Wayne’s Chicago Red Hots

This place is trouble! Stopped in before a afternoon Blazer game and the food was fantastic!

Very sorry to see WCRH leave Portland. Loved stopping in to meet a buddy for a Cubs game, a Polaski Polish, and garlic fries.

This is one place I will never forget! Thanks for all the great memories of my hometown hotdogs!

Used to go out to see them when they were in that marina out hyw 30…
Great stuff. Dogs in the traditional style, great chili and chili fries, and Old Style — gotta have an Old Style with a Chicago dog.
Had trouble making them while they were open! I can’t think of how many times I’ve tried to get there in time and they’re closed.

So one day driving up MLK a while back, I see Wayne’s.
I see the «Chicago» angle, and I think to myself. Could this be somewhere in Portland that serves the much vaunted and delicious «Chicago Dog»?
The Answer is YES! Wanye’s not only serves the Chicago style hotdog. They serve it as close the getting from a street vendor in Chicago as you can get. All ingredients are present. All things that must be sourced from Vienna Beef are present. The florescent green relish, check. The poppy seed bun, check. The Vienna Beef dog, check.
A special bonus plus to Wayne’s is they sell many of the ingredients to you so you can make the Chicago dog at home. Not many places do that. It is like a fish market selling fishing poles.
If that is not enough… One day at Wayne’s one of my lunching regulars says, «I want something more than a Chicago dog, I think I am going to try the Chili dog». This turned out to be a fantastic idea. The Chili dog at Wayne’s is very good indeed. They use the Vienna Beef chili, and that stuff is way good. The chili dog is so good, that I have taken to ordering it over the Chicago dog, because I cam make those at home now.
Give Wayne’s a go. They were a little slow at first, but now they have staffed up to cope with the amount of folks that want to order food now. So, orders are coming out at a pace that won’t have you wondering «It just a hotdog, Crikey!»
My only complaint for Wayne’s is that the French fries are not so good. They are O.K. But definitely not something you would go out of your way for.
Now, some folks rave about the Italian beef here. But, for that item I go to Michael’s Italian exclusively. I somewhat worry that Michael might hear that I have been seeing another beef vendor, and take away my privileges to eat his. If you have met Michael than you’ll understand that comment…

I have no regrets about leaving Chicago for Portland. None. Chicago is lovely to visit. Like all big cities, it tries to corral you in the nice parts when you visit, so that you do not have to smell or see the ugly wobbly bits that make up most of the city. Living in Chicago is like carrying around a big rock that is towing a boat. Everything hurts and grinds and the only way to manage it is to get blind drunk until you no longer care that you’ve grown a Ditka mustache and say things like «The Jewels» when you are referring to the Jewel (a grocery store).
In my occasional bittersweet nostalgia, however, I do have a few things that haunt me. I long for the distinctive chirpings of cardinals that used to live in my side yard, all red and cool looking amidst the blight urban blocks of grim city. When I get melancholy hunger pangs, they cry out for the chaotic perfection of the Chicago hot dog: Vienna beef dog from the water, steamed poppy seed bun, diced raw onion, tomato, nuclear relish, pickle, sport peppers, mustard (no fu*@ing ketchup!), celery salt and a side of crispy fries upon which ketchup is allowed.
This is the screaming child on an airplane of hunger pangs. This is the mad desperation of a man jammed in a closet with «Love will find a way» by Pablo Cruise stuck in his head chewing his own hand off so he might jam bits of it into his ears. This yearning cannot be put down easily. It bites back. When this hunger calls you have two choices: pony up a few hundred and hit the airport for ORD, or come to Wayne’s. Find me at Wayne’s most days.

This place is great. Simple food that is awesome! The staff is great as well. Loved my dog split and garlic put inside (Ditka Dog), but boy I felt like I needed to wash my mouth out with bleach! Strong, but great!
When I want a good hotdog in Portland, I will return to Wayne’s (even though I am a Braves baseball fan)!

tops!

First I want to start off by saying with five stars being as good as it gets I gave this place four only because «as good as it gets» would be scarfing down an Italian beef in Chicago, but for the PNW this place is awesome.
I’m from Chicago and have visited many cities where someone claims to have Chicago Style hot dogs, pizza, popcorn, and Italian beef. I think as far as hot dogs and Italian beef’s go, this place is truly authentic.
I had driven to this place twice before I actually got a chance to go in because both times they were closed. They close pretty early during the week so you might want to go on the weekends. Upon entering the door I felt instantly transported to Wriglyville with all the Cubs memorabilia and being from the south side I was glad to see some White Sox things in there as well. All in all it was good food and good atmosphere, a little taste of Chicago. Now if only I can find good Chicago style pizza!

