Airport Hot Dogs

[Holly Moore]

There used to be a time when, walking to my plane, I'd pass at least a couple of stands selling hot dogs. For a long time hot dogs pretty much defined airport cuisine.

Nowadays it is pretty much anything but a hot dog. Chain restaurants, pizza places, barbecue, Chinese, fancy burgers, frozen yogurt, crab cakes but nary a hot dog in sight. Yeah, there's the occasional pseudo-Nathan's franchise. Maybe a hot dog place in a food court. But nothing on the walkways to the gates.

I guess the dining upgrades are good. But not when my flight leaves in 10 minutes and I haven't had anything to eat since six in the morning.

[HungryC]

New Orleans/MSY still has a lousy hot dog cart, if you're feeling nostalgic. I always pass the Lucky Dog cart in concourse A thinking, "how sad--who'd eat an airport hot dog in NOLA?"

[rlibkind]

Oslo's new airport has great hot dogs. And the fixing are, shall we say, different from what we get here? For instance, shrimp salad. But you can get chili, cheese, onion, mustard, ketchup, etc., too.

[PopsicleToze]

New Orleans/MSY still has a lousy hot dog cart, if you're feeling nostalgic.  I always pass the Lucky Dog cart in concourse A thinking, "how sad--who'd eat an airport hot dog in NOLA?"

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If you're really really hungry and left home on an empty stomach late for your flight and know you're only getting peanuts on the 3-hour flight, it can't be worse than the jambalaya they sell in that place in just inside (I think "A") on the left.

Recently I had to go through ATL was pleasantly surprised to find a Nathan's hotdog stand. It was really good. They had great sauteed onions with it. Had one on the return flight, too.

Rhonda

[dls]

Recently I had to go through ATL was pleasantly surprised to find a Nathan's hotdog stand.  It was really good.  They had great sauteed onions with it.  Had one on the return flight, too.

Rhonda

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In Florida, I've seen Nathan's airport stands at MIA, TPA, RSU, and MCO. I believe that I read somewhere that they had stands in around 50 airports. I assume they are all franchises.

[TimmDavis]

Here it Portland we've got a great hotdog place - "Good Dog, Bad Dog". I usually stop there every time in teh airport, usually when putting my kid back on a plane to go home. It's almost tradition with use to hit up Good Dog, Bad Dog.

[Holly Moore]

I've had so many bad experiences, it is hard to trust a Nathan's franchise - especially where they are teamed up with a yogurt place or such as I often see in Airports or at turnpike service areas. Almost inevitably the buns are stale and unheated. Some don't sell fries. Service is meandering, lackluster. All the condiments come in tiny plastic packets. The quality control just hasn't been there.

A Nathan's run well produces great hot dogs and fries - some of the best. I just don't think that is happening at the airport franchises.

[John]

I don't knoow about the Nathan's at airports (having only flown once in the last 15 years) but overall they are hit or miss. There is a great one at the Menlo Park Mall in New Jersey. As good as Coney Island minus the atmosphere of course. Natural casing, prepared on a hot griddle for a sufficient amount of time, fresh buns and fries. Others aren't hot enough; they take them off the griddle too soon; or dried out from being on there too long.

The worst transgression in my opinion are those that use the skinless version and prepare it on a roller grill. Roller grills are for movie theatres and 7-11's, not hot dog stands. And because of this many people don't realize how good a Nathan's hot dog can be.

[Margo]

I've had a decent Chicago-style dog at O'Hare. Requisite Vienna beef dog, day-glo relish, tomatoes and sport peppers, mustard, onions. Really, a complete meal on a bun.