Take me out for a hot dog

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Baseball's opening day has come and gone, great news for sports fans and anyone who appreciates our national pastime. It's exciting for me, too -- even though I'm more of a basketball nut -- because baseball games are without question the best sporting event to attend, especially if you consider yourself a connoisseur of fine American stadium cuisine.

For me, opening day marks the beginning of hot dog season.

Las Vegans may not have a big league team and ballpark to satiate such springtime desires, although rest assured the mayor is working on it. But there are plenty of outstanding hot dog vendors spread around our valley, so let's play ball, shall we?

I tossed out my personal first pitch of hot dog season by checking out Pink's. The Vegas version of the famed Los Angeles eatery can be found at the Zanzibar Café inside the Aladdin. There's no doubt that Pink's 10-inch, all-beef Hoffy dog, smothered in mustard, cheese and homemade chili, is high-quality stuff. But at over eight bucks with a plate of fries, it's not worth the infuriating trip inside the shape-shifting, under-construction labyrinth of a casino. Somebody build a driveway into this place already.

For a little better bargain, check out longtime local favorite Chicago Hot Dogs, 1078 N. Rancho Road. The trademark item here is a Vienna Beef wiener planted in a seeded bun and loaded with peppers, pickles, tomatoes and a liberal dash of pepper.

Moving southwest -- but east on the hot dog landscape -- Manhattan Franks, 9350 W. Sahara Ave. in Village Square, serves up classic New York-style Sabrett frankfurters for about $3 before adding red onions, sauerkraut or whatever you need.

While we're talking deals, Terrible Mike's, inside most Coast Casinos, offers plump Vienna Beef dogs boiled in beer. But the tastiest deal can be found at a little cart servicing the sportsbook area at the Suncoast or The Orleans, where you can get the same dog for 75 cents.

Plenty of locals will tell you the top dog in town isn't at a restaurant or casino -- it's at Costco, where, if you're a member, you can get a half-pound Hebrew National with a soda for $1.50. It should be noted that Cashman Field, home of our very own Las Vegas 51s, also serves up that popular kosher brand. In fact, Cashman's catering company, Aramark, moved 20,000 hot dogs during its recent three-game Big League Weekend. "Hot dogs are still the No. 1 fan favorite food," said Aramark's Charlie Lovering.

My vote goes to Sammy's Original Dog House, a 2-year-old drive-through shack hiding on the northwest corner of Flamingo Road and Decatur Boulevard. Sammy's serves Sabrett's. "But we're the only place in town that does them dirty water style," said owner Brian Atkinson. "We boil them all day long. Other places grill them or microwave them."

His most popular order is Chicago-style, with mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, peppers, a pickle spear and celery salt. I opt for the New York Dog, topped simply with spicy mustard and onion sauce, and a side of the best shoestring garlic fries I've ever ruined my breath with.

Opinions and options aside, no one does hot dogs like you do. Perhaps it's best to pick up a pack of your favorite brand -- get your Hebrew Nationals, Ball Parks and Nathan's Famous dogs at Smith's, or find Hoffy's and Sabrett's at Albertsons -- and grill 'em, boil 'em, or do whatever it is you do while you watch the game in the comfort of your own home, er, home field.

Brock Radke's food column appears twice monthly. Contact him at bradke@viewnews.com.