Weho Heats Up Over Hot Dog Joints

Los Angeles has always been a hot dog city.

Just drive down La Brea Boulevard past Pink's Famous Hot Dogs to glimpse the ever-present line snaking out the front. It's filled with patrons desperate for a taste of their legendary hot dogs. A landmark since 1939, Pink's remains a necessary stop on any tourist's sightseeing list.

Or consider another hot dog stalwart—West Hollywood's . Ensconced in a train car on Sunset Boulevard, they have been serving up their famous "Carney's" chili dogs since 1975.

However, this summer, there are two new kids on the block. Newly minted eateries and are vying for the title of the city's best hot dogs.

Recently, they unlocked their doors for the first time to, willing to wait in long lines to sample the newest dogs in town. Both serve up their signature sausages in soft rolls, garnished with trappings like saurkraut and mustard (Papaya King) or chili, mustard, and onions (Coney Dog).

Another relative newcomer is , located on La Cienega Boulevard. Showcasing a shifting array of hand-crafted chilis, the best way to sample them is served over their homemade hot dogs and sausages. They offer a huge number of varieties like jalapeno cheddar, German, chipotle, and cilantro. These truly are "haute" dogs.

Just look at the big crowds that turned out at Nathan's International Hot Dog Eating Contest on July 4th to watch California native Joey Chestnut eat . The contest was broadcast nationally, complete with announcers and play-by-play commentary.

Hot dogs have been around since the late 1800's, when German immigrant Charles first started selling sausage in a roll on Coney Island. What gives hot dogs their unique appeal and staying power may be their ability to showcase regional variations in cuisine.

Think of the sausage and bun as a mere delivery mechanisms, and let your imagination run wild with the toppings. While Coney Dog cooks up "Detroit-style" hot dogs, recent LA transplant Papaya King has been serving up their signature food to New Yorkers since 1932.

Meanwhile, offers variations with influences from all over the world. Their menu items include St. Louis Dog, Bangkok Dog, Bavarian Dog, Southwestern Dog, Truffle Dog, and Italian Dog, to name a few. You can take a culinary tour of the world without ever leaving LA.

"Everything in America came from somewhere else," Chili Addiction owner Johnny Kovin said. "My mother was from Bavaria, and that's where I got my love for hot dogs."

Another reason for the trend? Believe it or not, health. Proving the old saying wrong, you can teach an old dog new tricks, at least when it comes to hot dogs.

Perhaps as evidence of the LA-influence, both Coney Dog and Chili Addiction offer vegan hot dogs for more health conscious patrons. Going even further, Chili Addiction offers gluten-free buns and uses no fillers and only high quality meat in their sausages and chilis. Also, as Kovin pointed out, hot dogs are "low carb by themselves," which is a big draw for certain diners.

Now onto the burning question on everybody's mind—Which eatery serves up the city's best hot dog? It looks like you will just have to sample them and decide for yourself.