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Pinks hot dogs cornered together with lots of chili and onions and cheese.
Chili dogs with cheese
Farley Elliott

15 Great LA Chili Dogs For Those Comfort Food Needs

From the Valley to the South Bay and beyond

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Chili dogs with cheese
| Farley Elliott

Despite being a town fanatically in love with tacos, burgers, and pastrami, Los Angeles also has a deep appreciation for a good chili dog. Snappy franks laced with warm, spiced chili (and ideally plenty of cheese and onion, too) are a speciality at stands, drive-thrus, and classic restaurants around the city, from San Fernando Valley spots with a ton of history to waterfront walk-ups in Long Beach.

Here now are some of greater LA’s best chili dogs, presented geographically.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Cupid's Hot Dogs

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Cupid’s is an LA classic, the kind of longstanding staple restaurant the San Fernando Valley so frequently gets right. Step up to the Winnetka location off Vanowen Street for classic LA dogs done up with a soupy, thin chili that’s perfect for getting just a little bit messy on a summer afternoon.

Two hot dogs with sauce and relish next to chips on a red table.
Cupid’s chili dogs
Farley Elliott

Fab Hot Dogs

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Fab Hot Dogs specializes in chili rippers, a New Jersey style that favors heavily-cased meats that can be fried up to perfection for lots of snap. Add in chili and plenty of orange cheese for maximum effect.

Larry's Chili Dog

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Chili is, quite literally, the name of the game at Larry’s Chili Dog in Burbank. Don’t expect fanciness or frills here, just chili served a hundred ways, including over classic dogs with lots of finely shredded cheese.

Larry’s Chili Dog
Larry’s Chili Dog
Yelp/Joe L.

Vicious Dogs

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Vicious Dogs is considered by many to be among the best hot dog spots in greater LA, period. The menu makes for easy customization, though it’s the classic all-beef dog with shredded cheese and chili that’s work a specific look.

Four hot dogs with various topping sitting in white sleeves on a wooden table.
Vicious Dogs
Vicious Dogs

Five-year-old Meea’s has found its groove in Eagle Rock, landing squarely between all those incoming upscale restaurants and the local family-friendly classics. The unassuming Colorado Boulevard option does a variety of dogs, but the star among them may well be the classic chili dog.

Meea’s
Meea’s
Yelp/Brittney H.

The Hat

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The Hat is a San Gabriel Valley staple, born from the booming post-war generation when drive-thrus and inexpensive pastrami reigned supreme. Today the company has multiple locations up and down the 210 freeway, including the Glendora outpost turning out classic chili dogs for all.

Carney's Restaurant

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Carney’s is a chili dog classic. The 43-year-old restaurant doubles as a modified old train car, drawing in tourists and locals alike for its vintage burgers and chili-heavy hot dogs.

Carney’s
Carney’s
Carney’s

Oki's Dog

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Real ones know Oki’s Dog, the legendary Mid-City shop on Pico known not just for its chili dogs in a bun, but for a particular concoction with two dogs, chili, cheese, and bacon wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Oki Dogs
Oki’s Dog
Na’ama Landau

Marty's Hamburger Stand

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Marty’s Hamburger Stand is rightfully known for its old school burgers, but real fans can spy the Vienna Beef hot dog sign from a mile away. Add in lots of thin, well-reduced chili and plenty of cheese to make it the real chili dog deal.

Marty’s
Marty’s Hamburger Stand
Yelp/Juls K.

Chroni's Famous Sandwich Shop

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Chroni’s Sandwich Shop is a Whittier Boulevard staple, having existed on the same site since 1945. Their chili dogs are rightfully legendary, and come laced with plenty of just-melted-enough American cheese.

Chroni’s
Chroni’s chili cheese dogs
Yelp/Kenny J.

Earle's

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Earle’s has been operating along the Crenshaw corridor in one form or another for many years. Their most recent iteration is a sunny storefront serving the restaurant’s continued menu of classic hot dogs and sides, including a seriously soupy chili dog with onions on top.

Chili-slathered hot dog with pickled onions on a slate gray background at Earle’s on Crenshaw.
Earle’s
Farley Elliott

Dirt Dog Downey

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Dirt Dog has become the next great (and growing) hot dog empire in Los Angeles. Originally founded with a promise to bring the bacon-wrapped street dog into a restaurant setting, the company has grown to include a variety of dogs and locations, including the dirty chili dog with bacon, chorizo, and lots of cheese.

Tomboy's Famous Chiliburgers

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The South Bay loves Tomboy’s, the throwback chili dog and hamburger stand that’s open breakfast through dinner. Chili is available everywhere on the menu, but hone in on the 1⁄4 pound all-beef dogs for maximum success.

Tomboy’s
Tomboy’s
Yelp/Somany Q.

