‘Hot Dog Stand, West St. and North Moore, Manhattan.’
courtesy of ‘New York Public Library’

The hotdog cart has a long and storied history in the United States, and DC is no exception to the hotdog cart culture. In fact, DC’s own epic street meat, the Half-Smoke, is part of that culture of hotdog carts in DC. Sadly, most of the standard vendor carts lack any sort of character, and most are pretty common denominator when it comes to the hotdog.

Sure, other cities have their own special version of the hotdog, but when it comes to the basic hotdog, DC is pretty much a plain jane. While the increase in mobile food operations in DC is certainly welcome, not one of the new kids has tried to take the hotdog to the heights that it deserves. Not one of them could hold a candle to Beez Neez in Portland, which is saddening. Bring me a gourmet hotdog cart, DC!

There are some things that you should know about the hotdog carts in DC, though, so let’s get on with the knowledge:

Avoid the carts on the Mall. Seriously, they’re overpriced by 30-50%, and I don’t think you get nearly as good a product as you would at one of the Sabrett stands. You’re about to have a hotdog, so walk the extra block, okay?

Know your onions. There are two kinds of onions you can get on your dog, and there’s a dramatic difference. Do you want sweet and tangy? Go with the cooked onion relish, which, when combined with mustard, gives you an incredible flavor combo that you should try just once. There’s also raw onions, which are usually purple, and not as violent as the chopped raw white onions.

Don’t be afraid to get a chilidog. There’s chili in them thar carts! Well, many of them. Don’t be afraid to get a chili-cheese dog from a hotdog cart. No, it’s not Ben’s Chili Bowl, but you’re not exactly expecting gourmet here, are you? It’s a hotdog cart, for cry-eye. Just get extra napkins

Get the half-smoke. You’re in DC. You’re a big kid now. Get the half-smoke, not the hotdog. It’s what Lauren Bacall or Sam Peckinpah would do. Just also get a Tums roll from the cart, too.

Tom Bridge

I live and work in the District of Columbia. I write at We Love DC, a blog I helped start, I work at Technolutionary, a company I helped start, and I’m happy doing both. I enjoy watching baseball, cooking, and gardening. I grow a mean pepper, keep a clean scorebook, and wash the dishes when I’m done. Read Why I Love DC.