The (Hot) Dog Days of Summer

julie lee, portland, hot dogs

written by Julie Lee | featured photo courtesy of Spike’s Hot Dogs


Summer wouldn’t be complete without a hot dog on a bun and, luckily, Portland has an array of options. Gourmet (and good ole’ American) hot dog joints have popped up all over this sunny city. Here are some new, and some iconic, faves.

 

Spike’s Hot Dogs

Spike’s Hot Dogs is where beef and pork franks go to get dressed up for the party. Centrally located in Portland’s downtown Galleria building, Spike’s uses Pacific NW grass-fed cuts of beef and pork from Hill Meat Company in Pendleton. It also offers a baker’s dozen of customized dogs to choose from, including a monthly regional special (think Chicago or Kansas City style). A 20-foot condiment island then becomes dog heaven, with house made magic mustard sauce and beer barrel mustard, alongside thirty-seven other toppings. This is an old-school-meets-high-end culinary spot for all ages.

900 SW Alder St. | spikeshotdogs.com

 

OP Wurst

The highly anticipated Pine Street Market opened with a bang this year, and it doesn’t disappoint. Nestled amongst Pollo Bravo’s infamous rotisserie chicken and the cool swirl of Salt & Straw is a Wrigley Field inspired dog at OP Wurst. Olympia Provisions launched frankfurter Friday a handful of years ago to find hot dog lovers high-fiving and lunchtime lines lingering, and Pine Street Market offered the idyllic spot to serve creativity in a bun seven days a week. The pickled egg salad dog is highly recommended.

133 SW Pine St, Space #4 | opwurst.com

 

Donnie Vegas

It’s tough to find a $5 dinner in Portland these days, but Donnie Vegas fills the tank for a mere Lincoln from your pocket. Graduates from the foodie-centric Ned Ludd take a simple dog and bun and load it with fanciful ingredient options like kimchi, pickled carrots and hoisin mayo, pushing the basic dog to ambitious wiener heights. The frito pie here is killer and shouldn’t be missed, and be sure to order a side of gummy bears for dessert because … you can.

1203 NE Alberta St. | donnie.vegas

 

Nick’s Famous Coney Island

One of Portland’s oldest restaurants—dogs aside—Nick’s Famous Coney Island has bestowed the dogfather, a giant bratwurst sausage doused in sauerkraut and grilled onions, upon hungry late night revelers since 1935. This is the spot for your basic, New York style dog. Vegetarians exalt in the veggie coney, a tofurkey kielbasa with vegan coney sauce.

3746 SE Hawthorne Blvd. | nicksfamousconeys.com

 

The Fried Onion

Don’t mention an affinity for the Boston Red Sox here or you’ll pay an extra buck and a quarter for your meal. The Fried Onion serves up delicious dogs with a large side of New York attitude. Open weekdays for lunch only, this is a mid-day snack spot for those craving an authentic New York frank, smothered in sauerkraut and fried onions. The pastrami dog is also a favorite, with pastrami, swiss and kraut.

Corner of SE 3rd & Alder | thefriedonion.com

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