Where To Taste The Most Iconic Hot Dog In Illinois

ILLINOIS — Superdawg Drive-In, a Chicago favorite for more than 70 years, is the most iconic hot dog in Illinois, according to a state-by-state look at the American fare favorite.

Copy and quote the section from your state here. Attribute to Taste of Home and writers Nancy Mock and Lisa Kaminski.

The writers' picks came with more than a few surprises. For one, their favorite dog in New York state can’t be found anywhere near New York City. Frank’s Gourmet Hot Dogs in Buffalo got the nod there, although Mock and Kaminski still say they are fans of the hot dogs in America’s most populous city.

“With a plethora of hot dog carts in NYC alone, it's hard to choose just one hot dog joint for all of New York.”

A more obvious choice was made here in Illinois. Superdawg Drive-In, which has featured classic Chicago dogs since 1948, was the top pick there.

Everything at this iconic hot dog joint is super. The dogs of course, the drinks, the sides like Superfries and the legacy: family-owned since 1948. Customers at both locations are greeted by 12-foot hot dogs on the roof named Maurie and Flaurie after the original owners. The Superdawg is built like a classic Chicago dog and is delivered "lounging" in a retro-styled box.

Some creativity was found in the names of a few of the states’ best, too — for instance, “I Dream of Weenie” in Tennessee and “Haute Dogs & Fries” in Virginia.

Taste of Home is the latest to offer its favorite franks by state. David Landsel of FoodAndWine.com had a different take in a similar list published a month ago. And Bruce Kraig, author of “Hot Dog: A Global History,” has declared his “best of the best.”

Let us know about your favorite hot dog joint in the comments section below.