Many parts of the country have food traditions unique to their region, and these local favorites often reflect decades of cultural and culinary history.
You can get a Philly-style cheesesteak anywhere, and Buffalo wings have long since become a national tradition, but both have deep roots in the places where they were created.
Boston has its own take on the cheesesteak, and many areas have their own unique approach to pizza. There are also distinct barbecue styles and local quirks, such as the Pittsburgh-area tradition of serving French fries on top of the sandwich rather than as a sidekick.
Chicago has a lot of traditions, and while everyone knows about the area’s deep dish pizza, its hot dog legacy remains more a local one than a national one. That includes one strict tradition, according to food historian Bruce Kraig.
“Part of any good definition of a Chicago hot dog is a definition of what it is not. And it isn’t ever with ketchup,” he told WBEZ. “It’s gospel at Jimmy’s Red Hots on Grand and Pulaski. There’s a sign up next to the counter: ‘No Ketchup: Never Ever: Don’t Even Think About It.’”
The city has deep roots with hot dogs, and Byron’s Hot Dogs has been a part of that for 51 years. That legacy is currently being threatened, as the chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Byron’s files Chapter 11
Byron’s Kitchen Incorporated, a Chicago-based limited-service restaurant operator, filed for Chapter 11 protection on March 16, 2026, in the Northern District of Illinois.
This filing underscores the challenges faced by legacy, family-owned restaurants navigating rising costs and shifting consumer habits.
The company, a longstanding fixture in the local food scene, is seeking to restructure its financial obligations while continuing operations as a debtor-in-possession, according to data from PacerMonitor.
“As of 2025, the company maintains active operations at two primary locations situated at 1701 W. Lawrence Ave and 1017 W. Irving Park Rd. The business celebrated its 50th anniversary in May 2025 and recently enhanced its infrastructure with a new indoor heated seating area to support year-round service in the Ravenswood and Buena Park neighborhoods,” RK Consulting reported on X, the former Twitter.
Byron’s is not alone in its struggles.
“Restaurants that exist today may not exist in five years. They’ll be off the map,” bankruptcy attorney Daniel Gielchinsky told Fox 4. Additionally, consumers will “see a lot of restaurants with a decreased footprint.”
That’s partially because the economy has struggled.
“Consumers are growing increasingly cautious about their spending habits,” a Fitch report noted. “This shift in behavior, particularly among middle- and lower-income households, has had a direct and negative impact on restaurant foot traffic and average ticket sizes.”
Byron’s has a deep history
Byron’s once served its famous hot dogs on the South Lawn of the White House to patrons, including former President Barack Obama.
“Byron’s goes a step further than [the] classic Chicago style hot dog where you have mustard, relish, tomato, relish, onion, pickle, hot peppers, and celery salt. We take it a few steps further with lettuce, cucumber, and green peppers to the classic ingredient of the Chicago-style hot dog, and that’s how we came up with the Byron’s hog dog,” Byron’s owner Mike Payne told WGN in 2022.
“We call it a meal on a bun,” he said.
- Byron’s Hot Dogs is a well-known Chicago hot dog stand that first opened in 1975 and became famous for its traditional Chicago-style hot dogs and late-night crowds, according to WTTW.
- The brand marked its 50th anniversary in 2025, highlighting its longstanding presence in Chicago’s competitive hot dog scene, the news site added.
- As of the initial filing, detailed restructuring plans, creditor totals, and long-term plans for the business had not yet been publicly disclosed, which is typical early in a Chapter 11 process, according to PacerMonitor documents.
Payne shared with UPI the process of serving his iconic hot dogs at the White House.
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“White House chief chef Cristeta Comerford had to order all of his ingredients because outside ingredients are forbidden at the picnic. He said Comerford was able to track down Vienna dogs, yellow mustard, shredded lettuce, diced onions, sliced cucumbers, green peppers, tomatoes, hot peppers, celery salt, and dill pickles,” the news service reported.
Michelle Obama, who generally pushed healthy eating, placed a “to go” order of four hot dogs, the owner said.
“A little bit of home cooking came all the way to the White House,” Payne added.
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Chicago’s hot dogs have a long history
While Chicago dogs can vary, there’s a specific tradition, according to Block Club Chicago.
“The Chicago-style hot dog traditionally features a poppy-seed bun filled with a wiener (Vienna Beef’s all-beef dogs are popular, to put it mildly) and then topped with mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, a pickle spear, sports peppers, and celery salt. The dish has been around for decades and has become as much a symbol of the city as The Bean or deep-dish pizza,” the website shared.
Barack Obama also believes in the no-ketchup rule and was once asked about it by Anthony Bourdain.
“No,” Obama said quickly. “I mean that’s one of those things like, well, let me put it this way, it’s not acceptable past the age of 8,” The Comeback reported.
