Rockstar Dogs

I am officially done with Rockstar Dogs! Unfortunately, the Ashland location is now closed, so I made my way to the location on Armitage. It was terrible… the food was cold, the cashier had no pulse, and I truly believe my veggie dog was dropped on the floor, washed and served! I think it was the «SH*T» I heard from behind the counter and the cashier then bending down, picking something up, washing it, and finally checking to make sure I wasn’t watching! Awful! I will stick with waiting in the incredible line at Hot Dougs!

We tried to eat here one last time (it’s just so convenient I want to like it so much more). But when we walked in (a little past 10pm) we were told they were pretty much out of everything and were going to close, in fact, they should switch the sign right now. I think that was the last straw. We ended up going to America’s Dog instead and I think that’s where we’ll keep going. I’m sad because it’s across the street and we eat way too many hot dogs so I was really hoping this place would work out. But you know what they say, three strikes and you’re out.

I like that this place has different types of dogs (how they’re prepared of the meat type) and then you get to choose which toppings. The buns are great, and my cheddar char dog was very good. The dogs also all come with a drink and side of tater tots so make sure to save room for those too.

I’m wondering, based on the reviews below & my own experience if, when you say it’s «to go,» that means that they just don’t cook the hot dog at all. That they think that you’re just going to take it home & cook it yourself. At least that’s the only thing I can think of that would explain why my two — TWO — veggie dogs I ordered today (when no one else was in the place) were freezing cold when I got to my apartment (literally a block away & at 62 degrees out today).
You have to order $ 10 worth of food to use your credit/​debit card (which, isn’t that illegal?!). So I ordered 1 «The Sting» (veggie dog with fries & soft drink can). I ordered Merkt’s Cheddar on my fries, an extra dog, & an extra soda to get me past the minimum. (why isn’t there an option on the menu to disregard the meal deal & just get a dog alone?) I took my bag home & dug in.
1. Both of the dogs were cold. & I don’t mean not-​piping-​hot-​but-​slightly-​warm, I mean COLD.
2. There was no Merkt’s Cheddar on the fries, but the fries were the one saving grace — warm & seasoned very nicely.
3. The buns were slightly soggy on top & stiff as a board on the bottom.
4. I’m still perturbed about the minimum charge requirement, as Visa’s & MasterCard’s regulations prohibit minimum charge amounts.
5. It was silent when I got in there, but randomly, the music starting playing & it was blaring so loudly, I couldn’t hear the guy taking my order, even though he was standing right in front of me.
6. They don’t even offer ketchup. Now I know this is a (stupid) point of contention for Chicagoans who think they’re superior, but, like I said, it’s stupid.
Disappointing. I know that no hot dog place will ever compare to Hot Doug’s, but I was thinking that it’d at the very least get that you have to COOK the dog. Even though it’s only a block away, if I need a dog quick & can’t get to Doug’s, I’ll stick with America’s Dog (who, incidentally, deliver).

The french fries in this joint is it’s ONLY saving grace. We ordered the bacon wrapped hot dog, which I dunno the name of cuz I was drunk (see open bar review at Glascott’s)
When you’re drunk, ANY food typically tastes REALLY GOOD. Especially comfort food like hot dogs right? Even better when it’s wrapped in bacon right? WRONG!
We ordered. and the food came in 30 seconds. How do they even warm a hot dog in 30 secs? Ergh, ok so Michelle and I leave and we walk one block to get to her apartment to devour it. The hot dog was COLD.
Rockstar! Just cuz I’m drunk doesn’t mean I don’t know the value of a good hot dog! I can’t believe we gave you $ 6 for that meal! French fries were piping hot & tasty — why couldn’t you have thrown my bacon wrapped dog in the fryer with it, just for a few seconds?

ok, I want to support rock star b/​c it is right by my house, but gotta say my veggie dog was suspiciously similar to a puny little processed meat dog… lost a star b/​c of it. I think I’m sticking w/​the fries and tator tots from here on out.

I’m totally in love with this place. Yet another favorite that’s right in the hood. Usually I try to stay away from this kind of food. however, when I’m getting home from work on the weekends no earlier than 2am I can smell it and the smell just lures me in.
I want to start off by saying that they might quite possibly have some of the best fries I’ve had in awhile. It’s something about the seasonings that leaves me craving them every single day when I walk by. Pretty sure if I ate this food every day I would be a blimp, so I leave it for special instances.
I usually get the Vedder, that’s the cheese dog. I give them props for the cute little names and such. It’s usually fine holiday fun eating in there after just getting off work late at night on the weekends with all the drunks stumbling in demanding food… even though they may throw it up 10 minutes later. This place was much needed and I’m sure they get a bunch of business on the weekends with the nearby bars.
The white guy that usually works late a night is so cute. One of these days I should probably introduce myself.
Other than that, the prices are decent and the place is always clean. Come here for some amazing fries and some DOG. Peace and love.

