Category: Misc.

All-beef or Pork—the Best Hotdog Places in Phoenix

By michaelgavin
updated 5 months ago

Baseball, fanfare and hotdog stands are all tantamount to epic portions of American history. Hotdogs first gained their domineering food appeal in the US in the early 1900’s and ever since then we all have been hooked on their flavorful fare. Americans consume more hotdogs than anywhere else in the world and quite often you will actually hear or read about hotdog eating contests, where the winners take home a hefty cash prize and a full stomach. If you find yourself in the beautiful, stretching metropolis that is Phoenix, Arizona—make sure you grab a dog or a brat at one of these joints—they are the best that AZ has to offer.

This place is by far the very best hotdog place in the great state of Arizona, and is also one of the most famous hotdog stands in the country, hands down. Started in the early 1900’s by Ted, in Buffalo, New York—this place has grown in leaps and bounds over the past eighty years. Now Ted’s boasts 10 locations across the US, most of which are in New York, but thankfully one that is in Tempe, AZ. Ted’s is not your run of the mill hotdog place. Rather it sets the standard for great hotdogs period, and don’t worry I will tell you why.

The food is amazing, simply put. Customers are greeted with exceptionally friendly service and a very simple but easy to read menu. You can choose your own dog from their cooler, and they have plenty: from polish sausage to bratwurst to several different kinds of popular hotdogs in all sizes; you pick the one that you like and they will grill it to perfection right before your eyes. Once you have selected the dog or dogs that you want to eat, their grill masters go to work. Using a pair of hotdog pokers, and adding more charcoal to the grill from time to time, you can clearly see why Ted’s is a on a pedestal above the rest of the places out there that serve hotdogs.

About ten minutes or so after you order, your name will be called and you can then select the toppings that you want on your dog. From hot cheese to chili to pickles, they have it all. Then it is time to sit and eat your dog without it falling all over the place, in their Coney Island-themed eatery. Once you eat at Ted’s you will never think of hotdogs the same again. Rating based upon personal experience: five stars ** this place easily sets the national standard on what a great hotdog place should be, period!

When I first walked into this place after a night of clubbing in the astute North Scottsdale district, I had never even been here before; much less I did not even know that this place was tucked neatly into the famous Shoeman complex in North Scottsdale. Started by somebody who obviously had money and a different idea of what a great hotdog place should be, which is exactly what you will find at Sultry Dogs. Think, Hooters meets Coney Island with a splash of neo-contemporary and you will have the main theme behind Sultry.

A decadent and lavish interior greets customers, filled to the brim with very attractive ladies who will seat and serve, and flirt with customers; just look at their website which features a gallery of the models that work here, and are also displayed on their annual calendar. Now on to the food. They feature their own brand of dogs, and their menu is quite large. Basically they are serving a full-flavored and broad approach to hotdogs. From dogs that feature southwest new-Mexican flare, to the standard New York dog. My favorite is the sultry dog: a large dog on a bun with Mexican ketchup. Rating based upon personal experience: * five stars for originality, great food, great prices, excellent customer service, cleanliness and location—this place has it all!

Traditional Chicago-style dogs with a suburban twist; it does not get much more authentic than this place. And for good reason too. The founder, Al, relocated here from Chicago and decided that the warm weather and the town of Gilbert would be ideally suiting for his newest endeavor, Chicago hotdogs with everything on them. When at Al’s you are not only in for some very tasty eats, but you are in for an eating experience. One that takes you on a wild and tasty ride back to the old days of Chicago—where people could merely stop for a few minutes while on their way to work and grab a famous hotdog from a stand or cart on the street.

Unlike the Windy City, Phoenix is so spread out that there really are not very many hotdog stands or carts strewn about. Rather, if you want a hotdog you have to go get one at a specialty place—sometimes you can catch a dog at a cart outside a baseball game or a concert hall—but that is rare. When you eat at Al’s you will experience the Chicago styling of a hotdog. Large and meaty all-beef dogs in large buns and topped with a number of your favorite garnishments. Don’t forget the sour krout! Rating based upon personal experience: ** four stars, I lived in Chicago and this place is well-priced, clean and authentic.

Dave’s Dog House is the offspring of Tempe college students and the small town bustle that was Tempe before it really burgeoned into the sprawling city that it is today. Founded by a former ASU graduate and small time filmmaker, Dave’s has something very unique to offer its many hopelessly addicted customers—truly five star hot dogs. Their food is delivered fresh each week from Boston and features thick East Coast buns and toppings, like sour krout. They also have East Coast bratwursts and burgers here for other eats.

All of their fare is charbroiled right before your eyes, and they even offer some of the best damn chili that you will ever eat; a recipe that was created by five star and gourmet chefs in California, just for Dave’s. You can choose to add a side of chili to your order or you can have it slopped all over your fries and dogs—your choice. Two people can easily eat here for about $10, which is probably one of the main reasons that so many college students frequent this small-eats place. Rating based upon personal experience: ** four stars for authenticity, prices, cleanliness and customer service.