Windy City Wiener Wars

Belle Kendrick
12 minutes ago
1 min read

Perilla Fare hosts one of the most unique summer food events in Chicago: the Windy City Wiener Wars, where local chefs face off to see who can create the city’s best gourmet hot dog. The event runs for select dates throughout the summer, and I attended the second-to-last Chicago chef face-off — Noriko vs. Adalina.

Each chef created their own take on the classic Chicago hot dog, and guests could try both creations for $15 and vote for their favorite.

Here’s what each chef served:

Adalina Hot Dog – Tteok-Bokki (rice cake), fra diavolo, crispy noodles, and basil. This version was bold, spicy, and texturally unique — the mix of rice cake and crispy noodles was a fun surprise.
Noriko Hot Dog – Wagyu tallow tare, wasabi mayo, house giardiniera, and spiced potato chips. This was my favorite of the two, offering the perfect umami kick with a creative twist on a Chicago classic.

Adalina’s gourmet hot dog with Tteok-Bokki, fra diavolo, crispy noodles, and basil at Windy City Wiener Wars.

The Windy City Wiener Wars was such a fun, flavorful, and interactive experience. I loved seeing how different chefs reimagined something as simple as a hot dog. If you’re looking for a unique summer food event in Chicago, this is one to add to your list for next year.