Tasty Dog

Would Oak Park be Oak Park without Tasty Dog?

Just how iconic can a hot dog place be?

Doesn’t hurt that the food is great or that residents still remember “saving” Tasty Dog from the ravages of development years ago. The “new” Tasty Dog features 14 framed pictures of early Oak Park, courtesy of the Oak Park and River Forest Historical Society. Among the snapshots is the “old” Tasty Dog, just across the street from the new shop.

Tasty Dog’s roots are also reflected in the Barton brothers – Mike and Rob. Mike’s worked at Tasty Dog since 1981. The brothers bought the place in 1994.

Where do you start with the food? Got to be with the word Vienna. The primo dog in Chicago is the only dog at Tasty Dog, which two years ago was named to Vienna Beef's Hot Dog Hall of Fame.

As always: add mustard, relish, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and kosher pickles. (Hot peppers optional.) What have you got? A salad on a bun. What does it cost? $2.42 with tax (Less if you use the Restaurant Month coupon.)

What’s the most you can spend on an item at Tasty Dog? The double rib-eye steak sandwich will set you back $5.45 plus tax. And don’t forget the corn dogs (listed as an appetizer), the fried shrimp (a basket of 20 to 25, with cocktail sauce) or the Chicken Italianata (a marinated breast). Insider’s tip: The Julienne Salad is a surprising treat.

The Bartons would tell you that if a customer is skipping the hot dog, they’re most likely ordering up a gyros. Three varieties: The Regular (yogurt sauce). Western (no sauce, but mozzarella). Chicken gyros (honey mustard sauce).

And since you’ve already enjoyed the gyros, OK, just go ahead and order the Oreo shake. It’s worth it.