Hotdog stands Northwestern/Evanston area?

any one have recomendations on Hot dog stands around Evanston / Northwestern Univ?

Mustard's Last Stand on Central, right next to the stadium immediately comes to mind. Good dogs, pretty good fries.

I LOVE Poochies. Technically in Skokie but close to Northwestern. Char dogs are my fav. and the cheddar fries are made with real cheddar cheese. YUM!

3832 Dempster St

i have gotten recomendations for Bill's drive in and Weiner and Still Champion...anyone have thoughts on these 2 places?

I will be going to Mustards Last stand

Hope you like Mustard's better than I do. I work two blocks away and haven't brought myself to go there for about 8 months. (Note: There is disagreement about this place; Eat Chicago is a fan of Mustard's.

Went to Weiner & Still Champion last summer. Best thing about it is the name. The air conditioning is still non-functional just as it was in the 80's. The food's a little better than the a/c but not much.

I think your best bet is Dempster Street in Skokie for (from east to west) Herm's, Poochie's or Hot Dog Island.

I do like Mustard's but I will confess to not having been there in about a year now. Given the choice, I'll always take a Poochie's char salami over anything Mustard's has to offer, though.

There is another stand close to NU in downtown Evanston. Chicago Style on Orrington. I haven't been there since my days of working in Evanston (5 years ago), but I used to go in from time to time to grab a dog, gyro, or chicken sandwich (bad fries, if I remember).

Chicago Style Carryouts
1633 Orrington Ave.
Evanston, IL

Weiner and Still Champion on Dempster had really good fries the last time I was there. The dog was average. They also serve a few Indian dishes on the weekends - go figure. The Biryani wasn't bad, considering it was served at a hot dog stand.

If you're jonesing and have time, as an Evanstonian I do conceed that you ought head a bit west on Dempster into Skokie and hit Poochies.

I live near Bill's Drive Inn on Asbury near Howard and I wish it were better.

I worked next to D D Dogs for about 4 years, but don't remember having a hot dog there. However, the gyros and chicken sandwiches are very good in that greasy-spoon kind of way (as is the Greek Salad with Gyros meat, which became my favorite unlisted thing on the menu). I would bet that their dogs would be worth a try.

D D Dogs
825 N Noyes
Evanston

847-864-1909

Chicago Style Carryouts is closed. I think they are probably going to become another cell phone store. Or an ice cream place maybe.

George R wrote:I think your best bet is Dempster Street in Skokie for (from east to west) Herm's, Poochie's or Hot Dog Island.

If you can make it down to Dempster, you could also hit Hub's, a little farther west than Poochies. That said, I think I'd go Poochie's instead of Hub's.

I'd choose Poochie's over Hub's. My son & I were at Hub's a few months ago. I had a chicken dinner and my son had a hot dog. We felt that it had fallen off noticeably from what we remembered in years past.

Hub's isn't really a hot dog stand. It's more a fast food version of a Greek diner, as it emphasizes full meals.

I haven't been in a while, but I'd rather try Dengeo's which is similar to Hub's but does a better job. Some people like Dengeo's gyros (I haven't tried their gyros, usually preferring to opt for a chicken dinner.) It's on the SW corner of McCormick Road and Main Street. It's not much further and a better bet.

Dengeo's Restaurant
3301 Main Street
Skokie, Illinois 60076
847.677.7911

My son & I were at Hub's a few months ago. I had a chicken dinner and my son had a hot dog. We felt that it had fallen off noticeably from what we remembered in years past....I haven't been in a while, but I'd rather try Dengeo's which is similar to Hub's but does a better job.

I think Hub's has been sliding downhill for several years now. It used to be much better and far more popular than Dengeos, but the fortunes of those two establishments have clearly reversed. I can't say for sure that Dengeos is now better than Hub's was in its heyday, but it is very good--I'm a big fan of the gyros plate.

George R wrote: Some people like Dengeo's gyros (I haven't tried their gyros, usually preferring to opt for a chicken dinner.)

Dengeo's gyros are nothing to rave about -- same ol' re-manufactured meat by-products on a spit you can find at any cut-rate, Vienna-slingin' hot dog stand. I tried them a couple of times and found them to be bland and disturbingly undercooked.

Dengeo's does have a significantly nicer (at least, it's cleaner, more spacious and better decorated) dining area than Hub's.

You're right, though, for pure dog bliss I'd stick with Poochie's.

Anyone tried Herm's a little east of there on Dempster?

Hi,

My favored meal at Dengeo's is the gyro, or gyro's plate, and their Greek Village Salad. Usually, I am not alone so this is split between us. It's fast, fresh and inexpensive.

