Three of America’s Best Hot Dog Joints are in Illinois

Any "Best Hot Dog in America" list needs to include at least one place in Illinois.

I mean, Chicago-style hot dog? I'm sure you've heard of it before, so it makes all the sense in the world to include a few Illinois hot dog stands.

Actually, I'm kind of stunned that only three hot dog hot spots made the list of Urban Matter's 25 Best Hot Dog Restaurants & Stands in America to Visit.

There are a few things that always come up when talking about hot dogs:

1. What's your preferred hot dog topping?
2. Is a hot dog a sandwich?

I'm not getting into either (1. Mustard only, and 2. No), but I figured I'd show you three places in Illinois that are so good they got included in this esteemed national list.

After you visit all three you can talk about what you should put on your dog and whether or not it qualifies as a sandwich.

Superdawg Drive-In, 6363 North Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago.

Urban Matter says, "This family-owned classic hot dog restaurant opened in 1948 and has carhop service and an unforgettable atmosphere."

Gene & Jude's, 2720 North River Road in River Grove.

According to Urban Matter,  "Located just outside of Chicago, Gene & Jude’s hot dogs are topped with mustard, relish, onion, and a few sport peppers."

The Weiner's Circle, 2622 North Clark Street in Chicago.

Urban Matter adds, "Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, Wiener’s Circle is known for its fast-paced environment."

On Yelp, The Weiner's Circle gets 3.5 out of 5 stars while Superdawg and Gene & Jude's both get four stars, so it looks like they are all about the same.

All three are fine as far as I'm concerned, but for my money (and stomach) I'll take a trip over to Byron's Hot Dog Haus at 1017 West Irving Park Road in Chicago.