It’s so hard to rate hot dogs unless it’s something crazy that’s probably never been seen before, anything else it’s just an interesting twist. Rockstar dogs is an interesting twist. Ignoring the rock band named dogs it’s a pretty good place. It is a little pricey but the fries and drink are included so it evens out. The Zeppelin is okay, nothing to complain about but nothing to write home about either. I’ve had the Los Lobos, the White Stripe, and the Flaming Lip and they were: okay, okay, and good in that order.
A bacon wrapped dog makes me think it would be a delicious flavor explosion but it was okay, nowhere near where I thought it would be. The White Stripe is a bratwurst, much like the Chicago dog it’s decent but not above average. The flaming lip however, was really good, the giardiniera was above average and that was delicious. the fries are pretty good, seasoned with a slightly spicy season salt that makes them stand out a bit. It is a place that I would return to, but I am a bit disappointed that all the sodas are in cans which=no free refills.

2 for the food, and an extra star for the people.
Rockstar Dogs is just down the street from me, and I have been meaning to try it since it opened. Then I saw their Vedder dog listed as one of the best things TimeOut ate in 2008, and that was all the motivation I needed!
The place is pretty cute, I like the theme and the concept, and I think they have a nice variety of hot dogs. But are they GOOD? Yeah, they’re fine. But honestly they aren’t anything out of the ordinary or spectacular. Maybe I have been spoiled by Hot Doug’s, and I’m trying to compare apples to oranges.
The Vedder dog is described as «char-​broiled cheezy cheddar dog». I was expecting one of those hot dogs with cheese INSIDE it, not a normal dog with cheese sauce on it. OK, the cheese sauce was good, but the dog was most definitely NOT char-​broiled. I got the dog with all the fixins, so maybe I took away from the pure cheezy flavor? I dunno. For something that was on a best of 2008 list, I was expecting more pizazz! More robust flavors! I thought it was an average hot dog.
I also tried The Kiss, which is their chili cheese dog. Also fine. But not any better than your average chili dog, in my opinion.
OK, the good stuff:
1) All the prices include fries, a drink AND tax.
2) They have tater tots!!! Who doesn’t love tots? And they have seasoned fries.
3) You can easily substitute tots instead of fries for no charge.
4) They provide 4 different kinds of mustard on the tables!
I have nothing but good things to say about the staff! The guy that took my order was very nice and gave me advice on what to order. The manager was also there, and she was friendly and informative. I wanted to get my order to go, and since I knew it would be about an hour before I ate the dogs, I brought a lil mini-​cooler to help keep my food warm. (I know. I am a huge geek. But when it comes to protecting the sanctity of my food, I am vigilant!) They cheerfully packed up my order in my cooler, and didn’t make fun of my geekyness!
I wanted to LOVE this place! I would go back and try something else, and give them a chance to blow me away… I got my eye on the Los Lobos dog, which is their latin-​style BACON-​WRAPPED dog!

Mini Me and I popped in here in the middle of the afternoon. He asked «Is it always like this? They don’t seem to be doing much business.» Which led me to laugh and explain that mostly it’s a place for people to pop in after they’ve been drinking! I had popped in for the yummy Rockstar fries once after being at the Park West, but had never eaten In or had a dawg.
I got the Led Zeppelin (Chicago Style) and lil Buddy got the Skinny Puppy (plain w/​ketchup and mustard). I like my Chicago style dogs with ketchup. Since I grew up in Wisconsin all you ketchup haters can kiss my ass. I’m an adult, and I choose ketchup! The dawg was good, and did not go down like a lead zeppelin. Mini-​Me devoured his dawg, but that’s not surprising; we had been on our feet all day and all kids like dawgs. The fries were again fabulous. Whatever McCormick Spice creation they shake on them is fab!
Since it’s Rockstar Dogs we had to plug the Jukebox! A little Velvet Underground, Weezer, Yes, and the Verve was just what we needed to bop our heads while we ate. I think the guy dressed like Lou Reed in the booth appreciated it as well. Or maybe he was just craving his junk during «I’m Waiting for My Man». The staff was again very hip, cool and not jerks at all. Maybe we were a breath of fresh air from their normal sloppy drunk clientele! This is a nice pop in if you’re in the neighborhood. Rock out with your dog out!

I went to this place sunday evening a few hours before close and ordered the «Beatle» and onion rings to go. I walked across the street to my friends apt to eat. As I bite into the hot dog the entire thing was cold and the bread was soggy. The fries were ok the cheddar cheese dip was good. The onion rings were mushy as if they were cooked in oil that was not at the correct temperature.
When ordering a hot dog at a restaurant you would never expect them to serve you a cold one with soggy bread that’s just not acceptable. That’s like going to a sushi restaraunt, ordering some sashimi, and receiving it cooked.
I like how the place looked inside, the person taking my order was cool, but it takes a lot to mess up a hot dog.

Finally an outpost in my hood. Really tasty dogs and fries. Pricey, but no pricier than anything else in the area. Not my beloved Red Hot Mamma’s that once lived there but on the upside, I won’t have to wait behind the throngs of Lincoln Park High Schoolers at lunch time. I definitely think this is more geared towards late night boozers and post show snackers from the Park West.
I was a fan of Dion Antic’s nightclubs and of course am friends with Philin Phlash the photographer who’s work graces the walls so I’m biased but I love me some Tommy Lee. Cute, clubby little hot dog stand, welcome addition to the neighborhood!