Original Gravity Public House

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The Original Gravity Public House reminds me a little of Wurstkuche (see post HERE).  They have a variety of beers and sausages, even exotic meats. 

Poutine made of fries and topped with green pepper corn gravy and cheese curds.  The sauce was a bit too salty and the gravy was very thin.

The duck fat fries were crispy and crunchy with a nice flavor to them.  Although, if I didn't know they were duck fat fries, I would never had known.

The wasabi mayo had a nice kick to it.  It was my favorite of the two sauces.

The jerk ketchup had a smokey flavor to it.

The Louisiana Hot was nice and spicy.  Loved how the bun stayed intact.  The candied jalapenos gave the sausage a nice sweet and spicy touch. 

I sort of expected the cheesy andouille to ooze cheese, but no cheesiness here.  A decent spicy flavor though.

Address:                 Original Gravity Public House
                                66 S. 1st St.
                                San Jose, CA
 

Type:                       hot dog

Popular chomps:     poutine
                                duck fat fries
                                garlic aioli
                                candied jalapenos

Chomp worthy:       Louisiana hot        

Oki's Dogs

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I don't even know what to categorize Oki's Dog as.  Is it Japanese?  Is it just hot dogs?  Is it burritos?  Its all the above in pure gluttony status. 

Their menu has a little bit of everything.

Quite a bit of their items is doused with their signature chili sauce.  The beanless chili reminds me a little of Japanese curry both in the consistency and in the seasonings.  Even though chili cheese fries don't look like anything special, the chili and the crunchy fries are addicting. 

The oki dog is one of the signature items here.  Two hot dogs along with cheese and chili are wrapped in a flour tortilla.  The combination is oddly satisfying and makes you wonder why aren't there more of these.

The pastrami burrito is another wildly popular item.  First of all, this is gigantic.  One order can easily feed two people.  Jam packed with slices of pastrami, cabbage and then wrapped in a flour tortilla, this is delicious.  Even better when its cold.

       

Address:                  Oki's Dog
                                 5056 W. Pico Blvd
                                 Los Angeles, CA
 

Type:                        hot dog

Popular chomps:      oki dog
                                  chili cheese fries
                                  pastrami burrito
                                  orange bang

Chomp worthy:        oki dog
                                  chili cheese fries
                                  pastrami burrito

Jimbo's

Pin It Now! This summer heat wave has me searching out more cold treats to cool me down.  Jimbo's is a small dessert shop in the middle of San Jose's Japantown that serves Bubbie's mochi straight from Hawaii.  Not just your standard mochi ice cream from Trader Joe's or Ranch 99, these mochis come in a wide variety of flavors.  About 15 flavors a month to be exact, with a couple as special flavors of the month.

All 15 flavors this month were:  green tea, mango, guava, strawberry, chocolate peanut butter, passion fruit, pistachio, chocolate coconut, lychee, strawberry dark chocolate, vanilla, and ultimate chocolate.  Vanilla and ultimate chocolate were the special flavors of the month.  While the the standard flavors were good, the taste shockers were pistachio, ultimate chocolate, strawberry dark chocolate, chocolate coconut, and chocolate peanut butter.  Although, they don't really tell you what each of the flavors were when they serve you the tray of bubbies, its sort of fun to guess which ones are what.

Biting into one of the more "exotic" flavors of mochi (this one is chocolate coconut), you can see the exterior (mochi) is a different color than the ice cream inside.  Also, the handmade bubbies have a slightly thinner layer of mochi, which I think works well with the ice cream.  Since they are handmade, the mochi is chewier and more delicate in texture.

The Jimbo roll here is a must get!  A sushi roll made with hot dog ($.75 extra for a hot link) and pickled vegetables (takuan) and a spicy mayo sauce.  A couple slices of amazingly crispy and fresh tasting takuan are give on the side for some added crunch.  The rice to hot dog ratio is spot on.  Just looking at this roll makes it seem like it would be heavy, but its actually quite light and a nice snack size.  Having had many a spam musubi and sushi roll in my lifetime, I left the store still thinking about how delicious this was. 

Address:                  Jimbo's
                                 170 Jackson St.
                                 San Jose, CA
 

Type:                       dessert/ice cream/Japanese/Hawaiian

Popular chomps:     ice cream
                                 mochi ice cream (bubbies)
                                 Jimbo roll
                                 black sesame sauce

Chomp worthy:        mochi ice cream
                                 Jimbo roll        

The Dog Pit

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Finally, I found a Japadog type place in the city!  This place reminds me of Batter Up (see post HERE) .  Similar vibe - a twist on a simple comfort food.

If something unique and crazy isn't your thing, they have the standard dogs and sausages too.