Oh what a treat to be the manfriend of the cute college girl Wayne’s sweeps up to be the pretty Chicagoan face at the front of the house. Not only was it wonderful while it lasted (be surprised with a Barack Obeef at the end of a double funeral and watch mourning fade into pure joy), the love affair continues, girl on the inside or none.
A few clarifications:
The Chicago Dog as it is enshrined by its worshipers worldwide has this soft, supple poppy seed bun which, yes, gets all mushy under the stress of everything above and around it, and this is intentional. It’s cheap bread, and it’s on purpose. The «cheese» in a Philly Cheesesteak may not actually meet enough of the criteria for what we commonly think of as cheese to be called as such, but that’s what it was born with and retains to this day. A Chicago Dog on a french baguette would be like a Philly Cheesesteak with roquefort: Wrong. Wayne’s 1, haters 0.
If Vienna hasn’t been unanimously ordained as the only beef able to be legally called a Chicago Dog when accompanied by the requisite accoutrements, someone in Chicago should be pied in front of their family and fired. Whether or not the use of Vienna Beef counts for another dinosaur sticker in the authenticity column (seeing as there appears to be contention on this issue even among the good people of Chicago) it is an exceptionally good decision. There is no hot dog that tastes like Vienna. Period.
All this said, I expect to pay a little more for the real deal, because they do, in fact, deliver. Apizza Scholl’s can charge practically whatever they want in this town for the same reason. I want Wayne’s to be put on the short list of state assets to be protected in the event of nuclear fallout. That’s how deep my love is.

Drove all the way from Hillsboro (again) for a fantastic Jumbo Red Hot. The food and prices are great. Outdoor seating is always remarkably clean and the owner is a very nice dude. Today, I introduced my father-​in-​law who went to college in Chicago to this place. We both agree this is as authentic as it gets.
But, besides the dogs, this place has quite possibly the best fries in Portland; they’re just plain addictive. I don’t know if it’s the cut (skin on, of course), or the texture or the flake salt that makes them not even need a condiment. But adding chili and cheese never hurts either. Will be back again and again.

I’ve been to Chicago before but never got a chance to try a Chicago hot dog. My chance came when I bought a Groupon to test out Wayne’s Chicago Red Hots over on northeast MLK.
I went with the Chicago Red Hot, it was topped off with all the trimmings that make it a Chicago style (yellow mustard, neon green relish, chopped onions, crispy garlic dill pickle, spicy sport pepper, fresh tomato slices, sprinkled with celery sat and served on a steamed poppy seed bun). I thought it being called RED HOT, it would be spicy but it wasn’t. The all beef frank dog still was delish none the less. The guy who made it built it perfection, barely any of my condiments fell off as I devoured it. My better half went with the Chicago Fire Dog (spicy Polish served with brown mustard, hot giardiniera and sport peppers). She was a fan of dog but would have rather the bun be toasted instead of steamed. The fries they serve up were the rather thick kind, the ones you would find at a ball park. A huge plus in my book. I wanted to dip my fries in the cheese sauce so I ordered a side, the guy working gave it to me on the house. SCORE!
A lot of cool Chicago sports memorabilia shit all around the place. They have 2 or 3 tv’s and you can catch ALL MLB games at anytime.
Will be back again when I’m in the mood for some serious hot dogs and fries.
$ 5 — Chicago Red Hot w/​fries (generous amount might I add)
$ 7 — Chicago Fire Dog w/​fries
$ 3.50 — Anchor Steam Beer
$ 3.00 — Corona Beer

I bought a Groupon for this place, 2 in fact.
Absolutely the best Dog diner I’ve found in PDX. I was so glad to find this palce.
The staff were really pleasant.
The menu featured an imaginative array of Dog options and all the side options you would want.
I was wonderfully surprised to discover the place is based on a Chicago theme. Since I am someone who thinks Wrigley Field is such a heavenly place it’s where God sleeps, the numerous Chicago/​Cubs artifacts and images made me feel right at home.
Comfort Food lovers, get over to this joint.

Any place, like Wayne’s, that serves product from the Vienna company in Chicago, should be just fine and very consistent, as there is little «cooking» involved, and lots of «warming.»
Wayne’s does a fine job with the Italian Beef, even to the point of asking you if you want it «wet or dry», which is secret chicago food lingo.
Fair prices, tough for parking, nice ambience if you are a Chicago sports fan.

Warning– this is the sort of place where cravings begin, cravings for foods you have never previously craved.
Let me start by stating that I am no connoisseur of the dog and have never been to Chicago. However, after visiting Waynes I must say I’m a now a HUGE fan of the dog and when I do (eventually) visit Chicago I will plan on eating my way through the city. I had the Maxwell Polish, which is topped with brown mustard, grilled onions, a dill spear and spicy sport peppers all wrapped in the softest bun I have ever laid my hands on. Yum! Washed down with a nice, cold bottled beer and I would say I found the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. And as Portlanders, aren’t we all looking for a way to spend a rainy day?
This place is a keeper, with seriously great food and a relaxed environment I plan on visiting again and again and again.

Got the original red hot and the fire dog. Very good but nothing extraordinary. The service is really good and the price is right!
I’ll be back… not because of the food but because I’m a fat pig with man titties. I didn’t get the fries but maybe next time I will.
Great beer prices for happy hour too. I really want to give it 4 stars but I just can’t…it wasn’t extraordinary.

Well? Was it really like a Chicago hot dog?
YES! It was indeed. And I liked it very much because they had great fries to go with and cold tall boys in all the cheap flavors, except no Old Style because it was explained to me that due to a distribution problem there is absolutely no Old Style to be had in Oregon unless you bootleg it in yourself. I had an Oly which I prefer over Rainer, but they’re all kind of the same when you’re washing down tasty hot dogs while watching a game on the tube, which there are a few nice TV’s in here as well. Anyone who has ever had a hot dog from a hot dog joint in Chicago (mostly southside) would enjoy what Wayne’s has to offer and I don’t have to tell you what’s on it because if you’ve ever eaten one you’d remember it well.
Cheers!

I’m going to give Wayne’s four stars… and I feel bad by doing so. See, I’ve been to Wayne’s several times, namely because a coworker of mine loves the place. I think the atmosphere is wonderful, very Chicago, the two workers (I’m guessing the main man working the register is the owner) have fun in the kitchen and are extremely nice individuals. The food I’ve eaten has always been just fine and fairly tasty.
The problem is two-​fold:
1) I’m not a fan of Chicago. Don’t particularly like the city, don’t like the Cubs or White Sox, the Bulls, the Bears, etc.
2) I’m not the biggest fan of crazy-​loaded hot dogs. I like bratwursts that come in a bun with one topping or so.
So please be advised: the reasons above is why I’m giving Wayne’s four stars out of five. I’d imagine if you were big into hot dogs, you’d love the place. Or if you love Chicago or any of their sports teams, coming into Wayne’s would be like walking into a nice little restaurant in Chicago.
I would say it’s definitely worth trying, whether you are a fan of Chicago or hot dogs. There’s good stuff at Wayne’s.

Not exactly sure what I can say about this place that hasn’t already been said. I’ve only been to Chicago twice so I can’t say I’m an expert on Chicago Hot Dogs, but I know enough people in town either from the Chicago area or who lived in that city for years who have told me that this place knows how to make a hot dog. Seeing as how I love tubular meat, I thought it was about time to give Wayne’s a shot.
Went for what they are supposedly known for. The Chicago Red Hot which is «dragged thru da garden» with yellow mustard, neon (it must be neon) green relish, onions, crispy dill pickle, spicy sport peppers, fresh tomato slices, a sprinkle of celery salt and served on a steamed poppyseed bun. It was almost too beautiful to eat, but I forgot about that as soon as I shoved one in my mouth. I expected the dogs to have a bit more snap to them, but that just might be the way other cities do their hot dogs. They use Vienna Beef which is a Chicago company, so that alone should tell you Wayne’s commitment to making this an authentic Chicago experience.
I was disappointed that they were not currently serving Old Style beer. Not that I ever actively seek old man beer out, but there is something to be said about having it with a few hot dogs. They seem to go together like, I don’t know, Hall and Oates? Randy, the owner is trying to bring it back and is hoping that will happen this year.
So, this place seemed about as authentically Chicago as you are going to find in Portland. If you like your hot dogs Chicago style, this is a good reason to hit MLK.

Hungry for substance after a bike ride and an expensive coffee (see Javarama review), we stopped in here to «see what they have.» We ordered a vegan dog and a small order of fries, which turned out to be a huge portion. Thickly sliced, soft on the inside, crispy on the outside and sprinkled with Kosher salt, the only thing left to do was dip the fried, ‘lil potato sticks into a cup filled with mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard and swirl around. Damn, was it good.
Stellar service, good food. Me like.