilling a Dodger Dog, right? Anything else is blasphemy when watching the Dodgers.

[MSwiss]

My wife and I stopped at #18 on the list on the way back from Road America.

Good brats. Better than the Johnsonville ones they rave about at R/A.

The hot dog had a little too much bun for a single.

The Milwaukee Bay View neighborhood could be a hipster movie set. Vintage clothing, furniture and record shops, everywhere.

The one motorcycle we saw was a guy on a cafe racer.

[Phil Hackett]

Mike... did you have a PBR with those dogs? PBR is the hipster brew in certain areas of LA...

 

There's only one place on this list I've had a hot dog and it's not anywhere near LA... Nathan's at Coney Island. I don't remember anything outstanding about it but I don't remember it being bad.

 

I pass by Pink's on a semi-regular basis and it always has a long line. The parking in that area is very limited so I keep driving. The other two places in SoCal I have never heard of...

[MSwiss]

Yeah, the PBR hipster thing must have hit Chicago 10-20 years ago.

I don't drink during the day. Especially with an 1-1/2 hour drive home, and storms approaching.

But I need to get out of this neighborhood.

My wife bought an $80 vintage hat, I barely had room for.

[Cheater]

Swiss,

Ask Jackie just how the hell she looks younger and prettier as time moves on, as proved by the pic of her in post #34.

Diggin' for rocks out west probably accounts for it...

[Pablo]

She probably doesn't slam three or four of them like some ( ) of us do. 

[MSwiss]

Swiss,Ask Jackie just how the hell she looks younger and prettier as time moves on, as proved by the pic of her in post #34.

 

She said living with someone with such an even temperment, like her husband.

[Tom Eatherly]

You're grilling a Dodger Dog, right? Anything else is blasphemy when watching the Dodgers.

Well, yeah, of course. Well, not really. Got me there.

[Gator Bob]

It's been 15+ years... but like magic I will have one tonight. Rock on... Mmmm.

Flew my wife up to see the kids and Spirit Air'd some back to FL. with their two-hour. service.

See... everyone is happy.
 
    

[MSwiss]

Between the Sam's Club by me closing, where I could get a decent 1/4 lb. Nathan's hot dog and a drink for $1.50, and having to go to Staples, I decided to keep celebrating national hot dog day.

A jumbo dog and a Maxwell St. Polish, from Portillo's.





No fries so I could have room for one of their deserts.

They have three or 4four(when lemon cake is available).

Every one is a "10."

[Tim Wilkins]

Costco also has the $1.50 value deal. That or a slice of their pizza means I saved enough to buy a pair of braid.

[MSwiss]

$1.50 Costco hot dog combos are here in Chicago, also.

They used to also have a Polish combo.

They looked and tasted virtually the same as the hot dog.

Costco here, and IIRC, also in Hawaii, has a hot turkeyand& Swiss sandwich on a square focaccia roll with pesto mayonnaise that is absolutely superb.

[Gator Bob]

I really enjoy reading about the humble beginnings and the success stories of these kinds of places.

Portillo's history

[A. J. Hoyt]

Nelson Swanberg and I went to SuperDawg on the way back from the Runoffs at Road America some years back. It is a story that reflects the current times:

 

I remembered seeing the place featured on TV, Nelson calls his son on his flip phone, his son looks it up online and navigates us in from the freeway. It was pretty good but number 4 on the list? It was a slow and, perhaps, an off night. I have kept some of the napkins as souvenirs. I think we both went in for seconds because it was a long drive back to Detroit.

 

One on the list, Biker Jim's, is in Denver. We will have to try it.

 

Keep it in the slot,

 

AJ

[Cheater]

She said living with someone with such an even temperment, like her husband.

You should know better than to try to BS a BS'er...

[MSwiss]

I also don't get Superdawg at #4. I guess it must be based on longevity, the sign, and the roller skating car hops.

I ate there once, on the way back from playing volleyball, about 20 years ago.

I thought the food was slightly above average, real expensive, and the place was run down.

[Half Fast]

I don't know about that green hot dog from Portillos, Mike.

 

Cheers,

[MSwiss]

Yes, I almost removed the pickle for the pic.
 
In the meantime, here's a pic from the best place, Fat Johnny's.
 
Chuck Gambo stopped in Saturday night, raving about his Fat Johnny days from about 40 years ago, while working at a nearby Dodge dealer.
 
His daughter lives about three miles south of it, but whenever Chuck suggests they pick up lunch from there, she replies "We don't go that way." LOL.