I dunno, I havent been to Philly, but I got Portolos in Chicago and I was quite underwhelmed
That’s fair. Portillo’s is mid, but it’s the only game in town for most people not near Chicago and the bread is correct.
The bread is the hardest part to get right at home.
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I only ever get Chicago style hotdogs there (I only go in Chicago). They seem good. I’ve got no complaints. Am I missing out?
Where should I go instead? I visit Chicago regularly, since my wife is from there. However, as she is someone who puts ketchup on a hotdog, I’m not sure her opinion can be trusted.
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I’ve never been to any of them but this is probably a good start for places worth further research.
Noooooooooo!
It’s all about the bread
You haven’t lived until you’ve pulled into super dawg after a night of drinking and had the super dawg with radio active green relish. Good stuff!
I like Portillo’s, but nowhere near the best beef in Chicago. Hard to rate, but Al’s is way up there
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I agree that Portillo’s beef is nothing to write home about, but they make a solid hot dog, imo.
Sorry, don’t get me wrong, I like Portillo’s. I drove an hour out of my way to go there last week. It’s more of a scratch the itch place rather than get you hooked place.
My folks are from the Chicago area, but I am not. My idea of a beef is shaped by vacations in the burbs with deliveries from mom and pop pizza places of tavern-style square cut pizzas and a beef or two dripping in the gravy that we split a few ways.
I like Buona as far as the chain Beef places in Chicago
I feel like Portillos has gone down in quality over the years but Buona has stayed about the same or even improved a bit. My only complaint is if you don’t specify the amount of juice they give it to you bone dry.
Best Italian Beef is Johnnie’s imo, but you gotta go to Elmwood Park.
As for Chicago hot dogs, I’m a fan, but I do have some complaints. First the pickle wedge size is just way too big, it needs to be a thin pickle slice, not a big fat wedge, the pickle ratio is too damn high! Speaking of ratios, I feel like you have to get a jumbo dog otherwise the ratio of hot dog : everything else is terrible. Also can we cut up the sport peppers? Trying to gnaw off a bite sized piece of pepper while risking pepper juice in the eye is just annoying.
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Toppings is where it’s at.
Ketchup on a shitty ball park dog is great, come at me.
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I think every restaurant once they become a chain goes down in overall quality. I really hope that doesn’t happen with Lou Malnati’s
I do ketchup and mustard, the ketchup on dog hate is some weird stuff. It’s a terrible concoction of meat slop and you’re worried about ruining it with some sauce, ok then.
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Sure, if your gourmet pig anus tube is lovingly seared and placed in a pillowy seeded bun with all sorts of accoutrements like sport peppers, a high quality mustard seems appropriate.
If you are sliding your tube meat out from a foil pouch, ketchup that bad boy up imo.
My initial comment was meant to be specifically about a Portillo’s Chicago Style hotdog.
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Ketchup belongs on one food and one food only, fries.
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