The Tokyo dog was a regular hot with wasabi aioli, shredded seaweed, and bonito flakes.  Even though it was served up on a regular hot dog bun, I was pleased to see that everything stayed intact until the end.  Also, the proportions of ingredients was well balanced. 

This is the first time I've seen pesto on a hot dog.  Its one of those toppings that makes you surprised you've never seen it on a hot dog or as a topping before.  Basically mimicking a pesto pizza with tomatoes, basil,  and baked with mozzarella cheese.  Pretty delicious stuff even though trying to scrape off the toasted bun from the foil seems a little challenging.  I ended up stuffing my face in the foil, which sometimes you have to do for good food.

So there is a Tokyo dog, a New York, and a Chicago, so of course there has to be a Seoul dog.  Kim chee, carrots, pickled daikon, and topped with korrake aioli, this dog was another amazing take on a hot dog.  Only wish these dogs were sausages instead of normal hot dogs.  I think it a heartier dog.  

Best twist on a dog that I've seen in the city so far, but it doesn't beat Doggy Style Hot Dogs (see post HERE) in Alameda.  But for those days when you are trying to save on toll or you are too lazy to drive across the bridge, it hits the spot.

     

Address:                  The Dog Pit
                                 1404 Taraval St.
                                 San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                        hot dogs/American

Popular chomps:      Chicago dog
                                 Tokyo dog
                                  bacon cheese dog
                                  chili cheese dog
                                  Seoul dog
                                  baked pesto dog 

Chomp worthy:         baked pesto dog
                                  Tokyo dog
                                  Seoul dog      

Bacon wrapped hot dog

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Once nightfall hits (usually after 11p Fridays and Saturdays), the bacon wrapped hot dog carts start making their appearance.  Often found either in the Mission area or on Mission around 4th to 8th St, these carts are not made equal.  The carts are usually operating illegally without a permit so they do change locations, but following the smell will lead you to your happy ending. 

There's a reason why these hot dog carts come out during drinking hours.  No one in their right mind would eat one of these greasy, fat filled dogs during the day.  That being said, after a couple drinks these dogs make for a satisfying end to a sometimes tumultuous night.

Bacon wrapped hot dogs from a cart - #87 on 2012 7x7 SF's Top 100 Eats

I'm not one to eat either mayo or ketchup on hot dogs, but you MUST get these bacon wrapped hot dogs with everything!  Everything means jalapenos, mayo, ketchup, mayo, and grilled onions.  Its one sloppy, greasy bite after another, but just resist getting another one.  Trust me you'll regret it in the morning. 

updated - Working my way through the 2012 7x7's SF big eat 100 things

Address:                       bacon wrapped hot dog cart
                                      Mission St.
                                      San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                             late night eats/hot dog

Popular chomps:           bacon wrapped hot dogs with everything

Chomp worthy:              bacon wrapped hot dogs with everything

Da Beef

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If you happen to be in the middle of SOMA and find yourself somewhere between too lazy to go to the Mission for a burrito and too sober to eat a bacon wrapped hot dog, Da Beef makes for some good late night eats.  This cart is open till 3a on Friday and Saturdays and the food doesn't make you feel too guilty the next morning.

They are mostly known for their Chicago style hot dogs, but they do offer Italian sausages, veggie, and hot links as well.  Also, you can tops these with chili, cheese, and bacon bits.

It's sometimes called a walking taco, taco in a bag, or a frito boat. The frito pie, as its referred to at this cart, is a bag of fritos cut open and mixed with chili cheese, onions, tomatoes, and jalapenos, then eaten with a fork.  It's a delicious snack that is reminiscent of childhood memories as well as being one of the least messiest late night food options in the city. 

I can't vouch for its authenticity to a real Chicago dog since I never had a real Chicago dog, but it does have the sprinkle of celery salt and the neon green relish.  The dog comes sitting in a poppy seed bun and decorated with sliced tomatoes, jalapenos, and a crisp pickle spear.  The bun is super soft so it can be a little tricky to maneuver all the ingredients into your mouth without anything slipping out, but its worth it.

Address:                   Da Beef
                                  300 7th St
                                  San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                         hot dog/late night

Popular chomps:       hot dog
                                   polish dog
                                   frito pie 

Chomp worthy:          hot dog
                                   frito pie       

Doggy-Style Hot Dogs

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Doggy-Style Hot Dogs is the Bay Area's answer to Japadog in Vancouver.  I've never been to Japadog so I can't weigh in on how these Asian style hot dogs measured up to the ever so famous Japadog.  The East Bay seem to have San Francisco in the hot dog category.  Doggy-Style definitely beats out the dogs at Pig & Pie (see post HERE), but I guess you can always default to Roseamunde (see post HERE).

  There were so many delectable options here that I'll probably have to make another trip just to satisfy my curiosity.  Funniest moment of the day was when someone came in and asked if they just have regular plain old hot dogs.     

