Top 10 Chili Dogs in LA

[wienermobile]

LA Weekly just put together their list of the top 10 Chili Dogs in LA. Did your favorite make their list? Carney's is the one missing for me. I do love that Cupid's made the list.

The LA Weekly List:
1 The bacon wrapped hot dog cart
2. Fab's Hot Dogs
3. Cupid's Hot Dogs
4. Vicious Dogs
5..Chronis,
6. Earlez
7 Jeff's Gourmet Sausages
8. Larry's Chili Dog
9. Let's Be Frank at Golden State
10.Tommy's

[loreeLB]

how is Carney's (an institution) not on here?!?? Love Carneys

[ns1]

Dropped by Carney's yesterday, probably because the chili is a bit too greasy for the dog + slice of kraft single on top.

[jessejames]

I don't know about ten, but my favorites not on the list:

Carneys (Sunset)
Coney Dogs (Sunset)
Marty's (Pico)
Oki Dogs (Fairfax, Pico)

I've also heard Skooby's is good and same with Papaya King on Hollywood.

Right now, I'm trending toward Coney Island -- steamed bun, zesty chili, good dogs, good size (ie two) but can't miss with Carney's either.

[Bruin22]

Carneys is on top of my list. And Oki Dog is a favorite but I suspect it is owned by the pharmaceutical company that makes Lipitor because, well, you can guess....But once in a while, an Oki Dog with everything is just right.

Skooby's would not be anywhere near my top 10.

[Jack Flash]

Skooby's is pretty good. Then again, I can't specifically remember just their hot dog. They have good fries and lemonade, too, so overall it's quite enjoyable. But if you're just looking at the hot dog itself, hmm, yeah, I'm not sure.

[Bruin2]

As to Skooby's I liked their fries and lemonade but for whatever reason, that I can't remember, the dog did not impress. It just might have been time and place because as we all know, time and place has a lot to do with how we perceive the food we eat. By the way, speaking of dogs, the dog they used to sell at Costco was darn good. We think the dog of late is not as good, though factoring in cost, it's hard to beat.

[Jack Flash]

re Costco: a lot of stores (but not all, last I checked) switched from a Hebrew National dog to a Kirkland Signature tube steak which, while perfectly decent, is probably a notch below in flavor (though I'm not a real fan of anything without a natural casing). But yeah, still an overall good deal.

[ns1]

I actually prefer the KS polish to the HN polish

[wienermobile]

I do to.

[Jack Flash]

I'm not sure I ever tried the HN Polish sausage. I've had the Kirkland and enjoyed it. Could it be the case that HN has the better dog, but KS the better Polish?

[ns1]

possibly. The KS polish is significantly more seasoned than the HN; you can see it in every bite.

neither one had any texture.

[Ernie]

Papaya King is terrible, don't even bother. Skooby's is light years better

[Feed_me]

I'm with Ernie. I ate at Papaya King several times around the time they opened because it is close to the Hotel Cafe. I found the franks skinny, spongey and too salty. Haven't eaten at Skooby's in a while, but I think it's one of the better hot dog places. Nice franks with snap. Very good fries and the lemonade is fresh squeezed. I don't find Earlez that special. Wish I could find an "authentic" Vienna Beef Chicago style dog (with the goodies) around mid-town to west L.A. My favorite dog of what's available (within reasonable distance) is the bacon wrapped dog of Pablo who has his cart parked along the B&B Hardware parking lot Mon. to Sat.). He even puts on a fresh, chunky guacamole. Mighty tasty for $3. He also stocks some cold Mexican sourced sodas to wash it down. I sometimes eat at a cart at Lennox/Inglewood Avenue. He has some interesting bacon wrapped dogs with some interesting add-ons like chorizo, pineapple, and ham. $4 for the priviledge.

