Capitol Dawg | Sacramento, CA

Let's be honest, putting together a tasty hot dog to one's own preference is not difficult to do. All it takes is a well-prepared frankfurter or sausage that's either grilled, boiled, baked, or deep fried. Then, place it gently between a bun and top it off with whatever condiment is a favorite: mustard, green relish, chili, cheese, chopped onions, sauerkraut, or all the above. No fuss, no muss ... And what's left is your own culinary masterpiece.

But as simple as that is, there's always that little voice inside your head saying, "No matter what I do at home, a hot dog is not a hot dog unless it's prepared by the pros." You know that voice. It's the same one that calls to you whenever you're at the ballpark, at the county fair, or merely passing by the Costco food service counter. I don't know what it is about these places, but they consistently produce magic in a bun!

One such place that's been cranking out the goods for as long as I can remember is Sacramento's own Capitol Dawg. Located in the heart of "The Grid" on 20th and L Streets, Capitol Dawg offers a varied menu that factors in every style of hot dog that you can think of as well as a few new ones. Whether you're craving a dog whose stylings are rooted in Kansas City, New York, Los Angeles, Texas, or Coney Island, they got it here with all the fixings unique to these regional areas. Take, for example, the Prop 51 Dawg. A personal favorite of mine, this savory selection is prepared Chicago-style with mustard, green relish, onions, tomato, a kosher dill pickle spear, peppers, celery salt, and a poppy seed bun.

Capitol Dawg is as true of a hot dog stand as you'll find in the city. It's clean, it's quirky, it sports black-and-white tiled floors and wiener-related décor from floor to ceiling. As owner Mike Brown points out, we are "committed to quality and service that's a bit wacky, a bit vintage, and a lot of fun. Capitol Dawg is a cool place for warm friends!"

Need more incentive to stop on by? For the cost-conscious diner, they feature Cappy Hour Specials every Tuesday night from 5:00-9:00p. Two bucks will buy you each a Capitol, turkey or Veggie Dawg, bottled beer, a basket of garlic fries, or a double-scoop of Dreyers old-fashioned ice cream.

But if money is not such an issue AND your feeling extra gluttonous, they have two on the menu that can and will take your breath away. There's the El Senator Dawg, which features a deep fried beef frank wrapped in bacon and topped with pinto beans, cheddar cheese, grilled onions, salsa verde, sliced jalapenos, tomato, and mustard. Not good enough? Then order up the Governor Dawg, a deep fried American and Swiss cheese stuffed beef frank wrapped in bacon, cheddar cheese, cheddar cheese sauce, and tomatoes.

Oh ... One other thing. In celebration of their recent World Series Championship, the folks at Capitol Dawg have paid homage to the San Francisco Giants by introducing the Giants Dawg - Our Own Champion. It's assembled from two quarter-pound all-beef Schwarz franks, house-made chili, American and Cheddar cheeses, ballpark mustard and chopped white onion, all plopped on a 14-inch-long sesame-seeded French roll. Brown notes, "This hot dog was created in honor of something that was long overdue, and celebrates the great victories in life."

So, enjoy! Their "Dawg House of Representatives" are waiting to serve you.

Capitol Dawg

1226 20th Street

Sacramento, CA 95811

916.444.1226

Wayne's Chicago Red Hots | Portland, OR

I once heard it somewhere, someplace that a person can never experience a great hot dog until he/she has had a Chicago hot dog ... Or, as those in the know would say, a Chicago red hot. Whether that's true or not is debatable, but seeing that we won't be in the Windy City anytime soon, we're glad to have a place like Wayne's Chicago Red Hots to visit when in Portland, Oregon.

Now, as far as I can tell, Wayne's Chicago Red Hots opened their dine-in location on the Northeast side of the city roughly three years ago. Before that, they generated a loyal fan following via a converted bread truck that was based primarily in St. Helens. Regardless of their history, it's become no secret that they've been serving heaven on a bun for some time. Just take a look at what "the people" have been saying:

"... Could easily be found in the shadow of Wrigley Field." - The Oregonian

"Best dog in town!' - Willamette Week


"With a Red Hot in one fist and an Old Style in the other, the distance between Portland and Chicago can be crossed, just like 'dat.' Wayne's Chicago Red Hots have it all, plus huge flavor ..." - Portland Mercury

After walking into the place, two things immediately hit us square in the face: the distinctive aroma of all beef franks being made to order and the wall-to-ceiling decor of sports paraphernalia. White Sox, Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, and most notably, the Cubs are all represented in pictures, uniform jerseys, clipped articles, cards, spent tickets, and any thing else seemingly under the sun. It's enough to leave any Chicagoan proud.

But it's their menu that leaves you in awe with no less than thirteen different red hot varieties, each brandishing a colorful name such as the Five Holy Martyrs, the Al Capone, the Barack Obeef, the Little Leaguer, the Pulaski Polish, and the Chicago Firedog. All of their selections feature franks, polish sausage, or brats from Vienna Beef, and each order includes a hefty helping of their famous fries.

The kids each put down a Lil' Willy Chili Dog, which included an all beef frank, a slathering of beanless chili, a helping of cheddar cheese, and a sprinkling of crisp onions. It's recommended that you eat this one with a fork, but the kids threw that out the window and just chowed down. As the guys behind the counter noted, "If something ain't gettin' dirty, like your face, it ain't worth eating."

For us, we elected to go with their signature dog, the Chicago Red Hot, which featured an all beef frank that was "dragged thru da garden with yellow mustard, onions, neon green relish, tomato wedges, sport peppers, a dill pickle, and served on a steamed poppy seed bun." In a word, yummmmmmm!

And if that wasn't enough incentive for you, I understand that in the month of September, they close the street alongside of the storefront to play host to what they call the Chi-Town Chowdown, an all-day fest that features live music, prize giveaways, tons of food, and fun for the whole family.

So, what are you waiting for? Train, plane, car, bike, or bus ... The PDX and Wayne's Chicago Red Hots are dialin' you in!

Wayne's Chicago Red Hots
3901 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Portland, OR 97212

Langlois Market | Langlois, OR

Nestled along the 101 freeway on the Oregon coast, Langlois Market has developed quite a name for itself. How? I'll get to that in a minute. But, first, let me say that where the market lacks in size and space, its owners certainly make it up in hospitality. Big welcomes await anyone who walks through their doors no matter if you are a weary traveler or a regular patron. Beer, wine, sodas, snack foods, breads, dairy, and some chosen meats can all be found here. But, what sets it aside from other neighborhood markets is its in-store kitchen where they serve up some of the finest hot and cold sandwiches, burgers, french fries, and seasonal soups in the area.

What really had the people lined up at the counter, and what has defined the market's reputation, is their world famous hot dogs, made plump and juicy with just the right amount of spices. Rumor has it that one time "the energy minister for Indonesia visited and had a hot dog. He loved them so much, he had a bunch shipped back to Indonesia for others to enjoy."

So, eat 'em plain or doctor 'em up with chili, cheese, sliced tomatoes, or crispy lettuce. The choice is yours. If you ask me, however, order 'em with a quick slathering of Langlois Market's own homemade sweet 'n tangy mustard. You won't be sorry.