Pink's was started by Paul and Betty Pink. They borrowed $50 from the bank to open a hot dog cart in downtown LA. Today, the family has ten locations, including a few outside of Southern California in Nevada and Ohio.
But, if you want a hotdog at the original stand, head to the LA shop on La Brea and Melrose. Do not be worried if you pull up and there is a huge line stretching down the block. Pink's is very popular among locals and tourists alike. So, relax, and get in line early.
The shop is open Sunday to Thursday, from 9:30am-2am and Friday to Saturday, 9:30am-3am.
If you want to have a unique Pink's dog, try some of the loaded hot dogs. For $7.15, you can get the Giada deLaurentis Dog, named after the famous chef, which is a 9" dog with sauteed peppers, onions, mushrooms, chopped tomatoes, and shredded mozzarella cheese. Or try the Millenium Dog for $6.95 (add bacon for $1.60), which is a 12'' jalapeno dog with tomatoes, chili, guacamole, grilled onions, and lettuce.
Some other interesting hot dogs include the Lord of the Rings Dog (a 9'' hot dog with onion rings and BBQ sauce), the Ozzy Spicy Dog (a spicy Polish dog topped with American cheese, nacho cheese, grilled onions, chopped tomatoes, and guacamole), or the Hollywood Walk of Fame Dog (a 9'' dog with coleslaw and tomatoes).
Whatever you get, make sure to be patient and enjoy the atmosphere. Inside the shop you can see all the pictures of stars who have had a meal at Pink's. This is everyone from Michael Jackson to George Lopez.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader