Five More Sandwiches (Part 2)

-The Sammy's of Chi

Did you know that National Sandwich Day is November 3rd? So in honor of this bizarre food holiday (does every food have its own day?) I thought we'd get another post from the S'C'&C series "Five More Sandwiches" You can click HERE for the last series of sandwiches. We go and get a different sammy from five different spots previously featured on my site. I find myself going to these five featured spots often which is why I have new pics of eats not seen in the previous threads. So here we go again, five more sandwiches from places already featured here on S'C&C wit Da King. Click the link mentioning the spot to see the previous post on that particular place. A Happy Sandwich Day to all.


We revisit these five spots already seen on here for more good eat Sammy's
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El Cubanito

I lived in Tampa back during my first year of college and developed a deep love for its regional locals favorite foods. The most popular being all the little tiny Cuban cafe/sandwich shops throughout the area. Not only do these places have great food and coffee but they are also always full of energy and there will always be people just chilling and talking about whatever the days topics are. Whenever I want that mixed in with a great sandwich, El Cubanito is my spot. The little shack on Pulaski just past Wrightwood is one of the best sandwich shops in the city. It was jam packed on my last visit with the dude slanging the bootlegged movies inside and taking up half the space. I went with their newest available sandwich, a tripleta. This style of sandwich which means "three meats" is popular in the Latin American influenced Caribbean countries. Very good and quite the bang for your buck ($6). It was like a Cuban stir fry on bread. Next time I'll try one with eggs.


Tripleta sandwich: steak, ham and chicken...damn!
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Toons Bar & Grill

What else can I say about Toons? It's one of the very best neighborhood bar and grills in a city filled with them. However despite there being so many it seems that these spots are always lacking something or another. If they have good beer and food, the TV's might suck or vice versa, its always something. Not at Toons where the beer is abundant in selection and always cold and the games will be on, if yours isn't, ask and it will be. Then you top all that off with the food being great, bar food at its best. Since this spot is one of my hangouts and I love doing so I've ripped thru the menu but there's always something new or on special on the hand written menu of the days specials. Alot of these times the food specials will be mouth watering sandwich creations like the Georgia Reuben seen below. They take some house smoked turkey meat and pile it on some toasted rye bread and cook it up with some Swiss cheese and sauerkraut and comes with their fantastic fresh cut fries. Just add some bacon and you will be a happy camper.


Toons Georgia Reuben sandwich
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Tony's Submarine

I originally tried this popular Northshore sandwich spot after reading about how it was one of Chicago's premiere chefs, favorite spots for a Italian beef. The beef was good as seen in my post on Tony's over at "What's Your Beef?" I've been back a few times since my initial visit and on one of my stops I tried their number one seller the Italian. It was a sandwich I was able to eat but I didn't like the fact they pack the meats for the sandwich beforehand in individual bags. It made the meat which was all clamped together into one slide out from the bread. I would get the Italian beef on my future visits.


Tony's Italian sub
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Athenian Room

This is another spot I frequent quite often since its connected to another one of my local drinking hangouts. I've also been eating here since I was a kid and have been thru the entire menu more than a few times. In fact this is the third separate post I have made on the AR since my site started. The feta burger and gyros have already been featured. I go through different ordering phases from this place and of late I've been on the chicken kebab sandwich with cheese. Its a little lighter than some of their other selections and every bit as satisfying.


Chicken kebab sandwich with cheese from Athenian Room
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Chicago's Legendary Maxwell st. Polish Stands

Chicago's famous combo sandwich now has a brother. I came up with this one night when I wanted the best of both stands. You see I love both the Polishes and pork chop sandwiches at both Jim's and Express. I like the all beef Polish from Jim's Original a little more and I like the pork chop sandwich from Express Grill a little better than the others. So why not have the best of both worlds?

Introducing: Da Combo Part II

Directions

-Take an all beef Polish sausage with everything from Jim's Original ( My pref. for a Polish) and a pork chop sandwich with everything from Express Grill (My pref. for a pork chop) and remove the bottom bun from the pork chop and place the chop on top of the Polish and eat. Follow with a package of Rolaids and sleep.

Note: beware of the bone in da chop and watch your teeth.


