Hardly anyone who visits Los Angeles or watches TV has not heard of Pink’s. The landmark hot dog joint is visible in many a commercial and featured on various food shows. Starting out as a hot dog cart, it later morphed into the spot that it is today, perched on the corner of Melrose and La Brea.
Frequented by numerous celebrities, Pink’s is most known for its chili dog. The chili used to top this simple treat is not the thick kind, which can leave the hot dog extremely messy. The taste, however, is excellent. A trip to Pink’s can lead to a long wait in line due to its tourist status. If you are looking to avoid the line, Carney’s on Sunset is a good alternative.
A variety of other options are also featured, many named after celebrities and frequent Pink’s visitors. One of my favorite alternatives is the Philly Cheesesteak Dog, which plops a cheesesteak with peppers and onions on top of a hot dog. This one is a little more filling than a plain old chili dog andadds in a whole new flavor to the simple American classic. Also quite tasty is the Chili Polish dog, my personal favorite, which is offered either spicy or mild and boasts a thicker dog than a traditional hot dog. The final dog that I have tried thus far is the Lord of the Rings Dog, a hot dog topped with BBQ sauce and onion rings. Unlike the other dogs, this one actually gets a lot of the hot dog taste, while still adding a bit of the sweet BBQ sauce that leaves your hands sticky afterward. To top things off, the onion rings add a little crunch.
Living pretty close to Pink’s, I stop by every so often as long as I have some cash on me (cash only!) and the line is not too long. Try to stay away during peak lunch hours, as well as weekends. Most weekday evenings are a good time to go in order to avoid too big of a line. Worst case scenario, drive by, scope the line out and go elsewhere if it extends too far.
Price: 8
Food: 8
Atmosphere: 5.5
Overall: 7
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