They now have a location in Buffalo Grove. Uniquely, you can get Greek potatoes at the BG location and not at the Skokie location

Dengeos On Dundee
195 West Dundee Road
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
847-520-0004

Best bet for a Chicago Dog in Evanston is The Little Island aka Hot Dog Island at Central, Crawford and Gross Point Roads. (It doubles as a great landmark as all the cabbies know it.) They can be really slow but the dogs and Polish are worth the wait.

Josephine Hyde wrote:Best bet for a Chicago Dog in Evanston is The Little Island aka Hot Dog Island at Central, Crawford and Gross Point Roads. (It doubles as a great landmark as all the cabbies know it.) They can be really slow but the dogs and Polish are worth the wait.

Correction: The Little Island is NOT Hot Dog Island. It's the former location of Hot Dog Island, which is now open on Dempster in Skokie, just west of Skokie Blvd. The Little Island is not affiliated with HDI in any way.

HI,

In every so slight defense of The Little Island, they are a source for hand cut fries cooked in 50% lard and 50% vegetable oil. Whereas Poochies fries are cooked in 100% vegetable oil.

I had The Little Island's hot dog and 1-2 of their signature burgers, not very good.

Cute building, they must has fought like the devil to retain what little land there is at that location.

Believe it or not Buffalo Joe's in Evanston, if you can save room after gorging on their wings serves up a decent chicago style dog and brats as well.

The Little Island, which SteveZ points out is unrelated to Hot Dog Island, doesn't cut the mustard for me. We've tried it a couple of times and found we definitely prefer the Dempster Street trio (Herm's, Poochie's, Hot Dog Island).

Even the special hand-cut fries weren't that special. I really looked forward to trying them, but when I did thought they didn't match up to the fries at Poochie's.

The Little Island is a cute place, but if I have time I would drive a few minutes to Dempster Street.

gp60004 wrote:i have gotten recomendations for Bill's drive in and Weiner and Still Champion...anyone have thoughts on these 2 places?

I will be going to Mustards Last stand

I like the burgers better than the dogs at Bill's - they use a leon's dog which I find a little mealy for my tastes. As another poster mentioned weiner and still champion is now owned by a hyderabdai guy, but I can't really recommend the indian food i've had there, and the samosas are definitely bought elswehere and fried again and sold at a surcharge.

Honestly, I have tried Hub's, Dengeos, Poochies, Portillos and so on...and Hub's is hands down your best bet across the board. I would choose it any day over those other copycat restaurants. Dengeos food and atmosphere is horrible. It is bland and dirty. Poochies is not even worth acknowledging. Portillos is overpriced and the food tastes like something I would buy in the frozen isle of a grocery store. Hub's has been around and thriving for, what, 30 years or something like that? It is obviously the best, that is why. The food quality is great (rotisserie chicken, gyros, burgers, ribs and Greek salad are my family and friends' favorites there...my kids love the hot dogs!). The ingredients are always fresh. That is not the case with its competitors.

GregN wrote:Honestly, I have tried Hub's, Dengeos, Poochies, Portillos and so on...and Hub's is hands down your best bet across the board. I would choose it any day over those other copycat restaurants. Dengeos food and atmosphere is horrible. It is bland and dirty. Poochies is not even worth acknowledging. Portillos is overpriced and the food tastes like something I would buy in the frozen isle of a grocery store. Hub's has been around and thriving for, what, 30 years or something like that? It is obviously the best, that is why. The food quality is great (rotisserie chicken, gyros, burgers, ribs and Greek salad are my family and friends' favorites there...my kids love the hot dogs!). The ingredients are always fresh. That is not the case with its competitors.

Greg

Do u work at Hubs or something?

Poochies is not worth acknowledging???? Why is that??? THey have been written up in many national publications. Put up Poochies cheddar burger, Hot dog, cheddar fries against Hubs and I don't see Hubs coming out on top in any catergory. 0-3

Now the last line about Hubs always having fresh ingredients. Last time I was there, I saw a freezer. Now, if they ALWAYS use freh ingredients, WHY do they have a FREEZER. Makes u think.

GregN wrote:Honestly, I have tried Hub's, Dengeos, Poochies, Portillos and so on...and Hub's is hands down your best bet across the board. I would choose it any day over those other copycat restaurants. Dengeos food and atmosphere is horrible. It is bland and dirty. Poochies is not even worth acknowledging. Portillos is overpriced and the food tastes like something I would buy in the frozen isle of a grocery store. Hub's has been around and thriving for, what, 30 years or something like that? It is obviously the best, that is why. The food quality is great (rotisserie chicken, gyros, burgers, ribs and Greek salad are my family and friends' favorites there...my kids love the hot dogs!). The ingredients are always fresh. That is not the case with its competitors.

Are you on crack?

