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Mon-Thu. 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Fri-Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.
Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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I went here when I was 15. My mom told me that it was a famous place, and of course, us being tourists, we just had to go. Late at night, me and my family waited a few hours (UGH.) and got our hot dogs. At the time, I was a very picky eater, so my dog only had mustard on it. The rest of my family seemed pleased.
Just one of those places that you gotta try! Do I even like hot dogs? No, I don't. Would I go back? Yeah, probably.
Anything with this many reviews on yelp is obviously a LA classic, so as a visiting Elite, it made it a "must-see" for me!
Well-described in the 1600+ posts before me. Cute names for a lot of their dogs like Three Dog Night, the Martha Stewart, etc... Tons of varieties including the classic chili dog as well as more massive 10" gods, jalepeno dogs, and funky toppings like guacamole.
Prices are inexpensive (starts at $3.30 per hot dog) and great place to stop by for lunch or snack. It was fun and hubby and I came a bit before the lunch rush so we waited only about 15 mins.
A-OK for me simply because it's classic and it's been around 70 years. I honestly wouldn't wait 2 hours but then again, I'm not really a hot dog person. (These taste pretty similar to other hot dogs I've eaten, just with funkier toppings - we had the turkey and jalapeno dogs and onion rings).
I must admit... like many other reviewers, I was not totally impressed! Sure the fact that the place is so famous and has been around for almost 100 years is impressive, but the food didn't live up to the hype. Maybe my expectations were too high. The dogs were decent, but not worth the 30 minutes we waited in line.
I recommend this place for character above quality of food. I'm sure I'll return some day, but to say the least I'm in no rush.
What's the big deal?? The food here was completely unremarkable. I ordered a chili dog because it looks like what they were most famous for based on reviews and the menu. There was really nothing special about it. It wasn't bad, but it sure wan't anything special.
Add in the fact that it was a 45 minute wait AND that a single chili dog costs $3.50, i'm over it.
i just want to take the opportunity to point out that just because this place has a long line, that does not logically make it good. To reason that it is good just becasue the line is long is a common fallacy in logic, the appeal to common practice--more specifically argument from popularity. What actually makes a place good is that it is good, not just that lots of people eat there.
I was completely unimpressed with this place. Mark's hot-dogs here in San Jose is way better than Pinks in the areas of taste, price, and speed.
Oh yeah, and it's cash only AND there's no ATM.
I don't mean to offend anyone, as I am a religious man myself.....
That being said, the best way to describe the Pinks phenomenon is to liken it to belief in heaven:
The only way to get to heaven, is to first believe in heaven, realizing how you have to live to get there, and then doing what is necessary to get there....
.....The only way to get a Pink's hot dog is to believe they are that good, deciding that they are good enough to be worth waiting in line for an hour, and then going through with it.
The atheist would say that the glimpses of heaven are self-induging delusions.....
...Just as the Pink's naysayer would argue that the mere fact that you WAITED FOR AN HOUR pretty much guarantees that you will perceive the hot dog as delicious.
And, just like the only way we know anything first-hand about the afterlife is from miraculous accounts from people having survived near-death experiences, many of whom are a little wacky....
......The only way to know if Pink's hot dogs really are delicious would be to ask someone who got one WITHOUT waiting for one, and, well, the only folks who do that are celebrities, who are usually equally wacky.
That being said, I defer to my own version of Pascal's Wager : Even though the existence of heaven/deliciousness of Pink's Hot Dogs cannot be determined through reason, a person should wager as though heaven does exist/Pink's Hot Dogs are delicious, because so living has everything to gain, and nothing to lose.
In summary: Eat at Pinks. Whether or not it really is delicious, after an hour-long wait, you will think it is.
"Pink's!"
[First impression]
Yet another 2hr line!
So it's a bit overrated but how could you not go to Pink's when in LA? I won't go as far as to say it was worth the wait. But at least I can say that I went. Also, the thought of running into some celebs or hot shot made the wait a bit exciting. Hey.. you never know when in Hollywood. The Travel Channel was shooting a special while we were there so cameras were everywhere.
We ordered the famous chili cheese with jalepenos, the Ozzi and some O- rings and washed it all down with a Bubble Up.
[Suggestion]
*Go for tradition-- Chili Cheese!
*Onion rings are crisp to perfection.
