Having moved to a newer remodeled location, Tasty Dog in Oak Park reminds me of the teen-age hangout in “Saved By the Bell”—especially when it’s packed with students from the nearby high school (mainly during lunch and after school). Don’t expect a quiet dining experience when it’s crowded. But when it’s not so loud, it’s a fairly nice place to eat—the new location is definitely a step up from its former (now torn-down) site.
Of course, Tasty Dog is all about the hot dog, and the basic model (ordered with everything) is definitely different than what you might be used to seeing. Basically, everything includes ingredients you’d normally see underneath a hamburger bun: round tomatoes, shredded lettuce (that’s right, lettuce), round pickle slices, spices, mustard, etc. Despite the unusual “construction,” it’s still a pretty good hot dog, which I prefer over their burgers. I also recommend their twister fries for a nice change of pace. Overall, I don’t know if I’m a big enough fan to endorse Tasty Dog over some other fast-food options in Oak Park, but as hot dogs go, it lives up to its name well enough.
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