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A hot dog topped with multiple sauces at El Churrasco Chapin.
El Churrasco Chapin.
Matthew Kang

The 17 Essential Hot Dogs in Los Angeles

American classics with Angeleno twists available for takeout, delivery, and dine-in

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El Churrasco Chapin.
| Matthew Kang

Los Angeles might be considered a burger and taco town, but there is an abundance of hot dogs suped-up with a dose of local flavor all over the city. Here in the Southland, franks might skew traditional American, prepared bacon-wrapped directly outside of a nightclub, or be topped with dried Japanese seaweed or Korean kimchi, then placed inside a duo of split Hawaiian rolls for good measure. Whatever one’s personal hot dog preference may be, there’s a creative and satisfying dog and bun combination somewhere in town. Featuring Korean corndogs and chili-covered old-school, here now are the 17 essential hot dogs in Los Angeles.

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Cupid's Hot Dogs

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Originally established in 1946 as Walsh’s Hot Dogs by Richard and Bernice Walsh, the current operations are overseen by third-generation sisters Kelly and Morgan Walsh. Diners still flock here for a dose of nostalgia and the beloved chili dogs whether Chicago-style, Reuben, or plant-based dogs.

Fab Hot Dogs

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Fab Hot Dogs takes east coast-style hot dogs seriously. It specializes in Rippers, natural casing beef and pork dogs from New Jersey that are deep-fried and customized with ample toppings. If feeling a bit extra, most dogs can be upgraded to foot-longs.

Vivi's Gourmet Cuisine

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This Colombian street food trailer by Viviana “Vivi” Henriquez is one of the few places in LA to get fresh arepas, loaded burgers, and sauced-up hot dogs. The maximalist street treat piles on onions, lettuce, tomato, crispy bacon, and broken ripio de papa (stick fries), and then receives a righteous smattering of five different sauces. It’s wonderfully messy, so grab napkins.

A hot dog topped with drizzles of several different sauces at Vivi’s Gourmet Cuisine.
A saucy dog at Vivi’s Gourmet Cuisine.
Matthew Kang

Larry's Chili Dog

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Though there’s plenty on the menu at this old-school spot, the dogs at Larry’s are the star. These range from a Louisiana hot link, Polish sausage dog, NY or Chicago styles, or even a bacon-wrapped one just for Los Angeles.

The Stand

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Merging old-school menu items with a new-school vibe, the Stand is a Valley classic with outlets throughout the Southland from Woodland Hills to Huntington Beach, plus a new spot in Tustin. After picking a dog, don’t skip those awesome fries either.

Dog Haus Biergarten

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Craft hot dog concept Dog Haus offers creative spins on the classic dogs including the Sooo Cali featuring an all-beef skinless dog with wild arugula, spicy basil aioli, crispy onions, avocado, and tomato. The chain recently introduced a Korean barbecue sausage.

Carney's

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Sure, it’s right in the midst of a busy touristy stretch of West Hollywood. But there’s something about enjoying an old-fashioned chili dog on a Pacific Railroad passenger train right on Sunset Boulevard. Carney’s offers guests just that, slinging hot dogs out of a bright-yellow rail car since 1975.

Tail O' the Pup

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After closing nearly a decade ago, the legendary Tail o’ the Pup was restored in a prime West Hollywood location, complete with a hot dog-shaped stand, red and white streamers, and mustard yellow accents. The dogs range from the split and grilled 1946 (topped with grilled onions and house mustard) to chili-slathered to the footlong Baseball dog adorned with house mustard and sweet relish.

A hot dog in a cardboard sleeve with orange cheese, diced onions, and more on top.
A cheese-topped hot dog at Tail o’ the Pup.
Wonho Frank Lee

This stand made a name for itself with punk rockers in the '70s. Okidog is inspired by a snack from Okinawa, Japan, and makes its cross-cultural hot dog hybrid by stuffing two franks, chili, pastrami, mustard, and American cheese into a burrito-style tortilla, creating a bite that’s sure to challenge anyone’s metabolism.

