Gene & Jude's Review

Gene & Jude's in River Grove, Illinois
Photo Credit: Gene & Judes Gallery/geneandjudes.com

After being on the road for several hours en route to the Chicagoland area, the guys and I decided we wanted a proper homecoming involving food. This could only mean one thing: hot dogs. No matter where you live, whether it be in the city or somewhere in the suburbs, nothing says Chicago quite like a quality dog. If you are looking for a great hot dog close to the city, look no further than Gene & Jude's.

Gene & Jude's-Style Hot Dog
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Gene & Jude's has been serving up their take on the Chicago-style hot dog since the mid-1940s at the original and only location at 2720 River Road River Grove, IL 60171. When I say "their version", I mean they do not incorporate everything that is on a typical "dragged through the garden" Chicago-style dog. If you order a dog with everything, you would get a steamed, natural-cased dog with mustard, relish, onion, sport peppers, and a healthy helping of fresh-cut fries, all piled on a fresh, seedless bun. Yes, the fries do come on the hot dog. If you are looking for ketchup for any reason at all, you better try elsewhere, because you will not find any in the establishment. If ketchup is a "must have" for you, I have it on good authority that the McDonald's next door will sell you some for a small fee.

The menu is as simple as it gets. You can get a dog or double dog with or without any of the toppings listed above, a side order of fresh-cut fries, tamales, and Coke products. That's it. They keep it simple and quick at Gene & Judes, which is the way people have enjoyed it for years. Whenever I go, which used to be a lot more when I worked in River Grove, I get two dogs with everything but relish. This is more than a full meal and I spend less than $6, maybe around $7 if I feel like washing it down with an ice cold Coke. Talk about a bargain. The dog itself has great flavor and a nice snap to it, which is the sign of a quality dog. The condiments compliment the flavor of the dog quite well. The fries are the kicker to me. Not only are they fresh and flavorful, but they give each bite a rich, fulfilling texture. There are some who choose to eat the fries off the hot dog, which is their choice, but I highly recommend eating the whole thing as one. All the flavors blend together quite well if you give them a chance.

Gene & Jude's was a great way to end a great trip and summer. If you are ever in the area, or even if you are not, give this River Grove spot a try. I promise you will enjoy it. All things aside, I am so grateful that I got to experience new places with some of the best friends I could ask for. A huge thank you to Brandon Magnuson, Chris Stielow, and Brad Baron for trying all these new places with me. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area