Hot Doug's is a self-described "Encased Meats" emporium. In fact, their motto is "There are no two finer words in the English language than Encased Meats, my friend."

The standard menu includes a wide variety of encased meats, from the classic hot dog to bratwurst to Italian sausage to andouille sausage, and bear such whimsical celebrity names as The Dog, The Paul Kelly, The Frankie “Five Angels” Pentangeli, and The Salma Hayek.

Hot Doug's, though, is better known for its specialty sausages, which can include such items as Spinach and Feta Loukaniko with Skordalia, Kalamata Olives and Feta Cheese, Foie Gras and Sauternes Duck Sausage with Truffle Aioli, Foie Gras Mousse and Sel Gris, and Jamaican Jerk Pork Sausage with Spicy Mango-Passion Fruit Mayonnaise and Roasted Plantains. Their meats run the gambit from ordinary (apple pork sausage, ribeye steak) to the interesting (pheasant and venison) to the bizarre (alligator, rattlesnake). On the weekends Hot Doug's also serves up Duck Fat Fries, which are fries cooked in rendered duck fat.

This is most definitely NOT a place for vegetarians, but the carnivores are known to stand in line for 45 minutes waiting to get inside, and sometimes as as 90 minutes! If you are in Chicago give the place a try, and be sure to say "Hello" to Doug, who actually takes your orders.