#31: Every Dog Has His Day

The "Ripper"


The quest for the pinnacle spot for the ultimate dog has been an obsession for many and I am sure it has created quite the argument in various households. People swear by the Dodger Dog and while it has its charms, the Dodger Dog isn’t my personal favorite. In fact, Skooby’s on Hollywood Boulevard makes a similar tasting dog at half the price. And Pink’s? Here is my attempt to be controversial: Pink’s is overrated. Please don’t get angry with me. Try this experiment: buy a hot dog at Pink’s and buy one at Chroni’s. Blindfold anyone and conduct a taste test. It’s not even close, Chroni’s will win by a mile. Yes, both dogs have that SNAP but the tiny dive in East LA just tastes better. If you cannot find the time or energy to navigate East LA’s mean streets try my next favorite: Fab’s. Fab’s, located in Reseda, was recently featured in Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and one bite will have you. Get the ripper, which is a deep-fried masterpiece packed with a mustard relish that is spiked with that sharp, vinegary essence I so love. And the dog? Talk about a SNAP! Who would have thought of deep-frying a hot dog? If you want to experiment, Fab’s gives you choices: a Chicago dog, a Coney Island Dog, a Manhattan Dog with sauerkraut and red onion sauce, a BLT dog, and one of my personal favorites, an LA Street Dog, which is wrapped in bacon and slathered with grilled onions, peppers, mustard, mayo, ketchup, and jalapenos. As dining destination, Fab’s is not promising. There are two tables and a couple of stools in this joint. The picture shown here does not do it justice. I mean, it is really tiny. So pick up a couple of dogs and an order of garlic fries (100 proof garlic, by the way. Intense) and eat them in the car. Do you want to bring a date here? Sure, if she is really adventurous or if you are Johnny Depp, in which case, it doesn’t matter where you take her, she’s in.