Good Hot Dog/Italian Beef Combo in Uptown?

[Mr. Frink]

Didn't know if I should have posted this in The Diner, but figured that the neighborhood aspect outweighed the food aspect....

So I live in Uptown. Yeah, I know it gets a bad rap--deservedly so, I suppose. But I get a lot of bang for my buck with the apartment, I'm close to the Red Line & the lake, and I can walk to Jewel & Aldi's. Good enough for me.

But one thing we're missing, is a good place to get a hot dog, or (especially) an Italian Beef & Sausage Combo (with hot giardiniare please). I'm picky admittedly. For me the gold standard is Portillos. I've checked out a few place in the neighborhood:

--Byron's - on Irving Park road. Very "eh" as far as the hot dogs go. They put lettuce on them, the pickles are all wrong (hamburger sliced pickles--not spears!). Disappointing.

--Windy City Gyro - Decent Italian beef, but the hot dogs are very sorry.

--Jakes - on Sheridan & Montrose. The less said the better.

So when I get the urge, I've been going down to Wrigleyville Dog, on Clark across from the Metro. Definitely the best I've found in the area. The Italian Beef is spicy, and they have good cheesecake to boot. But it's definitely out of my 'hood.

But I know that I must be missing a good place. I know that there are tons of places in the city that look like dumps from the outside, but have incredible food. So, maybe I'm walking right past a place that's better than Portillos. I come to you, wise local dopers, for guidance.

[Ed Zotti]

This won't help you in Uptown, but since you're heading out of the neighborhood anyway, you should check out Hot Doug's, the "encased meat emporium" at California and Roscoe. Nondescript neighborhood, limited hours (10:30-4 Mon-Sat), but unbelievable food - you particularly want to try the duck fat fries, available on Fri-Sat only. Drawback: the line at lunchtime stretches around the building, which has got to be problematic this time of year. But assuming you don't die of hypothermia, worth the wait.

[Bob Ducca]

I used to live right in that same neighborhood and I can't really help you.... There's another Byron's up on Lawrence (just west of Ashland) which is decent, though you've already said you're not that jazzed w/ their food.

Patio Beef up just north of Thorndale on Broadway is good. Otherwise I'm drawing a blank as far as suggestions.

[Mr. Frink]

Thanks for the replies......I guess I'll just have to make a pit stop for some good food. I'll check out Hot Doug's, Ed.....I've heard a lot about it....