[Tip(s)]
*No tips really. You would think the line dies down later in the day or late night, but it doesn't. So it's best to just get in line and wait like the rest.
I'm not a big fan of hot dogs. As a kid, hot dogs tend to induce headaches and nausea, especially when you've read the ingredients listed to form the final product. But hot dogs are one of America's greatest past time foods like pizzas and hamburgers.
If you're in LA, people will force you to try Pink's in Hollywood. Specializing in hot dogs wrapped in bacon served in a manner where it looks exactly like how you pooped.
Pink's is legendary as the celebrity pictures being hung on the walls and carries a historically importance to LA as well. The waiting line stands proof as you will have to shell out at least an hour or two to even get a chance to order. The smell of bacon will keep you going.
There are many variations to the hot dogs at Pink's. The most popular I'd say is the chili cheese dog, but order whichever you crave as they all taste great in its own right. Warning: I hate messy foods, so don't expect your foods to come with a wet nap.
Before I go, I have to point out something. I'm from New York. We were once king of all hot dogs, but it seems today that the best hot dogs are found in either Chicago or in Los Angeles. Perhaps it's our new health regulations that prevents vendors from peeing in the hot dog water that gave that special kick, but I wish New York can come back to claim our once loved status.
I'd recommend:
Coming here after midnight to a decent line.
When it comes to New York hot dogs, I think my man Snoop Dogg said it best,
"New York New York Big City Of Dreams
And Everything In New York Ain't Always What It Seems
You Might Get Fooled If You Come From Out Of Town
But I'm Down By Law, And I'm From The (Hot)Dogg Pound"
Preach Snoop, preach. Since NYC totally let me down in the hot dog department (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) I decided to add some California Love to my quest for the perfect dog.
So while my band was in Los Angeles for a gig, I made sure to stop by Pink's to pick-up one of their famous hot dogs. Yeah, I'm in a band, no big deal. One of the coolest things about Pink's is the amount of options they have on their menu. That being said, I highly recommend checking out their menu online first, and doing some research as to what you may want before heading out there. My dumbass didn't do that, and since there were about 100 people waiting in line behind me, I felt pressured into rushing my order. To play it safe, I went with the Bacon Chili Cheese Dog which is topped with 3 strips of bacon, tomatoes and cheese. The hot dog wasn't anything to cry home about, but it was still pretty good. There was a good snap with every bite and all of the ingredients used were fresh and delicious.
Another large part of Pink's appeal is the aura of the restaurant. I love the fame and the famous people associated with the establishment. Yes, I really am that shallow. Pink's is a small place, but the walls are covered with personalized, 8x10 head-shots of different celebrities that range from Tom Hanks to David Hasslehoff. A really nice touch in my opinion.
So why the 3 star review? Well don't get me wrong, the hot dogs are good, they're just not stand in line for one hour good. If you have NEVER tried a Pink's hot dog, then waiting an hour or so in line is totally worth it. The problem is after you've had it, the taste isn't good enough to motivate you into tackling that one hour line all over again. Plus, I couldn't help but feel like I could recreate this same hot dog taste myself if I experimented a little bit on my own. Bottom line, if you are in the Los Angeles area, I would still suggest checking out Pink's for the experience. It's well worth it and trust me, it's a grab-ass good time.
In other words, if you want to feel famous and important while shoving a long, thick piece of meat into your mouth, but don't want the hassle of having to film a porn movie, then head on over to Pink's!
One word ....OVERRATED!!!!
It's just a Hot Dog people! I've had better at 7-11! I live near Pinks and it is funny seeing how long the line is everytime I drive by. I guess all these people don't have a life since they spend 1hr+ waiting in line for a hot dog!
Plus...the one and only time I ate at Pinks...i was in the bathroom for a good hour after!
Pinks theme song should be
"When you're sliding into First and you're pants begin to BURST
Diarrhea...Diarrhea..
"When you're running Home and you're pants begin to FOAM
Diarrhea....Diarrhea.."
PASS on this place!!
The hot dog vendors on the streets that you find when the clubs let out ...that offer grilled hotdogs on their tiny carts along w/ green peppers and onions beat Pinks hot dogs hands down!
