Five Places to Enjoy a Chicago Hot Dog in LA Right Now

Today is a glorious day for many Chicago transplants, as the much-maligned Chicago Cubs have finally broken through and won the World Series, 8-7, in a game played against the Cleveland Indians last night. That means today calls for Chicago-style deep dish pizzas (you can find that right here), and of course the all-important Chicago hot dog.

Now, Los Angeles is far and away a burger and taco town, but this city does still enjoy a good hot dog from time to time. We’ve got plenty to choose from too, including at least one that claims to have invented the chili dog, but a relative scarcity in the true Chicago-style dog department. Thankfully there’s a small handful of top notch options available across the city, including at least one with true Windy City roots. Here now are five great places to enjoy a Chicago-style hot dog today, the greatest of all days for Cubs fans.

Shake Shack

flickr/ableman

Yes, this is technically a New York City-based chain, but don’t let their awesome burgers fool you: Shake Shack does a mean Chicago dog as well. In fact, it’s among the best things on the already awesome menu, and should satisfy any diehards in your group — especially when you consider the price point, wide availability, and just how easy it’ll be to get in and out.

Pink’s

If you hit the late afternoon dead zone, you should hypothetically be able to stop in pretty quick for a Chicago dog from the famous Pink’s on La Brea. And while it may be some sort of sacrilege to down a dog with all the fixin’s from an Angeleno legend like Pink’s, a Chicago dog can be hard to find in this city, so hop in line.

The Stand

The Stand

With four locations across the county, your best bet for a Chicago dog might just be with local favorite The Stand. Stop into one of the company’s Valley locations to avoid the crowds while snagging a steamed dog loaded with the requisite pickles, onion, relish, sport peppers, and the rest.

Taste Chicago

The name says it all: this place loves Chicago food. From Italian beef sandwiches to deep dish pizza to overloaded plates of pasta, the neon-gleaming Taste Chicago in Burbank does everything an expat could want, including a Chicago dog using true Vienna beef.

Portillo’s

Portillo’s

For those among us who won’t hear of anything less, you can always head to Portillo’s in Buena Park for the most authentic experience of the bunch. A West Coast offshoot of the true Chicago original, Portillo’s is practically synonymous with Chicago style dogs, and for good reason. And if the Cubs can wait 108 years to win a World Series what’s a short trip for you down the freeway to the true L.A.-area home of Chicago dogs?

• LA's Essential Hot Dogs [ELA]