There are 8 specialty hot dogs on the regular menu with a couple as well as a couple special dogs posted around the shop.  If you aren't in a fancy mood, they have your standard hot dogs and a choice of sausages:  polish, hot link, calabrese, bratwurst, linguica, and chicken apple. 

 

The kimchi dog is a Korean twist on a hot dog.  A hot link grilled to perfection with an awesome snap to it is topped with kimchi, and spicy red mayo.  Cucumber spears are tucked in with the hot link for added crunchiness.  The buns here are better than I've had in a while.  Each bun is toasted and holds up to the last bite, which is surprising considering how many ingredients are stuff into each bun.

The Kare dog is one of the added special dogs in the shop.  It was my favorite of the three I had.  How can I resist Japanese curry and some of my favorite type of pickles - takuwan (yellow) and fujinzuke (red) ? You know how sometimes you eat curry and you just need some bread to sop it up.  Well, no need here, its the perfect package.  The curry is ladled with love over an all beef hot dog.  The crunch from the pickles along with the soft potatoes provide a perfect mix of taste and textures.  The curry does make the bun a little soggy, but it still holds up.

The Doggyzilla is literally a hot dog with all the fixings!  Bratwurst, an asian slaw, wasabi mayo, teriyaki sauce, and shredded nori (seaweed) all stuffed into one nicely toasted bun.  This is the dog that was splashed over Sunset Magazine and other publications, but I still preferred the others better.  High five for a solid tasting wasabi mayo.

Address:               Doggy-Style Hot Dogs
                              1234 Park St.
                              Alameda, CA 
 

Type:                     hot dogs/Asian/Japanese

Popular chomps:   kimchi dog
                               kare dog
                               banh mi dog
                               doggyzilla

Chomp worthy:      kimchi dog
                               kare dog          

Pig & Pie

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I almost walked pass Pig & Pie.  It looks like it used to be an old record store so look for the orange walls.  This made from scratch pie and sausage place that just opened up in the Mission.  Bonus points because on Friday and Saturdays it opens till 1a.  Many a night I've wished Rosamunde opened late like Top Dog (see post HERE).  Even though Rosamunde (see post HERE) is only a couple minutes, the Pig & Pie options are a different twist on a hot dog.  

So how else can you make hot dogs or sausages different?  Well, Pig & Pie actually makes their own buns.  Trays of hot dog bun molds are displayed around the shop.

There are four house made condiments to decorate your sausages with (from left to right): yellow mustard, spicy beer mustard, sriacha, and ketchup.  For sriacha lovers, their housemade sriacha is considerably tamer than commonly known rooster sriacha.

How genius to put a runny egg on a hot dog.  A runny egg always seem to make any dish in my book better.  The dog here is made with sage, ginger, and bacon pork sausage then topped with a fried runny egg and drizzled with their housemade sriacha.  The sausage is juicy and full of flavor.  I would have preferred the sriacha to be spicier though.  The homemade bun takes a while to get used to.  It has more of a crunchy, firmer texture versus the normal soft hot dog buns.  The bun does hold up well to the last bite, which is more than I can say for Rosamunde's dogs.

 

Mmm..runny egg.  Perfection.

The banh mi dog piqued my curiosity.  It smelled exactly as if I was opening up the wrapped of a banh mi.  The sausage is made with black pepper, garlic, pork, and pork skin.  Its topped with pickled daikon, carrot, jalapeno, cucumbers, cilantro, sriacha, and chicken liver pate.  Not exactly like a banh mi, but a pretty close homage to it.   

I've never been to Chicago so I can't tell how authentic it comes to a real Chicago dog, but it did have that sweet relish along with tomatoes, white onions, yellow mustard, and celery salt.  The sausage was juicy and flavorful, but out of all three sausages this was my least favorite. 

Not only does Pig & Pie make their own sausages and buns, but they make their own pies as well.  Its almost as if they were single handedly trying to take out both Mission Pie and Rosamunde (both within a couple minutes from Pig & Pie).  Thin slices of lemon were in every bite of the pie.  I loved how the lemon slices were slightly sweet, but still kept their pucker.  The crust was buttery, but not as flaky as I like.  I think I still prefer Mission Pie for the crust, but the filling at Pig & Pie shows some serious pie making skills.   

Address:                 Pie & Pie
                                2962 24th St.
                                San Francisco, CA
 

Type:                       desserts/hot dogs

Popular chomps:     banh mi hot dog
                                Chicago dog
                                 breakfast sausage
                                 bratwurst
                                 lemon shaker pie

Chomp worthy:       banh mi dog
                                 lemon shaker pie         

Wurstküche

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Wurstküche reminds me of a Rosamunde (SF) (check out my post HERE) meets Pommes Frites (NY) all housed in a indoor beer garden.  They have numerous beers on tap as well as some really quirky sodas like cucumber and spiced apple cider.

