Byron’s Hot Dogs Turns 50: The Chicago Icon Throwing It Back to 59 Cents & Heating Up the Winter with Indoor Seating

When Byron’s Hot Dogs first fired up the grill on Irving Park Road back in 1975, Chicago was a different city. The Cubs were still chasing a dream, vinyl ruled the airwaves, and a fully dressed dog at Byron’s cost a jaw-dropping 59 cents. Half a century later, the world looks a little different — but that original price is making one very rare comeback.

On December 6, as part of its ongoing 50th anniversary celebration, the Lakeview institution is turning back the clock and slinging its iconic hot dogs for that same 59-cent price (while supplies last). It’s a tribute to the neighborhood, the city, and the thousands of regulars who’ve kept this hot dog stand alive through five decades of grit, grease, and Chicago pride.

Today, a Byron’s dog will normally set you back $5.32, and honestly, the only thing left in the world you can buy for 59 cents might be an add-on. But at Byron’s, some things never change. Owner Mike Payne’s steady involvement. The unmistakable Vienna Beef snap. And the Byron’s signature style — the classic Chicago dog, elevated with lettuce, cucumber, and bell pepper — a twist that Chicagoans once debated and now fully embrace.

Still, Byron’s isn’t frozen in time. The menu grew with the city — grilled chicken, Italian beef, fish sandwiches, gyros — all served with that unmistakable Chicago street-food soul. And now, for the first time since the Ford administration, Byron’s is leveling up again.

The stand just unveiled its brand-new indoor heated seating area, turning what was once an outdoor picnic-table battleground (where customers regularly sparred with fearless birds) into a cozy space where fans can enjoy their dogs without interruption. No more fighting off pigeons for your fries — just warmth, nostalgia, and the smell of a grill that’s been part of Chicago’s soundtrack for 50 years.

If you want to soak up some food history — and score one of the cheapest meals you’ll find anywhere in 2025 — head to the original Lakeview spot on 1017 W. Irving Park Rd. on December 6. The line will be long. The vibe will be electric. And the dogs? Still perfect.

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