From Papaya King to Coney Dog: Ranking LA's Hot Dogs

Eating hot dogs isn't just reserved for the July 4th holiday (though, in fact, that's what we did). In Los Angeles, it's a year-round culinary habit, and it's particularly prevalent in the summer months -- July is, in fact, National Hot Dog Month. You'll no doubt savor a Dodger Dog at least once during the regular season, and you might get stuck taking out-of-towners to Pink's (we can't think of a single local that would stand in that line self-willingly). Want to give another dog a bite? Below, we pit five hot dogs against each other -- four newer dogs and one forever underdog -- and here, we'll begin power rankings from worst to best:

Photos by Lien Ta

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Papaya King

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NYC's beloved Papaya King set up shop in Hollywood last month -- complete with a you-need-to-be-on-the-list secret bar in which you access via the yellow door beside the juice bar. We asked for the most popular wiener, and we got the Homerun, a skinny little thing covered in kraut and New York onions. The latter is grilled onions lathered in a red sauce that's not too far from what we grew up calling "sweet 'n' sour." The kraut was, thus, overpowered, and the dog ... well, it was fine, if you prefer to eat your hot dog like a chicken nugget. At $2.50 a dog, this was by far the cheapest -- in every way. Papaya King, 1645 Wilcox Avenue, at Hollywood Boulevard (323-871-8799 or papayaking.com)

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NYC's beloved Papaya King set up shop in Hollywood last month -- complete with a you-need-to-be-on-the-list secret bar in which you access via the yellow door beside the juice bar. We asked for the most popular wiener, and we got the Homerun, a skinny little thing covered in kraut and New York onions. The latter is grilled onions lathered in a red sauce that's not too far from what we grew up calling "sweet 'n' sour." The kraut was, thus, overpowered, and the dog ... well, it was fine, if you prefer to eat your hot dog like a chicken nugget. At $2.50 a dog, this was by far the cheapest -- in every way.
Papaya King, 1645 Wilcox Avenue, at Hollywood Boulevard (323-871-8799 or papayaking.com)

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Comments

[dblueII]

02:19 PM on 08/27/2011

The LA branch of Papaya King is horrible, and this is from a person who once practcaly lived on papaya kings. They got pretty much everything wrong. In NYC you get snappy dogs and snappy service, here, you get neither. I honestly don't know how they managed to screw it up so badly, I mean it's just a hot dog.

[Valentino Herrera]

01:57 AM on 07/21/2011

A while back I would have included Pink's but it seems that the quality has gone downhill recently. You might consider Dogzilla, and I have to agree that Fab Hot Dogs should be on the list. Although they're known for their take on the New Jersey ripper (can't add Rutt's since they're out of state), they also do a decent Carolina/WV slaw dog, a spot-on Chicago dog and even attempt "The Fairfax", their version of the dreaded Oki Dog. Also, as an honorable mention, the cheap simplicity of the hotdogs at Costco is nothing to scoff at, and the original Hot Dog on a Stick at Santa Monica Beach probably deserves a lifetime achievement award. Of course, my dark horse candidate is the Show Dog at Papoo's in Burbank...

[CAhye]

02:17 PM on 07/19/2011

pinks???? hello!!!!

[Patricia013]

05:22 PM on 07/10/2011

Sad that NJ's Rutts Hut wasn't one of the dogs in the article. I never tasted anything as good as those dogs.

[spqr369]

07:00 PM on 07/07/2011

Pink's should be on this list...

[TitaniumAvatar]

05:19 PM on 07/07/2011

I'm a Cupid's fan myself.

Hard to break a 40+ year habit.

[peaches627]

03:23 PM on 07/06/2011

they didn't include alley dogs!! It is wrapped in bacon and topped with pico de gallo and guacamole. freaking amazing

[commonsensor2009]

04:51 PM on 07/05/2011

Last year for National Hot Dog Day (July 23 - Oh, man it's on a Saturday this year) my wife and I went to Cupid's, Carneys and The Stand to see who had the best Chili Dog. The best all around chili dog was Cupid's - Carney's had a better hot dog, but, the chili fell a little short. The place to avoid at all costs was The Stand.

[MexiChick67]

04:04 PM on 07/05/2011

King Papaya related to the Grey Papaya?

[bart4u]

03:03 PM on 07/05/2011

Pinks is way way over rated. Carneys the place that uses old trains has a great chili dog. The place in Studio City is always packed with customers. There is a reason for that. Larrys in Burbank has a good mustard dog.

[Fnordpocalypse]

01:46 PM on 07/05/2011

Been to Otis Jackson a few times. I recommend the Jerk Dog. Sweet and spicey.

If you live in the Valley you should check out Fab Dog in Loehmann's plaza. Everything on the menu is amazing and it's not too pricey. the LA Street Dog is the bomb!!

[commonsensor2009]

04:57 PM on 07/05/2011

Dude, Really the Fab Dog - is that the one that takes 10 minutes to make because they deep fry it? Gotta say I have just never been impressed by Fabs. Although you do see a line out the door most days.

[Fnordpocalypse]

06:34 PM on 07/05/2011

The deep fried one is called a "ripper". Not all of their dogs are fried though. I think it takes 10 minutes because there is always a line out the door. I'm sure everybody in LA has an opinion on the best dog in the city though.

I want to check out Chili Affliction in Hollywood. Handmade dogs and sausages!!

[IsabelRingin]

03:21 PM on 07/07/2011

Nothing is better than an LA street dog! Wrapped in bacon, grilled onions and peppers and salsa. One of my few remaining guilty pleasures.

[CAhye]

02:18 PM on 07/19/2011

served with mayo and ketchup! bomb.com