I'm SO disappointed!! I was so excited to finally try this place.. then.. I get.. what I got. I got the bacon chili cheese dog, and I don't know if I have to ask them to add lettuce, tomato and alla that but they didnt. So my boyfriend asked for some on the side, and I stole a little bit from him. Still, it was so mushy and it was falling apart and I couldn't even finish it in fear of dying of a heart attack right there on the spot. When I went they were doing a 70 cent hotdog for 70 minute charity event and the line was ridiculous! BUUUUT we got SO lucky because we got there around 6:30 and since everybody was waiting to pay the special price, we didnt have to wait in line! We had to pay regular price, but I rather pay then to have waited in line!
Overall, it didnt live up to its hype.
I came when there was no line, figured I'd try it out. I had whatever the special is, Pink Dog or something with a side of chili fries.
I couldn't finish it. The fries were so overfried it was disgusting, like eating dry wax. The chili was watery, and some kind of odd red color and texture that was unappetizing, like what I imagine raw human kidneys are like. The flavor was .... sour ... but not "oooh" sour but that horrible musky metallic sour of canned stewed tomatoes.
The hot dog was a hot dog, but extra overcooked with that odd smell and taste that baloney has... MSG or nitrates I'm guessing. The bun was one of those you'd get in a 24 pack generic brand, 1 part bread and 2 parts air.
I went to the bathroom, which had no lock, and had to keep two people from walking in while peeing.
All in all one of the most disappointing meals I've ever had. What the hell do people go to this place for?
There's always a line for Pinks whenever I drive past it in Hollywood. I stopped in and was pleasantly surprised to be standing in line next to an actor from the Star Wars remakes. While reading the menu items I was surprised with a few of the offerings, there just didn't seem to be anything that they didn't pair up with their hot dogs.
I decided to get a chili dog, with bacon, cheese and tomatoes. (You can't go wrong with Bacon.) Let me tell you, it was worth the wait in line. Actually having to wait in line is good- otherwise I'd be there every day and nacho cheese smothered bacon is just not healthy. (But so good!)
I'll go back again.
The boyfriend and I decided to have a "hot dog tour" day and went to 3 different places in LA.
Soo...with that said..
Is Pink's better than the other hot dog places I've tried? Yes.
Is Pink's worth the 1 hour long wait just for hot dogs? Yes. But only if you haven't tried it.
Will I go out of my way to get Pink's hot dogs? Maybe. Maybe not.
Ok there's a reason why this place has existed for decades and decades (7 to be exact). The hot dog has a nice crisp crunch that allows the barrier of the juicy meat snap with every bite. The toppings...oh the toppings! This is what, to me, made their hot dogs stand out.
I got the guatelajara (sp?) which had tomatoes, onions, relish, and mayonaise burying the dog. One bite of it...I knew...just knew that all hot dogs must go to heaven. It hit the spot and made me close my eyes and go "mmmmmm". It was one of those feelings.
If you're not a sauce person (i.e. one of my good friends), there are other, simpler options for you to choose from. But overall, Americans love options, and this hot dog place provides many different varieties to pick from.
I only give it 4 stars because 1) There must be a more efficient way to order hot dogs and 2) The best hot dogs are those you eat when you're drunk...since I was perfectly sober, I didn't get that "Oh my god, this is so freaking AWESOME" feeling. Maybe one day.
Came here and waited an hour to try one of their famous chili dog. Got that and some fries. I LOVE the hot peppers that they have out on the ketchup table but my tummy paid the price the next morning.
I came. I conquor. Would I ever wait for an hour again? Probably not. But I would come back to try other things off their menu.
After five + years of living in LA, I finally decided to brave the nearly hour-long wait and try a famous Pink's hot dog. While the ridiculously-long line provided ample time for people watching and conversation, the food was disappointing. My friends and I shared the popular bacon chili cheese dog, and we were unimpressed. The chili was bleh, the bacon wasn't crispy, and I could not get past the disgusting "snap" casing on the hot dog.
I enjoyed the good company, kitsch, and landmark status, but I won't be ordering another Pink's dog again.
People line up for anal bleaching in Los Angeles (okay, maybe in Reseda), so it should come as no surprise to anyone that they also line up for your standard, pork by-product. Mmmm... advanced meat recovery!
The fact is - if there is a line - there is 'buzz.' If there is 'buzz', there will be a mile long train of sycophants willing to endure whatever soul-crushing punishment they have to endure for even the most paltry and fleeting reward (see: Reality T.V.)
If you wanna wait an hour for a hot dog, by all means, have at it. Maybe some genius television executive will one day combine these two, not-dissimilar activities and make waiting in line at Pink's a Reality Show.
