Every hot dog I tried in my quest to find the best in metro Phoenix
This is not a typical top 10 list. And it was never meant to be.
For one thing, there aren’t 10 hot dogs on it. There are 15. And I didn’t rank them. Also, I didn’t have a bad hot dog, because there really isn’t such a thing. Some were better than others, certainly. Maybe I caught one place on a bad day, another on a good one. I didn’t abide by the traditional eat-three-times rule of reviewing a restaurant because, you know, I do have my health to think about.
Also, there were no ground rules, no uniform method to my madness. I didn’t order a chili dog at every place. If a restaurant was known for a Chicago dog, that’s what I got. A Sonoran dog joint? I’ll have one, thanks.
The point was never to list things in order, but to try to get back to that possibly mythical place I was in when my grandmother boiled a hot dog, slid it into a Rainbo bread bun, topped it with mustard, ketchup and diced onions and called it lunch.
I don’t know that I really found that, or if I could. But I had a hell of a time trying. Read all about it here. Or read on for a handy list of really good hot dogs.
Some of the best hot dogs in metro Phoenix
Follow in my footsteps and explore a world of hot dogs in metro Phoenix. Here's where I went:
Ted's Hot Dogs
Footlong hot dog ($6.09).
Details: 1755 E. Broadway Road, Tempe. 480-968-6678, tedshotdogs.com.
El Guero Canelo
Estilo Sonora ($4).
Details: Various locations in Tucson and Phoenix. 520-882-8977, elguerocanelo.com.
El Sabroso Restaurant
Hog dog Sonora Special ($5).
Details: 4216 W. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 480-760-3127, elsabrosohotdogs.com.
Chicago Hamburger Company
Chicago dog ($7.95).
Details: 3749 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-955-4137, chicagohamburger.com.
Luke's of Chicago
Chicago dog ($8.75).
Details: 1602 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-264-4022, lukesofchicago.com.
Jimmy's Hot Dogs
Chicago dog ($3.65), Sonoran dog ($5.75).
Details: 4022 E. Broadway Road # 101, Phoenix. 602-759-8357, instagram.com/jimmyshotdogs.
Portillo's
Chicago dog ($3.99).
Details: Various locations throughout the Valley. 480-967-7988, portillo's.com.
Detroit Coney Grill
Detroit Coney ($5.85).
Details: 6953 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. 480-597-4300, detroitconeygrill.com.
Sweet Magnolia Smokehouse
Magnolia link ($12).
Details: 4929 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 405, Phoenix. 623-221-2608, sweetmagnoliasmokehouse.com.
Short Leash Hot Dogs
The Lady ($10).
Details: 4221 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 602-795-2193, shortleashhotdogs.com.
Cold Beer and Cheeseburgers
Deep South dog ($14.50).
Details: Various locations in the Valley. 480-590-6502, coldbeers.com/cheeseburgers.
4th Avenue Deli
T-Dog ($6.25).
Details: 425 N. 4th Ave., Tucson. 520-624-3354, 4thavedelic.com.
Dog Haus
Downtown ($9.49).
Details: Various locations in the Valley. 480-621-6603, doghaus.com.
Costco
Hot dog and drink ($1.50).
Details: Various locations nationwide. 480-496-6651, costco.com.
Read about the quest: Why I spent weeks eating Arizona hot dogs
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Every hot dog I tried in my quest to find the best in metro Phoenix