The combo: a second coming
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El Cubanito
2555 North Pulaski Road
Chicago, IL 60639-2115
(773) 235-2555

Toons Bar & Grill
3857 North Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613-2823
(773) 935-1919

Tony's Submarine
1480 Waukegan Rd
Deerfield, IL 60015
(847) 940-7352

Athenian Room
807 W Webster Ave
Chicago, IL 60614-3628
(773) 348-5155

Jim's Original
1250 S Union Ave
Chicago, IL 60617
(312) 733-7820‎

Express Grill
1260 S Union Ave
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 738-2112

Fat Sandwich Company

-Drunken Late Nite Eats in Mad City

With this being Halloween weekend and Madison, WI being one of the best places to party on Halloween we head on up there for some scary eats. I was in Madison over the summer and had as always a great night of drinking and eating on my visit. After we visited The Plaza for one of their famous burgers we went over to the Great Dane and had quite a few of their fantastic brews and bada bing before you knew it, we were hungry again.


The Great Dane is one of Mad City's best drinking joints

So after last call we headed back to our hotel just off State st. and I came to see another new place in Madison that wasn't in Mad City when I was there. Located right next to University Inn where The Den used to be back when I was around is a new college eats place called Fat Sandwich Company. It's open late nite and caters to the drunken college crowd in Madison as you can tell from its menu which has what looks to me what are obvious stoners creations everywhere on it.


Drunken Late Night Eats in Madison, WI

Fat Sandwich is basically a ripoff of the famous Rutger's University food stand that serves sandwiches with everything in them called The Fat Darrell. According to it's website they have other locations, also in college towns. I had to try one since it was right next door to our hotel and so I got a Fat Milf which I think was cheesesteak, bacon, cheesesticks, cheese fries and some other stuff thrown in a roll. I also spied a Luther burger on the menu and had to have one. These sandwiches should not be eaten by anyone sober. I don't think they were anything special but if intoxicated they become a little something if your hungry. But its not really all about taste at that point is it?


Fat Milf Sandwich

Now the Luther Burger is a little more respectable and there's no problem with eating one of them when your stoned sober. Although they have also been dubbed a cardiologists worst nightmare. This famous style of burger is said to be named after singer/songwriter Luther Vandross who is a lover of this style which takes a glazed donut which is cut in half and replaces the bun on a bacon cheeseburger. This version was ok but did not do the Luther Burger justice.


bacon cheeseburger served on a glazed donut aka a Luther Burger

Well I didn't wake up feeling like a million bucks to say the very least. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat at one these places and unless I'm drinking late into the night in a college town somewhere I doubt I'll ever be back to one. But is was a filling late nite meal and some would say horrifying. Happy Halloween to all and if your going to drink a bunch and make a fool of yourself, make sure you don't drive. Holladay.


Fits in well in Wisconsin

Fat Sandwich Company
555 State Street
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 819-8118

Chicago's Dog House

-In Chicago: Every Dog Has it's Day

School is back in session around Chicago college campuses and with it comes hungry students and an increase in business for their neighborhood eateries. It was a year or two back when Lincoln Park saw three different hot dog stands pop up outta nowhere. I've been to all of them a few times now and am going to feature Chicago's Dog House in today's Hot dog Stand tour. Its on Fullerton right across from Depaul University at the Lincoln, Halsted and Fullerton intersection. In a little over a year they have developed quite a fanbase of which includes myself.


In the heart of Lincoln Park/Depaul

The Dog House was started by a a few friends from the neighborhood who wanted to bring the Depaul students as well as neighborhood residents a hot dog stand for when the cravings for 'em came. The duo decided to hell with the desk life when they graduated college and came up with Chicago's Dog House which features a great selection of specialty hot dogs, Chicago style, Polish sausage as well as different gourmet sausages and a few sandwiches and burgers. Inside this place is your average Chicago Hot Dog Stand taken up another notch. Its got some funk to it and fits in well with the college feel of the area. There are a few tables as well as some stools along the window for people to dine in and take out is popular and a quick quality option if in the area.


The menu for Hot Dogs and Sandwiches


Gourmet sausages are ordered from local butchers and can switch

I've been to the Dog House countless times since it opened and when I didn't have a car for a few months it really satisfied my chow cravings. So I've been going here for a while now and have come to try many different items but am still working my way thru the entire menu. The first thing I had to try from here was going to be the "Chicago style" dog and of course that would be with fries. I think this was a good way to see whats up with the place and what they were offering. Chicago's uses Vienna Beef hot dogs and they grill them before topping them with your standard Chicago style toppings. I was quite impressed with theirs because I prefer my dog grilled when I'm getting it Chicago style with the whole nine yards of tomato's, pickles, peppers etc...I've had quite a few Chicago styles since but am always trying to explore the menu. One dog I wont be trying is the Blagojevich which comes with ketchup (opening bid is a $1000). Notice the chip's? or as they're called at Chicago's Dog House, frips.


