Daily dispatches on the Washington, DC area's food, restaurant and dining scene.

Chicago-Style Dogs in Ashburn

By Todd Kliman , Ann Limpert , Kate Nerenberg , Rina Rapuano

Windy City Red Hots goes to the source for its dogs and fixings. Photograph by Chris Leaman.

One of the last places you’d expect to find authentic Chicago-style hot dogs is the parking lot of an Ashburn nursery.

But that’s where Chicago native Angel Miranda has set up shop, dispensing his hometown’s street foods from a white truck emblazoned with the words windy city red hots. Besides hot dogs, which he tops with sport peppers, tomatoes, an iridescent green relish, celery salt, and other condiments, Miranda sells Polish sausages, Italian beef sandwiches with a chunky giardiniera, and pizza puffs. All ingredients are flown in from Chicago, which means the meat comes from Vienna Beef and the buns are studded with poppy seeds.

Miranda, who moved to Northern Virginia in 1998, says the idea was born of homesickness. Might another exiled Chicagoan pay the truck a visit? We wouldn’t bet against it. The dogs are as close as you can get to the real thing without hopping a plane.

Comments

I thought I’d have to fly back to Chicago for my
"comfort food." Thanks for bringing the best hot-dog in the world to Virginia. Our whole office has agreed: this is the best tasting fast-food anywhere...a real taste of Chicago!

Posted by: Bob from Chantilly, Feb 06, 2010 12:39:07 PM

Hi Guys! Sure happy that your clients are happy and satisfied with your authentic chicago hot dogs and italian beef sandwiches.
Cheers to the MIRANDAs!

I will surely have a bite of this when I visit.
Yummy!!!
Tita Hedy

Posted by: graziella patricia , Aug 23, 2009 05:53:50 PM

I tried the cart. After I got over my aversion to portable food, I thought they were just OK.

I prefer to the dogs at the Fractured Prune in Leesburg. They have a much greater selection, even if their chicago dog isn’t as authentic. The rest of their dogs score.

Posted by: NotAFan, Aug 18, 2009 07:17:31 PM

It’s the real deal! The Italian Beef is just like home!

Posted by: Muddleglum, Aug 02, 2009 10:43:58 AM

Im from Chicago, NWSIDE,...and this stuff rocks! The food is done right, and the chili-cheese fries must be tried. Go Windy, and Go Home Satisfied!

Posted by: JoeB, Aug 01, 2009 09:42:58 AM

My wife and I love this place! The dogs are great and the beef is the best out there.. This place is a must if your in the NOVA area.

Posted by: JB, Jul 31, 2009 09:11:36 PM

Best Hot dogs I’ve ever had. Won’t ever get a regular dog again... I actually even tried to re-create this at home and it just wasn’t the same!

Posted by: Ashburnnative, Jul 27, 2009 06:04:43 PM

Huge fan of this place. I try to go at least once a week.

Posted by: Addict, Jul 25, 2009 10:49:21 AM

We had a little of everything -- very good. The chili cheese fries are awesome!

Posted by: Irene, Jul 25, 2009 10:43:00 AM

8 years in DC and it’s the best food I’ve had since I moved here. Check them out and keep them rolling.

We discovered them early in the spring and have made multiple trips from Fairfax and it is worth it...

Posted by: Former Chicagoan, Jul 24, 2009 08:36:08 AM