Earlier this year, I took my first trip to Chicago, and while I was there decided to try as many hot dogs as possible. (It's important to have goals, I know.)
I was in hot dog heaven. The Chicago dog (sports peppers, neon green relish, celery salt). The Depression dog (Chicago dog wrapped with hand-cut french fries from Red Hot Ranch). The Maxwell Street Polish, (kielbasa with grilled onions and mustard). I even made a pilgrimage to Jim’s Original, said to be one of the originators of the dog style, and it didn’t disappoint.
But something occurred to me as I was downing dogs left and right. The different iterations gave me a window into the neighborhoods and communities from which they originate.
Los Angeles, of course, is no different.
So when How To L.A. host Brian De Los Santos approached me about exploring hot dogs in L.A., it was the perfect opportunity to discuss the city's hometown varieties, from immigrant enclaves to crazy culinary combos to old-school walk-up counter joints serving the same recipes for over half a century.
Here’s a list of my favorite L.A. accented hot dogs. No Pinks or Dodgers Dogs here — sorry if you’re a fan. This is my gut-check pick of the places that make this city special.
The bacon-wrapped hot dog
Attend any large-scale concert or sporting event in L.A., say the Crypto Arena or the Hollywood Bowl, and chances are someone will be selling a bacon-wrapped hot dog nearby.
Swaddled in bacon and showered with grilled onions and jalapeño, it's topped with obscene globs of ketchup, yellow mustard, and mayo. The spicy, creamy, and salty deluge of flavor is a mouthful but also feels like a rite of passage for becoming an Angeleno.
Where did bacon-wrapped hot dogs originate from? All signs point to Sonoran-style dogs (or “dogos” as they are also known) found in the state of Sonora in Mexico. The dish first jumped the border in Tucson, Arizona, and eventually arrived in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
Where to find the best one? That’s a little hard to say as they are omnipresent (with or without a vendor license). So next time you're at an event, follow the smell of bacon to the nearest street corner and bask in their caloric beauty. Maybe this one will be the best ever. At least for you.
Oki Dog
What do you get when you mash up a whole bunch of cultural influences during the birth of punk rock in Los Angeles? You get Oki Dog.
The original Oki Dog location was in West Hollywood, smack dab in the middle of nightclubs hosting up-and-coming punk bands in the 1970s and 1980s, making it a natural destination for club-goers.
The Oki Dog is two hot dogs filled with chili, thin ribbons of pastrami, and American cheese wrapped in a tortilla.
Sakai "Jimmy" Sueyoshi originally created it, drawing on his roots in Okinawa, Japan. The area is known for its jumble of cuisines since it's situated near China, Taiwan, and the Philippines. It has also been home to a large American military base since WW II. (Taco rice, anyone?)
The original location was forced to move because of community complaints (amped-up hungry punk rockers can be a little, um, unruly), ending up at its Fairfax location in Hollywood. While that closed in August, the location on Pico Blvd remains and still serves Oki Dogs.
The original locale still inspires musical tributes. Check out Youth Of Today and, more recently, hip-hop MC Murs.
Location: 4601 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles
Hours: Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Earle's On Crenshaw
Earle’s immediately oozes a strong sense of love and warmth when you enter the restaurant. The menu itself is simple, with options that include beef and turkey dogs, chicken links, veggie dogs, and a variety of solid toppings including ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes, tartar sauce, or their delightful chili to name a few.
With a choice of white or wheat bun, it almost feels like you're making a health-conscious decision, which feels like they care about your well-being. I opted for the chicken link, which arrived with a split through the dog filled with mustard, onion, relish and then topped with the chili. It feels like it's made with attentiveness, with that perfect snap on the first bite, the mark of a quality dog.
This Black-owned business aims to serve its Crenshaw community wholeheartedly. Started by brothers Cary and Duane Earle, who originally hailed from New York, they’ve solidified themselves as an L.A. institution since the early '90s, beginning with a hot dog cart. It’s common to see their mother, affectionately known as Mama Earle, helping at the restaurant, speaking with customers, and even cuddling the occasional baby.
Location: 864 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles
Hours: Monday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Closed Sundays
Two Hands Corn Dogs
Sure, we’ve all had a corn dog before, but more recently, Korean-style corn dogs have begun to inhabit our shores, creating a stir with their distinct textures.
The Two Hands establishment is a perfect example, poised for world domination as the chain catches on in shopping mall-like spaces throughout SoCal.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the number of options at Two Hands. First, select the outer toppings: standouts include the Two Hands dog with sweet ranch sauce or the Spicy Dog featuring a combination of spicy sauce and hot Cheetos powder. Then, pick the contents of your dog, which include half a hot dog, half mozzarella cheese, a spicy hot dog, and a plant-based option.
The Korean-style corn dog turns all previous notions of corn dogs on their heads. First, biting into the heavily battered dog, you’ll be immediately taken by its sweet flavoring and unique texture. Try the potato dog with an encrusted layer of fried potato cubes, topped with a tangy sauce and dusted with Flamin' Hot Cheetos seasoning, or the Injeolmi, made with pounded glutinous rice and drizzled with condensed milk.
Two Hand locations can be found all over Southern California. There’s a good chance there’s one near you; plan a trip and prepare to be amazed by the world of the Korean corn dog.
Locations: across SoCal
Hours: check here for hours of individual stores
Cupid's Hot Dogs
This hot dog stand brims with retro charm with its mid-century design and walk-up window ordering system. It’s just the type of throwback that we can never get enough of.
Cupid's Hot Dogs in the Valley has delighted locals for nearly 80 years, owned and operated by the Walsh family. It's currently run by sisters Morgan and Kelly Walsh, who took over from their father, Rick, who took over from his parents, Richard and Bernice Walsh, who started the business in 1946.
The Cupid Dog features an all-beef hot dog with a natural casing, topped with their signature chili, made with finely ground beef swimming in a velvety sauce, no beans. It provides an exquisite topping for the dog under a thin drizzle of yellow mustard and finely diced white onions. I suggest adding grated cheese for that hint of sharpness to the flavor profile.
Given that each dog costs a little over $5, you might have room in the budget for a second. The menu is tight, with only about five options to choose from, so go for the Chicago Dog.
Cupid's take on this Midwestern favorite is accurate, minus the poppy seed bun. However, the fresh-tasting toppings, such as the tangy tomatoes and onions with the spicey brine of the neon green relish, sport peppers, pickles, and sprinkling of celery salt, are so transformative you'll barely miss the bun itself. Wash down your two hot dogs with “a shot” of a fountain soda of your choice (.99 cents) and revel in the glory of one of the Valley's most iconic bites.
Location: 20030 Vanowen St., Winnetka
Hours: Open daily, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: 2585 Cochran St. Simi Valley
Hours: Open daily 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: 5000 Birch St. Suite 150 Newport Beach
Hours: Monday to Friday 10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
