Donald Duk’s Red Hots

Donalds Duk’s! I been going this Ashland Avenue landmark since I was a baby. A prime example of true Chicago-​dining. You walk in and are instantly greeted by a women who’s got more stories then Dr. Seuss. She’s sweetest thing (I literally always forget her name), but she always looks at me and says «BYE FELICIA» and I die laughing every time. Check this place out after bar-​hopping in the neighborhood and get yourself one of their amazingly greasy bacon cheese burgers. You’ll definitely regret it in the morning, but it’ll be more than worth the $ 3.50.
=)

Anyone who doesn’t love this place is just a hater. It looks from the outside exactly like you’d expect the inside to look. Super unhealthy cheesy fries, burgers, hot dogs, and sometimes milkshakes. The ladies working inside are hilarious, and the patio is straight out of the 50s. Go there when you’re drunk and you’ll happily regret it the next day.

Yes, we ordered it «chicago» style with everything.
Unfortunately it lacked tomato and celery salt. There weren’t even poppy seeds on the bun! We saw Vienna Beef signs, but question the origins of this limp dog. It was a major disappointment. Double bummer because we brought a friend from NYC who had never had a Chicago dog before. Don’t worry, we’ll get him a good one before he leaves.
Only plus was the cheap price and the surprise (greasy) fries. Rough around the edges and a bit dingy inside, this place is a time capsule that time should truly forget.

This place has good, cheap food. I’ve been coming here for years. For the people complaining about the shakes and false advertisement… The machine broke and they are trying to get a new one. That sign outside has been there for 60 years.

This place is so unsanitary and the ladies are really rude don’t know how to take orders right that’s why is cheap and uses false advertisement outside the store.

They advertise milkshakes and malts in a billboard outside the restaurant after paying for parking. I go inside and the malts and shakes are crossed off.
Both ladies working there do not have hair nets on very unsanitary. One of the ladies had a sleeveless shirt on as she cooked.

The coolest décor they have here is the newspaper showing they were sued (or threatened with suit) from Disney for copyright infringement!
This place seems to have a bad rap but I think it’s pretty good food. A little pricey for what it is but when it’s 4 in the morning (uh Chicago parties waaaay harder than I’m used to in LA) and you’re starving this place hits the spot. The Italian Beef is really good here, like really. If you’ve read any of my other reviews, that’s all I tend to order so trust me :)
I like that the staff here is always so personable and nice too. Guess they’ve taken the hint from past disgruntled Unilocalers.
Like I said, the food here IS good but I just don’t know if it the cost justifies that.

Best cheap greasy double bacon cheeseburger ever. Yummy drunk food. Pizza pockets. Tasty shakes. Nom

I live a couple blocks away, menu is super cheap and the food is consistently good. Fast food hot dog and burger joint and it is reliably open.

Awesome. Cheap. AND good! My strawberry shake, loaded hotdog and fries hit the spot. Not to mention they are super nice and friendly.
The hot dogs are a little over 3 bucks and come with free fries for each dog.
I’m a fan of the cozy-​ness.

They really should be upfront with how many times this place got shut down for health code violations

I came here as soon as I moved to Chicago. First thing I see is a homeless man staring at me, with his hands down his pants. I could taste his stink. I got my food and got the F out of there. Food was nothing special.

I think I just went to heaven. I got a stiffy just smelling the food cook. The burgers are mad crazy greasy and mouth watering. I drove away and before I could get to lake street my burger was history. Fries are good also but they weren’t crinkle cut. I will be watching my cholesterol go up and my belly get bigger with this food joint.

This place looks like one of those joints that is so dirty and dingy that they’d have to have good food. Right? Unfortunately no. It’s just average burgers, dogs, and other Chicago staples, but not done as well as some of the other well known drunk food spots.
As others suggested the staff is definitely disgruntled. Like the Weiner’s Circle only not funny and not trying to be funny. Just pissed off that they have to be working as late as they do.
I’ll probably pass on Donald Duk’s next time.

They charge .50 extra for lettuce and tomato!
Duk’s sux.

Duk’s, Duk’s Duk’s. What is there to say about Duk’s? Too much, I fear.
I came into this dingy spot and was looking for a quick bite. We got a hot dog with fries for the Mister and shrimp with fries for the Misses (that would be me). All was ok with the world. Our food was alright for what we apid and I was hungry.
This all changed when I saw the woman that made our food — all food is made right there in front of you — bring out a gallon of oil out to the front part of this fine establishment. She placed this gallon on the floor because it seemed like the fryer may need some more; cool.
She then picks up this gallon — that was just on the floor — and places it ON the board where she makes the food. OUR food. YOUR food. FOOD. I kept observing. She never wore gloves, never wiped down the spot where she placed that gallon of oil from the floor. I was grossed out. And come to think of it, I didn’t pay attention when she made my food!
*Shivers*
I will never return to this place. and I suggest you stay away, too.