Chicago Style with Frips

You ever order those fresh made chips at your local state fair or carnival? You know the ones where they take a potato and put it thru a drill and it comes out as one big piece which is then throw into a deep fryer and cooked for a couple minutes then served to you? Basically fresh as it gets potato chips so they have a fry like taste to them hence the name frips. Well that's what they got instead of fries and I think that's pretty damn cool and creative. You can watch them drill the potato and throw it in the fryer just like at the state fair and they're also pretty damn good and helluvaddicting.


Frips are a cross between fries and chips

You'll see on the menu pictured up above their are a selection of specialty hot dogs which are grilled Vienna Beef wieners topped with non traditional Chicago style condiments. I've been thru a good portion of them and have a few that I have gotten on multiple visits. One of those is the Snoop Dog which comes with chili, cheese and onions and is a fine example of a chili cheese dog and the grilled wiener goes great with them. Another standout is their corn dog which is freshly battered. I also like the Mayor Daley which can be seen below. Let me take you thru a few that I have tried and recommend that you get over there and do the same. Its a nice addition to the old neighborhood and a worthy late nite option on weekends if drinking in the area.


Chili cheese dog


Chihuahua dog (hot sauce, gauc, chihuahua cheese, onion, tomato)


T-Frank (bacon, cream cheese, avocado, hot sauce)


Obama (sauteed pineapple)


Mayor Daley (Irish cheddar, caramelized onions, smokey dijon)


fresh dipped corn dog

Chicago's Dog House
816 W. Fullerton
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 248-3647
Website

The Spot Drive In

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Wisconsin

I hate to say it but summertime is winding down but not out of the picture just yet. You still got plenty of heat and the fall season too for a road trip or two. You know we here S'C&C aka chibbqking love to travel Wisconsin and explore and consume the states glorious eats. It's also been a while since I've posted about my favorite Chicago suburb Kenosha. Hey, it's closer than other places they call suburbs of my city. Even if you only have the day Kenosha is a great spot (only 64 miles away) to spend it. Its got beaches, bars, outlet mall shopping and a handful of other things including some great Drive In's. A food friend of mine from up that way had been telling me I needed to check out The Spot Drive In and get myself one of the burgers at this local and state favorite that would be a given for a Diners, Drive Ins and Dives episode.


a locals favorite in Kenosha, WI

The Spot is a great place indeed. On my day visited spring was just starting and people were coming out and they were at The Spot by the dozens on the afternoon we were there. You can easily understand why when you realize that The Spot has been around since the middle of the 40's and has been in the same location since then too. The real hits at The Spot are everything I got but the menu is extensive and it wraps around the outside of the building letting drivers see what they offer. The Drive Up service is still available if you want to eat in your whip. Personally I love the fact its open late nite on weekends. I might have to take a late night ride up there one day soon this summer.


Part of the menu along the building outside


Since 1945 for a reason

The car hops were very friendly and well worked on my visit. The recipe for The Spots famous greasy cheeseburgers along with their housemade root beer hasn't changed since day one. On a hot summer day (or any day for that matter) the combo of these three items is another example of why the people of Kenosha and Wisconsin are lucky to have many great roadfood type spots. The onion rings are breaded in house and fried to perfection so make sure to go with them over fries as a side with your burger and root beer.


Root Beer Floats having just arrived for the car next to us


Excellent Onion Rings

The burgers have remained the same at The Spot and the grill they've been cooked on all these years has gained some mighty fine flavor. While remaining the same the burgers are still made like they were in the 30's thru the 50's and are smashed onto the grill giving them crisp edges and to top that off a nicely melted slice of cheese. Go with the classic toppings of mustard, pickles and onions and you got one of Wisconsin's many great burgers and also one of its best. They are open seven days a week from 11am to the wee hours of the am. If you don't order and eat in your car, make the short drive east down 75th and dine on Lake Michigan in your vehicle or take your food out on the rocks and listen to the waves while grubbing on some goodness.


Cheeseburger from The Spot

The Spot Drive In
2117 75th Street
Kenosha, WI 53143
(262) 654-9294

Arturo's Tacos

-Eating like a Mayan King in the Windy City

Summertime in the Chi means many of things and has multiple traditions. One of those is ending a long night out at the bars with some tacos and other Mexican food munchies in a city loaded with them. One of my favorite bars in the city is the Map Room and when an evening comes to end when I'm there I'll usually mosey on down to Arturo's on Western at the corner of Armitage. It's a popular place with all types of people and that's because they are open 24 hours and have an extensive menu. Although I will admit I have never been here when it was light outside.