I'll agree that Portillos is chain-like and a Johnny come lately to the area, but both Poochies and Herm's predate Hub's (who's the copycat?) and both put out a better product in the areas where their menus intersect with Hub's. I'll also say that Hub's used to put out a much better product (especially the burgers) than they do now. It's really gone down hill compared to 25 years ago or so.

GregN wrote:

Honestly, I have tried Hub's, Dengeos, Poochies, Portillos and so on...and Hub's is hands down your best bet across the board. I would choose it any day over those other copycat restaurants. Dengeos food and atmosphere is horrible. It is bland and dirty. Poochies is not even worth acknowledging. Portillos is overpriced and the food tastes like something I would buy in the frozen isle of a grocery store. Hub's has been around and thriving for, what, 30 years or something like that? It is obviously the best, that is why. The food quality is great (rotisserie chicken, gyros, burgers, ribs and Greek salad are my family and friends' favorites there...my kids love the hot dogs!). The ingredients are always fresh. That is not the case with its competitors.

Huh? Has there been a radical change at Hub's in the last few months? In February my son and I tried Hub's for old times sake. We liked it a lot when we lived in Evanston and went there fairly often. See my February 24, 2005 post above.

Sadly, you can't go home again.

GregN wrote:Honestly, I have tried Hub's, Dengeos, Poochies, Portillos and so on...and Hub's is hands down your best bet across the board. I would choose it any day over those other copycat restaurants. Dengeos food and atmosphere is horrible. It is bland and dirty. Poochies is not even worth acknowledging. Portillos is overpriced and the food tastes like something I would buy in the frozen isle of a grocery store. Hub's has been around and thriving for, what, 30 years or something like that? It is obviously the best, that is why. The food quality is great (rotisserie chicken, gyros, burgers, ribs and Greek salad are my family and friends' favorites there...my kids love the hot dogs!). The ingredients are always fresh. That is not the case with its competitors.

My whole family has been eating at all of these places mentioned for many years. While I'm also no Portillo's booster, the others that you've mentioned are high on my list.

Poochie's is a long-standing favorite of myself and pretty much everyone I know. Dengeos is also long-term family favorite for us and I especially like their atmosphere since they've remodeled. I've been eating their Greek chicken dinner for many years now.

Hub's has always been a so-so alternative to Poochie's, Dengeos, and Herm's in my book. And regardless of who-predates-whom, how can you call one fast-food joint a "copycat" of another? Hub's hardly invented burgers, chicken, and ribs.

Best,
Michael

GregN wrote:Honestly, I have tried Hub's, Dengeos, Poochies, Portillos and so on...and Hub's is hands down your best bet across the board. I would choose it any day over those other copycat restaurants. Dengeos food and atmosphere is horrible. It is bland and dirty. Poochies is not even worth acknowledging. Portillos is overpriced and the food tastes like something I would buy in the frozen isle of a grocery store. Hub's has been around and thriving for, what, 30 years or something like that? It is obviously the best, that is why. The food quality is great (rotisserie chicken, gyros, burgers, ribs and Greek salad are my family and friends' favorites there...my kids love the hot dogs!). The ingredients are always fresh. That is not the case with its competitors.

Wow, a curious first and only post to say the least. I guarantee you that Poochies has been there longer than 30 years. I've been going there since before I got married and that's 33 years ago. I honestly can't talk about the dogs because I'm a cheddar burger man.

Very disappointed by Mustard's Last Stand today. I was hungry, driving back from Evanston Hospital, but I should have gone the extra mile to the Little Island (WASC was a bit out of the way, I had to get home).

First off, no radioactive relish. That's a personal strike against it, but most people won't care, I know.
So I skipped the dog and went for the cheeseburger, fries and small drink ($5.99).
Second, foodservice fries. Meh.
Third: The guy prepping the food was a slob: bun, grilled onions and ketchup were mashed into a diagonal stack dripping stuff everywhere.
Last, and why this is my last at this stand: Somehow, a gas-grilled burger attained a flavor of lighter fluid. Bleah.

JoelF wrote:Very disappointed by Mustard's Last Stand today. I was hungry, driving back from Evanston Hospital...

I was on my way to Evanston Hospital this evening and hadn't been to Mustard's in years, I now know why. Mediocre tasting dog with no snap & junky thin fries. Go elsewhere if looking for a quality dog.

Mustard's never had a good dog. Their cheeseburgers used to be acceptable when I worked at Northwestern and didn't have time to drive all the way over to Poochie's.

In those days, however, the place was basically just a place to pick up scalped tickets to sporting events and concerts. Not sure if that's still true, as it's been about five years since I've stopped in.

Totally agree, avoid Mustard's Last Stand at all costs. What a shame for so many unsuspecting NU students and their parents/families from out of town who may think this is as good as a Chicago hot dog gets. I may have to yell at Mustard's now - they are making our hot dog look bad!