Doggie Diner

YUM says it all. :-)

Beef is great, chicken wraps are great, and for some reason I think I had cajun fries here? Whether they were cajun or not, their fries were awesome. People that work there are nice, menu is huge, and they even serve beer! Too bad I live far enough away that I can't be a regular, but will always make a point to stop here when I'm out in the Woodridge area.

Let's continue with the alliteration of the business name within this review. I've experienced Doggie Diner a couple times in a variety of forms as someone working  and living in the area:

Hole-in-the-wall happiness:
Located within a suburban strip mall with not an entirely appetizing name, it's def more of a place the locals visit. Dining area is divey yet cozy with basic tables and chairs, sports memorabilia and TVs in the corners. Counter for placing orders is super high, but still allows customer to converse with cashier and cook.

Short and sweet service:
Quick and friendly with both delivery and carry-out. Even though I tend to have a lot of specifications (ie. dressings on the side, subbing out items, questions about specials for the day), employees are understanding and willing to accommodate.

Greasy goodness -
It's the kind of food to either have the morning after a late night-out  or the kind of place to go for a quick bite. I've gotten a variety of items in the past such as the gyro, Greek salad and tots.

Portions will always be ginormous. For instance, one time I thought was getting a small side for my tator tots + feta but it turned out to be a basket. And another time, my gyro was bursting with meat.

However, size doesn't always matter ... when it comes to food, of course.

Tater tots were crisp on the outside, soft on the inside - just like how I prefer my fries and tots. The feta was a unique salty/creamy complement, but the dish would be even better if there was a bit more seasoning to kick up the flavor component. I ended up dousing mine with tangy ketchup and sprinkling ground black pepper.

As for the gyro meat, it isn't the most juicy/tender or flavorful that I've had.

The Greek salad is actually one of my go-tos because of the surprisingly fresh ingredients - bright romaine instead of iceberg, which I truly appreciate, as well as crisp slices of cucumber, thinly sliced white onion, plump black olives and more chunks of feta. The vinaigrette is light and added the right acidity.

Loyal on local -
For fast food, I'd prefer Doggie Diner any day compared to the nearby national chains in the area so I will continue to patronize this joint when in a pinch or in need of some sustenance post-all-nighter.