First great hot dog experiences

Larry's chili dogs in Burbank CA:

My first real hot dog experience was about 20 years ago when I was 9 years old. My dad would send me down the street to see the old man, I guess it was Larry at Larry's Chili Dog on Burbank Blvd in Burbank, CA and he or his son would make delicious chili cheese dogs for me and my dad. They used a very snappy natural casing frank (pretty sure it was just steamed or boiled and a very unique (wrap around) bun, that was steamed. The chili was soo good. Great thick seasoned fries too!
I stopped there a few years ago and Larry's had a new owner, but they claimed to still use the original recipes. If I hadn't just eaten, I would have ordered a chili dog..I should have though, it'll be a while until I'll be able to again.

Anyway, Larry's is the reason why I still love and try various chili dogs today :>

I know it's a fat chance, but has anyone ever been there?

does anyone else remember the first time they had a really good hot dog besides the gross ball parks?

Sure. The first one I remember was from a place called Pennuche's at Walnut Beach in Milford, Connecticut. The dog was a Roessler's, and I think it was the relish that made it. It was a spicy red relish, and there was also a good brown mustard, chopped onions and sauerkraut.

OOOH< I love hot dogs, I do remember mine as well:) I was a kid and there used to be a Farrell's in our local mall. It was yummy, and we also had a great pizza place that my parents of course would get the grilled oven pizza and I would get the grilled hot dog, super yummy, just a little charred to bring the flavor out! No steaming like most places. The name escapes me right now, it was an excellent family dining experience. Big wooden tables, all rustic and cool junk toys and coloring books for us kids! Not like the toys now that you have to pay a buck to try and get the claw to grab a stuffed animal toy thing...ahhhh those were the days:)

yep---at home in suburbs of Boston---split top buns grilled--Maple Leaf or Essum dogs-natural casings--boiled and then grilled to a slight char--Gouldens spucy brown mustard--homemade piccilli and onions--with HOME baked beans! Every saturday night!! I can taste it now!

quote:

Originally posted by Shaun

Larry's chili dogs in Burbank CA:


I know it's a fat chance, but has anyone ever been there?

I lived by Larry's for eight years, but only went once. I had one chilli dog and one with mustard and relish. I guess the dogs were not too memorable, because I never had a strong desire to go back. It also bothered me that the new owners had added things like "gyros" to the menu instead of keeping it a pure hot dog joint. I might give it another try if I'm ever back in Burbank.

I did enjoy Chilli John's. Did you ever go there?

I was about 7 or 8 and my parents took me to Gene & Jude's in River Grove (western burbs of Chicago, 15 minutes south of O'hare) which was just minutes away from my house. The cooks have attitude, but serve a hell of a dog. Vienna Beef in skin casings, served with mustard, onions, sport peppers, and reslish if you want. The dogs are wrapped with the best french fries I have had to this date. The fries are cleaned, not peeled, cut and deep fried for about 15 minutes. Most are crispy, but some are a bit mushy. Oh, the goodness... I have been hooked ever since. Whenever I go back home, I always try to stop by.

River Rd. and Grand Ave in River Grove, IL. If you are ever in the area, do go. It's widely known to be one of the best, if not the best, in Chicago.

The first experience I can remember is when I was around 4 or 5. We lived on the west side of Chicago. Either my father would get a hankering for a hot dog or my brother and I would please with my folks to take us. The destination would be a place called Al's. It must have been on Lake Street because I called it "Al's under the railroad tracks." The elevated commuter rail line, or the "L", ran down Lake street. I always ordered a hot dog with mustard only, fries and an orange drink.

Sweet memories.

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I did enjoy Chilli John's. Did you ever go there?

nope never went there. I also heard Tommy's was good too, but never went there. I do remember going to Weinersnitchel and a place called Pup n Taco that weren't bad in the Burbank area.

I was about 11 or 12 and was caddying in the local country club tournament. The club had recruited some of the older caddies to cook burgers and dogs at shelters along the course. Burgers were going fast but dogs were readily available if you didn't mind them a little "well done". We were hungry enough that we didn't mind and loaded them up with relish, onions, and Gulden's Mustard. They were fantastic and for the rest of the day the cooks would save the blackies for us. To this day it's how I fix my dogs when I'm grilling, which I try to do often. Come to think about it, there are a few leftovers in the fridge. Now I'm hungry for breakfast.

I never was a fan of hot dogs at all growing up...something about the texture of these things that is just not appealing to me, personally.
I do remember enjoying in South America a typical snack food in a concession at a bullfight (? actually, a snack common to street vendors all over there). A small plastic sack of french fries was covered will small "salsichas" (basically miniature dogs). The whole thing was slathered in a mayonnaise sauce...they gave you a small plastic fork to consume it....delicious! Although I would rather not know the components of the hot dogs, nor would I like to know how long the mayo stayed outside of any refrigeration (I found in Latin American in many places mayonnaise was treated as a condiment on the same level as ketchup, mustard, etc., in terms of being cared for. It meant that no matter how hot outside or in the house, the mayo sat in a pantry!!!), it was tasty.

