Fret no more. The days of cuisine indecision halt at The Slaw Dogs, a one stop, clean and sleek gourmet hot dog, sausage, brats and burger dive dishing fresh, All-American eats with an international twist. Traditionalists and adventurists: build your own happy meal with one of eight juicy dogs or links, 10 sauces (spicy sesame aioli or curry ketchup, anyone?) and over 35 toppings including garlic salsa verde and kimchi. Or, decisively try one of the popular “Slaw Dogs” creations. Here, anything goes – unless you’re a kid and Mom says no.

Comforting mac and cheese – updated with Dijon mustard – mingle with crisp bacon and savory grilled onions on a snappy ¼ pound Vienna beef Mac and Cheese Dog. Feeling breakfast, lunch, and dinner all at once? Put your tender heart in a blender (as an Eve 6 song belts in the background) and face the bully – a monstrous tortilla-wrapped TNT Super Dog bursting like a fat kid hoarding deep fried ripper Vienna all beef pieces smothered with greasy beer chili, melted cheddar, tender pastrami, thick bacon, skin-on fries, grilled onions, and fried egg added. Spicy chicken sausage elopes with crunchy, peanut-punched cilantro-carrot slaw to conceive The O.G. Thai Slaw Dog.

Singles, couples, the one going stag, and families with kids find a seat at one of the sleek, clean wood counters or tables (indoors or out). Those without a bedtime can linger over ESPN, another IPA, Pinot Grigio, or satisfying milkshake. You’ll have to restrain yourself from singing along to the 90s tunes by Aerosmith, No Doubt, Lenny Kravitz, Christina Aguilera, and more.

According to one of several friendly, candid servers, The Slaw Dogs is the original and the rival hot dog joint a mile away didn’t come along until six months later in 2010. Just like cultural opposites Alex and Isabel Fuentes Whitman in the film Fools Rush In, the unexpected combinations here are meant to be.

Hours
Sunday – Thursday, 11am–9pm
Friday – Saturday, 11am–10pm

Price range (view the full menu here)

$4.99 (The Traditional Vienna beef ¼ pound hot dog) to $8.88 (TNT Super Dog)

THE SLAW DOGS
720 N. Lake Ave. #8, Pasadena, Calif., 91104

*A version of this post was first published in May 2012. Changes in menu offerings, etc. may have occurred since then.

{Photos by Savor Good}