Jimmy’s Red Hots

Chicago, United States

4.1

20 reviews

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 773-384-9513
Website:
www.jimmysredhots.com
Address:
4000 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL, 60651
b/t Pulaski Rd & Hirsch St
Humboldt Park
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1.1 miGrand / Cicero
1.3 miHealy
1.3 miFullerton & Central Park EB
QR code
Download QR Image Download vCard

Map

Streetview

Activate map

Today

Today –
Local time (Chicago) 12:53 Monday, 30 June 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday –
Wednesday –
Thursday –
Friday –
Saturday –
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

Chicago’s Best Vienna Beef Hot Dogs, Polishes, Tamales and Fresh Cut Fries! We also have double dogs, double polishes, combo’s and veggie dogs! Your choice of toppings are mustard, relish, fresh chopped onions and sports peppers! Just remember… NO KETCHUP!!! We also accept Phone orders of any size.

History

Established in 1954.

Opened in 1954, and is currently the longest standing hotdog stand in the City of Chicago in its ORIGINAL location. Three generations of Family ownership and still going strong. We live by tradition and keep everything the same! One thing for sure that will never change… NO KETCHUP! No one puts Ketchup on a Chicago Style Hotdog!

Meet the Manager

Billy — The Silver Fox R.

Manager

Billy «The Silver Fox», started back 1954 and is still here now! Billy has been with the Jimmy’s Family for 60 years and currently still makes and wraps hot dogs! Keeping my younger employees on their toes! «If you want to be the best, you need to learn from the best!» as Billy would say! Grab a dog, find a spot at the counter and listen to the history reveal itself! Everything from Old Electric Train Cars to the CTA building that fell on top of us back in the day. Billy is a book of history is always a plusure to listen too! Ladies, do be careful, Billy «The Silver Fox» didn’t get his name just because of his hair. He’s a smooth talker and loves to dance! So make sure you have your dancing shoes on!

Nearby

Browse nearby places:
100
ft
Family Dollar
1360 N Pulaski
180
ft
The Low-Rate Movers
4014 W Grand Ave
180
ft
LifeStorage of Humboldt Park
4014 W Grand Ave
220
ft
Farmers Insurance - Anthony Jones
3966 W Grand Ave
270
ft
El Buen Trato Food
3958 W Grand Avenue
320
ft
Get M Girlz Apparel
3956 W Grand Ave

