Hot Dog Spot Top Dog in LA Awards

We've been busy for the past few weeks giving out awards to the best hot doggeries in Los Angeles. The categories for the 2004 Top Dog Awards are...

Best Hot Doggery
Best Wiener
Best Polish Sausage
Best Toppings
Best Sides
Best Atmosphere
Best Deal in Town

In addition to those, we have two special awards...

Honorary Wienermeister Degree
Website of Merit

At the end of the week, we will be announcing our final award for this year, the prestigeous Angeleno Award for the Hot Dog that best reflects the spirit and culture of Los Angeles.

Check it out...


See ya
Steve

Thanks for the list! Pink's (which I think is over rated) is always on every dog list; I'm glad you've listed other places!

Looks terrific--almost makes me want to jump on I 40 and drive 1200 miles!!! I sure do miss good hot dog stands!!!

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

Looks terrific--almost makes me want to jump on I 40 and drive 1200 miles!!! I sure do miss good hot dog stands!!!

I'll ride with you and split the gas, but only if we make a run north to the bay area too!

quote:

Originally posted by mistertawny

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

Looks terrific--almost makes me want to jump on I 40 and drive 1200 miles!!! I sure do miss good hot dog stands!!!

I'll ride with you and split the gas, but only if we make a run north to the bay area too!

Dim sum in The City!!!!--and Original Joes for veal!!!----and Ruthies Inn in Oakland for BLUES!!!! lets go!!!

mistertawny----remember Doggie Diner!!!---had a buddy that worked the scariest job i knew---graveyard shift at the Doggie Diner in Richmond! fine at 3 pm---but a 3 AM---yikes!!! and he thought i was nuts for tending bar on San Pablo Ave in Berkeley!!

For a bay area site similar to Hot Dog Spot, see...

http://www.jatbar.com

See ya
Steve

Tiki, One of my favorite neon signs was always the Hotsy-Totsy club sign there on San Pablo towards El Cerrito. Funny, I never thought of San Pablo, at least north of University, as being unsafe.
We used to stop for Q late at night along Cutting Blvd. in Richmond at some walkup place
too. Either things weren't as bad then,(83-84) or I was even more dumb.

quote:

Originally posted by bill voss

Tiki, One of my favorite neon signs was always the Hotsy-Totsy club sign there on San Pablo towards El Cerrito. Funny, I never thought of San Pablo, at least north of University, as being unsafe.
We used to stop for Q late at night along Cutting Blvd. in Richmond at some walkup place
too. Either things weren't as bad then,(83-84) or I was even more dumb.

Bill, man that brings back memories. Both of my (considerably) older siblings and most of my cousins were (and some still are) members of a certain outlaw bike club whose colors are red and white..... Anyway the Hotsy Totsy was a place that all the various clubs could gather without any turf probs. It was also where a lot of beefs were settled. Granted I was only a kid in those days (late 60's to early 70's), but I do remember that upper San Pablo between Berkely and Richmond had some spots that were as rough as anywhere in Oakland or SF. The area cleaned up about 1980, and started gentrifying about 1982. Although the death of the El Cerrito mall (when Emporium/Capwell's died really hurt for a while). Right down the street a ways south I use to go to the Ashkenaz to see live music!

Tiki, do I remember Doggie Diner? We had one on Webster St. in Alameda where I grew up. My favorite dog from them was called a "salad dog". Cheddar cheese, some chopped lettuce and a big helping of thousand island dressing! Man was it good. Some of the greasiest and best french fries anywhere too! I still remember the day the last head came down. It was surely sad for me. Although about 3 years later I bought one and put it in my backyard for the kids to play in. Eventually the city complained so I sold it to a friend in Point Richmond where (I think) it still sits today.

The day the doggie diners died. Sad. I loved DD during my brief tenure in the bay area.I always thought Point Richmond was the coolest spot around. Isolated and rustic, and minutes from Marin. Mr. Tawny, shoot me an E-mail. I wanted to ask you about some things non food related down in your neck of the woods.
Bill
SteveDD: cool awards, and thanks for that bay area link....

quote:

Originally posted by bill voss

Tiki, One of my favorite neon signs was always the Hotsy-Totsy club sign there on San Pablo towards El Cerrito. Funny, I never thought of San Pablo, at least north of University, as being unsafe.
We used to stop for Q late at night along Cutting Blvd. in Richmond at some walkup place
too. Either things weren't as bad then,(83-84) or I was even more dumb.

I remember that sign!!---and i didnt think it wasnt safe either---but then it was "my neighborhood"--of course-not anymore---most of the shops are all different now.--hell they were different by the time you got there--i was tending bar at a place called the Odessey on San Pabloa and University in 72. "Bezerkley" was pretty wierd at the time but we could walk home at tree in the am there after work and get some good que on the way! I also managed to get to Top Dog for a NewYork all beef and a Calabreze at least once a week!

