Never thought I’d enjoy watching a 10 minute video of a man eating a hot dog but here we are. 😂 Great video Lawrence!

I've always thought that the pickle wedge is tucked into the hot dog bun for efficient packaging, not because it's supposed to be eaten in the bun. In other words, I always take out the pickle and eat it on the side. Also, if you want a Chicago dog with everything on it, tell them to "drag it through the garden."

Removing the pickle isn't nearly the crime that adding ketchup would have been. That was a close call.

"I think I want two hot dogs for my greedy self" "You do what you need to do" This woman understands hot dogs.

Attended a wedding in Chicago. Rocking reception with a live band playing until 2am and a well stocked open bar. At 1am, platters of Chicago style dogs came out. It is one of the best moments of my life.

If you want to try a true depression dog, since you live in Chicago, head just outside of Chicago to River Grove to Gene & Jude’s. They are pretty famous. It has no pickles in its traditional hot dog. It was a cheap meal for depression times. The hot dog is topped with mustard, relish, onion and sport peppers. Topped off with a generous helping of fresh cut fries. The do not serve ketchup. They have their hot dogs made according to their specifications. A truly unique taste. It’s so good. If you want to try some libations, head around the corner to the oldest Tiki Bar in Illinois Hala Kahiki. A truly unique and fun experience.

Aside from the vegies, the real secret of a Chicago hotdog is celery salt. Pretty much as long as you don't use ketchup, anything else goes. I eat the pickle separately most of the time.

Proud Chicago Hot Dog lover here: 1. Feel free to order without the pickle (as long as you dont put on ketchup, that would get you kicked out of Chicago) 2. Portillios is a great intro, but a chain and the best dogs are indie shops. I'll take the 4.5!

Trust me Lawrence, most of us from Chicago grew up on tavern style pizza. Thin, crispy crust pizza cut into squares. Deep dish pizza is a treat, sometimes reserved for out of town guests.

You HAVE to try an Italian beef, dipped, with or without peppers. Portillo's is my favorite beef place, but there are other great places, too. Also, Demon dogs were the best Chicago Style Hot Dog, and the old Maxwell Street Market was a great place to get a brat. They were nice and greasy, LOL

Chicago dogs are great, but next time you're at Portillo's try the Italian beef sandwiches. You can get it with either hot peppers or sweet peppers (green bell pepper slices). Very tasty!

As a Chicagoan, we only eat Deep Dish if we’re craving lasagna. I’ve probably had more Detroit style pizzas than deep dishes. Although, the Chicago Tavern Style is the go-to, and in my opinion, the best pizza in the world.

personally, i think it's the celery salt that really kicks it up. At the very least, it's a flavor you can't ignore. But i'm one of those folks who also enjoy texture in their food and snapping through a pickle, tomato, pepper, and the hot dog itself is a pretty nice experience

As a Chicagoan now living in the UK, how I miss Portillo's! I've never been a huge fan of Chicago dogs, but after 2 years away, I could eat about 12. Living vicariously through your videos.

I'm a Chicagoland native, and Portillo's is my absolute FAVORITE restaurant. It's awesome that they're finally expanding outside of Illinois. You can order home delivery if you don't live near one. While the Chicago Hot Dog is delicious, the Italian Beef sandwich is the star of the show. My favorite way to eat a beef sandwich is to order it with extra gravy because the roll will still be crusty on the outside but soft on the inside. If I want it extra messy and delicious, then I order the sandwich dipped in the au jus gravy. I like it topped with sweet peppers and the same cheese sauce they use for their cheese fries. It's a delicigasm! And for dessert? Portillos makes THE BEST strawberry shortcake I've ever eaten. Their chocolate cake is famous, as is their chocolate cake shake. I'm making myself hungry just thinking about it! 🤤

I'm born and raised southwest side Chicago, and I grew up with an abbreviated version of this which has now been termed a "Depression dog." Places like Jimmy's, 35th St Red Hots, and Gene and Jude's do it: Just mustard, onions, relish and optional sport peppers. My local joint (a Nicky's) also put a pickle spear, but I always eat that separately, no matter the style. Sometimes I want the full Vienna-beef approved 7-ingredient dog, but most of the time, it's a bit overkill, especially with the flavorless tomatoes most places use. At least the celery salt helps perk up the tomatoes. The important points are the dog must be natural casing, and, for me at least, they gotta have sport peppers. They're not really that hot, but they are pleasant little acid bombs that just work for me with that dog.

