In search of a fancy restaurant to eat at, I instead stumbled upon a business hiding on the corner of Smithfield Street and Strawberry Way. This place, with the glorious title “Weiner World,” has been serving hot dogs for 58 years. Upon entry, the man and woman behind the counter were grilling and frying a variety of meats and fries from the menu.
When I asked, the woman behind the counter let me know that a man I ate next to was there every day to scarf down a hot dog for lunch. From this statement alone, it became clear the restaurant was definitely a space for community. She said that she frequently sees some of the same construction workers eat there daily until they move on to another job or finally get their fill of greasy meat.
I was not expecting to eat lunch here because I knew, and learned, that this meal would be the greasiest thing I’ve eaten in a while. Afterward, it wouldn’t have been surprising if heart palpitations followed from eating the entire number three combo of a casing dog, fries, and a 16oz drink. Eating one-fourth of the Chicago Dog alone could also induce such palpitations.
After getting the food, I took it and camped in front of a long mirror with a standing table lined with no chairs to discourage loitering. The fries tasted average and were thinner, similar to the ones you would get at a Steak’n Shake, although I soon learned that their bland flavor was important to balance out the hot dog’s extreme, jarring ones and excessive grease.
The casing dog was a mixture of beef and pork which, though not known by many people, is typically placed inside animal intestines. The woman behind the counter called it “natural casing,” and she confirmed that “natural casing” is just a fancy word for intestines. Although, it’s not a big deal because most hot dogs are made this way.
The number three combo was an affordable $7.75 and the hot dog tasted like, well, an average hot dog bursting with greasy flavor. These dogs were similar to (though still a tier above) what a gas station serves; the outside was crispier and the inside was juicier.
On a normal day. don’t come here unless you’re with friends, in a pinch or in the mood for something that might make your heart slow down from the cholesterol.
Taking bites of the fries in between the dogs truly saved my life.
The Chicago Dog at $5.25 next was a literal monster with everything and your grandma on it. The menu reads, “Beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun with yellow mustard, neon green relish, diced onions, tomatoes, sport peppers, pickle spear and celery salt.”
I should have been scared, I can’t even begin to describe the flavor. It was a mouthful of acid, grease and some regret. The taste of tomato and peppers didn’t come through, while the mustard and relish overpowered everything. The Chicago Dog is certainly something that only a brave person should venture to try and something that a smart person should order with fries because they saved my taste buds.
Although eating these dishes was a little painful, Weiner World is affordable and fun. In honesty, there’s nothing fancy or special about a place that serves hot dogs. On the outside, it looks like a tourist attraction, but the food I tried wasn’t very complex flavor-wise or high-class.
If you go there, send me an email and let me know if the grilled sandwiches or fish and chicken taste any healthier. Also, as I’m writing this I just realized that they forgot my drink, so make sure they give that to you.
