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player ready...With food trends ever shifting and unique, yuppie snack bars opening and closing like coolers at a picnic, Fluky`s hot dogs have held their own in Chicago for 60 years.
Every serious dog lover has a favorite stand; one of our tops is easily this North Side pup palace.
The classic-simply called a red hot ($1.45)-features a Vienna beef wiener dropped into a soft poppy-seed bun.
”What d`ya want on it?” can be answered, ”mustard, relish, onions, hot peppers, tomatoes, celery salt and a dill pickle spear.” Doggers can ask for their own combination of these or just snap back, ”Everything.”
While there are hundreds of stands in Chicagoland with the Vienna beef sign, not all of them offer the frankfurter in a natural casing, like Fluky`s. That`s key and, along with its history, makes this large, bright restaurant a winner.
Dogs with a natural casing cost the vendor a bit more, but they`re plumper and don`t get as salty sitting in hot water as the skinless variety.
Another strongly recommended choice at this place run by Jack Drexler is a Polish sausage ($2.15), or ”Polish,” when ordering. We enjoy ours with mustard and grilled onions.
The aroma of searing onions takes those who remember back to the days when Abe ”Fluky” Drexler opened his first stand on Maxwell Street in 1929. Fluky died three years ago, but his son, Jack, carries on the tradition.
Instead of leaning on the old counter, a customer in the current location can collect his or her order and take a seat. There`s plenty of room at plastic booths and tables.
Although Fluky`s offers other items, it`s best to stick to the basics.
A they-serve-you salad bar offers a good sampling of garden items without sulphites. But the iceberg lettuce can often be tinged with brown spots.
Milkshakes (95 cents, $1.15 or $1.75) are another disappointment. The processed shakes, which come in chocolate and strawberry, are far too sweet.
July is national hot dog month, but don`t wait until then. After all, you can always come back. Most people do.
FLUKY`S
6821 N. Western Ave. Phone: 274-3652. Hours: 7 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 7 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat. and 8 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Sun.