Why cant you have a hot dog with ketchup in chicago??

Question

i personally think its stupid... i always have ketchup on my hot dog and i think that a lot of other people (if not most) do too..
so whats the history behind this?

yes i agree you can have it buy my question is
WHAT IS TH HISTORY BEHIIND THIS... i mean why cant you... i know that at a lot of places you can but if you want a typical chicago dog you cant.

Answer 1

Ketchup on a hot dog, how uncivilized. True Chicagoans would not think of doing such a disgusting and vile act. I know of some hot dog places which will never put on ketchup on a hot dog when you're asked for condiments. They make you put it on yourself.
It's just something you don't do.

Answer 2

Its simply something we don't do here.

I'm a lifelong Chicago guy from the south side and a real Chicago hot dog doesn't need ketchup, it has yellow mustard, tomatoes (which is the key incredient in ketchup), hot peppers, sweet relish and a good hot dog underneath, usually Vienna Beef, Scott Peterson or Hebrew National.

Also a Chicago Dog is a on a really nice soft bun, preferably Rosen's or Turano.

Ketchup simply isn't needed for this dog, simply check out Portillo's for the best dogs or in the spring & summer U.S. Celluar Field (Home of the White Sox), for a good Chicago Dog, also the resturants "down under" in the lower level of the State Street Macy's store make a mean dog.

Answer 3

There unfortunately isn't a very interesting story about it. It's just tradition in Chicago to not put ketchup on hot dogs, you will get funny looks from people if you explicitly say you want ketchup on a hot dog. But I'm pretty sure there wasn't something like a disastrous ketchup drought of 1876 that caused us to be this way.

Answer 4

Huh? I'm not sure what you are talking about. Most places have all the condiments. You can get whatever you want. Just don't order the "classic Chicago" dog because that doesn't have ketchup. Supposedly it is because it is a redundant flavor with the tomato and sweet relish. You can check out the history of the Chicago dog at the Fluky's site. I don't like all the condiments except the mustard. I order a plain dog with mustard. I like char dogs.

I recommend Wiener Circle or Fluky's.

Answer 5

It is stupid... & look at the answers received. The question wasn't, "What's your isolated opinion of ketchup on hot dogs," it was, "WHY is ketchup on a hot dog something that is not supposed to be done in Chicago?"
I moved here about 4 years ago, & it's a mystery to me as well. Actually, I always thought ketchup + tomatoes was redundant (hence, if there were tomatoes on a burger, I wouldn't put ketchup on it, either), but why it amounts to sacrilege, clearly not even the totally initiated (& duped) can tell you. They simply illogically & w/o thought follow the crowd.

Answer 6

You can get ketchup on hot dogs in Chicago.

But a "Chicago Style Hot Dog" does not have ketchup on it.

http://www.viennabeef.com/culture/chgodoghistory.asp

The "Chicago Style" hot dog got its start from street cart hot dog vendors during the hard times of the Great Depression. Money was scarce, but business was booming for these entrepreneurs who offered a delicious hot meal on a bun for only a nickel. The famous Chicago Style Hot Dog was born! They'd start with a Vienna Beef hot dog, nestle it in a steamed poppyseed bun and cover it with a wonderful combination of toppings: yellow mustard, bright green relish, fresh chopped onions, juicy red tomato wedges, a kosher-style pickle spear, a couple of spicy sport peppers and finally, a dash of celery salt. This unique hot dog creation with a "salad on top" and its memorable interplay of hot and cold, crisp and soft, sharp and smooth, became America's original fast food and a true Chicago institution.

Answer 7

Ummm I stay in Chicago and that i must have ketchup and mustard in my warm canine. must be the way some human beings like it. No massive deal, purely keep putting ketchup on your hotdog.

Answer 8

FYI.....i live in chicago, uptown chicago infact, and you can order a hot dog with only ketchup, no problem. just because chicago is famous for the chicago hot dog, doesnt mean thats the only 'dog we serve.

Answer 9

I never understood that either and I was born here. We serve all beef hot dogs so I don't see the big deal. Lived here all my life and never heard a good reason behind it, although people do say that.

Wieners Circle at Clark & Wrightwood is good. The girls give you crap as a side order, it's all in the schtick.

Answer 10

It could have something to do with the Polish heritage of Chicago. Poles are more likened to mustard than ketchup.