Corner of Western and Armitage in Chicago

I have no legit excuse but I have not been to the Map Room and or Arturo's in a while, in fact the last time I was at either it was cold outside and when we paid Arturo's a visit in between double stops at the Map Room there was none other than (then suspended) NBA PG Gilbert Arenas who was working out in Chicago and is a big fan of Arturo's. Well you count me in as a big fan of Arturo's, and Derrick Rose, as well. I love the Map Room in the fall/winter months and look forward to my return to Arturo's which goes hand in hand with the Map when that times comes around. My order never changes from here and I always get the tacos al pastor which will usually come fresh cut from a spit. On my last visit I tried one of Rico's tamales they were plugging on the front door.


As you enter...


a fresh al pastor spit behind the counter is always good news

As my regular readers know I love some legit al pastor and Arturo's does a nice job with the popular Mexico City snack. Just like any other place its best to get these tacos al pastor on a not so busy night so that the pieces carved off are crispy and charred. As far as the Bucktown 'hood goes this is as good as your going to find and its as good as your going to get after 2a in the city as far as I know. I always go with 3 tacos al pastor and a horchata and wasn't a big fan of the tamale when I tried it so I will continue to go with that. Good stuff for some late nite eats.


Rico's Tamale


Arturo's Taco Al Pastor

Arturo's Tacos
2001 North Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 772-4944

Redhot Ranch

-The other Chicago-style hot dog: Depression dog's

We went North to Murphy's and then south to O'Malley's and now we end with a place both Cubs and Sox fans can agree upon. The newly opened Redhot Ranch located on Western ave. in between Fullerton and Armitage is a second outlet from the owners of White Sox Fans favorite and a previously featured joint on here...35th st. Red Hots. The original (35th st.) is located a stones throw from The Cell but the newly opened Redhot Ranch is on the Northside and sits on Western which extends from Evanston all the way south to the far suburbs. Aside from the name, nothing is different as far as the Original and newly opened outlets go. Both spots serve one of if not Chicago's best hot dog along with their addicting fresh cut fries loaded on top.


The best hot dog on Western ave and maybe in the city


The menu...all of it...same as at 35th street

Unlike the last two joints (Murphy's & Morrie O'Malley's) up to bat in the order Redhot Ranch does the original Chicago style aka the "depression dog" or "the minimalist" and they come with mustard, relish, onions and sport peppers served on top of a Vienna Beef natural casing hot dog stuffed in a steamed bun and loaded with freshly cut in house fries on top. Other options available are Polish Sausage and French Fried Shrimp. I think it was Anthony Bourdain who said "You pick sumthin and you stick to that and you do that good and perfect that" that's exactly what they do at Redhot Ranch the same way its done at 35th. The fries are put thru the fry machine multiple times a day and the shrimp are shelled and deveined on site and coated and freshly fried when ordered. Its the classic example of an old school Chicago hot dog stand.


Redhot Ranch French Fried Shrimp


available with hot or mild sauce

But the reason I was ecstatic when Redhot opened not too far from me was for their hot dogs. The minimalist style is done to perfection at this little dog shack on Western and the fries always come piping hot and fried to perfection and they make sure there's plenty of food for the $3 (tax included) it'll set you back for a dog and fries. The people that make their way up and down Western will be happy to know, just like I was, that Redhot Ranch is open late on weekends. It was great to get this other Chicago style of hot dog in the area since my other favorite spots are all out there. Make sure you put 35th Street North aka Redhot Ranch into your starting rotation. This is the type of place that all of Chicago is glad to have on its team.


Double Dog from Redhot Ranch w/ fresh cut fries on top

Redhot Ranch
2072 N Western Ave
Chicago, IL 60647
773-235-5538

Mexican Danger Dogs

-Eating like a Mayan King in the Windy City

I said it was going to be one hell of ride all the way thru summer over here and I'm very excited for our next stop. Is there anything more summer than baseball and hot dogs? You can expect a few dog joints to be popping up here and there as baseball season and then summer near. But for today stop we have a place that serves a dog that's so different from the rest. In fact Delicias Mexicanas Restaurant, as it is called, was just a hot dog cart not too long ago. What started out as a lady known as the hotdoguera who had a cart at 26th & St Louis serving Mexican Hot Dogs turned into her dream when she moved into a storefront on 26th street in Little Village. Its amazing that Daley and his buddies wont allow food trucks and carts in this city, it would work wonders for all. But they're too dumb to see how. Well the tamale lady from Clark and Pratt featured here and the hot dog lady were about to check out are fine examples of why it would work along with so many other ones. That however is for another time.


