Food

Where to find the best — and quintessentially LA — hot dogs in the city

Published Sep 20, 2024 5:00 AM

A hot dog sits inside two white pieces of thin to-go paper, topped with cooked white onion and drizzled with bright red shiny ketchup, yellow mustard, and white mayo with a bright green jalapeño with char marks. Directly above the jalapeño, a pair of metal tongs hold the pepper in place.

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

Keep up with LAist.

If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.

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.

Support for LAist comes from

Become a sponsor

More news

A large dark brown cooked hot dog inside a pale yellow hot dog bun topped with cooked white onion sits over a white to-go paper wrapping containing various grease spots. On the right is a large portion of yellow-gold-colored French fries placed on top of a flattened brown paper bag.

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

A hot dog inside of bun that's topped with cooked white oinion and topped with red ketup and yellow mustard

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.

Support for LAist comes from

Become a sponsor

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

A pair of light-skinned hands holds a burrito-shaped food item cut in half, revealing the contents: two sliced pink hot dogs with thin ribbons of cooked red meat mixed with a thick brown chili sauce and shredded yellow cheese.

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.

Support for LAist comes from

Become a sponsor

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 outside of a small light brown building located on a small street corner. The building contains four identical squared black-framed windows with a slightly faded black awning above. Above the building, it reads Teriyaki Plates & Pastrami in black lettering. Next to the building on the left is a stand-alone sign that reads World Famous Oki's Dog Since 1979. In front of the sign, a dark-skinned man leans against a traffic light pole.

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

A hot dog with a light brown bun sits on a rectangular white styrofoam plate. The hot dog itself is sliced practically down the middle and is filled with orange cheese then topped with brown substance then topped with more cheese. In the bottom left corner is practically shown pile of little yellow chile peppers.

Support for LAist comes from

Become a sponsor

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: 3864 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles
Hours: Monday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.; Closed Sundays

Two Hands Corn Dogs

An overhead photo of three corn dogs in a box: one is drizzled with a cream sauce, the other is drizzled with cheese sauce, and the third has yellow chunks, a cheese drizzle and red spicy sprinkles. Next to the corn dogs are a box of fries. There's also the edge of a drink cup and a container that reads 'Two Hands Seoul Fresh 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.

A glass and metal store front that reads "Two Hands Seoul Fresh Corn Dogs." It's night time. There's a white woman standing next to an Asian man near the entrance. Closer to the camera a blurred group of three passes by.

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

A chili cheese hot dog and a hot dog with pickles, tomatoes, and chiles both partially wrapped in a white paper on top of a red plastic tray.

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.

A small one story shack with white walls and a black roof. There's a pole with a sign made of a red heart with an arrow crossing it that reads "Cupid's Hot Dogs."

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.

Trending on LAist

Climate and Environment

Rooftop solar installations are falling in LA. Why?

After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline.
News

LA28 Olympic diving moves to the Rose Bowl in a bid to save millions

The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
Housing and Homelessness

State lawmakers unveil bill that would put new limits on LA’s hotly debated ‘mansion tax’

Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
Climate and Environment

Big Bear housing project proposal reignites habitat concerns among bald eagle fans

If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
News

Supreme Court allows immigration agents to resume ‘roving patrols’ in LA, siding with Trump

The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Civics & Democracy

Judge rules against Huntington Beach in latest battle over library 'culture wars'

Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.