Chicago-Style Hot Dogs Hit SoMa, Berkeley And The North Bay

The Bay Area's newest dog is all about breeding

There's a new breed of dog in town, and its pedigree is scrupulous.

It involves a steamed poppy-seed bun, a Vienna beef wiener and a precise checklist of toppings: yellow mustard, sport peppers, neon green relish, onions, tomatoes, a pickle spear and a sprinkling of celery salt.

That's right: the Chicago-style hot dog has recently decamped to the West Coast. Here are a few of the Bay Area's finest specimens, each holding true to the commandment, "Never Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog."

Little Gino's The wieners at this tiny hut offer a perfect textural medley. And with the traffic cacophony from nearby Shattuck, you can easily pretend you're in the whirring Second City. 2109 Milvia St. (at Addison St.), Berkeley; 510-848-3647 [UPDATE: now closed]

Roy's Chicago Doggery "You have to meticulously follow the formula," says Kate Badouin, co-owner of this cozy diner at the Petaluma Livestock Auction Yard. The dogs are also "dragged through the garden," meaning cucumber slices are added. 84 Corona Rd. (at Pelatuma Blvd. N), Petaluma; 707-774-1574

Da Beef From her SoMa cart, Yvonne Lona–a former South Sider–serves a perfectly constructed dog (pictured). Many customers ask for ketchup; like a true, laid-back San Franciscan, she shrugs and gives her assent, saying, "That's okay." 7th and Folsom sts.; dabeef.com

Windy City bonus: All three spots also offer another Chicago classic, the Italian Beef–a thick roll with succulent beef strips and sweet and spicy peppers, dripping with au jus.