A Chicago street-food staple since 1939, Jim’s Original, a hot dog stand noted for the advent of the Maxwell Street Polish, will open its first location ever outside the Windy City in the city of Orange.
Third-generation co-owner Jim Christopoulos, whose grandfather, Jim Stefanovic, a Macedonian immigrant, helped put the eponymous hot dog spot on the map 85 years ago, said in an interview that he wanted to open a location closer to home. The Chicago native, who has lived in Orange County for years, splits his time between O.C. and Chicago.
After attempting to open a new Chi-town location, he decided to stick closer to home following the pandemic. “I thought, why don’t I look for a place near me? Somewhere I can get to easier and something that’s for myself?”
ALSO SEE: A guide to the best food halls in Orange County
Initially searching for vacancies in Garden Grove, Dana Point and San Clemente, Christopoulos closed escrow in October 2021 at the site of the former Ristorante Genovese restaurant, which closed after 36 years in business, in Orange on North Tustin Street.
Far roomier than its Chicago location, which relies on foot traffic, the upcoming Jim’s Original will offer drive-thru service, as well as indoor and patio seating. “We knocked down the former restaurant, as we’re rebuilding everything” he said.
The menu at the Orange location will parallel the one in Chicago, with the possibility of to-be-determined additions that align with California tastes. Christopoulos said, “I’m going to ship our Polish sausage and hot dogs from Chicago,” which are made expressly for Jim’s Original, as well as the eatery’s hot pepper mustard.
Related Articles
Restaurants Food and Drink | A guide to the best food halls in Orange County Restaurants Food and Drink | Where to find shrimp, lobster rolls and more during Lent 2025 Restaurants Food and Drink | Truly Pizza expands menu to include focaccia sandwiches Restaurants Food and Drink | The best things we ate at Southern California restaurants in February Restaurants Food and Drink | Erewhon collaborates with Kacey Musgraves on smoothie to raise funds for LA Fire ReliefAbove all, the Orange location will also offer the Maxwell Street Polish, a circa-1943 creation credited to Stefanovic. The hot dog sandwich, so entrenched in Chicago food canon that it has its own Wikipedia page, consists of a grilled or fried Polish sausage topped with grilled/caramelized onions, yellow mustard and optional pickled sport peppers. The Chicago Sun-Times billed it as one of “the classic foods synonymous with Chicago,” while Eater Chicago noted in 2023 that “the sweet-hot-garlicky-meaty mélange has earned generations of fans.”
Jim’s Original is also famous for its bone-in pork chop sandwich (recommend by the late Anthony Bourdain), cheeseburgers, fish sandwich and grape, orange, root beer and strawberry pop offerings.
Christopoulos says he hopes to open Jim’s Original tentatively in the fall.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Famed Chicago hot dog stand to open its first California location in Orange County )
Also on site :
- 'General Hospital' Fans Brace for 'Slap in the Face' amid Star's Return
- Israel says it killed a commander of Iranian force that oversees proxy militias.
- Shoppers Are Racing to Walmart To Buy an 'Impressive' 834-Piece LEGO 'Star Wars' Set