Gene & Jude's
No seats. No ketchup. No pretense. No nonsense. That is the Gene & Jude’s mantra since 1946, and it must be abided. A beacon of encased-meat hope in a nondescript strip mall in the suburbs, this stand is known for one, and only one, thing: a hot dog. It comes Depression-style (a minimalist variant of Chicago-style): a properly steamed, natural-casing Vienna Beef adorned with sport peppers, chopped onion, relish, and mustard, avalanched by fresh-cut french fries and rolled up into a piece of butcher paper. You’ll eat it at a standing counter under harsh fluorescent lights, and it will be perfect.
PRO TIP: You’ll need a car to get here. If you’re craving a dog but can’t make the trek, try Redhot Ranch (2072 N. Western Ave.) instead. Also, if this wasn’t clear already, don’t ask for ketchup.
THE DETAILS: Cash only. Open late (1 a.m. weekdays; 2 a.m. weekends).