As a life-time Chicagoan, I have no problem taking a big pickle off the hot dog to eat sort of as a "side", there is, after all, unnaturally dyed pickle relish already involved, so you aren't missing the pickle aspect by eating the pickle spear separately!

Some 50 years ago when I was new to Chicago, I tried a dog from a food truck. Everybody said, just get everything, so I did. Couldn't handle the peppers back then, but I LOVED that dog, and all the ones that followed after. Oh, and asking if it's a sandwich is a great way to start a war.

That hot dog looks so good. One thing to mention is to mix the mayo with the ketchup on the fries is so good. I believe that is the "fancy ketchup" found at Wendy's.

So, the awesome thing about portillos is that they have giant beers for a price you would have seen a decade ago. I usually avoid drinking but it's such a good social deal I can't help it once in a while.

Feldman on Coney Island wrapped his dogs in bread first, later rolls. He lost so many China plates and metal utensils to the beach goers he needed something else. He wrapped the sausage in bread because it was easier to consume and absorbed some of the grease. These went into a paper bag and were thus sand-proof down at the beach.

OK, you elicited an actual belly laugh with your joke about "a little known place called Portillo's". I may be from Chicago but I've always been a huge fan of British humor, well done, perfect delivery 👍👍👍

Very excited, we are getting a Portillo's in my Texas town in a couple of months 👍

My wife and I recently got to visit Chicago and watched this video before the trip. This helped us find lunch while we where there. Thanks for the good info.

The type of pickle on the hotdog is normally called a kosher dill spear (as opposed to an unsliced kosher dill pickle.) What Americans call gherkins are very small, lumpy pickles. They come from specific variety of small cucumber that is purposely used for pickling and turning into a gherkin. Awesome review! Not sure I'd get the peppers on there, but the rest looked highly edible.

Don't worry. You're not nearly the only Chicagoan to remove the pickle before eating. The pickle is better used as a palate cleanser after the dog.

The crew used to go that Portillos in Skokie for lunch when we felt like wandering around in a food coma for the rest of the afternoon.

the only person who says his intro each and every time! OHHh Lawrence! love the dedication!!!

I think the ratio of people recommending their favorite Chicago dog without disparaging Portillo's and saying get whatever toppings you like outweighs pedantry, which makes me happy. Those weird super processed tamales are also one of my favorite Chicago exports.

I think you need to try all the regional variations of hot dogs. Do a whole series.

Gotta do the beef and sausage sandwich w/ hot peppers and then dipped in their gravy.

So love this guy’s accent. I could listen to British people talk for hours. 👍

Laurence, don’t forget the celery salt…not a Chicago Dog without ! BTW…most Chicagoland residents prefer tavern style pizza ( Detroit style ? ). Deep Dish is for tourists !

I get that you were intent on reviewing the Chicago style hot dog, but I sincerely hope Tara did the sensible thing and ordered an Italian beef sandwich. Worth the trip to Portillo's to get one!

Holy cow! You’re funny as hell! I’m so happy I found you❤😆

Chicago native, and still living there, that pickle removal tore at my soul! We have the best hotdogs in the world hands down! 😎

I was just in Chicago last week visiting a friend (I live in Tampa, FL). The first place I went after getting off my plane was Portillo's and ordered a jumbo Chicago style hot dog with everything and an Italian Beef sandwich (no cheese, sweet peppers and dipped). To say you made my day with this video is an understatement! Love your channel mate. It's the closet thing to Monty Python style British humor an old guy like me can find these days. Thank you!