[jessejames]

thanks for the info hounds-- no time to waste on bad dogs, ie papayas.

martys is on pico by rancho park and uses vienna beef dogs...large ones, and very satisfying. the "combo" is a split dog on top of a burger for the light lunch.

Another place that has vienna beef dogs on pico (near doheny) served on a fresh onion roll bun is label's table deli ...large and steamed....chili there is dodgy (way too meaty, gasp) but the other deli sandwiches are tasty.

i love that our city is a hotdog town!

[jessejames]

Had the pleasure of the chili cheese dog at Kalbi Burger, a large vienna beef frank, with melted nacho type cheese and a brown all-meat chili (looked like broken down korean bbq). This was pretty tasty.

http://kalbiburger.com/about/

[Bruin22]

This list is completely bogus or done by someone who has not had a chili dog in the last 10 years. First, Chronis was good 30 years ago, but since then has been average, at best. Next Tommy's while average for a burger, does not have a great dog. Third, while the hot dog carts smell great, the weiners themselves, are fourth rate. And last, any list that does not include Carneys, which IMHO has the best chili dog, in the top 10 is just not accurate, and by not accurate I'm trying not to use cuss words. They have a great dog. But yes, props to the list for not mentioning Pinks, though props to Pinks for giving Tourists another place to visit and spend money in LA..

[AAQjr]

FYI It's not a Chili dog list. It's a hot dog list as mentioned above. And all you Pink haters out there, don't judge the Dog by the line at the stand! just because Pinks ain't worth 45-60 min wait does not mean it's not better than half that list.

[Burger Boy]

Get the Jalapeno Sausage Dog at Pink's, I get mustard & onions only, if you want chili on it have them go easy.

[Sam D.]

The reviewer used to be a frequent poster here on CH. Pink's was briefly mentioned in the body of the article as were Dodger Dogs. But I think it was just to show they weren't overlooked because neither was rated in the top 10.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

FYI The article's author Tien is not Thi who was the Chowhounder turned reviewer. They are according to my wife who occasionally writes for Squid Ink, two different people.

[WildSwede]

My favorites are on there - Cupid's is #1, always. Larry's reminds me of the first chili dog I ever had at Papa John's in Van Nuys in the 70s and I love it. Where is Carney's?
Did not like Fab's. Oki Dog kinda freaked me out, though not sure why.

[ns1]

Buncha japanese guys making hot dogs in the 'hood? lol

[Burger Boy]

Which Oki Dog. Oki's Dog on Pico is okay but you need to go to Oki Dogs on Fairfax, that is what it is all about. Be sure to get it loaded!

[Servorg]

"Be sure to get it loaded!"

Have no doubt, each and every time I ate at Oki Dogs on Fairfax, I was most definitely loaded... ;-D>

[wienermobile]

Two Carney's locations both in train cars, one on The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood and one in Studio City on Ventura Blvd. Great Chili Dogs.

-----
Carney's
12601 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Carney's Restaurant
8351 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90069

[Peripatetic]

Shocked! I'd have put it at 99-1 that WildSwede was well acquainted with Carney's!

It's enough of an institution to merit a Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carney%27s

Not my favorite chili dog, but decent, and dining in the rail cars is always fun.

[WildSwede]

Sorry! I was not clear - what I meant was "Where is Carney's on this list?!" Yes, I am very familiar with Carneys, but thank you for taking care of me guys! ;-)

[wienermobile]

Carney's surprisingly did not make this list. But it's near the top of mine.

[Jack Flash]

Mine too. Hard to believe it was omitted, especially considering that Carney's has been around since 1975.

[Peripatetic]

> Sorry! I was not clear - what I meant was "Where is Carney's on this list?!

My bad. I should have known that's what you meant!

[Sound of Peripatetic kicking self repeatedly.]

[WildSwede]

Please don't kick yourself! No need. I like them, too. Wonder whose list that is - who was polled.

