National Hot Dog Day - Recipes & Reviews

July 17th is National Hot Dog Day, and you can't get much cheaper than a hot dog meal.

 So let's begin with a recipe that is literally a hot mess, the L.A. Street Dog. The wiener is bacon-wrapped and topped with mayo, ketchup, mustard, and a grilled fajita mix of bell pepper, onion, and finally a spicy jalapeno. Whew, that's a mouthful. Check out my version below. And click on any restaurant name or recipe name to see the original blog post with all the yummy photos and tasty prose.

The premier tube steak purveyor in town may be Fab's Hot Dogs. Chef-owner Joe Fabrocini has brought virtually all of America to the San Fernando Valley offering a menu of beautifully crafted dogs from every region worth its mustard. The selection of hot dogs is head-spinning, but go ahead and dive into my video, where I show you a few favorites.



Summertime is Hot Dog Season, and nothing beats making your own. I always have mustard and pickle relish in the fridge, and tube steaks and hot dog buns in the freezer. I make 'em this way more than any other - sweet pickle relish, sour mustard, and a meaty weenie on a bun, so good, and below is my simple recipe for a Relish Dog.



Pink's, L.A.'s most popular hot dog stand (the place can't put up all its celebrity headshots of dining movie, television, and rock stars), was started in 1939 with just a pushcart and has the longest lines of any fast-food stand, and deservedly so. It has been filmed and reviewed by every media outlet in L.A. so I won't repeat it all here. 

However, I did notice one special hot dog that has not been covered, and that is the "Dude," named after the conductor of the L.A. Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel (he is moving on, though). It's the most extravagant of hot dogs - get an eyeful of it in my video below.



I like a Chili Dog anytime. Where does this cheap$kate and lazy Chef get his chili? From the can of course! Just watch my Chili Dog recipe and make your own, the 99 Cent Chef way.



Let's Be Frank, serves up wieners with compassion. No factory farm beef, pork, or turkey is used in their franks. All the animals are 100% grass-fed and humanely raised locally in California. Hormones, antibiotics, nitrates, and nitrites are not added to the production of meat.



I often gild the lily, that is I lay it on thick, like my next Hot Dog recipe, a Chili & Sauerkraut Dog. I find sauerkraut from the can or jar and chili from a can is tasty enough -- no need to complicate things.



Carney's dining train car once hosted the cheapest Hot Dog Happy Hour on L.A.'s notorious and famed Sunset Strip, serving a trifecta of beer, hot dog, and fries for $4.75! Alas, no more since COVID changed the price structure of most restaurants in L.A. But their Hot Dogs are just as delicious, Happy Hour or not. Below is a flashback video of dining at Carney's Happy Hour of Dogs, Fries, and Beer...oh boy, were those the days. 

If chili and sauerkraut are not your cup of tea then leave out the heaviness of chili and go with a simply delicious Kraut Dog. I've left a jar of sauerkraut in the fridge for weeks at a time and it keeps on giving these intensely flavored hot dogs.



Come on down to Crenshaw Boulevard in South L.A. for soulful hot dogz served by Earlez Grill. These wieners are split and grilled on a flattop for max flavor. Check out my video below to hang with the boyz and girlz in the hood.



I like a Chili Dog with a sweet relish. Hot, meaty chili cut through with sweet relish is satisfying on so many levels. Just watch my Chili & Relish Dog recipe...be still my heart!



A culinary car crash of cultures, the Oki Dog is a true representative of diverse Los Angeles. Combining the all-American fast food standbys of hot dogs, chili, and American cheese with the Jewish deli classic pastrami, all wrapped in a Latin street food Mexican blanket of a flour tortilla. I dare you to try and finish one. Well, if you want to see what I'm talking about, look no further than the video below.

You don't have to go far these days to bring Coney Island to your town. 

I used to get a famous East Coast Nathan's Hot Dog from the frozen deli case of my local Dollar Tree, when I want an easy, microwavable, quickie lunch. They do the job and I even wrote a Cheap$kate Deal of the Day you can read here.

They come naked so I dress the dogs with just mustard and sweet pickle relish. So, what are your fave toppings?

National Hot Dog Day - Recipes & Reviews

 July 18th is National Hot Dog Day, so let's begin with a recipe that is literally a hot mess, the L.A. Street Dog. The wiener is bacon-wrapped and topped with mayo, ketchup, mustard, and a grilled fajita mix of bell pepper, onion, and finally a spicy jalapeno. Whew, that's a mouthful. Check out my version below. And click on any restaurant name or recipe name to see the original blog post with all the yummy photos and tasty prose.

