Tucson's top hot dogs
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.03.2008
What's better on the Fourth of the July than a hot dog? Here are some of our favorite dogs, found at Tucson restaurants ranging from the South Side to the Foothills.
Sonoran hot dogs at BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs
5118 S. 12th Ave. (295-0105) and 2680 N. First Ave. (207-2245).
These Tucson favorites come grilled and wrapped in bacon, placed in a fluffy bun and smothered in onions, beans, mustard, mayonnaise and diced tomatoes. BK even throws in a gigantic hot pepper on the side for good measure. El Guero Canelo, with locations at 5201 S. 12th Ave., and 2480 N. Oracle Road, also makes a top-notch Sonoran.
Cost: $2.50
— Gerald M. Gay
Costco
6255 E. Grant Road (886-4596), and 3901 W. Costco Drive (544-9313).
These steaming all-meat dogs overflow their sesame-seed buns, weighing in at a whopping quarter pound. They are big enough to share, but why would you?
Cost: $1.50, which includes a 20-ounce soft drink.
Closed Friday for the holiday.
— Cathalena E. Burch
Hot Dog Heaven
8295 N. Cortaro Road, off Interstate 10 (579-3377).
They grill up 10 varieties of dogs at this Northwest Side hot doggery. The dogs, no matter how you dress them — Chicago style, Sonoran style, with chili and cheese, plain with mustard and relish — are juicy, tender, meaty and succulent. Fans would agree they are, indeed, heavenly.
Cost: $2.85-$4.25.
Reduced holiday hours: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.
— Cathalena E. Burch
J Dawg at J Bar
Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, 3770 E. Sunrise Drive (615-6100).
Chef/owner Janos Wilder's signature J Dawg has been written up in The New York Times: "an upscale take on the Sonoran hot dog topped with smoked poblano crema, pickled cactus, whole-grain mustard and chorizo black beans."
Cost: $2.75, but you can only order it during the happy hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday (closed Sundays), which includes half-price J Bar margaritas, well drinks and draft beer.
— Inger Sandal
Lovin' Spoonfuls
2990 N. Campbell Ave. (325-7766).
The Coney Island Dog is a real treat — even for meat eaters. Your Yves Jumbo Hot Dog is grilled and served on an organic whole-grain bun with sauerkraut and mustard. Also order a chili dog.
Cost: $5.95. Includes potato chips and a side salad.
— Inger Sandal
Luke's Italian Beef
4444 E. Grant Road (321-9236) and several other locations.
Order your Chicago-style dog "all the way" and you'll get tomatoes, onions, relish, pickles, peppers and mustard on a poppy-seed bun. It also comes with Luke's steaming hot fries.
Cost: $4 includes french fries.
Reduced holiday hours: 10 a.m.-to 4 p.m. Friday.
— Inger Sandal
Music Box Lounge
6951 E. 22nd St. (747-1421).
A quarter-pound Hebrew National hot dog is served with a pickle. Besides ketchup and mustard, you can top it with onions, relish, mayo and jalapeño.
Cost: $2.50. There's also a $4 dog and domestic draft special from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.
— Valerie Vinyard
Pat's Drive-In
1202 W. Niagara St. (624-0891).
Pat's Drive-in is a West Side landmark known for one thing: chili dogs.
Sure, the 40-plus-year-old establishment has other food . . . but really, do they? Try one of their chili dogs and you'll know why.
We're not sure whether it's the distinctive chili, with cut onions mixed in, or the soft buns or just the dogs.
Wrapped in aluminum foil and easy to take anywhere, Pat's chili dogs — available in mild or a spicier version — go down almost too smooth, seemingly simpler to inhale than eat.
The only real problem eating them is stopping.
Cost: $1.25.
— Kevin W. Smith
Wienerschnitzel
Nine Tucson locations; wienerschnitzel.com.
Sometimes you just want your dogs fast, greasy, cheap and sloppy. My friends and I lovingly refer to 'schnitzel as "Slopland" and adore the fast-food doggery for its gross-looking but delectable chili cheese topping. Eaten alone, the dogs might not be anything special, but bathed in chili cheese they're worthy of worship.
Bonus: Wienerschnitzels don't typically offer in-house dining, but there's usually a welcoming patio out front, and the chain boasts some of the quickest drive-throughs in the industry.
Cost: Right now there's a $5 for five chili dogs deal, as well as the all-time great chili cheese dog, chili cheeseburger and chili cheese fries combination for $3.33. Just pull up to the drive-through and say "three for three." They'll know what you're talking about.
— Phil Villarreal
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