In Little village right across the street from another S'C'&C fav, Troha's

So what exactly is this Mexican hot dog you ask? well its also known as the "Danger Dog" or the "Tijuana Bacon Dog" and it is popular on carts in Mexico and in parts of southern California. Its made up of a child's hot dog aka a cheap one and then wrapped in bacon and cooked on a griddle and topped with grilled onions, mustard, ketchup, lime mayo, and jalapenos. Even as a born and raised Chicagoan who lives in the land of the Champion when it comes to hot dogs, I'm willing to call this thing a beautiful monster because that's just what it is. Might sound like alot and I thought the same but I love them now and sometimes even crave them.


Called the Hot Dog con tocino at Delicias Mexicanas

I read from a friend in the hot dog game that these dogs became illegal in Southern California because "health department there said that all street dogs had to be steamed or boiled, not griddled or grilled" and so that was the end of the Mexican danger dog but a still few remain lurking around ready to serve the fiends that cant get enough Danger Dog in them. I cant explain why but for some reason all these ingredients added onto a bun make for a mighty fine hot dog. One of the main ingredients are the onions fried in bacon grease which comes from the dogs which are wrapped in bacon and cooked right next to the onions.


Hot Dog con tocino aka Mexican Danger Dog from Delicias

Coincidentally enough the hotdoguera worked her cart at 26th and St. Louis "illegally" too just like the vendors in Southern Cali that serve these today do. Believe it or not she was actually taken to Cook County jail and locked up for doing so. A complete joke but she was. But after years of pushing a cart she now has her own spot and at $2 a dog these are a must try for any hot dog aficionado. I cant speak for the rest of the menu and to be honest it looks rather plain. However I was told from those that tipped me on this lady a few years ago that they have excellent pozole and soups on weekends. If you needed any other excuse to visit well its open til 5am on the weekends. The exact origin of this popular south of the border hot dog is unknown but what is known is that they are a special treat deserved by all after you've had a few of the cocktails and shots beforehand. One quick tip its said the night team makes up a much better dog than the daytime crew.


Close up of the inside: Bacon Wrapped Danger Dog

Delicias Mexicanas Restaurant
4148 West 26th Street
Chicago, IL 60623-4312
(773) 522-5009

Western ave. Shrimp House

-The Shrimp Shacks of Chi

I had me another shrimp craving due to all the Lenten specials around and on TV. It was later on in the night after a Bulls game and some drinks at the bars after going to the game that it hit us and we made the decision to cruise straight up the worlds longest street to the Western ave. Shrimp House located right off Taylor st. Here's a spot that I have never been to but passed by countless times so it was my 1st run in with this typical Chicago shrimp shack. Its open late night and there's a few seats with a counter extending around towards to the back customer ordering area if you want to eat there but most people stop in for pick up.


A familiar sign late night along Western

I call Western ave the "typical" Chicago style shrimp shack because its pretty much like the rest as far as interior and menu goes and its also open late. I had one thing on mind to try when we visited and that was the shrimp. Although they also have smelt, catfish, frog legs, scallops, wing zings and even pizza puffs, all fried, you don't go to Western ave. SHRIMP house to try some clam strips. On this visit there was a pretty decent flow of traffic and I went with a half pound of jumbo shrimp with the hot sauce to fill my craving.


Half Pound of Jumbo Shrimp

I was pleased with my shrimp and liked the fact that it wasn't like the other Chicago style shrimp shacks because they didn't use the more common "Chicago Style" breading. Most places like the previously featured Goose Island use this style which is a thick batter and includes different spices mixed in. Over at Western ave. they sliced the jumbos down the back for deveining and used a much thinner batter than some of the other spots around the city. All in all it was a good batch of fried shrimp that did the job when the craving came a calling. The hot sauce was alright and had a cocktail sauce base but Goose Island still has the best sauce. I'll stop back in at Western ave. Shrimp House if the situation ever arises for me to again.


Western ave. Shrimp House Jumbo Shrimp with their hot sauce

Western ave. Shrimp House
922 South Western Avenue
Chicago, IL 60612-4136
(312) 850-3474