 Wurstküche has an wide spectrum of sausages from the classics (Bratwurst, Bockwurst, Hot Italian, Vegetarian Italian, Vegetarian Smoked Apple Sage, and Vegetarian Mexican Chipotle) to a little fancier (mango jalapeno, Santa Fe Jack Cheese & Jalapeno Pepper, Chicken Apple & Spices, Austin Blues, Sun Dried Tomato & Mozzarella, Green Chilies & Cilantro, Filipino Maharlika, Kielbasa, and Louisiana Hot Link) to the exotics (Buffalo, Beef, & Pork with Chipotle Peppers, Duck & Bacon with Jalapeno Peppers, Alligator & Pork with Andouille Sausage, Rattlesnake & Rabbit with Jalapeno Peppers, and Rabbit, Veal, & Pork Seasoned with White Wine). 

 Each sausage is grilled to order along with a freshly grilled bun.

The inside seating area is located down the hallway in the back of the restaurant.  It seems to get crowded in waves so I suggest sending someone to grab some seats while another person waits in the order line.

After a heavy lunch and a much anticipated upcoming dinner, I could only scarf down one dog and some fries so I picked the most exotic out of the bunch - rattlesnake & rabbit with jalapeno peppers.  I have had rattlesnack and rabbit separately on various occasions, but never together and never in a sausage.  Not necessarily a chicken type flavor, but more of a mild flavor with a medium spicy kick and a good snap on the sausage.  It was probably juicer than any other sausage I've had so far (sorry Roseamunde and Top Dog!).  Two toppings are included with each order:  carmelized onions, sauerkraut, sweet peppers, or spicy peppers.  I chose sweet and spicy peppers since that's my go to when I'm ordering at Rosamunde.  The peppers didn't have much spicy to them and the pieces were a little big for my preference. 

Having been to Pommes Frites in New York, I was excited to try eat some Belgium fries and try new dipping sauces.  At around 10 types of sauces, its no where near the selection that Pommes Frites has, but for an extra $2 they drizzle on a truffle oil glaze.  With the small order of fries you get one dipping sauce and with the large size they include two free dipping sauces.  For being double fried, the fries here are a lot more fluffy and potatoey than crispy.  Not bad if you prefer your fries on the softer side, but it is missing those super crunchy end pieces.   

Even though I only got a small size (which I think is quite large and sharable), I still opted to pay an extra $.75 for an additional sauce.  From left to right:  Tzatziki sauce, chipotle aioli.  The tzatziki sauce was a little bland, but the chipotle sauce was creamy with a spicy kick. 

Address:                      Wurstküche

                                             800 E 3rd St.

                                             Los Angeles, CA

Type:                                hot dogs/German

Popular chomps:  rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapeno peppers
                                              alligator & pork, andouille sausage
                                              duck & bacon with Jalapeno peppers
                                              double dipped fries with white truffle oil glaze

Chomp worthy:       rattlesnake and rabbit with jalapeno peppers
                                double dipped fries
                                chipotle aioli       

4505 Meats

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4505 Meats is located in the far back of the SF Farmers Market on the right side (right next to Namu).  The huge crowds in this area makes it a little hard to find this booth.  They serve breakfast items as well as lunch items on Saturday mornings.

Buried under a pile of their housemade chicharonnes and kim chee (made by Namu) is a hot dog.  A decent snap to the dog, but nothing else stood out.  The zilla style (adding chicharonnes and kim chee) option on the hot dog didn't make this dog any better.  I noticed a lot of people ordering it on their burgers though.  I found the kim chee too sour and the chicharonnes hard to fit into each bite.

(cheese)burger at 4505 Meats - #57 on 2012 7x7 SF's Top 100 Eats

An incredibly juicy burger, but a little on the salty side.  Reminded me of the Big Mac with the dressing similar to that of Thousand Island.  Not sure what was up with the sad leaf of lettuce, reminded me of a McDonalds burger.  Many people think this is the best burger in SF.  I have to digress that I've had better.

One thing that I do agree that 4505 does well is their bag of chicharrones.  Crackling, fat chunks melting in your mouth with a hint of spiciness.  I can never bring myself to only take a couple pieces and end up eating the whole bag. 

updated - Working my way through the 2012 7x7's SF big eat 100 things

Address:                          4505 Meats                                       
                                                Ferry Building Farmers Market (Sat)                                       
                                                San Francisco, CA   
 

Type:                                  burger/sandwiches

Popular Chomps:   cheeseburger                                      
                                                zilla dog                                      
                                                4505 chicharrones
                                                frankaroni                                        

Chomp worthy:       4505 chicharrones