Why aren't there hot dog carts in chi?

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

Chicago dogs are too good for street vendors. NYC has carts because theyre crap dogs, thats why. Much easier to sell an already-crappy dog, versus trying to sell a good dog on the street that compares to what you can get at, say, Portillos or Gene n Judes.

I bought a dog from a "Chicago hot dog" cart here in AZ. I had to apologize to those around me who thought thats what our hot dogs were really like. It was gross. I wanted to call the guy out as an imposter, but he was old, and I woulda felt bad. False advertising!!! hahahaha

To really "do it right" you need a "cart" that can maintain water for simmering the hot dogs in the hot water, as well as a bun steamer, fridge for the cold hot dogs, some place to keep the onions and tomatoes cool but not icey, work area to artfully assemble the whole thing in the proper order of hot dog in bun, topped with mustard, onions. relish, tomatoes, peppers, pickle and celery salt. AND that STILL would not get you the delicious fresh made fries which are key part of the whole "meal".

A nice "stand" that has also those amenities is a better deal than trying to get some fancy cart that will only be useful for maybe half of the year. Try to tow such a thing with our terrible pot holes and nasty weather and you'll tear the thing up. Plus there is no place for you, as the operator, to safely run to the bathroom... (btw, as much as the various City of Chicago inspectors probably are susceptible to bribes at least the Health Code requires a working LAVATORY so that employees and patrons can sanitarily relieve themselves and then WASH THEIR HANDS, lack of such basic hygienic practices is simply unacceptable in a world where there so many nasty communicable diseases resistant to standard antibiotics...)

Chicago has many lovely plazas in the Loop and nearby areas, to say nothing of the massive investment in fancy park east of Michigan Ave -- plenty of opportunity for people watching there and that can be done AFTER you've filled your gut SAFELY in a sit down permanent quick service establishment!

[tribecavsbrowns]

We also have street fests all summer, which scratches the "gotta eat a kabob off a sytrofoam plate next to garbage can while scanning simultaneously for babes and for lamb grease dripping onto my shirt" itch for most people.

I'm in no way afraid of food trucks for health reasons or anything, but I do think the beneath-the-surface hostility to food trucks in Chicago is charming. We are confident we have a great restaurant industry here. We also like our city clean and don't apologize for it. If you really want food trucks, there are American cities that have them -- visit one of those. Cleveland, where I grew up, has hot dog carts all around downtown. I like them, too. But they're in Cleveland because Cleveland doesn't have the density of quality family-run fast-food places like the hot dog/Polish/beef stands in Chicago. The way I see it, vive la différence. Chicago has plenty of problems it can fix and remain Chicago; let's not focus on the "problem" of making Chicago more like everywhere else.

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by tribecavsbrowns

We also have street fests all summer, which scratches the "gotta eat a kabob off a sytrofoam plate next to garbage can while scanning simultaneously for babes and for lamb grease dripping onto my shirt" itch for most people.

I'm in no way afraid of food trucks for health reasons or anything, but I do think the beneath-the-surface hostility to food trucks in Chicago is charming. We are confident we have a great restaurant industry here. We also like our city clean and don't apologize for it. If you really want food trucks, there are American cities that have them -- visit one of those. Cleveland, where I grew up, has hot dog carts all around downtown. I like them, too. But they're in Cleveland because Cleveland doesn't have the density of quality family-run fast-food places like the hot dog/Polish/beef stands in Chicago. The way I see it, vive la différence. Chicago has plenty of problems it can fix and remain Chicago; let's not focus on the "problem" of making Chicago more like everywhere else.

There is something to be said for having "distinguishing characteristics" as opposed to making the whole world into one completely homogenized land of cloned zombies!

[Chicagodan]

I just saw one in the Loop this morning at State and Van Buren. Great location with all the nearby campuses.