Philliedog is a new local hot dog restaurant that has two locations, one on Stockdale Highway and the other on California Avenue. They serve a variety of signature hot dogs that contain a combination of foods that make for a great meal that will leave you wanting more.
The location on California Avenue is set up similar to Subway; the counter, which is bound in bamboo, goes the length of the restaurant and has glass in front so you can see how your food is being prepared. The walls are decorated with a painting of a surfer with signs of different beaches in California giving a coastal feel to the place.
Hot dogs are not my favorite thing to eat; I don’t really crave them like I do most foods. That quickly changed after I ate a hotdog from Philliedog.
My first visit to Philliedog left me captivated. The first hot dog I consumed, a South of the border dog, was wrapped in bacon and topped with onions, green bell peppers and spicy mustard. It had a very distinct taste; it’s one that I would normally find along the streets of Hollywood, outside a concert hall or at the swap meet.
Since then I have been to Philliedog several times and have ordered many items. What has kept me coming back is not just the good food, but the customer service is exemplary. Unlike most fast food restaurants that try to get their order out as quick as possible regardless of quality, employees at Philliedog truly take the time to make your food the way it should be and are very friendly.
My two most favorite hot dogs so far are The TJ and The Jerry. The TJ is a hot dog topped with a beef tamale, served with mustard and chili. It is so messily delicious that you can’t even pick it up; it has to be eaten with a fork.
The Jerry, a hot dog that is 12 inches, wrapped in bacon and topped with tomato, feta cheese, sports peppers and mustard. Though any customer may choose his or her own toppings, I always opt to leave the food the way they prepare it. It is by far one the most incredible things I’ve had for lunch.
Around lunchtime is when the place is most busy; I often see a line that nearly goes out the door. But it’s worth the wait and the fact that it’s often packed says a lot about the quality of food.
They’ve also just expanded their location on California Avenue by creating a sports bar. A separate section has already been completed and in time will become a bar that will serve imported beer and wine while providing live jazz performances.
When this happens it’ll be the greatest place of all time. Imported beer and hot dogs sounds like the perfect combination.
Their slogan, “Not just another hot dog!” is one that stuck with me because it’s so incredibly accurate that it captivates me. And it’s not just another hot dog, everything I’ve tried is so awesome it’s hard to put in words.