May 28, 2015
File Art /for PhillyVoice
A little char, some chopped onions, a smattering of spicy mustard and any other condiment that suits your palate can be a lifesaver in the event of sudden hunger.
Sometimes nothing hits the spot like a delicious hot dog or three. A little char, some chopped onions, a smattering of spicy mustard and any other condiment that suits your palate can be a lifesaver in the event of sudden hunger. That, and hot dogs deliver a value that beats basically everything else you might find yourself craving on a whim.
Outside of a barbecue or a baseball game, though, where do you go to get a specialty hot dog that will leave you as indecisive about what to order as you are at an ice cream shop? You don't have to search too far in Philadelphia. Here are the top 5 places in the city to grab franks.
132 S. 17th St.
1426 Snyder Ave.
1234 N. Delaware Ave.
With Fishtown's Penn Treaty Park just across the way, Johnny's Hots is an excellent place to drop by for a unique selection of items that may burn in a good way. One of the most popular concoctions at Johnny's Hots is the hot dog fish cake combo, which can also be made with sausage. This is the kind of establishment where you could quickly find yourself becoming a regular, and if you're working an early day, they even have you covered with breakfast.
2331 East Cumberland St.
As far as wise business decisions go, pairing a beer garden and a hot dog truck together as an extension to your already successful restaurant is a grand slam. Tucked into the far corner of Memphis Taproom's Kensington beer garden is a mint green truck that serves up all-beef natural casing dogs, with options ranging from the beer-battered California Uber Alles to the Suicide, which includes jalapeño, Sriracha, onion rings and habanero. There are also 11 different toppings available to add flavor and spice to your dog.
Reading Terminal Market
While so many hot dog variations focus on toppings and dips, you can't ignore the bread game. Miller's Twist offers us the pretzel dog, combining one great thing with another on a menu that already includes ice cream and coffee. There may be an overwhelming number of options at Reading Terminal Market, but this is a clear choice if you need to act quickly or quiet an unhappy camper.
