Dave's Red Hots

Chicago’s Best Hot Dogs | Eater Chicago

"Chicago’s oldest hot dog stand has been open since the early 1930s and has always been a family-owned business: first the Kaplans, then the Karms, and now the Fountains. The Karms originally refused to serve their hot dogs with any condiments besides mustard, pickles, and peppers, but restrictions have loosened over the years. Still, no ketchup is allowed." - Ashok Selvam

Where to Eat Hot Dogs in Chicago

"Chicago’s oldest hot dog stand has been open since the early 1930s and has always been a family-owned business: first the Kaplans, then the Karms, and now the Fountains. The Karms originally refused to serve their hot dogs with any condiments besides mustard, pickles, and peppers, but restrictions have loosened over the years. Still, no ketchup is allowed." - Ashok Selvam

The Best Hot Dogs in Chicago | Bon Appétit

"One of the city’s oldest hot dog stands, operating since the 1930s and distinguished by dark wood-paneled walls and a bare-bones menu of five items. The default “everything” here is minimalist—yellow mustard, thinly sliced pickles, and sport peppers—but regulars often add relish and onions; each order comes with a generous portion of hand-cut fries, and ketchup packets or cheese sauce are available on request." - ByDennis Lee

Some Restaurant Workers Are a Step Closer to Mandatory Vaccines | Eater Chicago

"An 83-year-old West Side hot dog stand run by four generations of Black women, the profile written by the paper’s new co-dining critic traces the family history and underscores the stand’s longstanding place in local culture; the piece is presented as an example of the community-focused storytelling the revamped food section aims to pursue." - Ashok Selvam

Often cited as Chicago’s oldest hot dog stand, Dave’s has anchored North Lawndale since 1938. The Chicago Reader and Bon Appétit praise its stripped-down dog, throwback booths, and deep neighborhood roots—proof that history tastes best with fresh fries.