Mistertawny---You OWNED a head!!! how cool===man i'd love to have one of them---and ask you brother if i ever sold him a beer--alot of guys in those colors stopped by the Oddesey every now and then---we had one tend bar there for a while if i remember right---guy by the name of Bernard.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/15/BAGU1BB0HS1.DTL
Mr. Tawny, your head is a work of art now. Maybe we should retrieve it out of the back yard in Point Richmond.

quote:

Originally posted by bill voss

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/15/BAGU1BB0HS1.DTL
Mr. Tawny, your head is a work of art now. Maybe we should retrieve it out of the back yard in Point Richmond.

It would be fun to drive out there and stick that in a truck and drive it home!--and think of all the roadfood stops if you did a big circle---west to So Cal and try out all the winners from Steve Doggydogs website----up to Monterey Bay for seafood and artichokes--on to the Bay Area for ---welL, for the BAY AREA! and pick up the head--west accross Nevada (for Basque)--with that big old smilin dog in the truck--I'd be tempted to ride along!!!

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

quote:

Originally posted by bill voss

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/15/BAGU1BB0HS1.DTL
Mr. Tawny, your head is a work of art now. Maybe we should retrieve it out of the back yard in Point Richmond.

It would be fun to drive out there and stick that in a truck and drive it home!--and think of all the roadfood stops if you did a big circle---west to So Cal and try out all the winners from Steve Doggydogs website----up to Monterey Bay for seafood and artichokes--on to the Bay Area for ---welL, for the BAY AREA! and pick up the head--west accross Nevada (for Basque)--with that big old smilin dog in the truck--I'd be tempted to ride along!!!

Actually I wish you hadn't presented that as an idea. I called my bud and he said he would love to have me pick it up, as Point Richmond has become gentrifed and he is getting a lot of heat. Now all I have to do is smooth things over with the wife....

Can you mount it on top of the apartment building? Or maybe just add it to the quirky Kansas attraction assortment, including but not limited to: the giant ball of twine, the worlds largest hand dug well, the Garden of Eden...etc.

You can leave it at my house!!! theres 68 of us in this town and plenty of space between folks and that head would fit right in at my place seeing as how they already know how weird i am just by my house---not alot of domes in this neck of the woods---especially built next to a juke joint and blues festival site! It would fit right in!

Steve,
You are making it VERY difficult for me to stay on my diet. But keep up the good work anyways!

quote:

Originally posted by tiki

You can leave it at my house!!! theres 68 of us in this town and plenty of space between folks and that head would fit right in at my place seeing as how they already know how weird i am just by my house---not alot of domes in this neck of the woods---especially built next to a juke joint and blues festival site! It would fit right in!

We are buying a new house a few miles away (actually not new but a late 1870's gothic revival), and the head would look really good in the center of the gazebo we have planned. Now if the wife will agree, and I find a way to get it back here......

BTW I was able to locate a 2nd head for sale in El Sobrante for $250 complete with 18 foot pole. It has to be moved by April 30th though.

Love your sight---one of these days i will get out there again and would LOVE to spend a weekend just hitting all your award winners!!!! Maybe you guys ought to do a roadfood tour of LA Hot dog joints--i know there are alot of Calif folks that hang out here!

If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to organize a trek down Ventura Bl. That's the yellow brick road of hot dogs.

See ya
Steve

Steve,

This is your Chicago double. He's Ronnie Rice of the 60's rock group, the New Colony Six. I've known him for years. He's dye hard, rock & roll, car crazy, hot dog fanatic.

www.ronnierice.com/images/HDIskokie/p1010074.jpg
www.ronnierice.com/hot_dog_island_-_skokie.htm (new Hot Dod Island)
www.ronnierice.com/hot_dog_island.htm (old Hot Dog Island)

Warmest Regards,

CSD

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Doggie-Dogg

If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to organize a trek down Ventura Bl. That's the yellow brick road of hot dogs.

See ya
Steve

I'd be interested! Sounds like fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve Doggie-Dogg

If anyone is interested, I'd be happy to organize a trek down Ventura Bl. That's the yellow brick road of hot dogs.

Would that be the "Mustard Yellow" Brick Road?

Count me in.

You guys need Elise T and freinds to join in! and im sure there are more socal folks hanging around here somewhere---id love to!!! but im afraid it will have wo wait---may be in the fall?

Steve,
What you said in your review is true-----the sum of an Oki Dog is MUCH GREATER than it's parts. I worked in the "studio area" of LA for 20 years. Lunchtimes during many of those years meant 3AM. Even in LA, the choices were limited at those hours. My daily decision usually was-----Pinks or Oki Dog. There was always something about an Oki Dog----yeah, the chili was so-so and the hot dogs were only of the Der Weinerschnitzel variety-----but with the pastrami it was a tasty package, just perfect for those latte night/early morning runs. And I was never hungry after work when I ate at Oki Dog! It is definitely something everyone needs to experience at least once!