El Churrasco Chapin

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Guatemalan hot dogs, also called pan shucos, are popular street food items everywhere from the Sixth and Bonnie Brae night market to neighborhoods across LA. El Churrasco Chapin, a homestyle destination from Monica Ramos, offers a loaded pan shuco with griddled sliced wieners, guacamol (avocado spread), pickled cabbage, onions, and a mesmerizing striping of mustard, mayo, and ketchup.

A loaded pan shuco at El Churrasco Chapin.
A loaded pan shuco at El Churrasco Chapin.
Matthew Kang

Oh My Pan Bakery & Tea

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Some of the best things about Chinese bakeries are the savory gifts often filled with sausage. At Oh My Pan, a soft and fluffy bun is shaped like a flower, and each petal is stuffed with a hot dog slice. This tear-apart bread is showered with corn, herbs, and a creamy sauce, or a version with green onions and cheese.

Dirt Dog

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Bacon-wrapped hotdogs are an LA staple, but Dirt Dog’s are done up with style. A wide variety of toppings make each one uniquely delicious, as just about anyone within a two-mile radius of the restaurant’s address near USC can attest with locations six LA locations and one in Las Vegas.

Chronis Famous Sandwich Shop

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East Los Angeles’ longtime stand is the spot to grab a dog, especially a chili-covered one. It’s got an incredible retro sign above the entrance, and the fries are always crispy.

Earle's on Crenshaw

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A family-owned business for more than 30 years, Earle’s is usually filled with loyal locals who love its famous dogs. There is the usual all-beef version with an accompanying all-beef chili, of course, but don’t overlook the vegan dogs, links, and chili. Both omnivores and herbivores leave full and happy.

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

Hot Dog on a Stick

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Santa Monica’s iconic, 75-year-old Hot Dog on a Stick stand reopened after being demolished in 2022. Though the building was fully rebuilt, the quality and recipes remain the same: from the puckery neon limeade to the fluffy cornbread exterior surrounding its original turkey dog. Other options, like vegetarian hot dogs, beef hot dogs, and melty pepper jack cheese sticks, are available, but the OG turkey stick is the one to get for a taste of classic Californi-cana with an ocean and pier view.

Joe Jost's

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This nearly 100-year-old Long Beach legend is known for its quirky menu, especially the Joe’s special, a split Polish dog wrapped in rye bread with Swiss cheese, mustard, and a pickle.

Myungrang Hot Dog Garden Grove

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For a taste of Korean-style hotdogs, look no further than Myungrang. The chewy exterior can skew sweet, with a deep-fried dog coated with sugar. Those craving savory can opt for cheese, sausages, or traditional franks rolled in panko breadcrumbs before being thrown in the fryer.

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Cupid's Hot Dogs

Originally established in 1946 as Walsh’s Hot Dogs by Richard and Bernice Walsh, the current operations are overseen by third-generation sisters Kelly and Morgan Walsh. Diners still flock here for a dose of nostalgia and the beloved chili dogs whether Chicago-style, Reuben, or plant-based dogs.

Fab Hot Dogs

Fab Hot Dogs takes east coast-style hot dogs seriously. It specializes in Rippers, natural casing beef and pork dogs from New Jersey that are deep-fried and customized with ample toppings. If feeling a bit extra, most dogs can be upgraded to foot-longs.

Vivi's Gourmet Cuisine

This Colombian street food trailer by Viviana “Vivi” Henriquez is one of the few places in LA to get fresh arepas, loaded burgers, and sauced-up hot dogs. The maximalist street treat piles on onions, lettuce, tomato, crispy bacon, and broken ripio de papa (stick fries), and then receives a righteous smattering of five different sauces. It’s wonderfully messy, so grab napkins.

A hot dog topped with drizzles of several different sauces at Vivi’s Gourmet Cuisine.
A saucy dog at Vivi’s Gourmet Cuisine.
Matthew Kang

Larry's Chili Dog

Though there’s plenty on the menu at this old-school spot, the dogs at Larry’s are the star. These range from a Louisiana hot link, Polish sausage dog, NY or Chicago styles, or even a bacon-wrapped one just for Los Angeles.

The Stand

Merging old-school menu items with a new-school vibe, the Stand is a Valley classic with outlets throughout the Southland from Woodland Hills to Huntington Beach, plus a new spot in Tustin. After picking a dog, don’t skip those awesome fries either.

