Kelly the Culinarian: Food find: Sonoran hot dog

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Food find: Sonoran hot dog

Until a few days ago, I hadn't found anything that Tucson does better than Chicago. There's the dismal pizza situation, the scary wildlife that's always on the offensive and the crappy baseball.

But then, I met the Sonoran hot dog. Sonora is a Mexican states right across the border that America is very friendly with because it's a port of entry. Chicago dogs hold a special place in my heart; there's just something about a hot dog dressed with all the hamburger fixings that hits the spot.

But that spot has now been filled with the Sonoran hot dog. Let me set the scene for you: my boss took the office to this little stand called BK's, which took me back to my days of living in the Dominican Republic. It was an open-air cafeteria with picnic-style seating and crates all around where you were expected to deposit your glass Mexican Coke and Sprite bottles at the end of the meal. Polka music blasted on the PA and vagrants roamed the parking lot. It was a real classy joint, but super nostalgic.

And then there was the food. Everyone always harps on Chicago for having unhealthy food and obese people. Chicago hot dogs have nothing on Sonoran hot dog when it comes to general fat consumption. The hot dig itself is wrapped in bacon and then cooked on the grill. Then it's topped with beans, tomatoes, onions, mustard, mayonnaise and green salsa, and sometimes avocado or guacamole. Here's some more information about the assembly and ingredients.

The hot dog is messy and highly caloric. But it was so, so good. I highly recommend it. There are so many textures and flavors in one of these puppies: you get the crunch and smokiness of the bacon, the pasty texture of the beans, the crunch of the onions and moisture and freshness of the tomatoes, along with the creaminess of the mayo and tang from the mustard and salsa combination.

If you're ever in these parts, you have to try one. But just one, otherwise, it may give you a heart attack.

7 comments:

tigerfish said...

The hot dog here just seems to be like a ferocious killer whale or shark, showing off it's razor-sharp teeth! Ready to tear apart the hot dog :P

Wandering Chopsticks said...

That does sound like a heart attack. And I still prefer Chicago dogs. :)

A Mature Student said...

Now, I could easily give that a try. I believe Americans make the best hotdogs, the different sauces, relishes and sausages?

WokandSpoon said...

That does look like a heart-attack inducing dog!

Unknown said...

I hate to say, don't ever knock the Sonoran (Mexican) hot dog until you have tried it, because the moment you do, you will have to have three of them. I lived in the Northwest for 30 years and move to Tucson for 3. After leaving Tucson, that is the absolute one thing I miss the most. Nothing better than getting a bag full from a little stand on Wetmore and Flowing Wells Rd on a Friday night. You can't beat the price at only 2 bucks a pop. Pure bliss my friends...

aptos6 said...

I was in Tuscon last summer visiting my food loving uncle. He told me I had to try a Sonoran hot dog, so we did just hours before I got on the plane back to California. I loved them so much I waited all year thinking about them daily until over the weekend i went back to Tuscon and had 9 Sonorans in 4 days. They are that good.

Amanda said...

Yep...you couldn't pay me to eat a plain old dog, but Sonorans are the best best best!! We moved away from Tucson so we recreate the Sonoran hot dog every few months in our own kitchen! still working on the hot sauce part!