Bridgeport in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

What Is a "Chicago Style" Hot Dog?

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 29, 2026

1. What Is a "Chicago Style" Hot Dog Marker

Inscription. The Vienna Beef "hot dog stand," as we know it today, began as a street cart that hot dog vendors used throughout the Great Depression. While spending was scarce, business was booming for these forward-thinking entrepreneurs who offered a delicious, hot meal on a bun for only a nickel. The famous Chicago-style hot dog was born! Vienna Beef hot dogs nestled between a steamed poppyseed bun served as the perfect base for a tasty 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 (optional) 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 — a true Chicago institution. Paramount to all Chicagoans is the city's well-known condiment controversy, "No ketchup on a hot dog!"

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 41° 49.76′ N, 87° 37.973′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Bridgeport. It can be reached from West 35th Street west of Dan Ryan Expressway (Interstate 90/94), on the right when traveling east. The marker

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is next to the concession stand in dead center field at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox baseball team. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 333 West 35th Street, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 15 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Luis Aparicio (a few steps from this marker); Jacob Nelson "Nellie" Fox (a few steps from this marker); Charles A. Comiskey (a few steps from this marker); Jim Thome Home Runs (a few steps from this marker); Walter William Pierce (within shouting distance of this marker); Carlton Ernest Fisk (within shouting distance of this marker); Saturnino Orestes Armas "Minnie" Miñoso Arrieta (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Comiskey Park Shower (within shouting distance of this marker); Mark Buerhle (within shouting distance of this marker); Harold Douglas Baines (within shouting distance of this marker); Frank Thomas (within shouting distance of this marker); Paul Konerko (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Pope Leo XIV (about 500 feet away); Nancy Faust Organist Booth (about 600 feet away); James R. Thompson (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Also see . . .
1. The Chicago Dog: A History of the Windy City Favorite. From Levy Restaurants.

Excerpt: "The all-beef hot dog proliferated
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 29, 2026

2. What Is a "Chicago Style" Hot Dog? Marker
A "no ketchup" bell is next to the sign.
in Chicago thanks to a wave of Jewish immigrants, who quickly realized that America’s craze for the little sausages made hot dog vending a great way to earn a living. Plus, with the subpar health standards of Chicago’s meatpacking industry at that time, many Chicagoans also believed the Kosher tradition produced safer, purer food. Boom. The all-beef hot dog was created and Jewish immigrants became masters of the Chicago hot-dog business. Like their fellow comrades, Jewish immigrants Samuel Ladany and Emil Reichl of Austria-Hungry saw the business potential in selling hot dogs and would go on to create Chicago’s favorite hot dog brand – Vienna Beef."

(Submitted on June 1, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Why don't Chicagoans put ketchup on their hot dogs? The history that started it. NBC Chicago's website examines the history behind the no-ketchup rule on Chicago hot dogs.

Excerpt: “'During the depression, going back to Upton Sinclair and the old Chicago stockyards, actually when it was made, some of the meats weren’t always good,' Chiappetti said. 'So they actually used ketchup on it to cover up, the flavor of bad meat. So it used to be prideful, that we don’t serve ketchup. Meaning our hotdogs were better than everyone else’s.'”

(Submitted on June 1, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

The center field concourse at Rate Field image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 29, 2026

3. The center field concourse at Rate Field

The sign about Chicago-style hot dogs is near the mustard and ketchup dispensers.

Chicago-style hot dog image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 7, 2024

4. Chicago-style hot dog

This Vienna Beef hot dog, acquired at a 2024 White Sox home game, is adorned with mustard, relish, pickles, tomatoes, onions, sport peppers and celery salt on a poppy-seed bun.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 1, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.