Superdog Sally Goes to Superdawg!

Why you shouldn't order a Superdawg on your next visit + a recommendation for Lent

So much has already been written about Superdawg (6363 N. Milwaukee Ave.), the beloved Chicago drive-in celebrating its 75th anniversary, that I resorted to a shameful ploy—an adorable dog photo—to entice you to click into the article. 

It worked, didn’t it? 

Now that you’re here, I’m going to try and convince you not to order the Superdawg (or its tubed-meat pal, the Whoopskidawg) on your next visit. 

The dogs are good and deservedly end up on many “best of” lists (including

Dennis Lee

’s recent cover story for Bon Appétit), but they don’t meet my criteria for an ideal Chicago dog.

For my clogged arteries, the Supercheesie, Superveggies and Pineapple Supershake are the must-order items.

The Supercheesie is one of my all-time favorite cheeseburgers. It’s a quarter pound of pure beef blanketed under American cheese, topped with mustard, Spanish onions and piccalilli (an old-fashioned term for pickle relish), on a sesame bun.

Not quite smashburger-thin and not quite pub burger-thick, the Supercheesie’s hand-formed patty is juicy and beefy. It looks and tastes like actual meat, unlike those ghastly, machine-stamped specimens at many fast food franchises. The burger spends enough time on the flattop to develop a hazelnut hue and to heat the cheese through so that it pools into the patty’s crevasses.

The puddle of yellow mustard and pickle relish lend the perfect tang and crunch. It makes me wonder why these condiments are typically relegated to the Chicago dog when they make such perfect burger toppings. 

As someone who firmly believes lettuce and tomato have no place on a burger—who wants a wilting salad on warm beef?—I’m glad I don’t have to ask Superdawg to remove them. They know that their gooey mess of meat and processed cheese nestled in a slightly-warmed bun is perfect as is.

The accompaniments packaged with the Supercheesie (handmade, crinkle-cut fries, a dill pickle spear and pickled tomato) are all outstanding. But don’t stop there, dear reader, because the Superveggies are the menu’s sleeper hit.

The battered mushrooms are best in class and the pickle slices, bias cut and dipped in seasoned batter, are delightful. The broccoli cheddar bites and corn nuggets, however, really set this medley apart. 

I think of the broccoli cheddar bite as a Midwestern soup dumpling. In place of a steamed wonton wrapped around a pork ball suspended in broth, a deep fried batter enrobes broccoli chunks and cheese shreds floating in a velvety base. This same crunchy coating surrounds buttery and sweet corn niblets, swimming in bechamel. These luscious fritters will put you off run-of-the mill sports bar veggie poppers for good. 

Of all the fountain drinks, the pineapple shake stands apart for its top-notch vanilla ice cream chock full of fresh fruit. Its perky piña colada flavor cuts through the fat and salt of the Supercheesie and Superveggies and its tropical island vibes make you momentarily forget you are sitting inside your car on Chicago’s north side.

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In the spirit of service journalism, I diverted from my regular order on my most recent visit to try the Lent-appropriate Superfish. This is not a sad sack sandwich made from reconstituted minced fish coated in breadcrumbs like McDonald’s classic Filet-O-Fish. Rather, it's a fish sandwich on steroids: two deep-fried, batter-coated cod filets under a familiar slice of orange atop a toasted onion roll, with a generous tub of tartar sauce. Apart from the fact that the filets have the tendency to slide out of the bun, these golden brown beauties are up there with the best fish fry offerings in Chicagoland. 

I’m not sure the Superfish will ever take the place of my beloved Supercheesie, but I’m really glad I tried it. Like everything on the menu, it’s crafted with the highest-quality ingredients, served piping hot and is truly delicious. 

Next time you head to this iconic drive-in, I hope you’ll consider exploring the menu beyond the namesake Superdawg. From the bottom of my cholesterol-filled heart, I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Photos by Jared Wheeler

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What are your favorite menu items at Superdawg?