[lovemy49ers]

You are the first person I have ever seen to mention my all time, absolute favorite Chili Dog ever! I grew up eating Papa Johns and wish so much that they were still around. I can still remember the "snap" the dog made! Wow...yeah, I guess it was the 70's...oh well, I'm old..:(
I enjoy Fab's but not the chili dog, which is awful. There fries are good and the owner created an interesting curry ketchen. Carney's is my favorite followed closely by Cupid's. I am curious now about Oki Dog which my boyfriend and I ride by all the time in Hollywood..

[WildSwede]

WHAT??!! lovemy49ers: I have mentioned Papa John's several times here but never had anyone respond that they remember/know about it. You should definitely try Larry's in Burbank. I think they close by 6pm in the evening, but theirs is the closest I have ever come to the taste of Papa John's. Do I know you? We seem to have the same taste in chili dogs!! I guess we are old together! ;-)

[yogachik]

If someone wanted to make a small mint, they would open up a great hot dog place on the westside. Not a sausage place like Wurstküche, but a real hot dog place.

[wienermobile]

A new hot dog place is about to open in Manhattan Beach called Hotdogger's in the site of the old Glacier Ice Cream on Sepulveda Blvd. Word is that they will be open till 3am. Here is a list of what they will be serving from their Facebook site: Hot Dogs, Grilled Dogs, Boiled Dogs, Fried Dogs, Frittered Dogs, Fillet'd Dogs, Lard Basted Dogs, Burger Dogs, Stuffed Dogs, Bacon Wrapped Dogs, Mild Dogs, Spicy Dogs, Chicken Dogs, Cajun Dogs, Exotic Dogs, Beach Dogs, California B-B-Q Dogs, Big Dogs, Little Dogs, In-Between Dogs, Hot Dog Soup, Kobe Dogs, Hot Dog Saimin. Should be open any day now.

[Burger Boy]

Hey Weiner Mobile, are you involved with this venture? Full disclosure my friend?

[wienermobile]

Nope, it's just in my neighborhood and I do love hot dogs. I just hope it's good. That location seems cursed.

[Mattapoisett in LA]

No they wouldn't. I think that it's for the same reason DTF never opens on the Westside, rents are too high to make a buck. We do have two locations of "the Stand", Tubs chili has a snappy Sabrett's dog and decent chili though I hate their bun. and my current Fav dog is the Bird dog at Let's Be Frank and while they don't have chili they do have devil sauce which I think makes the whole thing work.

[Jack Flash]

Actually, it's top-10 hot dogs, not chili dogs, as evidenced by #1.

[Peripatetic]

Well spotted. Here's the actual article:

"10 Best Hot Dogs in Los Angeles"
http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/20...

[wienermobile]

Sorry my mistake. Thanks.

[Peripatetic]

I think the chili dog at Slaw Dogs is underrated. Their chili is excellent, and, when made with a rippered natural casing dog, it's sublime. However, Slaw Dogs focuses on their more exotic (and, IMHO, underwhelming) combinations, and doesn't promote their nc chili dog, with the result that it doesn't get the recognition it deserves.

EDIT: possibly the list is limited to places within the LA city limits. All of the entries are in LA proper. Still doesn't account for the omission of Carney's. Props for omitting Pinks, though!

[GK in SO]

The should have included "The Wein Truck". It's a former incarnation of the infamous "Weiner Factory", including all the dogs formerly carried (and made exclusively for) Weiner Factory.

Not to mention WF's chili, which is soooooo good. On par with Cupids', in my book.

http://www.thewien.com/

[ns1]

I love Fab's but found their CCD terrible (it's significantly better if you request the cheese BELOW the chili)

Vicious was the worst CCD I've ever had.

I don't understand the love for Tommy's CCD

Oki Dog better than all three by a mile

[A5 KOBE]

Yeah, Fab's CCD is straight up nasty. I did not care for Chroni's.

I will take a chili cheese fire dog with pastrami at Marty's over any place in the OP.