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Best Hot Dogs/Beef Franks available to public?

post #1 of 6
Thread Starter 
Hey all...weather is starting to maintain is warmth and I have made my first batches of chili for the year.  But now, I need the perfect hot dogs to go with it.  What are your favorites?

I normally buy Farmer John (beef or pork weiners), Farmer John Dodger dogs (official dog of the LA Dodgers-footlongs), Hebrew National, and when I am lucky enough to find them, I absolutely LOVE Caspers.  But  I really want to find something new that I haven't tried before...especially BIG DOGS...quarter pounders or bigger.  What are your suggestions?
post #2 of 6
I am a huge fan of Sabrett hot dogs but I cannot find them here in Seattle (born and raised in NY and CT) so now I buy Boars Head. I would recommend Sabrett but you have to have them shipped in. If I am buying a dog it has to have a real casing or no go for me.

Oh aslo I used to buy Red Hots in CT but can no longer find them, they are great too.
post #3 of 6
Local store used to make coarse ground all beef that were killer. Haven't been able to find anything as good since they went out of business.
post #4 of 6
Usingers, Usingers, and more Usingers (no, I'm not an emploee, owner or in any way, shape, manner or form connected with them - - just a consumer).  They're good (although I gotta admit that for my tastes, the skins can be a bit "chewy").
post #5 of 6
A few thoughts:

If you like your dogs in casings with plenty of garlic and can deal with pork...  Ralph's (local Los Angeles supermarket chain), has some their own brand of "old fashioned" franks.  Not all Ralph's -- just some.  They're usually in the meat section, rather than the deli.  If you don't mind garlic, Ralph's are the mother lode.  Reasonably priced too.  Pork dogs.

Most of the Armenian markets and meat markets in "East Hollywood" have very good dogs.  Jon's which is probably the easiest for you to find, has good, but not great.  More mother lode and cheap cheap cheap.  It's worth driving into "East Hollywood" for a lot of grocery shopping.  "K-Town" adjacent, too.  FWIW, Armenian style dogs are very garlicky. stuffed in casings, and either pure pork or a mix of pork and veal. 

Dogs destined to be jochos are usually pretty good.  Check in a few carnecerias.

If you've got a favorite hot dog stand, they'll usually sell dogs in bulk.  Don't expect any fantastic bargains though.  Buying bulk that way usually isn't a lot different from retail.  There are a few good stands in the SFV.

A few delis sell Vienna Beef dogs -- those are pretty good.  I don't know if you can still get Wilno.  I can't recall seeing them in years.  I'm not sure where in the South Bay you are, but you might try calling one of the Santa Monica Delis or Juniors to see what they have and for how much.  Yes, Jerry's sucks but that doesn't mean they sell bad hot dogs (or does it?).    Otherwise, just wait until you make a trip to Art's, Brent's, Canter's or Langer's  and see what they've got in the case.  All beef.

BDL
post #6 of 6
if you don't know, Hebrew National makes a foot long. I used to get my old chef to order them for me through the country club. A case of 30 would cost me about 36.00. Even wholesale they were over a buck a piece, you mentioned a family favorite with Caspers. We came out of San Francisco when I was a kid, but whenever we go visit, we track down a Caspers Hot Dog just a great dog with a good snappy skin. I hear Pinks is supposed to be good, they are down in LA, I know they use a natural casing and have a formula made just for them as far as the ingreients.I have heard people compare them to Caspers and vice versa. never had one though and don't know if they will sell em in bulk or not. best of luck
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