The mother-in-law is a fast food dish of Chicago, consisting of a tamale topped with chili, served in a hot dog bun.

[1][2][3] The mother-in-law is made with Chicago's unique style of tamale, a machine-extruded cornmeal roll wrapped in paper instead of corn husks, which is typically cooked in a hot-dog steamer.

[4][5] Mexican-Americans brought the tamale to Chicago, and African-Americans from the Mississippi Delta area brought the hot tamale to the city.

[8][9] Some speculate it may have had its beginnings in Mexico City's torta de tamal, a tamale on a bolillo.

The precise origins of the Chicago-style tamale are also obscure.