The Mango Lassie

I got an assignment from a magazine that I write for to visit three classic Chicago hot dog stands and pick a winner for the “Best of Chicago” section. I was gearing up for a week of hot dog sampling when I heard that my niece-to-be, the Reading Corndog, would be visiting the neighborhood with her parents and brother. I had promised her months ago that I would take her on a restaurant review to Huey’s Hot Dogs, one of her favorites from her old stomping grounds. I couldn’t turn her down with the excuse of predicted hot dog overload, so yet another hot dog was added to my weekly diet. (Poor, good, Empanada Boy ordered a turkey sandwich and only ate half. He’s lost 14lbs now!)

Huey’s is a small storefront on a side street in Andersonville. The interior is brightly painted in mustard color with ketchup-colored trim. A big chalkboard displays the menu to customers who line up at the counter. Offerings range from basic dogs to chilidogs to burgers and a few sandwiches. All dogs come with fries. I ordered a charred hot dog, which means that it has been placed on the grill and blackened in addition to just being steamed. I am of the mind that the char can only add to the entire flavor combination. Sous Chef ordered a steamed dog, proving that there are some who prefer the purity of the original. Slim McDinner had a Polish sausage. Like any good Chicago dog, these had pickle spears, tomatoes, hot peppers, onions and mustard (no ketchup!). The franks were tasty, with good snap and an excellent poppy seed bun. Budacki’s may have been a little juicier, but there were no seeds on the buns. The fries were medium-thick and nicely crisped on the outside. The only thing I could have asked for was some mustard for dipping my fries. Ketchup is allowed for fries, but I take my mustard seriously.

Contrary to her name, the Reading Corndog, opted not to get a corndog. Instead, she went with a regular hot dog without toppings, to which she applied a generous slathering of ketchup. (Chicagoans under the age of 15 or so are exempted from the no ketchup rule.) She seemed to enjoy her meal, although she may have spent more time defending her fries from her brother than she did actually eating them. The foosball table, strategically placed next to the plastic kids table was also a distraction from the task at hand.

When it comes to Chicago hot dogs, there is little that can distract me from chowing down. Huey’s may not have the old-timey atmosphere of Budacki’s, but their hot dogs come out to be just as good. Three hot dog stands in one week sounded tough at first, but I think I’ll make it through four with no problem.

Huey’s Hot Dogs
1507 W. Balmoral Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
773.293.4800