The premier tube steak purveyor in town may be Fab's Hot Dogs. Chef-owner Joe Fabrocini has brought virtually all of America to the San Fernando Valley offering a menu of beautifully crafted dogs from every region worth its mustard. The selection of hot dogs is head-spinning, but go ahead and dive into my video, where I show you a few favorites.



Summertime is Hot Dog Season and nothing beats making your own. I always have mustard and pickle relish in the fridge, and tube steaks and hot dog buns in the freezer. I make 'em this way more than any other - sweet pickle relish, sour mustard, and a meaty weenie on a bun, so good, and below is my simple recipe for a Relish Dog.



Pink's, L.A.'s most popular hot dog stand (the place can't put up all its celebrity headshots), was started in 1939 with just a pushcart and has the longest lines of any fast-food stand, and deservedly so. It has been filmed and reviewed by every media outlet in L.A. so I won't repeat it all here. However, I did notice one special hot dog that has not been covered, and that is the "Dude," named after the conductor of the L.A. Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel. It's the most extravagant of hot dogs - get an eyeful of it in my video below.



I like a Chili Dog anytime. Where does this cheap$kate and lazy Chef get his chili? From the can of course! Just watch my Chili Dog recipe and make your own, the 99 Cent Chef way.



Let's Be Frank, serves up wieners with compassion. No factory farm beef, pork, or turkey is used in their franks. All the animals are 100% grass-fed and humanely raised locally in California. Hormones, antibiotics, nitrates, and nitrites are not added to the production of meat.



I often gild the lily, that is I lay it on thick, like my next Hot Dog recipe, a Chili & Sauerkraut Dog. I find sauerkraut from the can or jar and chili from a can is tasty enough -- no need to complicate things.



Carney's dining train car once hosted the cheapest Hot Dog Happy Hour on L.A.'s notorious, and famed Sunset Strip, serving a trifecta of beer, hot dog, and fries for $4.75! Alas, no more since Covid changed the price structure of most restaurants in L.A. But their Hot Dogs are just as delicious now, Happy Hour or not. Below is a flashback video of dining at Carney's Happy Hour of Dogs, Fries, and Beer...oh boy, were those the days. 

If chili and sauerkraut are not your cup of tea then leave out the heaviness of chili and go with a simply delicious Kraut Dog. I've left a jar of sauerkraut in the fridge for weeks at a time and it keeps on giving these intensely flavored hot dogs.



Come on down to Crenshaw Boulevard in South L.A. for soulful hot dogz served by Earlez Grill. These wieners are split and grilled on a flattop for max flavor. Check out my video below to hang with the boyz and girlz in the hood.



I like a Chili Dog with a sweet relish. Hot, meaty chili cut through with sweet relish is satisfying on so many levels. Just watch my Chili & Relish Dog recipe...be still my heart!



A culinary car crash of cultures, the Oki Dog is a true representative of diverse Los Angeles. Combining the all-American fast food standbys of hot dogs, chile, and American cheese with the Jewish deli classic pastrami, all wrapped in a Latin street food Mexican blanket of a flour tortilla. I dare you to try and finish one. Well, if you want to see what I'm talking about look no further than the video below.

You don't have to go far these days to bring Coney Island to your town. 

I used to get a famous East Coast Nathan's Hot Dog from the frozen deli case of my local Dollar Tree, when I want an easy, microwavable, quickie lunch. They do the job and I even wrote a Cheap$kate Deal of the Day you can read here.

They come naked so I dress the dogs with just mustard and sweet pickle relish. So, what are your fave toppings?

Expo Rail Dining on the Cheap - 7 VIDEOS

All aboard! Let the Chintzyiest Chef be your culinary conductor for a tasty ride to cheap dining along LA's latest transportation hub: the Expo Rail Line. This post is for the locals and curious tourists who explore this great city of Los Angeles using public transportation.

Our long overdue rail system has finally arrived in Baldwin Hills and Culver City, and the latest stops are right in my neighborhood! It's an 8.6-mile, 12-station track with 10 new station stops, traveling parallel to the Santa Monica 10 Freeway from Downtown to Culver City.

