"Superdawg is too expensive!"Superdawg has their own secret recipe for their Superdawgs, which are 6 to a pound hot dogs. No other hot dog stand, anywhere, serves a Superdawg. It's one-of-a-kind and is 100% pure beef.
Other famous hot dog joints like Gene & Jude's use Vienna's mass-produced hot dogs and are 12 to a pound. Half the weight of a Superdawg. I've heard people over the years saying that Superdawg is too expensive... so I personally called a dozen famous Vienna hot dog joints in the Chicago area (North, South, East, West and some suburbs) and they all use 12 to a pound dogs.
Considering that you would need to buy two hot dogs or one double dog from Gene & Jude's to equal one Superdawg, it makes Superdawg a few cents cheaper! Don't forget that Superdawg also includes an order of fries, as do some other hot dog joints, but not all of the ones I called did.
FYI: Vienna NEVER produced Superdawg's Hot Dogs.
Steaming a hot dog is the original and only way to cook a Vienna Chicago Hot Dog. Vienna
A Chicago-style hot dog doesn't dictate how the hot dog is cooked; boiled, char-broiled, grilled, or God-Forbid microwaved. As long as the hot dog contains ALL of these ingredients:
An ALL-BEEF hot dog on a poppy seed bun, top with yellow mustard, raw chopped onions, green sweet pickle relish, a "Claussen's" Kosher dill pickle spear, fresh tomato slices, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt.
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Superdawg DOES NOT serve the traditional "Chicago Dog." It's missing the celery salt and has a pickled green tomato wedge instead of fresh red tomato slices. I personally enjoy the sour green tomato and when I order a green tomato, I usually ask for two.
ABOUT SUPERDAWG
Drive in, park, and order from your car. You press the button on the menu board, and the control tower inside will answer to take your food order. When the meal is ready, a carhop comes out and delivers your food to your car on a tray that hangs from the glass of your side windows that is partially opened. It's just some awesome fun. Of course, "rookies" can go inside to order and sit at a table inside or at one of the canopy tables outside.
When you are finished eating in your car and are ready to leave, flip a switch on the menu board, and the carhop returns to get the tray. I tip the carhop when my food order is brought to my car, ensuring a quick tray pickup if they are busy.
On most weekends, you'll find antique, vintage, and old muscle cars parked in the lot, eating. Totally worth the trip!
Superdawg brings a '50s-style red ketchup squeeze bottle on their tray and salt and napkins to your car's window.
When you are finished eating in your car and are ready to leave, flip a switch on the menu board, and the carhop returns to get the tray. I tip the carhop when my food order is brought to my car, ensuring a quick tray pickup if they are busy.
On most weekends, you'll find antique, vintage, and old muscle cars parked in the lot, eating. Totally worth the trip!
Superdawg brings a '50s-style red ketchup squeeze bottle on their tray and salt and napkins to your car's window.
THE HISTORY OF SUPERDAWG
In May of 1948, Superdawg was established at the corner of Milwaukee, Devon, and Nagle in Chicago. Superdawg continues to be family-owned and operated in the exact location today.
Superdawg was under construction in 1948. |
Maurie & Flaurie |
Superdawg - August 20, 1963. |
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A Superdawg is not a wiener, frankfurter or a red hot, but their own secret recipe. Our Superdawgs are placed in a poppy seed bun, and then the all-beef Superdawg (no pork, veal or fillers) is placed in the bun. Formally dressed in all the trimmings; golden mustard, tangy piccalilli, kosher dill pickle, Red tomato wedge, chopped Spanish onions and memorable hot sport peppers, escorted by their often imitated, but never equaled, Superfries.
In 1948, the Milwaukee and Devon store opened at the end of the streetcar line. The forest preserve and Whealan Pool across the street made the area an excellent destination for swimming families and cruising teens. Kids could ride the streetcar for a nickel and stop at Superdawg, where a Superdawg sandwich and drink cost only 32¢. On their way home, they often stopped and asked what they could buy for a dime. If they were a few cents short, Maurie and Flaurie would give them what they wanted and tell them to bring what they owed the next time they came, which they never failed to do.
In the early 1950s, the "carhop in a wire" electronic speaker system was installed, and Maurie designed the glowing blue "control tower" where the carhop sits to answer the switchboard and take orders. As Superdawg grew into a successful business, Maurie and Flaurie found time to raise their family of three children (although not on Whoopercheesies alone).
Superdawg Drive-In opened a restaurant at 5110 N Western, Chicago 1950.
The Superdawg trademark was registered in 1984. Throughout the years, minor changes have been made to the menu, like the addition of the Whoopskidawg in 1989 and the Superchic in 1991. However, the Superdawg recipe, the original trademark figures (continuing to flirtatiously wink at each other), and the drive-in concept have not changed. Customers can still order from their car and have a carhop deliver their order on a tray. Maurie and Flaurie's attention to quality products and service, preparing each customer's meal to order, affirming the belief that the customer is always right, and insisting that the customer should always be treated like family continues today.
In 1999, Superdawg underwent a makeover while retaining the original building and spirit. The classic '40s drive-in was updated with neon-studded canopies across the parking lot, a crisp new speaker system, and a cozy indoor dining room. The original rooftop figures were refurbished to continue serving as a Chicago landmark for years.
IT TASTES EVEN BETTER THAN IT LOOKS. |
Maurie Berman died from heart issues on May 17, 2015, at 89 years old. |
Superdawg Chicago on the Travel Channel's Hot Dog Paradise
by Superdawg
Edited by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
Edited by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.