This blog really started as a self taught website experiment.  Then it became a fun way to promote my favorite places.  Now it is a quest to find a place worthy of a post.  Today I decided to find a good hot dog in Birmingham.  That sent me to Urban Spoon, then Google and I ended up at this post: Hot-Dog-Time-Machine A very impressive run down of some great Birmingham Hot Dog places.  In the post is a link to a video from Southern Foodway Alliance: Hot Dogopolis

 If you read that blog and watch that video I guarantee you will be in Downtown Birmingham with a hot dog in one hand and a Grapico in the other for your next lunch.  Its more than food – it’s culture.  It took us less than 45 mins to pack up and head downtown.  We parked by the McWane Center and had a short walk to see Gus at Pete’s Famous, then over to see Andrew at Lyric and finally, for desert, we stopped in with George at Gus’s.  They were all there working away at their grill selling their hot dogs.  All three dogs were different but I can’t say which one was the best.  Gus’s sauce was a little more sweet and Lyric’s special meat had more flavor.  After 3 hot dogs I did decide the “special” was not for me.  I like the regular dog all the way, I also had rather have a Coke than a Grapico.  All three joints sport Golden Flake chips which are the greatest chips in the world – go dill pickle chips!

My recommendation – Grab your kids, grab your wife and take a walking tour of some of the best hot dog joints in the world.  Right here in Birmingham.

Pete’s Famous – I did the special dog.  I was somewhat puzzled when he asked me if I wanted for here or to go.  I quickly said to go.  The lady behind me asked where the dining room was, he said “you’re in it” with a grin.  This is a true eat while standing place.  The special dog has kraut, onions, mustard sauce and seasoned meat.  It was very tasty, since these were to go they did not photograph as well as the others.

Lyric Hot Dog and Grill – This was our second stop and we at in, they have a dining room, and ordered a sampling of 3 dogs.  One Special (w meat), One Slaw Dog and One regular all the way.  The regular all they was dog allows you to appreciate the sauce uncomplicated with the meat.  Both are good but when comparing the restaurants the sauce is one of the major differences.  Lyric also has enough room to serve fries but who needs fries when you have so many hot dog to try

Gus’s which is run by George.  This was our last stop and we decided to share one hot dog.  The choice was a regular dog all the way.  The sauce at Gus’s is much sweeter than Lyric or Pete’s.  At first it was a surprise but it really added complexity and made Gus’s dog stand out.  I really need to go back by Pete’s and have a dog without the special meat so compare.