06/22/09

Year of the Dog
The Hot List: Hot Dogs

Long considered the mystery-meat king of cart food, the hot dog's been overthrown by gourmet, all-natural versions that are worth sitting down for. Behold the list.

FREAKY FRIDAY

Chili Dog Fridays at Pal's Take Away

Make your way to the deli counter inside Tony's Market to get Ryan Farr's chili-topped 4505 Golden Dog, served with market-fresh toppings that could be anything from a tomato-corn relish to cheddar cheese to kimchi—but not all three at once.

411:: $7, Fridays only, Pal's Take Away, 2751 24th St (inside Tony's Market), 415-203-4911

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Broken Record's Wild Game Sausages

We wouldn't normally lure you out to a dive in the Excelsior, but you should know about sausages like Cajun-smoked alligator, rabbit with brandy and plum, venison with cranberry, and pheasant with wine and goji berries—all made from Boulevard vets. That, and the vast whiskey, bourbon and beer list.

411:: The Broken Record, 1166 Geneva Ave (btwn Edinburgh and Naples), 415-963-1713

MY BOLOGNA HAS A FIRST NAME

Mortadella Dog at Boccalone

The original bologna (and we're not talking Oscar Mayer) now comes single serve. Come and get the Mortadella Dog—a pillowy, Italian-sausage-sized blend of fat, meat and spice—served with mustard and butter pickles on a long Italian roll. Run it back, or get a pack to grill at home.

411:: $7 hot dog, Boccalone, 1 Ferry Bldg, 415-433-6500

BRINGING HOME THE BACON

4505 Meats Hot Dog at Wexler's

Not typically your FiDi power-lunch order, but the bacon-topped 4505 Meats Mission Dog with caramelized onions and pickled Fresno chilies might be too hard to pass up. If not, get it for happy hour and put your $1 savings toward another pint of beer.

411:: $11, Wexler's, 568 Sacramento St (at Montgomery), 415-983-0102

CARNIVAL TRICK

Crispy Dogs at 15 Romolo

The tequila-bourbon Rio Grande is compelling enough, but 15 Romolo is also known for its carnival-style bar bites like the Crispy Dog, a grass-fed Marin Sun Farms all-beef frank from Fatted Calf wrapped in corn tortillas and fried. Throw in a little sriracha-spiked ketchup, and things start to get a little crazy...

411:: $6, 15 Romolo (at Broadway), 415-398-1359

TOP DOG

Kobe-Beef Hot Dogs at Absinthe

This made-from-scratch package by Top Chef alum Jamie Lauren, includes a Kobe beef, pork shoulder and bacon-filled sausage served on a bacon-fat-rubbed bun with house-fermented sauerkraut, Guinness mustard and home-fried yogurt-dill potato chips. Consider it your new meat and potatoes.

411:: Absinthe, 398 Hayes St (at Gough), 415-551-1590

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