This is partially for my landlord, Peter. He loves hot dogs as much as I do. Here we go...This, the pic above, is the hot dog from Red Hot Ranch in Logan Square at 2072 W. Western Ave. I love this place and let me tell you why.... when I was a kid my favorite hot dog spots were Jimmy's Red Hot's on Grand Ave. & Pulaski and the now world famous "Gene & Judes" at Grand Ave. & Des Plaines River Road. I loved these places for the fresh cut fries and the fact that both had the exact same hot dog, the Vienna Beef 10/1 dogs with the skin/casing on em. A.K.A. The Rubber Dog! The skin/casing is what it gives it that snap, which I love!! The skin/casing is made from intestines. And "10/1" means there are 10 hot dogs per pound. It's a pretty skinny dog, yet packed full of flavor. They also both steam their buns, do not offer ketchup and they pile the fries right on top of the dog. Red Hot Ranch has same the dog, same buns, almost the same fries, yet better fries. And they have fried shrimp too. Without the tails! They also have their own parking lot, but they all do. But the reason I now go to Red Hot Ranch almost exclusively is the hood is much safer than at Jimmy's, and it's not as far as Gene & Judes and there is Never a line longer than a few people, if that even. |