"The Line" - Coming this Spring to FOX Primetime...
Hollywood landmark or history my ass!!
it is a fucking hot dog stand bullshit!!
Hot dog!!
Don't anyone know that it is just hot dog??
Pink?? The name is so mis-leading!!
As if you got sexy girls serving you??
No... you don't ... but ugly fat men!!
I have conflicting feelings about this place. I feel like I need to give it another chance because YES, the hotdogs were good. They were quite tasty but I'm not sure if the prices are fair for a hot dog.
However, standing in line was such a pain in the ass. Parking was also another downfall. There was no space to park or to stand. The line is insane at almost all hours so it seems. I came around 11-ish.
CASH ONLY. whomp whomp whomp. There's an atm down the street but who likes those nasty ATM fees?
Only joint where you can get a dog in L.A.
You are standing in line and just meeting people from all walks of life for a Dog.......Yum
Whenever I make it to SoCal I have to hit up three places: 1) Roscoes, 2) the Hustler store, and 3) PINK'S. So far at Pink's, I've ordered:
-- The Patt Morrison Baja Veggie Dog (during my vegetarian phase): Good, but SO hard to order when you see the other dogs available on the oh-so-meatalicious menu.
-- L.A. Philharmonic Conductor Gustavo Dudamel Dog: What the hell was I thinking? I was so disappointed. It was a stretch hot dog, guacamole, American & Swiss cheese, fajitas mix, jalapeno slice, topped with tortilla chips. I want to yak just thinking about it.
-- Bowl of chili: It's like the chili that you use to top your nachos at 7-11 when you buy nachos... mushy and poop-like. It's probably best to order it only when you're SUPER plastered. I'd opt for the chili fries instead.
-- French fries: Okay, but as I stated above... I'd opt for the chili fries instead. You'll probably be too full from your hot dog to devour the whole thing anyway.
-- Some spicy hot dog that I can't remember the name of: BOMBEST THING EVER. Pretty sure it was one of the spicy polish dog combos. I guess I'll just have to go back and try them all. Haha.
Anyways, I can say that it's not really worth the hour-and-a-half wait if you've already tried it. I'm sure there are other hot dog places in the area that can give you a decent hot dog with most of the toppings you want. HOWEVER, it's definitely a cool place to take your noob friends and the wait isn't really that bad if you're in good company. Nothing is really that bad if you're in good company. :)
I went here one morning when there was no line just to see why there is always a huge crowd for a hot dog. The hot dog was ok. I think people go here to waste time when they are bored. There's no food worth standing in a hour line for especially a damn hot dog. You can't go here hungry you have to go when you THINK you may be hungry in an hour or so. lol.
Check out Earl's on Crenshaw and Rodeo. Great dogs, short line.
Well, enough has been said with nearly 1700 reviews...
...so...
I'll just chant...
PINKS, PINKS, PINKS, PINKS!
http://www.lapublichea...
Im so shocked at all the bad reviews of my favorite hot dog place. I love the 'Pinks Experience" LOL. Yes ur waiting in line for an hour, but that line is actually moving fast. Maybe im to ez 2 please I dunno. I seriously dont mind chatting up the man behind me while I wait 4 my turkey chili cheese dog, fries, black cherry soda, and which ever cake looks the best that day. Its all in good fun ppl.
This is a place of legend, a place where royalty dines with commoners, a place fabled to be the mecca of all things hot dog... And this is a place where reality fails to live up to the legendary status. I conviced a coworker that we had to fit this into the itinerary. "Everybody goes here" I said. We get there and... meh. I was full when I was done but didn't feel like I had participated in anything special by eating here. I've had a better dog and have a hard time telling anyone "You have to go to Pink's, it's legendary". Maybe I got the wrong dogs, and if I'm ever in LA with more time and someone wants to try it, I'll give it another shot. I'm definitely not going out of my way to go back.
Im going to break down this spot right now and clear up the debate. The hot dogs are great tasting, the choices are endless, and you can customize your dog the way you want. That in and of itself deserves 3/5 stars. However, because Pink's is a part of Hollywood history it does get more attention than normal which translates to extremely long lines which prevents you from enjoying it as a quick fix hot spot.
If you want to experience a piece of Hollywood history and enjoy a great dog, or two, or three then I would highly recommend this place. But if you are a hot dog connoisseur and part time food critic you might be disappointed with the wait.
