Henry's Drive-In offers two of my best loves: local history and hot dogs! So when I moved to a new town a few years ago and discovered an iconic hot dog stand on Route 66 in Cicero, Illinois, I immediately started planning a time to visit. Finding great food in Illinois is usually just a stone's throw away (especially greasy spoon classics in the Chicago area), but this place really stands out. Allow me to show you why you should visit Henry's Hot Dogs in Cicero!

Henry's Drive-In is an institution along Historic Route 66, called Ogden Avenue locally.

Its iconic green neon sign and hot dog statue point to the single-story brick walk-up, beckoning drivers to stop in for a quick bite.

"It's a meal in itself," the sign says, making reference to the restaurant's special way of piling a heaping handful of fresh French fries on top of a fully-loaded Chicago dog.

Chicago dogs consist of a hot dog on a poppyseed bun with chopped onion, pickle spear, tomato, sport peppers, celery salt, green relish, and mustard.

Henry's is named after Bill Henry, who used to serve hot dogs out of a truck as a side gig before officially opening the roadside restaurant in 1950.

It later added the eye-catching sign to alert Rt. 66 passersby of the delicious meals, as was the style of many Route 66 businesses at the time.

Today Henry's Hot Dogs serves Chicago classics, such as hot dogs, burgers, Italian beef, tamales, Polish sausages, pizza puffs, and more.

Once you park your car in the lot and take a step inside you'll immediately notice the many nods to its Route 66 history, including signs, old photos, and plenty of interesting memorabilia.

Once you see the Ogden Avenue sign, you know you're in the right place.

Walk on up to the counter to place your order with the friendly staff. Take a peek at the storied walls while you wait, then grab a booth to sit down and enjoy your meal.

I always go for a hot dog and pop, but I love substituting in a milkshake from time to time for a truly old-school lunch.

Henry's Cicero still slings tons of dogs each day by the paper bagful, and it's easy to see why.

Coming here is always a special treat for me.

Once you unwrap your dog, you may have to search for a while to find it, as it will be smothered in an avalanche of hot, crispy fries, fresh out of the fryer.

This is where the "meal in itself" comes from!

Once you work your way down, you'll find your juicy all-beef dog and toppings. Each bite offers a snap, a crunch, and a stunning amount of flavor that just can't be found elsewhere — a legacy truly earned that will hopefully continue for decades to come.

Yes, I put ketchup on the fries. Sue me!

Henry's Drive-In offers more information on its website. Would you slow down for a bite at this iconic hot dog stand on Route 66 in Cicero, Illinois? How do you take your hot dog? Is there another greasy spoon stand in Illinois that you love? Tell us in the comments below!

Want to learn more about Route 66 in Illinois? Take this road trip to the most charming Route 66 towns. And reserve some rooms along the way.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/illinois/route-66-road-trip-il/