Pit Burger

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Pit Burger is a Gardena classic, the kind of fast food diner that every neighborhood in LA loves. The chili dog here competes with burgers and teriyaki plates, but locals still fine room for it in their diet.

Tugboat Pete's Hot Dog Stand

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Tugboat Pete’s is for Long Beach water lovers. The takeaway stand on the boardwalk at Shoreline Village turns out reliable picnic fare, including chili dogs, for cheap.

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Cupid's Hot Dogs

Cupid’s is an LA classic, the kind of longstanding staple restaurant the San Fernando Valley so frequently gets right. Step up to the Winnetka location off Vanowen Street for classic LA dogs done up with a soupy, thin chili that’s perfect for getting just a little bit messy on a summer afternoon.

Two hot dogs with sauce and relish next to chips on a red table.
Cupid’s chili dogs
Farley Elliott

Fab Hot Dogs

Fab Hot Dogs specializes in chili rippers, a New Jersey style that favors heavily-cased meats that can be fried up to perfection for lots of snap. Add in chili and plenty of orange cheese for maximum effect.

Larry's Chili Dog

Chili is, quite literally, the name of the game at Larry’s Chili Dog in Burbank. Don’t expect fanciness or frills here, just chili served a hundred ways, including over classic dogs with lots of finely shredded cheese.

Larry’s Chili Dog
Larry’s Chili Dog
Yelp/Joe L.

Vicious Dogs

Vicious Dogs is considered by many to be among the best hot dog spots in greater LA, period. The menu makes for easy customization, though it’s the classic all-beef dog with shredded cheese and chili that’s work a specific look.

Four hot dogs with various topping sitting in white sleeves on a wooden table.
Vicious Dogs
Vicious Dogs

Meea's

Five-year-old Meea’s has found its groove in Eagle Rock, landing squarely between all those incoming upscale restaurants and the local family-friendly classics. The unassuming Colorado Boulevard option does a variety of dogs, but the star among them may well be the classic chili dog.

Meea’s
Meea’s
Yelp/Brittney H.

The Hat

The Hat is a San Gabriel Valley staple, born from the booming post-war generation when drive-thrus and inexpensive pastrami reigned supreme. Today the company has multiple locations up and down the 210 freeway, including the Glendora outpost turning out classic chili dogs for all.

Carney's Restaurant

Carney’s is a chili dog classic. The 43-year-old restaurant doubles as a modified old train car, drawing in tourists and locals alike for its vintage burgers and chili-heavy hot dogs.

Carney’s
Carney’s
Carney’s

Oki's Dog

Real ones know Oki’s Dog, the legendary Mid-City shop on Pico known not just for its chili dogs in a bun, but for a particular concoction with two dogs, chili, cheese, and bacon wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Oki Dogs
Oki’s Dog
Na’ama Landau

Marty's Hamburger Stand

Marty’s Hamburger Stand is rightfully known for its old school burgers, but real fans can spy the Vienna Beef hot dog sign from a mile away. Add in lots of thin, well-reduced chili and plenty of cheese to make it the real chili dog deal.

Marty’s
Marty’s Hamburger Stand
Yelp/Juls K.

Chroni's Famous Sandwich Shop

Chroni’s Sandwich Shop is a Whittier Boulevard staple, having existed on the same site since 1945. Their chili dogs are rightfully legendary, and come laced with plenty of just-melted-enough American cheese.

Chroni’s
Chroni’s chili cheese dogs
Yelp/Kenny J.

Earle's

Earle’s has been operating along the Crenshaw corridor in one form or another for many years. Their most recent iteration is a sunny storefront serving the restaurant’s continued menu of classic hot dogs and sides, including a seriously soupy chili dog with onions on top.

Chili-slathered hot dog with pickled onions on a slate gray background at Earle’s on Crenshaw.
Earle’s
Farley Elliott

Dirt Dog Downey

Dirt Dog has become the next great (and growing) hot dog empire in Los Angeles. Originally founded with a promise to bring the bacon-wrapped street dog into a restaurant setting, the company has grown to include a variety of dogs and locations, including the dirty chili dog with bacon, chorizo, and lots of cheese.

Tomboy's Famous Chiliburgers

The South Bay loves Tomboy’s, the throwback chili dog and hamburger stand that’s open breakfast through dinner. Chili is available everywhere on the menu, but hone in on the 1⁄4 pound all-beef dogs for maximum success.

Tomboy’s
Tomboy’s
Yelp/Somany Q.

Pit Burger

Pit Burger is a Gardena classic, the kind of fast food diner that every neighborhood in LA loves. The chili dog here competes with burgers and teriyaki plates, but locals still fine room for it in their diet.

Tugboat Pete's Hot Dog Stand

Tugboat Pete’s is for Long Beach water lovers. The takeaway stand on the boardwalk at Shoreline Village turns out reliable picnic fare, including chili dogs, for cheap.

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