I've definitely experienced better tasting hot dogs so I'm assuming Pink's gets high ratings because of their clientele. Personally, I've never seen a celeb here and if I did, I'd lose respect for them. The murder dogs on and off Hollywood Blvd are more preferable at times. For me, Nathan's is still and always will be the top-notch hot dog. The Nathan's on Coney Island that is.
Hot dogs have to snap when you bite into them. It's as much about the casing as it is the filler and toppings. Anybody could put exotic ingredients on top of the hot dog. But ultimately, its greatness comes from within. You can deck a bum out in Dolce, but his ass will still be a bum. But if you put Brad Pitt in some Dolce, you won't even notice what he's wearing. Get my point? Nathan's Famous is the Brad Pitt of hot dogs!!!
Go to Pink's if you like people watching. Don't go if you're a hot dog junkie. There are better options--like you're own imagination for one.
That is an N-I, Negative Impact...
In a word, Delicious!
I am not a huge fan of hot dogs, so I opted for the cheeseburger. There was a million different topping options, so I went wild and went to town.
The only gripe I had with the place was the line. This gripe was short lived, however. Two minutes into waiting, I was already a quarter way through the line and a shiny black limo drove up...
An unknown celebrity to me walked out, announced he was paying for everyone's food in line, and the rest is history...
I don't get it. I can understand an hour wait at a Kogi truck for some good Korean BBQ, and deal with the pandemonium at Father's Office for their unique burger.... but PINK's?? It's totally obvious that its foundation is what keeps their business going.
The hot dogs are normal at best. I actually like the hot dogs at Costco a lot better, and prefer the bacon wrapped ghetto dogs outside of clubs 3x more than I do a Pink's hot dog. The only thing that makes Pink's hot dogs decent are the variety of toppings you can put on the dog; you can make the same thing at your own house.
Too much hype for a sub par hot dog joint.
What the hell was I thinking when I gave this place a 3-star review? Yes, there's a wait that's sometimes up to 90 minutes (in my experience - who knows, it could be longer), but it's not "just a hot dog" like some claim. No, this is greasy bad-for-you goodness on a bun. Unless you get one of the healthier options...but c'mon, you don't stand in line that long for your health.
With inventive creations using various condiments, they're sure to have an option to please anybody. Who else puts nacho cheese and guacamole on a spicy hot dog? Come with a group of friends, and you'll be surprised how many options you end up coming out with.
"But I can make this at home!" Yes, yes you could. And it'd cost you a lot more money and time to make all the various toppings, and even then I'd bet it wouldn't taste nearly as good as Pink's does. Go out, buy a pack of premium-quality spicy Polish dogs, some good buns, make guacamole, fry up bacon, make the nacho cheese, grill your onions, and slice your jalapenos - a lot of work for one hot dog, right?
Their chili fries are the best I've ever had, and I've tried many. Prices are well worth it, and the line is avoidable if you go at the right times. Though I wouldn't treat myself to this too often (for fear of my heart giving out), it's definitely a favorite stop.
I'm not a fan of lines. I'm sure not many people are, but the line that forms around this location… Read more »
Lived in LA for years and haven driven by Pinks SO many times, of course always hearing the constant hype; finally decided to try this "icon". Discovered something about myself, I want a dog that is just a dog. And I don't want to wait in a super long line with a bunch of tourists to get it. In their favor, the service was very friendly and fast considering the crowd.
Yes, their selection of combinations of toppings is extensive. But most of them didn't sound appealing at all to me - in fact almost got a burger.
To have the real Pinks "experience" however, friend and I decided to try a dog each; Pastrami and Swiss, and the standard Chili Dog. They were pretty good - the chili was decent but really nothing to write home about, was more partial to the pastrami actually, a nice unusual addition. The dogs themselves were decent, nice snap to them.
I think Pinks is more of an LA must try once, and if you have visitors who are there to stargaze, maybe they will get their wish. Also, they are open real late on weekends, so probably a fun place to hit after a long evening on the town or with a mob of friends.
At least can say, "been there and done that! (I'm actually disappointed that I was well, disappointed!)
backtrack to a few months ago.
