Nicky's Hot Dogs — Restaurant in Lake Township

Nicky’s Hot Dog is a must-visit spot if you’re in the Hotel Central area for a business trip. I arrived around 11:00 am, and while foot traffic was light, parking was still scarce, possibly due to sharing with a neighboring business. The place is tiny and old, with no updates to the exterior or interior, but that’s not why you’re there. I skipped the namesake hot dog and went straight for the Italian beef sandwich.

They used to be cash-only, but now they accept major cards, which was a relief since I don’t carry cash. The workers are packed into the minuscule kitchen like sardines, but ordering is straightforward. Just tell the guy at the counter what you want, and he writes it down on paper. A couple of minutes later, your order is ready.

There’s nothing fancy about Nicky’s, so if that’s what you’re after, head to a major chain. I ordered a beef sandwich with fries and an RC Cola for around $14. The sandwich came wrapped in foil and paper, with the bottom half soaked in beef juice. The beef was perfect, the bread was soft, and the hot peppers were just right. The sandwich was delicious and paired perfectly with the golden fries and cola. I’m so glad these places still exist, and I have much respect for the workers who move at warp speed to handle the orders, especially as it got jam-packed as...

Worst customer service ever. Me and my fiancée went for our first time. We order our food and they were pretty busy. When we received the food the cook repeat the order which we thought we got everything. I did a quick look and it seemed okay. It wasn’t until we got home and realize what we ask for was totally wrong. As we wasn’t to far from the place we decided to go back and my fiancée decide to go and ask them nicely that we received the wrong order. As I was waiting in the car I notice they gave us the money back but she was crying. They totally disrespect her like she was the blame for and it was her fault. No place should treat any customers even if they are right or wrong and especially if you are paying. We did not even get an apology, so I went inside rip the money and threw it at them. As I gone to different restaurants all over Chicago, it’s one thing of having great food but it’s another thing not having great...

This place is one of those holes-in-the-wall. Visually, it's disconcerting. Several generations of tile on the wall that don't quite match in color or size. They don't spend a lot of money on making it look pretty.

What they don't spend on making it look nice, they devote to making some of the best food. The hot dogs are outstanding. Several times I've been in line with people who have moved out of the area but return when in the area for the hot dogs. I will also pull off of I-55 to pick up some dogs for the family.

The "big baby" burger is wonderful. They provide a huge amount of fries with every order. You won't go hungry and you'll leave happy.

They have a parking lot behind the restaurant and there's parking available on the street as well. They have a small counter that seats about 5-6 people with no other seating. Your best bet is take-out. There's no...