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    Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots

    4.6 (139 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs
    Open 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    Order Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots Takeout or Delivery

    Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots Photos

    Business Info

    FAT JOHNNIE'S FAMOUS RED HOTS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots

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    Reviews With Photos

    Fiona H.

    They have the best hot dogs ever!!! Previously I had only had regular hot dogs and polishes. Today I was in the neighborhood and stopped in to get lunch be or my husband and I. We both got the chili cheese dogs and they were out of this world. My hot dog melted in my mouth. Everything was made fresh and was hot and delicious. The owner was on site and was so friendly and helpful. They always have the best service and are quick and attentive to their customers. This is a True Chicago Staple! If you haven't been to Fat Johnnie's you need to get there immediately! Can't wait to go back soon.

    Chicago Styke hot dog @ FAT JOHNNIES FAMOUS RED HOTS
    Leo J.

    Absolutely one of, if not, The BEST HOT DOG in Chicago!! Chicago Style hot dog with steamed poppy seed bun that wraps around a real Vienne Beef hot dog. Freshly sliced cucumbers instead of a pickle, which brings out a different flavor, topped with sport peppers, roma tomatoes, neon green Vienna relish amd of course celery salt. Add their cheese or chili to take it up a notch. HOT DOG LOVERS MUST TRY!!! Add cheese or get a chili-cheese dog. If you enjoy Chicago Hot Dogs, you MUST try 'Fat Johnnies!'

    Classic Chicago
    Mistey W.

    We spent our weekend car shopping down Western Avenue. We needed to take a break and get something to drink. We stopped at Fat Johnnie's for some classic Chicago-style hot dogs and lemonade. This whole experience felt so nostalgic, walking up to the stand, getting our food quick and hot, and sitting on the picnic table out front, enjoying a bite before continuing an hour car search. The guy at the window was very nice. They got our order ready quickly and with a smile, and the price wasn't bad when everything else around us has become so absorbently expensive.

    Chicago hot dog

    The best Chicago style hot dog in Chicago. Perfect combination of all ingredients. So so good. Thought about going back the next day. The staff is super friendly and happy. Support local ma and pa places.

    Mother-in-law
    Jose C.

    I've been wanting to come here for a very long time now. And I came here for one thing and one thing only. Their mother-in-law. A very underrated Chicago Dish. I'll start by saying, that yes, it is a shack and yes it's in the south side and not the best part of town, but you're truly missing out on a Chicago gem. They have one table off to side of their shack, if you cared to eat there, otherwise you'll be doing take out like everyone else does. As for their Mother-in-law, I've been wanting to try it out for a while, and never really knew what I was going to get myself into. A tamale in a hot dog bun? No, it's not an actual Mexican tamale that your mother makes or the ones you can purchase from the tamale guy. This is a Chicago Style tamale. Now before I explain what a Chicago Style tamale is, let me just say I'm a huge fan of everything Chicago style. Chicago style hot dogs, Chicago Style Deep Dish, etc... except for a Chicago Style tamale. I've tried them a few times, but they really aren't that good. A real tamale has masa packed with some meat inside wrapped corn husk. These Chicago style tamales are machine made cornmeal rolls wrapped in paper. They taste machine made as well. But when you put in a hot dog bun and top it off Chicago style, it's game over. The tamale finally wins! You have cornmeal rolled tamales stuffed inside a poppy seed hot dog bun, and then cover it with chili, onions, two tomato wedges, relish and a cucumber. Sound gross, but the key is to have a little bit of everything with every bite. Otherwise if you eat the bun and tamale buy itself, it's going to taste too dry and tasteless. But when you eat it with a bite of cucumber and tomato, it somehow softens up the bite as well as it keep it tasting fresh. It's hard to explain, but once you try it, you'll know what I mean. It absolutely looks disgusting and may sound disgusting, but I promise it won't disappoint. Don't be afraid and venture out to the south side and give a try! I'll definitely be back!

    Small teeny tiny stand. Right next to the Popeyes.
    Christina G.

    Can't miss it! Our friend grew up in the area. We were visiting CHI Town. So we made the trip to this stand per his recommendation. The dog went down in 2.5 seconds hahaha! It was good!

    CHICAGO STYLE Red Hot
    Ashlee M.

    Really like the updated sitting area outside ;) good value for $$ and very clean outdoor eating space - lots of varieties of hot dogs !