(driving by pinks)
me: i would never wait in that long ass line.
today, i waited. an hour and 20 minutes to be exact. i even had to go back across the street to put more coins in my parking meter since the parking lot at pinks fits like 8 cars. when we finally got to the front, i ordered the pastrami reuben hotdog (pastrami, mustard, sauerkraut) and my friend got the mulholland drive (melted cheese, grilled onions, 3 strips of bacon).
we split them so i tried both and afterwards, i felt like puking. i basically eat fast food at least 3 times a week so if my stomach can't handle that grease, there's a problem.
they taste good...for awhile. then you find yourself in the bathroom in the back of the establishment standing over a toilet for another hour and realize that you wasted 8 dollars and 2+ hours of your life at pinks.
While most of the rest of LA likes to go to spots with lines... because they think it's a hot spot worth waiting for... I seldom think that the lines are worth the wait.
This was another spot. Yeah they may have a ton of variations on the hot dog, but nothing worth the line. I just feel like most of the line must be people from out of town who are convinced that this is where all the cool LA kids eat. By the way... I hope people notice that the celebrity photos are just hung up multiple times to make it look more cool...
Save yourself some time, and look at the menu, buy the ingredients on your own, and make your own crazy hot dogs.
What can be said that hasn't been said already? Except maybe, the next time one of my tourist relatives or co-workers comes to the Southern California area and whines about coming to this Death Trap disguised as a Hot Dog Stand because they saw it on some damned Food Network show, I will set it off, Madea-Style. I'm not eatin' here ever again, four times is one too many when:
The lines are too long.
Even a dime is too expensive for the crap food that is served.
Are they kidding me about the celebrity dogs?! Who the hell cares to eat an Ozzy or Rosie O'Donnell dog?! And yes, we're ALL queuing up to buy a Gustavo Dudamel dog, yes, indeed. One of my relatives actually asked me on a trip there, "Who's Martha Stewart?" Well. There it is.
And whoever goes there just to look at the played-out celebrity photos on the wall is crazy as hell (read: read all my relatives). When was the last time you saw a damned celebrity in line at Pink's? I thought so.
Save your money for a trip to New York and go to the Papaya King instead. Now there's a place that knows how to do hot dogs. And they do it without the touristy gimmicks. Humph.
PS-I just thought of a new slogan Pink's can use: "When is a hot dog a HOT MESS? When it's Pink's of course!" Ah! The benefits of 8-hours of sleep. I should go work on Madison Avenue.
Sorry, I know this is a beloved LA landmark but I was seriously not impressed. After passing by this place for years, I finally took the plunge and waited in the ridiculously slow line to order. The security lineup at LAX on a holiday weekend moves faster than the order line at Pink's.
All I can say is, that's it? A hot dog and bun I could buy at any Ralph's with a pile of gooey dog food called chili on top? I'll give the fries four stars.
Seriously not worth the wait or the hype. I don't care if its been there since 1939. As to Yelper Brad W. complaining it was all fat men serving, he must have gone on gay bear night. It was all latina women behind the counter when I was there.
I've had tastier hot dogs from dodgy street vendors stumbling home from a club.
I went there one time because, well, you have to go to Pinks at least once. I don't get it. It was a hot dog. It was okay.
You can get better tasting dogs/sausages at T.J's or Ralph's, if you're into heart clogging saturated fat.
A Hollywood Legend since 1939...
That would make Pink's Hot Dogs 70 years old and a senior citizen. This is your grandmother's hotdog. Historically long lines with walls covered in autographed celebrity portraits (circa 1990) and juicy hot dogs covered in too much toppings.
Pink's has an eclectic cornucopia of hot dogs named after celebrities along the lines of ... Rosie O'Donnell, Martha Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne, Huell Howser and the new conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Gustavo Dudamel. A wide spectrum of celebrity that covers most fan bases I suppose.
Why don't they just start naming them after local male porn stars instead? Perhaps that would be more fitting. Just a suggestion. Anyone to second the motion...
So lets review... extremely slow moving long lines amongst a sea of star struck tourists for a mediocre sausage named after Rosie O'Donnell.... me thinks not. One of those places where people will tell you that you should go at a least once in your life... but do not heed this advice. Driving by this LA landmark is good enough for me.
I hate to say it because I generally have negative sentiments towards big box stores but...the best value hot dog for your money and time. Costco. Hebrew National All Beef Hot Dog or Polish Sausage and a refillable medium sized drink for $1.50
No lines and they sell churros so you can feel like you went to a Carnival.
