The Bottom Line
Pros
- Awesome foot long hot dogs
- Other menu options very good
- Fast, efficient service
Cons
- Lines can be long, especially on weekends
- Very small dine-in area
- Cash only
Description
- Address: 1211 W. Belmont
- Phone: 773-935-2882
- Neighborhood: Lakeview
- Getting There by Train: Brown/Red Line North to Belmont
- Cross Streets: Belmont and Racine
- Nearest Major Attraction: Wrigley Field
- Hours: Mon 11am-4pm, Tue-Fri 11am-8:30pm, Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-5pm
- Price: ¢
Guide Review - Murphy's Red Hots
A lot of fuss has been made about Chicago pizza, but any true Chicagoan knows that the native food is the hot dog (or the "red hot", as Murphy's insists on calling it). Known by some as a "Chicago salad", the all-beef Vienna hot dogs ($2.79) at Murphy's are best with everything on it -- also called a "walk thru the garden" -- mustard, relish, onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, celery salt and sport peppers. The sweetness of the hot dog combined with the freshness and crunch of the condiments is a regional treat. Try the char-broiled foot long ($4.55) for the ultimate Chicago hot dog experience.
If you are not a fan of hot dogs, there are several other excellent choices. The ribeye steak sandwich ($5.25) with Swiss cheese, horseradish mustard and sliced onions is tender, the char-broiled hamburgers ($3.35) are top rate, and Mrs. Murphy's homemade chicken noodle soup and chili are perfect for a cold Chicago winter's day. The hand cut fries are golden and tasty, and the only item in Murphy's that should come in contact with ketchup. The cheese fries ($2.55) are an anomaly, as the cheese is served on the side, which I prefer.
My only complaint is that the small dine-in area with its five tables and stools can get overcrowded quickly, with people jockeying for position to get their orders. So the two phrases to remember when visiting Murphy's -- "no ketchup" and "to go".