I almost always take the pickle off and eat it separately. Really as long as it has mustard, onions and relish, I’m not gonna be unhappy. Superdawg is my personal favorite hot dog place in Chicago.

Had my first "Chicago Dog" in Michigan when I was 18 and was absolutely loved it. Later spent 12 years around the Chicago metro area and OFTEN had Chicago Dogs at Portillo's (expensive) and Goodies (much cheaper but uses a hotdog frank instead of a polish sausage). Still love them today.

This is hilarious! So glad youtube recommended this video! Easy sub!

Laurence, BEGGING you to make a video visiting the Weiner’s Circle on Clark St! Order a Chocolate milkshake and RIP your friendly British soul…

Tara is the internet's most fab wife-chaperone. She saved this vid over and over again. She's the Tara we got, not the Tara we deserve.

You've officially made me homesick 😢. I moved from Chicago area for the very 1st time when I was 57 and I'm70 now! I love Portillo's. Next time you go try the Italian beef or beef and sausage combo 😋 yummy!

My heavens, when would you find the time to make secret videos!? And if they are secret maybe we shouldn’t be watching them! 😮❤ I love the videos that are not secret! Thank you for sharing your humor! 😅

Its ok Lawrence, as a native Chicagoan….you have my permission/approval/backing at least to remove the pickle from the situation! 😂 I’d do the same!

Dude, your wife and yourself are a great team. She should be in more videos with you.

Your wife is hilarious. I love watching you two interact.

To be honest, the other additions are what really make a Chicago dog to me. You need the poppy seed bun, tomatoes, sport peppers; the pickle shouldn’t be so up front in my opinion. Something you didn’t mention was the celery seed! Very important to the flavor of a Chicago dog. Also, the relish absolutely needs to be neon green.

Well, having been born in Chicago, and lived within at least 3/4 of a mile of Chicago, my entire life…I have eaten untold numbers of Chicago dogs. I have even made them at home, with the proper sport peppers, and the neon green relish, and yes, the celery salt. I do like the pickles. And I will throw in another recommendation for Gene and Jude’s.

😅 Lost in the Pond restaurant sign: "Do that NOW!" 600,000 and counting. Congratulations, Laurence! 🎉

You're a hoot Lawrence, you crack me up. You should consider stand-up comedy, good job!

Love your British style humor... No pun intended.

Thank you for stopping him before he added ketchup!!

When I moved to Chicago for a few years for work I thought that hot dog was going to be disgusting. It's life changing how good it is. I'm sad I can't have them anymore and put celery salt on all of my hot dogs now because of it. It's immaculate.

Removal of the pickle-fail.😅 I ❤️your impressions of the Chicago style. That and the deep dish pizza are delicious and over the top.

Watching him take a bite out of that Chicago Dog actually made my mouth water.

My favourite way to hot dog is boiled on a steamed bun with chopped raw jalapenos, onions, and yellow mustard. But You have convinced me that I would like Chicago style as well. Sandwich is a generic term for anything between bread but hamburgers and hot dogs are more clearly and specifically defined. So while all hot dogs are sandwiches, most sandwiches are not hot dogs.

Thank you for the recognition of the Detroit Coney. Don't care if you like them or not, a shout out is just fine.

I've been through Chicago numerous times in the past 48 years of life as a native Hoosier and truck driver. I had my first Chicago-style hot dog at Portillos in Bolingbrook just this past month. (BTW, Lawrence, there's a Portillos near Anderson, when you visit your in-laws.) I was equally unimpressed. 1) I like the pickle, but it's better as a side dish. 2) Sliced tomatoes added nothing. 3) Seeds on the bun added nothing. 4) All I could taste was the pickle, meat, mustard, and spicy pepper. That's what most of my hot dogs taste like unless I'm having a chili dog. Have I been secretly eating Chicago-style hot dogs my entire life and didn't know it?