Not Recommended
Yes yes... long lines. Yes yes... tourist hot spot. Yes yes... they are just average hot dogs. Sure... but I'm not here to talk about the dogs, which have been talked to death. I'm here to heap praise on the most overlooked, and most shockingly pleasant, part of the Pink's experience. The bathrooms... now, given that they truck in big messy meals, you'd expect the lavs to be... um, well... messy.
NOT SO my Roadside America slumming friend. Not wanting to hold it as we embarked upon a postmeal drive straight into the maw of rush hour traffic on the 405, the Lady Friend and I decided to hit the head (separately). We both warily tiptoed towards the bathroom, Purell in one hand, and napkin held over nose and mouth in other. And we both entered our respective doors at the same time, and reemerged minutes later with locks of shock and surprise. The bathrooms... they sparkled. They glinted with the sheen of bleach and all purpose cleaner. In a word, immaculate. Just absolutely stunning, unbelievably so. I know, right?! Crazy! But true.
Maybe we caught them on an "off" day when they were particularly on top of things. Or they'd just cleaned it (but we were there for 30 minutes and there was no evidence of that). Or maybe everyone in LA knows how to clean up after themselves. But regardless, we were just floored. Definitely the highlight of our LA rounds that day.
Kudos Pink's, for keeping a tidy tidy bowl.
How much of a meathead do you have to be to stand in line what? ..... ....85 minutes for a dog?
I came here once after shooting hoops with a friend at nearby Poinsettia Park. We were both hungry. He was willing to wait. I wasn't. I was forced to walk around the corner to M Chaya and order healthy food just because the wait seemed so insanely stupid.
As much as I don't go for healthy food I was weighing my decision. Picture this ........ healthy food in the left hand
vs Pink's with an unbearable wait when I'm ravenous
in the right hand.
Tah Dah! The scales tip. The healthy food wins for the 1st time ever!
After eating my meal alone, but at the communal table at M Chaya, I walk back to Pinks to fetch my friend. He hasn't eaten yet. He looks dismal and wasted with hunger. His pants are sagging. He's just beginning to reach the front of the line to place the order for his precious dog, something with bacon on it.
When it comes it smells delish. I swoop in for a magnificent bite before he can stop me. The hunger from the crazy wait has slowed his usually lightning fast reflexes.
I can walk here, and yet I still won't wait it out. But I see people in line that look like they drove their RV's all the way from Iowa, Wisconsin, Saskatchewan.
I can see them through the window as I check out of Rocket Video with a DVD. They have that 'we-drove-2200 miles-for-this-and-we're-not-going-to-let-a-2.5 hour (if it's a weekend) - wait-get-in-our-way." look on their faces.
And no I don't have a Porno in one hand, and a Pink's in the other.
Get your mind out of the gutter. I check out only cultured foreign films.
Roman Polanski.
As if Pink's needs another review.
I'm writing just cause I'm a yelper and we went the other night with a first time to LA friend.
Line was not long (we waited probably 30 minutes) and scored parking in the lot.
This is my 3rd time to Pinks and I have never had the great pleasure of waiting in a huge line. I always luck out and score the 30 minute line. I don't mind the wait actually. It gives me enough time to bounce back and forth over their menu and crazy hot dogs.
This night we splurged.
Order: Cole Slaw Dog, Lord of the Rings dog (BBQ sauce, Onion Rings (we got the last orings of the night on our dog btw), Hollywood Walk of Fame Dog (Cole Slaw and Chopped Tomatoes) I also added bacon and BBQ sauce to this monster and it was deliciously messy. I loved it! 2 Chili Nachos and 3 fun bottled beverages.
Our hot dog maker was great. He gave me a "wow" look when I added bacon and BBQ to my dog but I know he was digging it and probably made himself one later to try (:
I've been here several times. For some reason, it's not the experience of eating a Pink's hot dog that I usually remember. It's the feeling before and after.
Before: hungry, confused, wtf-line?
After: nauseous.
The whole in-between: pretty average. Just one of those places you "have to go" while in LA. If ever you want to take someone from out of town to a good dog place, take them to Wurstkuche in downtown. A helluva more fulfilling experience.
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Hot Dogs
Neighborhood: West Hollywood
Category: Food Stands
Neighborhood: Downtown
Category: Food Stands
Los Angeles, CA
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Hollywood
Category: Hot Dogs
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