Flukey's in Chicago! Back in the day there was nothing like it. Prior to that my only Hot Dog exposure was the store bought brands or the bland tubes of nothingness served at my grade school cafeteria. When I was about 9 or 10, we went on an excursion; a busload of fathers and sons from a charitable organization going down to see the Chicago Cougars from the old WHL (remember that?). On the way we stopped for some grub at Flukey's old location on Western Ave., south of Pratt, west side of the street. At that point in my life I didn't know nuthin' from nuthin', so my Dad encouraged me to get a dog with everything. I compromised and left off the tomato and hot peppers (I've since learned better). It was absolutely transcendent! I had never had anything like that before. The combination of flavors made me feel alive.

As I grew older and acquired my driver's license, my relationship with Flukey's became more committed and the visits more frequent. I lived in the north suburbs, but found many excuses be near Pratt and Western and my beloved Flukey's.

As the years passed, so did Abe "Flukey" Drexler, along with the warm old Jewish Grandmothers (Baubies) who worked the line ("You want a little more onion an that? That's a beautiful sandwich, dahlink.") It's been a long time since I've been back. Some say the food has slipped, and I know for sure that the young people they have working there now will never match the charm of the old ladies. Nevertheless, Flukey's will always be the definitive Hot Dog and Roadfood (before I even realized what Roadfood was) experience for me.

When I was about 8 or 9, my aunt, who lived with us in our home on Long Island, and who worked in NYC, took my sister and I to a show at Radio City Music Hall. On the way home, we stopped in Penn Station and had an original "Nedick's" hot dog and orange drink. I can still remember the taste of that dog, grilled on the roller grill, served on a top split style roll, and topped with that amazing Nedick's "hot dog relish"! And the Orange drink was awfully good too! To this day, I buy Heinz hot dog relish 'cause it's about the closest thing you can get to the old Nedick's mix, and it still makes a great topping on a dog!
I went to Nedicks many times after that, with my Dad, and later on as I got old enough, by myself, and the dogs were always good.
I've tried the "new" Nedicks a few times, and while the dogs are good, it just isn't the same. Thankfully, the orange drink is still pretty good though!

One of the best that I have had was a foot long hot dog on the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, SC. There is a little place called Abrahams run by a man and his sister from Greece. The dogs are grilled and served with your choice of toppings. But to go along with the hot dogs, they serve they best fried potatoes (not french fries). It is just a little hole in the wall, but the food is great.

I'm going to broadly interpret great here... I was 16-17 and my Volunter Rescue Unit attended a parade/housing for a North Jersey fire co. After the housing (pushing the new truck into the station)my buddy and I hit the hotdogs..and hit the hotdogs...and HIT the hotdogs..huge pots filled with basic dogs simmered over open flames, kraut,chowchow, relish and mustard available at the next table, rootbeer on tap..(we were underage)20-25 dawgs?? I don't remember, I DO remember laying on the stretcher groaning on the ride home........

The only really "great" hot dog experience I can recall growing up would probably have had to be Griffith Stadium, Washington DC, at an old Washington Senators game. Not sure the dog was all that great, but when you're a kid, any hot dog at a major league ball game has to be considered "great".

I am sitting here in the rain, waiting patiently for my first 'Great Hot Dog Experience'! I have enjoyed (so to speak) some good hot dogs, especially the Costco Cheap Polish Dogs we got in SoCal and recently in Cincinnati. But "Great Hot Dogs"?, I haven't seen one yet.

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Originally posted by emsmom

One of the best that I have had was a foot long hot dog on the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, SC. There is a little place called Abrahams run by a man and his sister from Greece. The dogs are grilled and served with your choice of toppings. But to go along with the hot dogs, they serve they best fried potatoes (not french fries). It is just a little hole in the wall, but the food is great.

I kinda like Sam's corner in Pawleys on my way to the airport for a footlong chili cheese slaw dog with a scotch and water!!! At 4:00 AM.

But during my childhood - the 60's, my Dad always brought home Superdawgs to our home in Wilmette. My Grandmother, Dad's Mom lived on Marmora, very close to Superdawg and since he took such good care of her, he did the same for us! I'd have to say i still love that place! Great hotdogs and fries albeit the traffic around there is the worst.

My uncle Tim took me alllll the way to NEW BEDFORD MASS ( From the Cape, like a whole 45 minute drive... a big deal when you're a kid) for a "real hot dog stand hot dog" when i was a kid. they put CELERY SALT on the dogs there. i rmember it being goooood, and whole experience is clear in my mind... it was so long ago. tHaNks Uncle Tim
We also for a very short time had a place called Roadrace Hotdogs ( my son still wears an ancient tee shirt with the logo, a "running" hotdog") in Falmouth Mass. that i went to when i was young. They had a "special"dog called submaweena.. i think it was like a hot dog SUB sandwich??!!? i dont remember the dogs too well, but i do remmber that we went with friends of ours who had a son my age and a foo foo prissy big sister and i laughed soooo hard when the boy lined up a bunch of ketchup packets on the ground and jumped on them and got ketchup all over his fancy sisters white sundress.. hehehe. KIDS! HAH!

