"A Chicago-born fast-casual chain that began in 1963 with a hot dog stand in Villa Park and has since grown into a multi-location, billion-dollar brand. It’s best known for Chicago-style hot dogs (yellow mustard, relish, celery salt, chopped onions, tomatoes, pickle spear, and peppers), chili dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, cheese fries, thick shakes, and chocolate cake. The company is actively expanding in the Southeast—eyeing the Atlanta metro and state of Georgia with consideration to open roughly six to eight restaurants within a single metropolitan area—while also targeting Houston, Nevada, and Colorado; recent openings (including a January debut in the Dallas area) drew hour‑long lines and heavy demand. Specific Atlanta locations and an official opening date have not been announced." - Beth McKibben