    Wanna Shack up?
    Yael D.

    I think it's safe to declare that when it comes to our willingness to travel for food, hubby and me are more intrepid than average. Sometimes way more intrepid: Anyway, we wound up here after making a pilgrimage to Calumet Fisheries for its legendary Smoked Garlic & Pepper Salmon. On the way, we drove through Englewood for a very looong stretch and hubby began to go ballistic. "I'm on vacation. This is starting to depress me!" That is the G-rated version. The kid was also none too happy being surrounded by so much seeming despair. By the time we finally pulled up to this dilapidated little airstream trailer, everyone was in a foul mood. We got a Chicago Dog and a Polish, Chicago-style, both with the works. I think you have to special request sport peppers if I am recalling correctly. They were both tasty, though am not entirely sure I could tell the difference between the two, but that could have been my grumpiness rendering me less discerning than usual. Hubby kibbitzed back and forth a little with the guy manning the trailer, giving me a glimmer of hope for the experience. Alas, however, he ultimately insisted that we could have found equally good hot dogs elsewhere with less of a hassle. Maybe so. Maybe so. Bottom line: If I had to do it again, not sure I'd choose this for our Chicago Dog adventure. Not because it was too divey, or the food was disappointing. Am just not sure it was worth all the angst to get there. If you're up for it, though, the hot dogs are definitely four stars worth of good.

    Ancient Chicagoan proverb say, never order hot dog from new, clean menu

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    2 years ago

    I mean what more can you say? Classic Chicago red hot. Gene & Judes will always take the victory but this is a solid dog.

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    2 years ago

    Johnnies daughter is amazing!! Make sure to check out her original Chicago dogs if and when you can!!

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    6 years ago

    Awesome place. Dogs are getting a bit pricey but its truly hard to beat and worth the drive

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots

    I thought they closed. Are they still in business?

    Yes they are definitely open

    I see quite a lot of reviews and plenty of pictures for fat johnnies, but I see no French fries. not a one. where are the French fries?

    I don't believe that they offer fries...you may be confusing it with Johnnies Italian Beef which does offer fries.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Al's Beef

    Al's Beef

    4.3
    (469 reviews)
    9.4 mi
    $$

    One of Chicago's most renowned Italian Beef Sandwiches, originating in 1938. A special trip to try…read moreit, and it was truly satisfying. Regular Combo: A combination of beef and sausage. The meat portion was very generous; the beef was thinly sliced ​​but juicy and not dry or hard at all; the sausage had a rich smoky flavor, not too salty, and tastes a lot like Harbin red sausage. Al's Classic Hand-Cut Fries: They were piping hot when I received them, so touching! I couldn't taste the hand-cut texture, but there was a spice powder similar to salt and pepper, and the flavor was quite good.

    3-ish stars rounded up. The roast beef was a little on the dry-stringy side but the bread was…read morespongy-soft (absorbed the beef drippings so well!). Kinda skimpy on the fixings on the Chicago dog, but still gets the job done if you're craving a Chicago dog. Fries are the type that are greasy to the touch; not my fave style of fries but I know it's a well-liked one to others. Super friendly lady at the cashier (all smiles, patient, and offered menu help)! Also fast service (got my order within a few minutes). I visited on a Saturday late afternoon and it was very chill here (also shoutout to the early 2000's era music playing :p it was a vibe). Overall I'd say it's not a bad food spot at all if you want a quick bite and want to be a little away from the Magnificent Mile crowds.

    Photos
    March 5, 2024
    March 5, 2024
    Keto style double with bacon
    Keto style double with bacon
    Italian Big Beef

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    Italian Big Beef
    Jim's Original

    Jim's Original

    4.2
    (793 reviews)
    7.5 mi
    $

    A LOCAL CLASSIC! I…read moreloved this spot so much I ended up coming back twice. It has that classic late night comfort food vibe and feels like one of those staple spots you have to try at least once. First night I ordered a polish hot dog with everything on it and a fish sandwich w/ extra grilled onions. Super cool that your order comes with fries and I added a cheese cup both times. In my opinion the fries were mid the first go around, but second time they were better. Definitely tasted better dipped in cheese. They were kinda airy in texture, if that makes sense. Polish hot dog was around a 6.5-7/10 for me. It did taste better warmed up the next day. What I was most obsessed with was the double cheeseburger and fish sandwich! both were easily a 10/10. Super good prices and worth the money. Also, the chile peppers were sooo bomb and hotter than I expected ! I wanted to eat them all, but they were packing some serious heat! The lemon Italian ice is where it's at, make sure to order one! You can also mix it with strawberry, but both times people recommended the lemon and now I see why. The line gets super active and busy past 10-11pm, but during the daytime it's way less crowded. Even when it gets packed the line moves pretty quick. They stay open late and close at 1am which is nice.

