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Miley’s Cafe
Mexican Hot Dog: $8.99
Family-owned Miley’s Cafe is a locals’ hangout, packed with Village of Oak Creek residents from sunup to sundown. The walls are covered with photos of the red rocks, tractor seats surround the countertop and the menu is filled with comfort food and south-of-the-border favorites like the Mexican hot dogs. Two bacon-wrapped hot dogs arrive cradled in sesame seed buns, slathered in melted American cheese and topped with fresh pico de gallo that features crunchy green bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and spicy jalapenos. The dogs come with your choice of French fries, potato salad, cole slaw or fruit. It’s a meal for one very hungry person or two light eaters. Enjoy your hot dogs in the diner-like atmosphere or take them to go.
Miley’s Cafe, 7000 SR 179 at Tequa Marketplace in the Village of Oak Creek (928-284-4123)
Primo’s Deli
Tucson: $3.95
Bar hopping all night in Flagstaff and craving sustenance? This tiny (we’re talking four-seats tiny) eatery south of the tracks is open from 5 p.m. until 3 a.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Despite its stature, you won’t be able to miss it: Primo’s is painted an appropriate French’s mustard shade of yellow. Inside, one wall is adorned with sticky notes featuring customer art. Aside from the late hours, this hot dog stand is known for its creative toppings. This summer, they debuted hummus as an option. Other toppings include marinara sauce, ranch dressing and sweet chili sauce. Getting a picture of the kind of crowd Primo’s attracts?
One of the most popular options is the Tucson dog, an all-beef wiener topped with melted cheese, smoked jalapenos and bacon. The Chicago dogs are made with authentic Vienna Beef wieners while the ¼-pound dogs are Nathan’s Famous from New York. Primo’s also offers vegetarian and vegan hot dogs, as well as sandwiches, fries and nachos.
Primo’s Deli, 113 S. San Francisco St. in downtown Flagstaff (928-213-9928)
Red Rock BBQ
Chili Dog: $9.95
Without fail, every time we think barbecue, especially of the backyard grill persuasion, we think hot dogs. Of course, you can’t always lug around a bag of Kingsford charcoal briquettes to fire up whenever you get the munchies, so when the urge hits us we meander over to Red Rock BBQ to grab a Chili Dog. Behold the big kahuna: an all-beef Vienna hot dog served on a poppyseed bun and smothered in a blanket of chili, onions and cheese. This well-groomed dog has a sprightly balance of meat-to-chili-to-onions that cooks up a red hot that’s not too mild, not too spicy and devoid of late-night regret. Top it off with seasoned fries and all is chill in the world. – JM
Red Rock BBQ, 150 SR 179 (928-204-5975)
Route 66 Dog Haus
Green Chili-Cheese Hot Dog: $2.99
Standing on a corner in Flagstaff, Arizona, you’ll find the aptly named Route 66 Dog Haus, which indeed has the A-shape frame of a doghouse. According to local lore, the location was a Wienerschnitzel when songwriter Jackson Browne of The Eagles spotted a hottie in a flatbed pickup truck pulling away from the fast-food joint in 1972. It inspired him to pen Take It Easy, the band’s first single, though Winslow, Arizona, was substituted for Flagstaff. Today, Dog Haus workers wear shirts that claim “Everyone Loves a Wiener” while serving hot dogs from either the walk-up window or the drive-thru.
We like the basic mustard dog and the corn dog, but if you’re looking for something a bit dressed up, check out the green-chili-cheese dog, which is topped with not just green chilies but also meaty chili and Velveeta cheese. The Dog Haus features a special side order: Jack and blue cheese sticks that are dipped in spicy Frank’s RedHot Sauce and fried in beer batter. This is road food at its most iconic.
Route 66 Dog Haus, 1302 S. San Francisco St. in Flagstaff (928-774-3211)
