Since baseball season is coming up quickly, we thought we’d get you primed and ready with some new kinds of hot dogs you can find in the city. Hey, batter batter…
This tiny newcomer (read: no seating) in the Castro has a variety of dogs, from classics like a Chicago or New York dog, to creative ones like their banh mi dog (complete with sliced vegetables, chopped peanuts, cilantro, and sriracha mayo—and it’s a messy one to eat, just FYI), a buffalo dog (with blue cheese, diced celery, and spicy ranch), or the popular salty dog with crumbled bacon, pickle, and yellow mustard. There are also dogs that take their inspiration from sandwiches, like a Cubano, Reuben (tasty!), and Philly dog. Open until 2:30am Thursday–Saturday (score!), $8 and under. 417 Castro (at Market)
El Garaje at La Urbana
This casual offshoot in the garage next to the spiffy La Urbana has a menu of Mexican street food bites, which now includes a bacon dog. At first it looks a bit daunting to eat, just get a plate because you’re going to drop the garnish (pickled onion and vegetables, jalapeños, onions, microgreens) everywhere. Instead of being bacon-wrapped, the tender housemade sausage comes with a couple crisp and just-fried pieces of bacon tucked into the bun, which is slathered with spicy mustard. (Pro tip: Ask them to warm up the bun for you.) $7. 661 Divisadero (at Grove)
Ever since Da Beef left SoMa (sniff sniff), there aren’t many spots where you can find classic a Chicago dog, but fortunately this “newish” deli in SoMa (a sister to the popular Deli Board) is now serving one loaded with sport peppers, dill pickle, bright green relish, celery salt, and Cleveland brown mustard, on a poppy seed bun. You’ll also find the haba kraut (with habanero-infused sauerkraut, don’t say we didn’t warn you), a chili dog (with housemade Cincinnati-style chili, Muenster cheese, onion, and Cleveland mustard), and a slaw dog (again, with Cleveland brown mustard, which is obviously owner Adam Mesnick’s obsession). $6 each. 180 Seventh Street (at Howard)
This awesome wing shop in the Lower Haight makes some might good chili cheese fries, and now they are occasionally offering up a Coney-style dog special (with beef chili, yellow mustard, onion, and cheddar, loaded on a beef frank) on Saturdays. Since they just got a beer and wine license, and they’re open late (midnight during the week, except on Tuesday, and until 2am Friday–Saturday), you just found your new midnight heartburn special. And it’s only $4! There is also a chili dog/hot plate special: two dogs and a beer for $10. Follow along on Twitter for Coney dog updates. 422 Haight (at Webster)
Marcia Gagliardi is the founder of the weekly tablehopper e-column; subscribe and get more food news and gossip at tablehopper.com. Follow her on Twitter: @tablehopper.