    I really wanted to like Original Jim's, and I'm hoping they'll take customer feedback seriously…read more Since they're new, I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and check back in six months to see how things have improved. Unfortunately, this visit was disappointing. We tried the hot dog, sausage, and hamburger, and all of them lacked flavor. Nothing really stood out, and the food was pretty underwhelming overall. The quality just wasn't there yet, especially considering the expectations. I genuinely hope they continue refining their recipes and seasoning because the concept has potential. For now, though. I'ld give them some time to find their footing and hope for a much better experience in the future.

    Photos
    Short line today
    Short line today
    Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich
    Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich
    Sign from around the corner.

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    Sign from around the corner.
    Gene & Jude's

    Gene & Jude's

    4.2
    (2.6k reviews)
    14.4 mi
    $

    Always 5 out of 5 stars!…read more Just returned from a trip and it's always a must to stop in for hot dogs for the family! It did not disappoint! Needed to Chicago food!

    It's was a beautiful night yesterday so we decided to go for a ride to grab a hot dog from the…read moreIconic Gene & Jude's. Before we left I checked the website and saw that they were a cash only business. No problem except we took the 30 minute ride and when we arrived I realized I forgot my wallet at home. Fortunately for us it was a nearby Walgreens where we could get cash. My wife had her wallet so I zelled money to her. Once we got back we then saw that they do in fact take debit/ credit cards. Anywho. It was a no frills place very basic aesthetic nothing special to look at. Just a service counter where you can see them preparing the hot dogs. They do however have a steady line of people! They move the line very fast so you're not waiting long at all. We ordered 3 hot dogs with everything (mustard, onions, relish & sport peppers) the basic depression hot dog. They come with fresh cut fries & we got a fountain Cherry Coke to share. I spent $20 even with tip. The hot dogs were good i wasn't disappointed nice soft bun tasty condiments and a great snap to the hot dogs. I'll give it a 7/10. The fries had a decent amount of salt on them a bit oily and not too crispy but they were fair. They don't have any ketchup in the house. We keep tobacco in the SUV so I added some to the fries for a little bit. Without the tobacco the fries were still tasty. A solid 6.5/10. The service was good. Young people with good customer service. I loved it. 10/10 for service. All in all if I'm in the mood for a drive and a hot dogs I'll go back. If you're in the area and like hot dogs check them out. They also sell tamales. ( I didn't order one) 7.3/10..... all in all. It's really more like 3 1/2 stars! Remember Yelpers ALL reviews are subjective!

    Photos
    The inside of the restaurant
    The inside of the restaurant
    Single Hot dog/with Fries
    Single Hot dog/with Fries
    Nov 2025.

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    Nov 2025.
    The Wieners Circle

    The Wieners Circle

    3.6
    (1.2k reviews)
    11.8 mi
    $

    Stopped by The Wiener's Circle and had a fun Chicago experience. I had the Chicago style hot dog,…read moreand it was exactly what you'd want, classic toppings, plenty of flavor, and a solid dog overall. What really makes this place stand out is the personality. The staff is famously surly, and that's clearly part of the experience, so if you know that going in it adds to the fun. It's more playful than serious and definitely gives the place its own character. I also thought it was cool how they give out free dogs after Bears wins. That kind of generosity and local spirit makes it feel like a true neighborhood staple. Definitely a memorable stop and one of those places that feels uniquely Chicago.

    You can't come to Chicago and not get a red hot, which is why we found ourselves driving fairly out…read moreof our way to The Wieners Circle. They had some options on the menu but we both opted for the Vienna Red Hot ("char"). It's a solid dog. The wiener is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the star of the show. It's got a terrific char and an irresistible snap. The flavor is better-than-average, too. The condiments didn't really do much for me, and I found something on there just way, way too salty. (The pickle, maybe?) Anyway, it's a quick, cheap, easy meal. I'd certainly eat it again.

