Hot Dog Heaven has been dishing out Authentic Chicago Hot Dogs with Vienna Beef Products since 1987 in Orlando, FL. Yet, everything is from Chicago! The Hot dogs, the buns, and the toppings, no wonder it’s so amazing.
I went to Hot Dog Heaven when I was around 6 or 7 years old. We went and sat at the retro bar with its red plastic seats, looking out onto the East Colonial traffic. Being so young, I only remembered how much I loved their french fries and ketchup.
After that adventure, I hadn't been back since! I knew my reason why, I hate hot dogs, still do. They are too salty and taste like an unfamiliar textured meatball, with rubber.
It wasn’t until Valentine’s Day of 2019 (I JUST started dating someone in January, I highly recommend going to a low-profile restaurant for v-day, it takes all the pressure away!).
I decided to return to Hot Dog Heaven to see how I’d feel about it all these years later (if anything, I knew I’d like the french fries.)
After scanning the menu for anything other than Hot Dogs, I found that right by the cash register they were promoting what is now my favorite thing to get: The Fontanini, aka the Italian Chicken Sausage.
What is a Fontanini you may ask? It is a deep fried chicken sausage, decorated just like your classic Chicago Dog (mustard, relish, onion, tomato, pickle, and hot peppers).
Once I saw I could get all the beloved toppings, without the hot dog, I was all over it.
Once it was time to eat, I picked up the bun (beautifully steamed), I take my first bite. I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!
The toppings were nice and fresh, which made the hot sausage really sing. You get the crunch from the onions and peppers, then you get the heat from the sausage because I ordered the spicy sausage.
I return to my beloved french fries, and immediately say “yep, that’s how I remember they tasted!” How amazing is that? To visit a restaurant decades later and still enjoy french fries the same way. I call that art & consistency.
Here’s what I order at Hot Dog Heaven:
- 2 Fontanini Sausages ($4.90 each) - $9.80
- 1 order of French Fries - $2.09
- Total: $11.89
I’m here to share that Hot Dog Heaven can be a place for anyone, even folks who don't love hot dogs! It’s a great way to see a little bit of both Chicago’s History and Orlando's.
Tip: Sometimes Hot Dog Heaven will be closed and it will not be displayed via Google My Business, I recommend calling before making the trip out.
Send me photos of your order at Hot Dog Heaven! Just tag @allysoneatz or #allysoneatz and I can take a look!
- Allyson