Born and raised in Michigan never knew we had a hotdogs style. I love Chicago's style.

Thanks so much for including both, Detroit style pizza & Michigan Coney dogs. Most people just pretend that we & our awesome/unique food don’t even exist. 😂

There is a scaled down version of the Chicago style hot dog that I thought was the depression dog. It is a hot dog topped with mustard, relish, onions, and peppers. No tomatoes or pickle. They have this at Gene and Jude's in River Grove. Each hot dog comes topped with a mountain of fries. If you go there, bring cash, as they are cash only.

My local Portillow's now has a shelf up front for 'grab and go' items - slices of their chocolate cake, salads, and bottles of their SACRED DRESSING THAT THEY USE ON THE CHOPPED SALAD. Yes, it is worth the money.

Chicagoan here, dump the ridiculous pickle. Hilarious take on my home town, Ringo. Well done!

I like pickles, but not on hot dogs. Thank you for making me laugh every time. I have no idea how you came up in my suggestions last year, but I'm so glad you did!

I can't eat the thick casing you find on most "Chicago style" hot dogs (digestive issues). But, depending on my mood, it's going to be a dog with mustard/ onion & cheese, a dog with chili, cheese & onion, or a dog with mustard & onion only. Loved the video! Keep 'em coming, & let's see more of Tara! She's a nice addition to the food videos.

"the way I used to seek out imported Crunchie Bars"... YES! After visiting the UK during high school, I returned with a love of crunchie bars. Even nearly 20 years later, I still order them on Amazon periodically.

I take the pickle off and eat it along with the hot dog myself. A lot of people in Chicago do that. It's like an extra side dish to enjoy with the hot dog.

I’ve not lived in Chicago for decades now, but find myself, from time to time, longing for a truly authentic Chicago style hot dog. While you prefer the cacophony of flavo(u)rs sans pickle, it’s the hot peppers which I find overwhelming. To each their own. I’m glad you didn’t drop the ketchup on the dog; the crowd would have turned into a mob, and put you on a stake to serve as a reminder for others to not use that “condiment of the barbarian,” as Chicagoans call it.

Super happy I now have a Portillo’s near my house….in TEXAS!

I do really enjoy your comparisons of United States and Britain cheers from Ohio I am enjoying your videos

We recently got our first Portillo's here in Dallas and I was overjoyed. First time since I moved down from the midwest that I've been able to have an Italian Beef (always dipped!) and now they're building a second with several more on the books!!! The first one's such a massive success the line wraps around the block even months on.

I visited Chicago for the first time last week. Happened upon a Portillo's and ordered a Chicago style hot dog. LOVED it, pickle and all. Also got some cheese fries. Went back the next day for the double cheeseburger. I have zero regrets.

I live in Florida and maybe 15-20 years ago a friend of a friend told me about a local place that made Chicago style hot dogs. I tried it a few days later and was hooked and became a regular until sadly they closed. We did get a Portillo's about a year ago so I have been able to enjoy a Chicago hot dog again. Glad to know that many Chicagoans also remove the pickle spear and eat separately.

Chicago dog looks awesome!

I grew up in West Virginia so our usual go to is a Carolina style slaw dog. Chili, coleslaw, mustard and sometimes onions. Good stuff! I love watching your videos! ❤

In my experience, the best way to eat a Chicago Dog is to remove the pickle from the the bun/hot dog assembly and eat two- handed; that way you can balance the sourness of the pickle with the other ingredients. works for me!

We have a Portillos in Michigan now. It is in Sterling Heights, north of Detroit. I live in Flint but hit up Portillos when I go to Detroit for any reason. About once per month. Good Eats! My late mother in law was from Chicago, and we have family there; I know about Vienna Beef Chi Dogs and Portillos. Mmmmmm

"I am an embarrassing meme." I felt that, man.

Yes, I've had a Chicago style hot dog, and while I do like pickles (I make them, too), I really don't like one that big on a hot dog. Considering that relish is made with minced pickles, it seems a bit superfluous! I like tasting something other than pickle.