    Photos
    Late Night Stop @ The Wiener's Circle.2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL Chicago Institution.Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Late Night Stop @ The Wiener's Circle.2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL Chicago Institution.Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Char Turkey Burger w/Cheese & Grill Onions @ The Wiener's Circle.Chicago, IL Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Char Turkey Burger w/Cheese & Grill Onions @ The Wiener's Circle.Chicago, IL Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Char dog and fries.

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    Char dog and fries.
    Devil Dawgs -  South State

    Devil Dawgs - South State

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    8.2 mi
    $
    Locally owned & operated
    Vegan friendly

    Pretty pricey for some hot dogs but they're so good. I prefer devil dawgs to portillos and their…read moreselection of hot dog dishes is phenomenal. Whenever someone visits, i make sure we go here to get a Chicago dog. Tho im torn between the standard jumbo chicago dog and the green chile dog. Service is quick and great, everything is clean and organized tho the spot is pretty small so it can get crowded in a rush.

    Upon entering the restaurant, I noticed it was full of people and upbeat music was playing. I was…read moreimmediately drawn to their digital menu board. After seeing their vegan options, I was happy to see that they offer vegan hot dogs made two ways but sad that their fries and tater tots are cooked in beef tallow, and surprised that the hot dogs were $7.00 which might be too expensive for some people. After we ordered a vegan Chicago dog with a soda for me and a vegan Chicago dog with a bucket of fries for hubby, our food was quickly prepared and delivered. Although my vegan hot dog was cooked well, I was slightly annoyed at how quickly the dog fell out of the bun and the large amount of neon green relish which minimize the other flavors of the hot dog. Likewise, I was saddened and surprised and that none of their sides (fries and tater tots) are vegan friendly since they cook these items in beef tallow. Overall, while the vegan hot dog was delicious, I feel that $7 is a bit pricey for a vegan hotdog especially when there aren't any vegan sides available.

    Photos
    Devil Dawgs -  South State
    Devil Dawgs -  South State
    Devil Dawgs -  South State

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    Fatso's Last Stand

    Fatso's Last Stand

    4.1
    (993 reviews)
    9.3 mi
    $$

    I had read about how Fatso's does the char dog. I made this my last meal in Chicago…read more I went with a char dog, depression style, an order of fries, and a side of the Merkts cheddar. How was it? Fries- Delicious! Fresh cut fries, made right in front of you. They were great! Huge portion, too! Merkts Cheddar Sauce- Hell yeah! Give me a gallon of this, and I will chug it! Such a tasty cheese sauce. Loved dipping my fries in it. Great combo! Char Dog- This dog was delicious! Great char, great toppings. My only beef would be the bun. It definitely could have been more soft/steamed and fresh. It held up pretty well, but there were a couple bites where it broke and flaked apart. Hate when that happens. Still...didn't ruin the overall experience. Had a great last meal in Chicago before I headed to the airport.

    Fatso's Last Stand delivers exactly what its name promises: unapologetically indulgent, old-school…read morecomfort food done right. The burgers are the shining stars -- juicy, generously sized, and cooked to perfection with toppings that strike the perfect balance of classic and creative. Whether you go for a stacked cheeseburger, bacon-loaded option, or a specialty creation, the patties are flavorful and satisfyingly beefy, with a great char and use of quality ingredients that keeps diners coming back. Beyond burgers, the menu also features hearty eats like crispy fries, loaded sandwiches, and thick milkshakes, all served with a no-frills attitude that lets the food speak for itself. Service at Fatso's Last Stand matches the laid-back but attentive vibe of the restaurant -- staff are friendly, efficient, and know regulars by name, creating a welcoming, neighborhood-favorite energy. While the pace can get lively during peak hours, especially on weekends, the team handles the rush with good humor and keeps orders moving. The ambiance is casual and retro in all the right ways, with diner-style seating and a comfortable, unpretentious environment that makes it perfect for relaxed lunches, casual dinners with friends, or late-night burger runs. It's not fancy, but when your focus is on big, delicious burgers and familiar comfort food, Fatso's delivers exactly what you're craving.

    Photos
    Fatso's Last Stand
    Merkts Cheddar.
    Merkts Cheddar.
    Double Fatso with Cheese + Fries

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    Double Fatso with Cheese + Fries

    Fat Johnnie's Famous Red Hots - hotdog - Updated July 2026

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