To celebrate, I've compiled some of the videos I've previously shot of local inexpensive eateries within walking distance of three nearby station stops. And, after each video is a link to my original post with an exact address, so you can easily google map these fine fooderies!

The Expo Line opening ceremony is downtown on Friday, April 27th, with free admission on Saturday and Sunday. The Freeloading Culinarian will be riding the rails this weekend with a camera in hand to record the festivities.

I've been riding the rapid transit rails on each opening day, including the Red Line from Downtown LA to North Hollywood; the Purple Line to Mid-Wilshire; the Gold Line to Pasadena and East LA; and now the Expo Line that runs from Downtown LA to Culver City.

To give you an idea of what is in store this weekend, just check out the video below of my ride on the Gold Line to East LA from 3 years ago. (I will also be shooting footage of the Expo Line's opening day, so check back here to see some new video.)

East L.A. Subway - Video

For a complete blog post click here for the address, photos, and a full review.

First up is the Crenshaw Boulevard stop. There are a couple of cheap and delicious restaurants on this colorful street: Earlez Grill for fabulous hot dogs and Chef Marilyn's Soul Food Express.

To reach Earlez Grill, just step out of the rail car at Exposition and Crenshaw and you are there! The Saturday special beef and turkey dogs will set you back just $1.25 - that's lunch for about the fare price of a one-way Metro ticket! I can also recommend the specials: on Mondays, it's the Special Veggie Dog for $2: it's a grilled plump wiener that tastes way too good to be meat-free.  Friday's Special is a fiery Beef Link for $2.50.  I'll just let Duane, the proprietor of Earlez Grille, give you the lowdown on his grilled wiener fiefdom in the video below.

Unfortunately, you only have a couple of months to eat at Earlez in this location. The transit authority is paving this tube steak paradise to put up a commuter parking lot. I hope Earlez Grille stays nearby in the hood.

Earlez Grille  - Video

For a complete blog post click here for the address, photos, and a full review.

Also near the Exposition/Crenshaw stop - when you walk three blocks north on Crenshaw - is Chef Marilyn's Soul Food Express.   Chef Marilyn, a former Lakers cheerleader, cooks up some real Southern-style cuisine, including Mac and Cheese, Collard Greens, Smothered Chicken and Pork Chops,  Baked Fish, and of course, Fried Chicken and Catfish. They even have a slew of 99 cent specials (the ones I always get), including Hot Links, Spinach, and Black-eyed Peas. These are some of the best meal deals around.

Soul Food Express - Video

For a complete blog post click here for the address, photos, and a full review.

Moving further west, the rail stop at La Brea Avenue is adjacent to the venerable Popeye's Fried Chicken. While not locally owned, this tasty fast food joint fits the neighborhood of Southern transplants hungering for cheap fried fare. On Tuesdays, you can't get cheaper than the 2-Piece Special for 99 cents. You'll get a spicy or regular seasoned leg and thigh, and it's finger-lickin' good. Just watch the video below of: "My 99 Cent Dinner with Nuno."
 

Popeye's 2-Piece 99-cent Fried Chicken Special - Video

For a complete blog post click here for the address, photos, and a full review.

If you hanker for another low-cost Southern treat, you can walk off the fried chicken to get to one of the best bargains in the city.  Take La Brea one city block south to Rodeo, then head east to (Martin Luther) King Boulevard. A short 2 blocks later, you're at Cajun's Fried Chicken, where they offer a hearty Gumbo for $1. It's a satisfying serving loaded with sausage, chicken, bay shrimp, veggies, and rice, in a spicy flavored broth, as the closeup videography below will attest.

$1 Gumbo - VIDEO

For a complete blog post click here for the address, photos, and a full review.

Those rail riders with a sweet tooth - or a sweetheart to impress - can continue west to the next stop at La Cienega Boulevard. From the elevated train stop there, you can see the original headquarters of the world-famous See's Candy, just a half-block South on La Cienega. 

I have sent my Mom many boxes of See's Candy for Mother's Day. They look as good as they taste. And you'll smell the roasting nuts and melted chocolate before you get there.

This is the original building where the classic scene from "I Love Lucy" - in which she stuffs her face to keep up with a fast-moving assembly line - was shot in the 1950s. It's still open for business, with so many new flavors to try.  Of course, samples are free, and I've had plenty!