Dog Haus Biergarten

Craft hot dog concept Dog Haus offers creative spins on the classic dogs including the Sooo Cali featuring an all-beef skinless dog with wild arugula, spicy basil aioli, crispy onions, avocado, and tomato. The chain recently introduced a Korean barbecue sausage.

Carney's

Sure, it’s right in the midst of a busy touristy stretch of West Hollywood. But there’s something about enjoying an old-fashioned chili dog on a Pacific Railroad passenger train right on Sunset Boulevard. Carney’s offers guests just that, slinging hot dogs out of a bright-yellow rail car since 1975.

Tail O' the Pup

After closing nearly a decade ago, the legendary Tail o’ the Pup was restored in a prime West Hollywood location, complete with a hot dog-shaped stand, red and white streamers, and mustard yellow accents. The dogs range from the split and grilled 1946 (topped with grilled onions and house mustard) to chili-slathered to the footlong Baseball dog adorned with house mustard and sweet relish.

A hot dog in a cardboard sleeve with orange cheese, diced onions, and more on top.
A cheese-topped hot dog at Tail o’ the Pup.
Wonho Frank Lee

Okidog

This stand made a name for itself with punk rockers in the '70s. Okidog is inspired by a snack from Okinawa, Japan, and makes its cross-cultural hot dog hybrid by stuffing two franks, chili, pastrami, mustard, and American cheese into a burrito-style tortilla, creating a bite that’s sure to challenge anyone’s metabolism.

El Churrasco Chapin

Guatemalan hot dogs, also called pan shucos, are popular street food items everywhere from the Sixth and Bonnie Brae night market to neighborhoods across LA. El Churrasco Chapin, a homestyle destination from Monica Ramos, offers a loaded pan shuco with griddled sliced wieners, guacamol (avocado spread), pickled cabbage, onions, and a mesmerizing striping of mustard, mayo, and ketchup.

A loaded pan shuco at El Churrasco Chapin.
A loaded pan shuco at El Churrasco Chapin.
Matthew Kang

Oh My Pan Bakery & Tea

Some of the best things about Chinese bakeries are the savory gifts often filled with sausage. At Oh My Pan, a soft and fluffy bun is shaped like a flower, and each petal is stuffed with a hot dog slice. This tear-apart bread is showered with corn, herbs, and a creamy sauce, or a version with green onions and cheese.

Dirt Dog

Bacon-wrapped hotdogs are an LA staple, but Dirt Dog’s are done up with style. A wide variety of toppings make each one uniquely delicious, as just about anyone within a two-mile radius of the restaurant’s address near USC can attest with locations six LA locations and one in Las Vegas.

Chronis Famous Sandwich Shop

East Los Angeles’ longtime stand is the spot to grab a dog, especially a chili-covered one. It’s got an incredible retro sign above the entrance, and the fries are always crispy.

Earle's on Crenshaw

A family-owned business for more than 30 years, Earle’s is usually filled with loyal locals who love its famous dogs. There is the usual all-beef version with an accompanying all-beef chili, of course, but don’t overlook the vegan dogs, links, and chili. Both omnivores and herbivores leave full and happy.

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

Hot Dog on a Stick

Santa Monica’s iconic, 75-year-old Hot Dog on a Stick stand reopened after being demolished in 2022. Though the building was fully rebuilt, the quality and recipes remain the same: from the puckery neon limeade to the fluffy cornbread exterior surrounding its original turkey dog. Other options, like vegetarian hot dogs, beef hot dogs, and melty pepper jack cheese sticks, are available, but the OG turkey stick is the one to get for a taste of classic Californi-cana with an ocean and pier view.

Related Maps

Joe Jost's

This nearly 100-year-old Long Beach legend is known for its quirky menu, especially the Joe’s special, a split Polish dog wrapped in rye bread with Swiss cheese, mustard, and a pickle.

Myungrang Hot Dog Garden Grove

For a taste of Korean-style hotdogs, look no further than Myungrang. The chewy exterior can skew sweet, with a deep-fried dog coated with sugar. Those craving savory can opt for cheese, sausages, or traditional franks rolled in panko breadcrumbs before being thrown in the fryer.

Related Maps