I am addressing the comments of many people; "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 but they are only 10 or 12 to a pound. Half the size 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, and West) and they all use 10 or 12 to a pound dog.
Considering that you would need to buy two hot dogs 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 others I called did.
FYI: Vienna never produced Superdawg's Hot Dogs.
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" have the option of going inside to order then sitting at a table inside or at one of the canopy tables outside.
When you are finished eating and wish to have the tray and your garbage taken away so you can leave, you flip a switch on the menu board and the car-hop comes back to get the tray. I personally tip the carhop when my food order is brought out to my car, ensuring a quick tray pickup.
On most weekends, you'll find antique, vintage, and old muscle cars. Totally worth the trip!
Superdawg does being a red ketchup squeeze bottle on their tray along with salt and napkins. They do not serve the traditional "Chicago Dog" as it's missing the celery salt and their tomato is a sour green wedge.
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 same location today.
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Superdawg under construction in 1948. |
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Maurie & Flaurie |
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Superdawg - August 20, 1963. |




It was not a wiener — not a frankfurter — not a red hot — but their own exclusive SUPERDAWG. On a poppy seed bun, they place the hot dog {no pork, no veal, no cereal, no fillers}, formally dressed with all the trimmings {golden mustard, tangy piccalilli, kosher dill pickle, sour green tomato wedge, chopped Spanish onions and memorable hot peppers}, escorted by their often imitated, but never equaled, Superfries.In 1948, the Milwaukee and Devon store was at the end of the streetcar line. With the forest preserve and Whealan Pool across the street, the area was a great destination for swimming families and cruisin' teens. Kids could ride the streetcar for a nickel and stop at Superdawg where a Superdawg sandwich and drink cost only 32¢. Many times, on their way home, they would stop and ask what they could buy for a dime. If they were a few cents short, Maurie and Flaurie would give them what they wanted and told them to bring the money back the next time they stopped, 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).

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Even the Oscar Meyer guys know where to get the best hot dogs! |





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 Neil Gale, Ph.D.
Edited by Neil Gale, Ph.D.
Our go to place for hot dogs. Its the best!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful post, Neil! As a third generation member of the Superdawg family, thank you, and thanks for stopping! I do need to correct an important point..our Superdawg is not made by Vienna Beef. It is 6 to a pound, all beef, and made to our special proprietary recipe, and of course, you can’t eat one anywhere else but at our Chicago or Wheeling stand. Thanks again, from the bottom of our pure beef heart!
ReplyDeleteThank you Laura for your assistance. I removed the portion that was incorrect. BTW... I have your wonderful sweatshirt. Everytime I wear it, here in the Illinois Metro - St. Louis Area, People keep asking me about Superdawg.
DeleteIf we remember correctly, from back when I 1st worked there, the original Flukey's hotdog, circa 1967, was 8 to the pound.
ReplyDeleteI have a t-shirt that I put on in my town of Carlsbad Ca. Always get a thumbs up from a past Chicagoan
ReplyDeleteWhen I was active on Yelp, Superdawg got a 3-star rating from me. I stopped in with my dad [R.I.P.] after one of his regular medical appointments at Resurrection Hospital's Professional Building.
ReplyDeleteI noticed the larger size of the hot dog, but had the feeling that patrons here were not here for the hot dog. Being quite familiar with 'exploitation moviemakers', I perceived this was a still-existing adaptation of “Selling the sizzle, not the steak” {| sausage}. There were | are places out here offering better hot dogs. But I certainly cannot criticize Superdawg for being successful with this scheme.
When you have a blind taste test; a Superdawg vs. Vienna, Superdawg has taste, and Vienna doesn't, no matter how it is prepared, steamed, boiled, char-broiled, or other methods.
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