20 reviews of Jimmy’s Red Hots

No registration required
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
Good hotdogs. Good fries. Fast service. But don’t ask for ketchup or talk on your phone while ordering!!! It is frowned upon in this establishment to the point where they have signs everywhere!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
A chicago staple. If you’re a native Chicagoan then you most likely know about this place and probably love it like myself. If you’re from out of town and want a real Chicago style dog/​polish, you gotta check it out!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
is great for the price and the people and area are the best. very friendly staff and very well kept up.
Place rating: 4
Naperville, IL
My first experience was very pleasant. Rushed right in at lunch time with no wait, picked up a couple Chicago depression dogs, but only could finish one. Couldn’t even finish all the fries so I shared them with the birds. I had been sitting here for a while and a homeless man walked up looking for a handout, as he wanted to get a hot dog. So I reached around to the back seat and pulled the extra hot dog out of my cooler and wished him a Merry Christmas.
Will certainly have to stop back for a polish and a friend recommended a tamale after they saw me check in here. Same friend told me that he was glad to see that I was here during the day. Yes he grew up in this area as a kid and the neighborhood has taken a bit of a turn. #thugsdontbotherme
Closed Christmas Day but open New Year’s Day.
Place rating: 3
Chicago, IL
VERDICT: Insanely Overrated
People say they have the best hotdogs in the world and best polish. Not sure where they get that from.
Jimmy’s however is a classic style place. You go in, make your order, and then lean against the table counter they have on the opposite side while you eat your food, which is ready almost immediately.
Their french fries. are skin on. and look like a mess. They’re far from special. If you find one whole piece of fry out of the mess the give you, you should win a free hotdog because they’re all look like they’ve been through some kind of stomping machine.
With 2.75 $ for a hotdog and fries, this place is great to stop by!
Best Hotdog however? False! I found mine to be mediocre. The atmosphere is quite trashy too. lots of crackheads and people that smell like weed, booze and the whole 9
IF this is Chicago’s standards of the «best hotdog». then its no wonder why NYC holds the trophy.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
For a REAL old fashion «hotdog stand» hotdog there’s only one place I go and that’s jimmy’s. I’ve been going there since 1969 and the hotdogs and fries haven’t changed. They have been consistently delicious through the years. The price good (currently $ 3 for a hotdog with fries taxes included) and the food is great. Get it to go or eat there standing, no seating maybe that’s why it’s called a hotdog stand! As you can guess I would highly recommend this restaurant. Happy dining :)
Place rating: 5
Cook, IL
Why are all the smallest places the best?! Jimmy’s has been here forever and for $ 2 you get an awesome hot dog with fries… amazing fries. Simple. Consistent. Great parking.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
If you never had Jimmy’s then let me give you a little insight as to what regular customer, like myself, think about this restaurant. AWESOME. The french fries are homemade and very delicious. The hotdogs are outstanding. And guess what?! There’s virtually never any lines! Quick and easy. The only con for this restaurant is that they don’t accept any debit or credit cards cash only.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
So cool. Went here with some friends who were here for the weekend visiting Chicago. It’s not only an awesome hot dog but also just a fun experience to visit. It’s no frills, cash only, no ketchup type of place.
There aren’t any seats inside, but you can stand at the counter and eat with a small group. Most people seemed to be getting theirs to go. They give the hot dog to you in a rolled up paper pouch that can be reheated.
I’m usually a ketchup /​mustard person when it comes to hot dogs, but I went with the recommend «Chicago style» everything dog this time and recommend it. No need to mess with a good thing.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
You know you have to try a place when you always see city workers, utility workers and our very own local law enforcement stopping by to grab a bite.
Whether you order a hotdog or a Polish. Fresh-​cut fries always come with your order. Not the healthiest
Choice. But those fries are so addicting after the first bite.
Oh yeah, And this is another one of those hotdog joints where you just don’t ask for ketchup only.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
Jimmy’s is #1 for hot dogs, polish sausages, tamales, etc…
It’s an old fashioned CHICAGO hot dog stand. If you’re a yuppie with a snobby/​snotty attitude… stay away.
I’ve been going to Jimmy’s for 40 years, it hasn’t changed. The other hot stands have, but not Jimmy’s.
The neighborhood is ‘rough’ and there’s sure to be a beggar standing at the door but if you want a real Chicago hot dog, polish, fries, tamale, etc… Jimmy’s is the place.
They had a Unilocal rating/​contest for hot dogs and I couldn’t believe Jimmy’s wasn’t in there. It should’ve been #1. Guess the judges were too afraid of the neighborhood.
For a real old fashioned hot dog stand… it’s Jimmy’s!
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Before the «Chicago Dog» was defined, there was Jimmy’s (since 1954), no tomato slice, no celery salt, no ketchup, no pickle. terrific fries, and i’ve never gotten indigestion from there (likely because of high turnover). try the Polish with everything, no onions
Place rating: 5
Fontana, CA
Best hot dog in the world. No contest. I have dreams about you, Jimmy’s. I miss you so so much.
NO KETCHUP FOR LIFE! :D
Place rating: 5
Skokie, IL
I had been craving a Polish for so long it was just crazy I drove by this place but it was always packed .
I went earlier than usual and found a spot right away ! They have the best polish anywhere I am glad I finally tried it fast service and friendly too.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I’ve lived a few houses from Jimmys for about 2 years now and I’ve seen the owner only 3 times. He’s an older gentleman with a large, wild white beard, and he rides a Harley. I think he may be a mall Santa during the holidays.
The food is swell. They steam/​boil their polishes to keep the juiciness intact. Fries are soggy, sure, but they’re supposed to be. Potatoes are weird guys…
Place rating: 4
San Jose, CA
Came here for lunch around 12:30 and was in and out in less than 2 minutes! I had the polish sausage and the vienna beef hot dogs — both of which were great. The polish is a lot bigger than the vienna beef, so if you’re hungry go for the polish; I’d consider the vienna beef more of a snack. I got both dogs w/​everything on it — mustard, onions, relish, and hot peppers. Like others have said, don’t even bother asking for ketchup. Each dog came wrapped w/​a good amount of fries. The fries were fresh and had a good combo of soft and crunchy fries and the right amount of salt on ‘em.
The place to go if you want a great Chicago-​style hot dog w/​fast service at an affordable price.
Place rating: 3
San Francisco, CA
Being here in Chicago for the first time, we had to try the hot dogs here. I was told that they had the best hot dogs ever! So, upon looking for a place, we came across this place on Unilocal.
We ordered the Polish Sausage which also comes with french fries. The polish dogs came with onions, relish, mustard, and hot peppers. Somehow, I expected them to come with a bit more of the toppings, but it was just a little bit. I can see why everyone love the hot dogs here though, but the polish dog here itself was pretty good in terms of texture. Beware, there is not ketchup available, and I heard that in Chicago you shouldn’t even ask for it! The french fries itself were okay, but I wish they were a little more crispy. Overall, not too bad for my first hot dog in Chicago plus it was pretty affordable.
Place rating: 4
Chicago, IL
Tasty, fast, and affordable.
Very thankful to have this place close to my house. When seeking a cheap and delicious meal, I head to Jimmy’s for a two polish dogs w/​everything and fries. Who knew something as simple as a hot dogs could make such a lasting impression. As many suggest, beware and do not ask for ketchup, even if you want to dip your fries in them.
Dogs generally come with onions, relish, mustard and hot peppers. The hot peppers can be very spicy sometimes, but I enjoy some good heat. I cannot stress how much I love the french fries. At times I find myself needing to throw them away so that I do not overeat and feel disgusting after.
The french fries are crispy and fluffy. They kind of have a sweet taste. Almost as if they were brined in some sugary substance or they sprinkle some sort of spice mixture with sugar in it.
Come one, come all and try the hot dogs and french fries.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
You know this place if your from Chicago and for all you cry babies whining over no ketchup, that is how this place has always been. Chicago is known for not putting ketchup on hot dogs so if you love ketchup so much than go to a sissy hot dog stand and have a ketchup sandwich. Anyway the food is always super hot and comes as fast as you order it. There is always someone in there selling socks or something so you might come up on some socks with your hot dog
#Chitown bred Hotspot
Place rating: 2
Saratoga Springs, NY
It’s a hotdog — nothing special taste-​wise, also it looks like somebody already ate it, choked on it, died and it was exhumed during the autopsy. But again, it is only my opinion, some people see it as a «gem».
If you wanna have a proper Chicago hot dog, go to Wiener Circle. They probably not gonna win a customer service award any time soon :), but they know how to make a hot dog!