LA-Style Danger Dogs

L.A. Style Danger Dogs - bacon-wrapped grilled hot dogs topped with mustard, ketchup, mayo, grilled onions and peppers, fresh pico de gallo, and often topped with a grilled jalapeño pepper. 

Los Angeles Danger Dogs are wrapped in bacon, and grilled on a baking sheet on top of a metal shopping cart with a can of Sterno to heat the baking sheet.

They are topped with grilled onions and peppers that are cooked on the same baking sheet, and nestled in a grocery store hot dog bun.

If you have ever been to a late night event in Los Angeles, you have likely been greeted by a line of sidewalk vendors repeating "hot dog, hot dog, hot dog" as you walk to your car.

Danger dogs are a riff on Sonoran-Style Hot Dogs, which are sold in the state of Sonora, Mexico. Sonoran hot dogs are bacon-wrapped, and include pinto beans, chopped tomatoes, onions, mustard, salsa, crema, and roasted jalapeños on top of a bolillo roll. Evidently, there is an active Sonoran-style hot dog scene in southern Arizona.

There are theories as to why the hot dogs in Los Angeles evolved into Danger Dogs:

While Sonoran immigrants brought Sonoran-style bacon wrapped hot dogs to Los Angeles, the hot dogs evolved due to various factors, including one theory that bolillo rolls were not readily available in Los Angeles within walking distance.

Supermarket buns were so much easier (and cheaper) to obtain. However, they were/are not sturdy enough to hold the beans and all of the extra ingredients.. thus, the Los Angeles version.

Regarding the name Danger Dogs, there are two theories:

First, until recently, Los Angeles was so strict about food vendors that you had to be very agile when you set up your hot dog cart.

Second, the whole idea of pork sitting out without refrigeration may have something to do with the name.

How do you find Danger Dogs in Los Angeles?

While there are a few Sonoran style hot dog restaurants with actual addresses, to find Danger Dogs, you will need to hang out after an event that is just letting out. These photos are outside the Wiltern Theater (at Wilshire and Western), where we've been to many concerts. 

P.S. If you go there, be sure to eat at El Cholo on Western for dinner for another classic LA experience. 

Other options include the Greek Theater, USC football games, LA Galaxy Soccer matches, night clubs in Echo Park, Downtown, and Highland Park, and I'm sure lots of other areas that I'm not aware of. 

Danger dogs are served on a sheet of parchment paper. Otherwise, they look exactly like the photo at the top of this post.... with one exception. I could not drizzle mine with mayo. Mayo on hot dogs doesn't work for me...

I also added a few bits of chopped avocado in homage to the Sonoran-style bacon wrapped hot dogs.

How do you make Danger Dogs? 

You don't need a baking sheet, shopping cart and a can of Sterno to make danger dogs. I made mine in a cast iron frying pan. You can also use a griddle pan. 

First, wrap a hot dog with bacon and secure with toothpicks if necessary. then grill the bacon-wrapped hot dogs in the hot pan or griddle until the bacon and hot dogs are fully cooked. 

In the same pan, while you are cooking the hot dogs, grill the onions and peppers. 

Fill a bun with the hot dog, the grilled onions and peppers, and fresh salsa, and drizzle with ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. Top with avocado pieces. 

I'm really excited about posting this recipe (well, it's really not a recipe, it's more of a story). I've had an obsession with these hot dogs forever (thus, all of the photos), mostly because we go to a lot of concerts in LA. There's that clarion call of "hot dog, hot dog, hot dog."

If you like hot dogs, be sure to check out the rest of the recipes from the Our Dinner Table group! Join our group and share your recipes, too! While you're at it, join our Pinterest board, too! If you are a blogger and would like to join, send me an email.

Hot Doggity Dog Recipes

• Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
• Bánh Mì Dogs by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Franks-n-Beans Hot Dog by Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Hawaiian Hot Dogs by Our Good Life
• LA-Style Danger Dogs by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Sonoran Hot Dogs by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Vegan Chili Cheese Dogs by The Baking Fairy

LA-Style Danger Dogs - Hot Dog Recipe

Yield: 4 servings

Author: Karen Kerr

L.A. Style Danger Dogs - bacon-wrapped grilled hot dogs topped with mustard, ketchup, mayo, grilled onions and peppers, fresh pico de gallo, and often topped with a grilled jalapeño pepper.

ingredients:

• 4 hot dogs
• 8 slices of bacon
• 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and sliced
• 1 sweet onion, halved and sliced
• 4 whole jalapeño peppers (optional)
• 4 hot dog buns
• Pico de Gallo
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Mayonnaise
• Diced avocado

instructions:

How to cook LA-Style Danger Dogs - Hot Dog Recipe

1. Wrap four hot dogs with bacon and secure with toothpicks. 
2. Heat a griddle, frying pan, or cast iron pan over medium heat and add the hot dogs. 
3. While the hot dogs are cooking, add the onions and peppers to cook in the bacon fat. 
4. Continue to cook until the bacon is fully cooked and the onions and peppers are charred. 
5. Place the hot dogs in the buns, add the peppers and onions, as well as pico de gallo. 
6. Drizzle with ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, and garnish with an optional grilled jalapeño and/or avocado. 

https://www.karenskitchenstories.com/2019/06/la-style-danger-dogs.html

Karen's Kitchen Stories

hot dogs, danger dogs, sonora dogs

hot dogs

Mexican

Created using The Recipes Generator

Sources include Gastronomy Blog, Food Republic, and Thrillist

More Delicious California-centric Recipes: 

• Pea Soup Anderson's Split Pea Soup

• El Pollo Loco Chicken Tortilla Soup

• Animal-Style Double Double Burger

How to stay up to date with Karen's Kitchen Stories? 

Check out my recipe index for more amazing recipes.

Be sure to follow me on Facebook. Do you like taking photos of the food you make? You can also join my Facebook food photo sharing group (you don't have to be a blogger).

While you’re here please take a minute to follow me on Pinterest. I’m always pinning great recipes from fellow bloggers.

Finally, please follow me on Instagram. It’s a great way to stay up to date on all the latest and greatest blog recipes.