Nothing tastes like summer fun quite like a hot dog piled high with all your favorite fixings. And let’s be honest, Portland could use a little dose of sunshine every month of the year. With summer break on the horizon and long afternoons filled with swimming and outdoor fun, take the time to check out these amazing hot dog joints when the kids run low on fuel and your too relaxed to grill. Read on to find out our top hot diggity dog joint picks.
photo: TheCulinaryGeek via flickr
East Side Delicatessen
Named after all of your favorite breeds of four-legged friends, the East Side Delicatessen serves up some of the most delicious hot dogs in town. Kids will go crazy for the ketchup, mustard and relish covered Dachshund and cheese lovers will find their perfect bite in the Cane Corso. The Pit Bull boasts toppings that include pulled pork and cheddar cheese. There’s an adventure in every bun.
Downtown
1438 SW Park Ave.
Mon.-Thurs., 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
503-243-3354
Online: pdxdeli.com
N Portland
4823 N Lombard St.
Sun.-Wed., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
503-247-3354
Online: pdxdeli.com
SE Portland
4626 S.E Hawthorne Blvd
Mon.-Sun., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Online: pdxdeli.com
photo: OP Wurst via Yelp
The Fried Onion
This hot dog joint makes you feel like you are in New York. With a friendly atmosphere and creative concoctions that keep families coming back for more, it is sure to become a family favorite. The toppings range from Muenster cheese and Mama Lil’s on the Spicy Russian Rover to pastrami, Swiss and sauerkraut on the savory Pastrami Dog. Even the simple New York Dog with sauerkraut and fried onions is a work of art—made all the more appealing by the $1.25 surcharge for Red Sox fans.
The Fried Onion
SE 3rd Avenue & Alder St.
Mon.-Fri., 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
503-961-2534
Online: thefriedonion.com
Nick’s Famous Coney Island
This old-school sports bar is sure to win your family over with its vintage ambience. Since opening its doors in 1935, this legendary hangout has become an iconic gathering place for sports fans, neighborhood families and those who love homemade Coney sauce. Opt for a single, double, triple or home run Coney Island, or try the one-of-a-kind Veggie Coney with a tofurkey kielbasa and vegan Coney sauce. No matter if you’re a west coaster or a displaced east coaster, the taste will make you feel right at home.
Nick’s Famous Coney Island
3746 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
503-253-3008
Online: nicksfamousconeys.com
OP Wurst
In 2012, Frankfurter Friday became a thing at OP restaurants. It was no time at all before hot dog lovers flocked to the joint for lunch while the cooks competed to come up with most creative toppings. Six years later, three OP Wurst stores are now putting on their own unique events, where kids and adults can sample dogs made with local pork, real lamb casings, and buns fresh from Portland French Bakery. Imagine the delight you’ll experience when you bite into a corn dog drizzled with honey, or try the decadent Frito Pie Dog at the SE Division location. No matter the location, the hot dogs at this diner are anything but ordinary.
OP Wurst at Pine Street Market
126 SW 2nd Ave.
Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sat.& Sun., 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
971-386-2199
Online: opwurst.com
OP Wurst Sausage Bar
3384 SE Division St.
Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-midnight; Fri. & Sat., 11-1 a.m.
503-384-2259
Online: opwurst.com
OP Wurst at Oregon City Brewing
1401 Washington St.
Oregon City, Or
Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
503-908-1948
Online: opwurst.com
Otto’s Sausage Kitchen
This family owned and operated sausage house will make you feel right at home. Otto’s Meat Market opened in 1922. It was the brainchild of German sausage-maker-turned-Portlander Otto Eichentopf. The art of sausage making has since been passed down through the family for four generations and in that time the store has gained a legion of fans. Bring home a few smoked pork links and chicken sausages, and don’t pass up the chance to enjoy a grilled old fashioned wiener at the tables out front.
Otto’s Sausage Kitchen
4138 SE Woodstock Blvd.
Deli: Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Grilling: Daily, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
503-771-6714
Online: ottossausage.com
photo: Zach’s Shack via Facebook
Zach’s Shack
With origins as a food cart and a storefront that has stood on SE Hawthorne since 2005, Zach’s Shack is a wonderfully casual stop for a Blazers game, a round of Ping-Pong on the patio and a perfectly snappy all-beef dog. Try the classic Chicago Dog, a condiment-free A Capella Dog or a Zach’s Favorite with brown mustard, red relish, sport peppers, onions, pickles and celery salt. There are even a few seasonal dogs named for Frank Sinatra and other legends of music.
Zach’s Shack
4611 SE Hawthorne Blvd.
503-233-4616
Online: zachsshack.com
What is your favorite hot dog in Portland? Let us know in the comments below!
— Annette Benedetti
