| The Vienna Beef hotdog was first served at the | | | | the first Chicago-style dog was served in all its |
| Chicago World's Fair in 1893. Vienna Beef has | | | | glory. Some believe that the "Depression |
| since become the foundation of a Chicago | | | | Sandwich" is the dog's true ancestor, which was |
| institution, the Chicago-style hotdog. A true, | | | | first served by Fluky's restaurant on Maxwell |
| unadulterated Chicago-style dog is steamed or | | | | Street in 1929. Others offer that it came across |
| boiled (sometimes grilled) on a poppy seed bun. It | | | | the Atlantic along with the wave of Polish |
| is then 'dragged through the garden,' as the saying | | | | immigrants in the early 1920's. One explanation |
| goes, topped with mustard, diced onion, sweet | | | | that is vigorously dismissed by any true hot dog |
| pickle relish (dyed green of course), a dill pickle | | | | lover is that Nathan's World Famous Hotdogs |
| spear, tomato slices (or wedges), pickled sport | | | | invented the concept of a Chicago dog: fact is |
| peppers, and celery salt. | | | | that the New York institution first offered its |
| These ingredients are somewhat open to | | | | version of the "Chicago dog" in the 1970's in an |
| modification and extrapolation. Sometimes you | | | | attempt to gain a foothold in the Second City. |
| might find a Chicago dog with sliced cucumbers, | | | | Regardless of who can lay claim to the Chicago |
| other times without the sport peppers but it is a | | | | Dog's first coming, there are countless places you |
| widely, almost viciously held opinion among the | | | | can find a Chicago dog in the greater metropolitan |
| windy city's hot dog purists that ketchup on a | | | | area. In fact, Chicago boasts more hot dog spots |
| Chicago dog is outright blasphemy, and probably | | | | than there are McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger |
| punishable in some unspeakable way. | | | | Kings in the city combined. You can surely find a |
| It is also blasphemous to garnish an undeserving | | | | dog on a plain little cart on a street corner, but |
| hot dog with the holy toppings. The Vienna, | | | | there are also famous Chicago standards, as |
| naturally encased all-beef dogs are an out-and-out | | | | colorful in their appearance as they are in name. |
| requirement. If you bite into the hot dog and do | | | | The most famous Chicago-style hot dog |
| not get that satisfying snap caused by the real | | | | restaurants include: Hot Doug's, Superdawg's, The |
| sausage casing, you're not eating a Chicago dog. | | | | Wieners Circle, and The Sausage Superstore and |
| There are numerous accounts for where exactly | | | | Encased Meat Emporium. |