We like the Sams Corner in Garden City. My husband always gets up early and joins the morning regulars for a cup of coffee around the counter at Sams but no hot dogs that early in the day

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Originally posted by jeepguy

quote:

Originally posted by emsmom

One of the best that I have had was a foot long hot dog on the boardwalk at Myrtle Beach, SC. There is a little place called Abrahams run by a man and his sister from Greece. The dogs are grilled and served with your choice of toppings. But to go along with the hot dogs, they serve the best fried potatoes (not french fries). It is just a little hole in the wall, but the food is great.

I kinda like Sam's corner in Pawleys on my way to the airport for a footlong chili cheese slaw dog with a scotch and water!!! At 4:00 AM.

Sam's in Pawleys Island lacks the character of the Garden City location.Those guys in GC "really" push the drinks!!!

quote:

Originally posted by BuddyRoadhouse

Flukey's in Chicago! Back in the day there was nothing like it. Prior to that my only Hot Dog exposure was the store bought brands or the bland tubes of nothingness served at my grade school cafeteria. When I was about 9 or 10, we went on an excursion; a busload of fathers and sons from a charitable organization going down to see the Chicago Cougars from the old WHL (remember that?). On the way we stopped for some grub at Flukey's old location on Western Ave., south of Pratt, west side of the street. At that point in my life I didn't know nuthin' from nuthin', so my Dad encouraged me to get a dog with everything. I compromised and left off the tomato and hot peppers (I've since learned better). It was absolutely transcendent! I had never had anything like that before. The combination of flavors made me feel alive.

As I grew older and acquired my driver's license, my relationship with Flukey's became more committed and the visits more frequent. I lived in the north suburbs, but found many excuses be near Pratt and Western and my beloved Flukey's.

As the years passed, so did Abe "Flukey" Drexler, along with the warm old Jewish Grandmothers (Baubies) who worked the line ("You want a little more onion an that? That's a beautiful sandwich, dahlink.") It's been a long time since I've been back. Some say the food has slipped, and I know for sure that the young people they have working there now will never match the charm of the old ladies. Nevertheless, Flukey's will always be the definitive Hot Dog and Roadfood (before I even realized what Roadfood was) experience for me.

Buddy: Rose Greenberg's son is a good friend of mine. Rose retired from Flukey's around seven years ago. She is now 85 and still kicking. She is indeed one of the nicest "old ladies" there is. Maybe the next time I make some dogs I should ask her to dress them for me.

Very nice to know! Those old ladies really knew their stuff. They cared about what they were doing, the product they put out and the customers they served. Being served and eating at Flukey's was one of the most joyous experiences of my then young life. Please let her know how much I, and my friends appreciated her and the other women who treated us with respect and great care. As stated in my original post, we went out of our way to eat at Flukey's and she was part of the reason.

When I was little I loved the school hot dogs with sauerkraut and ketchup.
At home, my dad would grill Oscar Meyer or Kahns hot dogs and serve them with a grilled bun and I covered them with relish, onions, cheese, tomatoes and ketchup.
I too remember the hot dogs at Farrells --- and the fries that accompanied them and the ice cream that came after them!

Andrea

When I was young my dad would take the family to HOT DOG CHARLIE'S on Congress Street in Troy, NY. It had counters on one side and booths on the other side. The hot dog grill was in the window. The dogs cost $0.05 back then. The counter men would line the dogs up their arm to the elbow. Zip on the mustard with a wooden ladle, a forkful of onions then pat it down and a spoonful of coney sauce. That Charlies location is no more but I stop at Charlies once a year when I am in the area.

Walt

I was born and raised on the west side of Chicago in the late 40's. We lived on Roosevelt(aka 12th Street)& Keeler. Minutes east of our home was Maxwell Street, where I would ride the streetcar with my grandparents. This is where I experienced my first Vienna Beef hot dog and Polish. I was born 8 years after Jim's Original opened.
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When I was betwwen 9-12 I would stay with my cousin for a week in the summer in Oak Park Illinois. We would go to Parky's on Harlem Ave for a dog served with a brown paper lunch bag filled with greasy fresh cut fries. Cost was 35 cents.

Lum's, Fort Lauderdale, 1970's.

Jonathan

I grew up in Worcester, MA. When we were young my father would drop us off at the Boys Club on Ionic Ave. and after a day of basketball and swimming he would take us to George's Coney Island. I think the dogs were a dime apiece and the place looked like it had been there forever. Great chili dogs, my brothers used to get 'em plain with ketchup, but Dad convinced me Chili was the way to go. I stop by every month or so for a few "up", that's a dog with chili, mustard and onion. The place still looks like it's been there forever, even forty years later not much has changed but the price.