Pink's Hot Dogs
Signature chili cheese dog is worth the wait at this famed L.A. hot dog stand.
(323) 931-4223
709 N La Brea Ave
(at Melrose Avenue)
Los Angeles,
CA
90038
34.0836
-118.3442
Neighborhoods: Melrose, Central LA
What People Are Saying About Pink's Hot Dogs
The Owner
Pink's Hot Dogs
Owner
Pink's is probably the most famous hot dog stand in Los Angeles! Located near the corner of Melrose and La Brea, Pink's can be found by looking for a crowd of people and following the aroma of fresh meaty chili and soft hot dog buns.
Pink's is unlike any other hot dog stand in America. For example, it has its own parking lot attendant (parking is free). It has been in the same location for 62 years. It is not unusual to see a Rolls Royce pull up to Pink's (the chili dog ordered will be for the occupant, not the chauffeur). Movie stars, well-known dignitaries, struggling musicians, businessmen, housewives, school children ... all have savored Pink's Famous Chili Dogs.
Pink's Hot Dog Stand is a quick lunch, a nostalgic trip into the past, and a delicious experience. It is definitely a landmark in Hollywood!
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Everyone loves Pink's, from lunching businessmen and penny-pinching families to ravenous club kids at 3am. Even celebrities wait in the perpetual line. Orson Welles used to come once a week and down a dozen chili-cheese dogs.
The Food
The chili-cheese dog is the end-all and be-all of Pink's. A long, thin, 100-percent beef Hoffy is snug in a lightly steamed bun, oozing with chili and topped with a slab of neon-orange cheese--this dog has earned its signature status. But the menu has evolved since its pushcart beginnings; 21 menu items, including mutants such as the pastrami-Reuben dog and the bacon-burrito dog, are worth the risk of indigestion.
High Marks
"The hot dogs (specially made for them by Hoffy) have that nice pop when you bite into them. Chili had just the right taste to put on a hot dog." (culinaryman, Citysearch user)
"I think waiting in line is part of the fun. You get to see and absorb the culture surrounding the hot dog stand." (sincityeater, Citysearch user)
"It's a pretty cool place though with a bunch of photos of famous Hollywood stars and just something you need to experience in LA." (juju13es, Citysearch user)
Low Marks
"Highly overrated...not worth standing in a long line." (Mendy08, Citysearch user)
"The biggest complaint is the line, as it's near impossible to find a time where the line isn't long." (brokentrain, Citysearch user)
"The dogs are good, but don't expect them to compare to NYC street vendors, Coney Islands, or Weiner Circle in Chicago." (woofer_15, Citysearch user)
User Reviews
GooberJo
June 13, 2009
After hearing my whole life about Pinks, I decided, while on a trip memorial day 2009, to try. 11:30 AM long line. Ordered the Mayors dogs. Others ordered Chili Dogs and we ordered Chili Cheese fries. Costco has a better hot dog. Hormel has a better hot dog. ANYWHERE -Including the overpriced, left in a warming drawer in Disneyland Hot dogs - ARE BETTER. This places has to be the WORST place to get a hot dog anywhere.
read full review
eastbayfunk
May 05, 2009
Drive by the corner of La Brea and Melrose on your way to work...on your way home from work...on your way to the gym...and back...on your way to pick up that hot waitress you met last week that may or may not have given you syphilis (still waiting for the results)...whenever!! The point is, no matter when you drive by that historical intersection you are bound do see at least a hundred idiots waiting in a ridiculous line for PINKS HOTDOGS. I hate to admit it, but I was one of those idiots once. Waited 70 minutes. I mean I would understand if Pink's was a new spot trying to get its s*** together, but Pink's will celebrate its 70th BIRTHDAY this year! 70 Years in the business and you're telling me that you can't figure out a more efficient way to keep the line moving at a friggin HOTDOG STAND? When Henry Ford started making B-24 Bombers at the height of WWII, his top assembly line was clocked at assembling a plane in ONE HOUR! Are you telling me that it took less time in 1943 to assemble an airplane than it does in 2009 to put a hotdog in a bun and pour some chili on it? I could drive to LAX, fly to JFK, grab a dog from Nathan's (Coney Island), fly back, and still see the same idiot standing in line as when I left. Figure it out Pink's. In the meantime, I sure hope I don't have syphilis. wwwblankfromhellcom
read full review
shortstackian
April 16, 2009
If you're feeling nostalgic for New York dogs or Chicago dogs, or any other style dogs this is the place to go. You can also find one of the best chili dogs in town. The only thing about Pink's is that you can't go hungry or you'll starve. The lines are super long and will take about an hour or more to reach the front to order your food.
read full reviewThe Details on Pink's Hot Dogs
Parking:
There is a small free lot behind Pink's, but it can sometimes be difficult and time-consuming to get in and out.
The Extras:
Don't eat meat? No worries: Pink's offers turkey dogs as well as vegetarian hamburger patties.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Restaurant Special Features:
Late Night Dining, Lunch Spot, Cheap Eats
Cuisine:
As Seen In…
Message from Pink's Hot Dogs
- Large menu selection
- Home of the chili cheese dog
- Winner "Best Latenight Dining"
Pink's is probably the most famous hot dog stand in Los Angeles! Located near the corner of Melrose and La Brea, Pink's can be found by looking for a crowd of people and following the aroma of fresh meaty chili and soft hot dog buns.
Pink's is unlike any other hot dog stand in America. For example, it has its own parking lot attendant (parking is free). It has been in the same location for 62 years. It is not unusual to see a Rolls Royce pull up to Pink's (the chili dog ordered will be for the occupant, not the chauffeur). Movie stars, well-known dignitaries, struggling musicians, businessmen, housewives, school children ... all have savored Pink's Famous Chili Dogs.
Pink's Hot Dog Stand is a quick lunch, a nostalgic trip into the past, and a delicious experience. It is definitely a landmark in Hollywood!
