The Chicago Dawg and some other treats [Chicago: On The Road]

I didn’t tell you to have a hot dog. Who told you to have a hot dog? 

Jerry Seinfeld (Seinfeld episode “The Soup”) 

Chicago is definitely a wonderful city with great culinary scene. But is also a place for a couple fast food style highlights unique to the Windy City. So I took a time in my last visit to try a couple of them. 

Chicago

The Chicago Dog 

The Chicago style hot dog is frankfurter on a poppy seed bun, and has white onions, pickle relish, tomato slices, sport peppers, and celery salt. Many places to have it but I took the opportunity to go to the legendary Wrigley Field for a baseball game, so couldn’t resist to have it while watching the game. Chicago dog, a beer, and a baseball match some sort of ménage au trois. I loved it. 

Chicago Style Hot Dog

Wrigley Field

Baseball Field / Fast Food

Area: Addison

Chicago

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Al’s Beef 

I saw this place in a Man vs Food episode, and Al’s Beef Italian Sandwich was so grotesque but tasty I had to have it. Esquire Magazine considered one of the best sandwiches in Americas. They are trading since 1938, Al Ferrari and Chris Pacelli developed the idea of the dipped meat sandwich due to the scarcity of meat during the depression, they formulated the secret recipe and became a hit. Even to eat the sandwich you have to take a particular stance known as the Italian stance as any other might cause severe damage to your shoes. 

Al's Beef

Al's Sign

I went to one of the oldest restaurants in Little Italy. Amazing sandwich, full of flavour. The extra spicy peppers are nice. It’s simple, tasty, and good. As side saggy fries dipped in melted cheese so simple but still good. 

The counter

The Italian Combo

Dipped Beef Italian Sandwich

Al's Italian Beef

T: +1 312 226 4017
Italian Sandwich
Area: Little Italy
Chicago
Twitter: AlsItalianBeef

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Rick Bayless Street Food 

I did a quick stop for breakfast at XOCO. Rick Bailess fast food Mexican place. Located besides Frontera, opening early and closing late this self service Mexican cafe offers a menu full of street food from empanadas to tortas, and don't forget the churros. 

Xoco

Inside

I got the empanada, it was brilliant, the pastry was perfect and the filling spot on with the right amount of heat. Passed the tostas as I had them on the past. So I went for the chilaquiles, a specialty you can only have on Saturday. Really good, melted cheese with the tomato, tortilla chips and beef. Good balance and overall a healthy breakfast, Rick as usual delivered.

Empanada

Filling

Chilaquiles

Saturday special

XOCO
T: +1 312 334 3688
Mexican Cuisine
Area: River North
Chicago
Twitter: XocoChicago

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