Roasted until “Char”red: Patties, Wieners, and Customers

“Wiener, Wiener, Chicken Burger Dinner Lunch”

There it was. The classic vintage yellow hot dog sign, proudly announces The Wieners Circle. The sign stands proudly on Clark Street directing you to the restaurant nestled between a pawnshop and a hotel in Lincoln Park.

Its bright yellow advertised the vibe well as I was soon to find out.

Immediately, I was transported to a dinner from a different time. Inside, along the lunch counter stood those 50’s style red-topped bar stools with swirly silver legs. The bottom half of the wall was covered in a silver toolbox texture. Above that the wall was adorned with singles, photos, and signs.

Before long I was snapped out of my decor-inspired trance by the cashier asking for my order. I put in for a Char Burger with all the toppings. No drink. No fries. Just the burger. Not even a hot dog.

Then, I started to fumble with my wallet. I panicked for a minute, thinking that this might be a cash-only place. There is nothing worse than getting all the way to a place and then having to awkwardly run to an atm. It happens!

Gone are the days of Cash Only

Growing up my family and I loved going to hot dog and gyros places (I am a true Chicagoan!) Perhaps this is why I still have lingering thoughts that places like this were usually cash-only.

I sigh with relief after finding the ‘green paper’ and start to take it out. I find out very quickly that it is card only, which throws me into a tizzy as my poor dismantled wallet gets riffled through again! 

Covid has seemingly changed things though. Cash has been short-changed. Over the last few years, I have noticed more and more local diners replacing tills with magnetic strips.

Once I got my finances in order and my plastic card chipped in, all $7.50 of it, I sat down and waited for my order to be called.

While I waited, I read the walls of the The Wieners Circle. There was a wall of fame and one of shame. Photos clung to the wall with Sharpie written on captions. The wall of fame mostly held lookalikes of famous celebrities while the wall of shame jabbed mistakes and mishaps. The caption and photos made me smile in amusement while I awaited my Char Burger. 

Finally, my order came out. The Chicago-style cheeseburger had all the toppings, including sport peppers. There was also a pickle on the side. It isn’t my favorite burger in the city, currently, that is located 4 & 1/2 blocks Northwest at Redhot Ranch, but it was a fun experience well worth the price.

Clark’s Buses to/from The Wieners Circle

When I was done with lunch at The Wieners Circle, I walked just a little further down the street to the bus stop. I hopped onto the CTA bus #22 as it arrived before bus #36. This part of Clark has two bus routes which, depending on where you’re headed, go the same way. This is nice because it makes the wait a lot shorter. And I was indeed quickly off to my next stop, the Chicago History Museum!