Today, Chicago says goodbye to one of the most popular restaurants in the city: Hot Doug’s. While die-hard fans are lining up to say farewell, Sparkfactor bids adieu from the comforts of our office by asking our team to share their stories of Hot Doug’s.
The first time I ever ate at Hot Doug’s was Christmas Eve in 2008. I was a little intimidated by all the crazy sausages so I went with the classic Chicago Hot Dog. I wasn’t really sure what the big deal was with this strange restaurant in an offbeat location over on California and Belmont. I had always heard about this monster line, but there was no significant line at all… it started inside the restaurant… you know like most places during lunch. On the way out I noticed the comedian Patton Oswald in the line. Pretty cool.
Since that first visit in 2008, I visited Doug’s on a number of occasions. I got to know Doug a little bit and he generously sponsored our co-ed 16 inch softball team, The Hot Doug’s Dougouts. I got to introduce a few first-timers (including Dr. Dave) and I got to try their awesome sausages and duck fat fries. Everything I ever ate there was awesome! The strangest thing about me and Hot Doug’s is that I never waited in line very long…. there just never seemed to be a line when I went.
Hot Doug’s really is a classic Chicago hot dog joint. I applaud Doug for running an awesome restaurant and doing things HIS WAY. Glad I could be a part of it and I wish him all the best on whatever the future holds! – Kate
My favorite of Hot Doug’s dogs is the “Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage” that comes with truffle aioli, foie gras mousse, and fleur de sel. The texture of the duck sausage along with the delicious foie gras was a treat from heaven. You know this was one of the great Charlie purchase tramadol canada Trotter’s favorites places to go. The lines were always long, but occasionally you could find a short line when driving along California and if that was the case, it was a definite stoppage. – George
My first visit to Hot Doug’s was a very special one… I was on an important mission with a friend to deliver a gift to Doug himself. It was a framed photograph of the Hot Doug’s sponsored softball team of which my lunch companion was an active team member. With great haste and importance we hurried over and presented the memorabilia to Doug and, of course, ate some hot dogs because what else were we supposed to do? Anyways, as it was my first time at the establishment, I went with one classic Chicago Dog as my introduction and, as a standard of measurement to compare, with the polish sausage I ordered with sauerkraut and mustard, otherwise known as The Elvis. All I can say is that the Chicago Dog was as perfectly delightful as I had expected, but the speciality polish sausage took me to a whole other level of appreciation for Doug’s encased meats. And if I judged the look on my lunch buddies’ faces correctly as they watched me take my first bite, my eyes must have bugged out like a cartoon with smoke blowing out of my ears. – Doctor Dave
My Hot Doug’s memory is a non-memory: I’ve never actually been there. I think I heard about it a few years ago and just never got around to eating there. I almost went the last weekend it was open, but the line was closed by the time I woke up! If I had gone, I would’ve just ordered a hot dog, plain, no condiments. I think I would have incurred the wrath of my Hot Doug line-mates. – Andrea
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