After a night of overindulging on libations in the good ‘ol Windy City, I needed something to calm my stomach. What could do the trick? A Chicago-​style hot dog and an order of fries of course! Yes ladies and gents, I really know how to treat my body with respect.
Service at Duk’s was fast, friendly and with a smile. And the woman behind the counter didn’t judge me for looking the way I did.
Good hot dogs, the classic way. Crinkle cut fries made right in front of you. Kitschy, old diner-​like counter service. Too cute. All in all, I’m a fan!

Old fashion Hot Dogs is right… but I am here to talk about the late night Breakfast Sandwich folks. The Sausage, Egg & Cheese on a toasted English Muffin.
To quote Hugh Jackman in the movie Kate & Leopold «toast is the result of reflection and study!»…Ya better believe it, no General Electric toaster with one and half insertions here. Duk’s will toast your muffin on the greasy grill for added flavor. Sure its a breakfast sandwich but you are also tasting previous order remains of burgers, polishes and italian sausage. Bön Appétit!
In the end when you take that first bite, you will be reminded of the evening you had earlier of pure debauchery bliss. Therefore the taste of melted cheese establishing residency on your taste buds is magical!

Did the name change? The menu I have reads, ‘Duk’s Old Fashioned Hot Dogs.’ I have no idea who this, ‘Donald,’ is. In any case…
There comes a time in every Chicagoan’s life where he finds himself eating some encased meat. The very concept on encased meat sorta grosses me out, so whenever it comes up as a food choice, I opt for a liquid diet. Keeps me sexy. But, for those times where I’m tired, starving, tied up in my shoes and feelin’ unpretty, it’s time for some cased meat. I must have been feelin’ particularly crazy the night I came here because I ordered a chili cheese dog with mustard and onions. Fries came with the order. Allow me to repeat: I came to a place of questionable cleanliness, ordered a beef dog with more beef product (I don’t eat cow) and slathered on some sort of cheese sauce (with mustard and onions — for health purposes).
And.I.Tore.That.Isht.Up!!!
I don’t know whether it was the special nature of the moment, my crabby time of the day (months are for amateurs) or my need for fat and salt… but I couldn’t get enough. Yes, Chicago dogs are fine and well. But, sometimes, you need to eat a dog the way they were made to me eaten: with chili, cheese (I would have preferred shredded cheddar, but the sauce worked), onions (for crunch), and mustard (for some tart). The best part about a dog like this is that you can sop the fries up in all the run off chili cheese topping.
Wow. Reading this back, I am a little disgusted with myself. But, at the time, there was no finer food. 4 stars. I’m sticking with that.

There comes a time in every person’s life when hotdog consumption is required super late at night (or very early in the morning). This time for me was Saturday evening (or Sunday morning).
Let me set the scene: Cocktails were consumed. A super-​random loft party was attended. My head was swirling from the a-​a-​a-​a-​a-​alcohol and the only thing that could help me was deep-​fried goodness in the form of Duks Red Hots.
For the uninitiated, Duks is literally a hellhole. The dirtiest place I can possibly imagine with hefty female cooks frying up pretty much everything on the menu at all hours of the night. The counter looks grimy. The other patrons are shifty at best and I couldn’t help but feel mildly nervous for my safety.
Boozy Ang waived all these concerns away and shamelessly ordered a hotdog with everything and fries. For less than $ 3.
The food comes fast. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it was actually kind of tasty. Please bear in mind this comes from a gal who was basically mainlining champagne like it was my job earlier in the evening, followed by a landslide of beers and then some Jack Daniels (I know. Sick.), but I feel like I’ve had worse food. The fries were crisp, hot and fresh. The dog was pretty standard issue, but it was made better by the shaker of celery salt on the countertop. Love that.
I topped my meal off with a vanilla milkshake that I inhaled in approximately 5 minutes. That good. It was thick and rich with just the right amount of sweetness. Get one. You won’t be sorry. They’re only two or three bucks. I legitimately cannot remember how much it cost, but it was worth every penny.
I’m pretty much totally convinced that Duks saved me from a formidable hangover on Sunday morning.
I’m thinking I could give Duks a 4 star rating if it wasn’t so filthy dirty. So three stars it is.