Byron's Hot Dogs

Among the more ubiquitous of North Side eateries is the local hot dog stand, and in our Lakeview neighborhood, it is virtually impossible to walk more than a few blocks along a main thoroughfare without passing one of these establishments. One such “restaurant” is Byron’s Hot Dogs, located in North Lakeview (1017 W Irving Park Rd), adjacent to the Sheridan Red Line stop and a few blocks away from Wrigley Field.

As the name suggests, Byron’s specializes in that inimitable staple of Windy City cuisine—the Chicago style hot dog. However, many hot dog joints offer excellent alternatives to the red hot, Italian Beef sandwiches among them. We decided to sample Byron’s IB offering to see if this local establishment would qualify as more than just a hot dog stand.

Unfortunately, any expectations we had for a quality beef experience turned out to be disappointed. Things began inauspiciously when, upon ordering, the employees had to bring more beef to the counter from refrigerators in the back. This beef had not been sitting in marinade, and it was added to the existing beef juice only to be extracted seconds later to prepare our sandwiches.

The first bite revealed the beef to be lacking in flavor. The meat was not tender as is ideal for the IB sandwich, and the too thickly slicked beef only exacerbated this problem. Those of us who ordered our sandwiches dipped were dismayed to find that the bread disintegrated into a soggy mess after only a few minutes, necessitating a plastic fork to continue eating. The giardiniera lacked variety, consisting entirely of Serrano peppers, though I did find one sliver of carrot, which added a modicum of color to my otherwise unremarkable sandwich.

What Byron’s Italian Beefs lacked in quality was offset, ever so slightly, by quantity. Our server was not shy with the beef, heaping two giant tong-fills of beef on to each sandwich. The fries, which reminded me of McDonald’s spuds in size, shape, and taste, were a pleasant surprise, as was the availability of free refills on assorted Pepsi products from the fountain.

We were also impressed with the friendly service, acceptance of credit cards, and outdoor seating—though this last attribute was necessary to compensate for the absence of indoor seating. Byron’s is a friendly neighborhood hot dog stand with a convenient location for anyone passing through the Irving Park corridor, and those looking to grab a Chicago style dog on the way to Wrigley or the Lake could certainly do worse. Discriminating IB enthusiasts, however, should look elsewhere.

Beef – 4.75
Fries – 7
Location/Ambiance – 6.5

1017 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL
(773)281-7474

Dr. Beef, PHD.