 I Love Lucy Chocolate Assembly Line - VIDEO

The last low-cost Expo Line eatery shown here is in Culver City, so you won't be able to reach it by rail until this summer when the easternmost stop is due to open at Venice and Washington Boulevards in June. Just a block away, walking east on Washington, is the Helms Bakery, which anchors a collection of shops and eateries including Father's Office, which grinds out the best burgers in town if you believe half the local bloggerati and newspaper food reviews. But they're too expensive for this miserly chef. Instead, I head right over to the hot dog hut in the parking area for grass-fed, free-range, and hormone-free beef, pork, veggie, and poultry wieners from Let's Be Frank.

The simple setting belies their organic and artisanal creativity. These unique hot dogs are dang good -- even the toppings are locally sourced and homemade. For about $5 you get a larger-than-average tube steak -- that is more ground sausage than your typical ballpark frank.

 Let's Be Frank - Video

For a complete blog post click here for the address, photos, and a full review.

With all these tips, you're well-equipped to enjoy the Expo Line without blowing the budget. So hit the rails to start exploring, and Bon Appetit!  

Earlez Grille - Hot Dogz in the 'Hood - Video #5

With a Super Fly movie poster over the cash register, you know you're not on the Westside when ordering at Earlez Grille in the 'hood (South of the 10 freeway on Crenshaw Boulevard), which is featured in this week's tale of the pup video.

Seared on huge metal grills over an open flame, these wieners come out of the kitchen charred to perfection. With about 25 years of grilling experience, the Earle brothers, Cary and Duane (it's a family-run business, Mom joined in after she retired 15 years ago), have developed a unique way of turning out their tube steaks. They butterfly and/or slice each wiener for an even sear. I like this technique; it's a savory variation over conventional steaming.

The brothers started out with just a cart on Venice Beach, followed by a stretch in a small storefront near Leimert Park. About 3 years ago, they took over Jack's Chili Factory on Crenshaw Boulevard and renamed it Earlez Grille. And the extra elbow room is needed to turn out their extensive menu, which features hot link dogs, beef, turkey and veggie dogs, chili fries, veggie burgers, veggie chili, Jamaican patties, a dessert selection (Ol' School Coffee Cake, bean pies and cobblers), and Playas Punch. And that's only half of it. 

Every day has a special. On Monday the Veggie Dog drops a dollar to just $2, and on Saturday a Beef or Turkey Dog cost $1.25. Click here for the full menu.

The hot dog is dressed typically, with the extra choice of a New York-style topping of garlic-spiked tomato sauce and cooked onions. Ask for the sweetly smoky BBQ sauce on your hot dog sometimes, it works! Chili and cheese costs extra. Now about the chili --the recipe comes from former owner Jack (customers drove from all over L.A. for his Chili Over Rice - still served). Thick, rich, and meaty, it is spiced just right. I had it over fries, but I liked it best over the Spicy Beef Link (the link was not too hot, and its fine-ground texture is pleasing).

Talking to Duane, I found out that half his customers order vegan. And to keep them coming back, almost every meaty item has a veggie counterpart, including chili, hot dogs, burgers, tamales, and a Vegan Cupcake. Buns are white or wheat. Orders include a complementary tasty coleslaw with raisins - this item is off the menu, so be sure to ask for it.

With an Expo Metro Line rail station being built on Exposition Boulevard, just outside their north-facing windows, business is looking up!

So check out my latest video for Hot Dogz In The 'Hood -- brought to your home computer screen with funky fresh flavors, colorful clientele, and "Mom".

Earlez Grille  - Video

Play it here. The video runs 7 minutes, 20 seconds. 

For HTML to embed, or to just link from Youtube, click here.

99 thanks to the Earlez Grille chefs and customers!

Earle's On Crenshaw (latest address as of 2024)

3864 Crenshaw Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90008

Phone: 323) 299-BUNS

Website: click here 

Monday-Saturday 10am-9pm

Daily Specials (prices from 2010)

Monday: Veggie Dog $2 

and 4 piece Wings with Gravy and Rice, or Fries $4.99

Tuesday: Skinny Fries $1.25

Wednesday: Veggie Burger $3.50

Thursday: Turkey Burger $4

Friday: Spicy Beef Link $2.50

Saturday: Beef or Turkey Dog $1.25

Didn't get your fill of Earlez regal Mom? For an extra fun video minute here's a "Mom Makes School Lunch" story, check it out below!