The art of the Chicago dog is fitting as many different ingredients (besides ketchup) without it falling a part. And I also always take off the pickle, but so I can eat it separately

Best Chicago dog I've had is this random shack between the field museum and the aquarium near millennium park lol

I'm an Arizonan, so the Sonoran dog holds a dear place in my heart. But I do enjoy Chicago dogs, too. Separately, I don't enjoy pickles, mustard, or relish, but the combination along with the other toppings works for me

So what if you married a time traveler. Just love her for who she is.

Even though I love dill pickles, I would never put a whole one on a hot dog. It's a side dish.

I’m sure a ton of other people have commented something like this- I’m from Chicago and Chicagoans do not eat deep dish pizza. It’s not good. We eat tavern style thin crust pizza. Check it out if you haven’t! I’d say the best style pizza in the world is Detroit style though. Anywho, great video! Chicago style hotdogs are the best

If you had put ketchup on your Chicago dog, a bunch of people would have jumped you & thrown you out of Portillo's. At Superdawg , if you ask for ketchup they won't serve you!! Did you have a slice of chocolate cake from Portillo's ? It's the best in Chicago! I lived in Chicago & love Chicago style hot dogs. I'm half Ukrainian & was raised on cucumbers & pickles, so I like pickles! Have you tried the Italian beef sandwich at Portillo's? You have to get the bun dipped into the au jus gravy & you either order it wet or dry , but wet is best!! Get the chocolate cake!!

I have no issue with Chicago hotdogs. I do dislike the patronizing attitude toward those of whom like ketchup on hotdogs.

I have to admit that the moment you were about to put ketchup on your hot dog, I reached out to the screen and mentally screamed "Noooo" like in an action movie. Good thing the Mrs. stopped you.

We have Portillos here in Detroit now. I've been to Chicago and had Chicago dogs there many times, but I'm allergic to the preservatives now, so I get the veggie dog version. Still so excellent.

Oh there are regional variants of food in the UK too. Branston (which I assume is some northern mining town) has their own pickle, for instance.

Try a double cheeseburger at Byron's Hot Dogs on Lawrence (not Laurence). They dress it up like a Chicago Hot Dog, celery salt and everything. They won't put ketchup on it, either. It's fabulous!!

My husband (native Chicagoan) says the pickle gets taken off and eaten separately (by those who like pickles). I love Chicago style hot dogs and actually do not like regular hot dogs. The addition of the veg, sport peppers, celery salt, just makes it. We live in Kansas now and it's tricky to find sport peppers. My husband puts sliced cucumber on the Chicago dogs instead of pickle. I love them! :)

I’m not a Chicagoan, I’m from south Louisiana, but I will say, the Chicago style hot dog is probably one of the best combos of hot dogs. It might be because I love pickles and mustard a lot, but I just think the combo of all of the things together is really good👍

I agree that the size of the pickle spear is often too big. My approach is to take off the pickle and eat it separately. That way I can get just the right amount of pickle along with each bite of hot dog.

I grew up near Chicago and ate my hotdogs with mustard, onions, and …. catsup. Many years ago there was a place in Des Plaines that would add cucumbers and celery salt to the usual toppings.

Happy 600K🎉

I have lived in Tennessee now for mor than 20 years and I still miss Portillos. Anytime we travel north we stop there for dogs and beef sandwiches to eat and some to pack up and take home. Yum! Def try a dipped beef sandwich. Its the best! Sigh...now I will be thinking about Portillos for the next month. I heard they ship. May have to try it.

Oh man. I love Chicago Dogs. LOVE them.

Living in the Chicago area, Portillo's is definitely a favorite and their hot dogs are great, IMO. They also share the rare honor of being the only hot dogs that don't give me heartburn. I have no idea why, because I eat them with everything, including the onions, hot peppers, and the pickle, but I never get heartburn from them. That says something, because I get heartburn if I smell food cooking. I don't even have to eat it.