DOG, YOU SO LOCO! (Los Perros Locos)

My search for the best hot dog in New York continues….

SADLY, LOS PERROS LOCOS IS NOW CLOSED.

When I lived in Astoria, I discovered the joy of South American hot dogs. I didn’t even realize there was such a thing. But just like every region of the US has their version of hot dogs with specific toppings (check out this amazing guide), so do many of the countries of our neighboring continent to the South.

In Astoria, I was blessed with living close to the San Antonio Bakery #2 which specializes in Chilean pastries and the infamous completo – a hot dog topped with guacamole, tomatoes, onions, and a drizzle of mayonnaise. I do miss it terribly and have not had a proper South American hot dog since leaving the borough of Queens.

Well, now I take that back because I recently discovered the stylish new Los Perros Locos. This late night-friendly dive opened on the outskirts of the Lower East Side a few months ago and does variations on Colombian street hot dogs. And let me tell you, these dogs are crazy. Crazy delicious!

Unlike the completo (which hints that it needs nothing else), there are quite a few different combinations available here. They all sounded loco, but some of them sounded downright scary. Am I too old for these gut-busting combinations? Would my body be able to handle the craziness?

Maybe I ordered conservatively, but I chose the Pablo Escobar, which featured at least two or three less ingredients then all the other hot dogs. I wasn’t quite sure I was ready for chicharones or ChipZana sauce (whatever they heck that is!) on my wiener.

Most impressive was the dog itself. It was not your typical Sabrett or Heberew National, but a really delicious and generously seasoned all-beef dog made just for them (probably not in Colombia). The wiener was expertly grilled and had a snap throughout, which went nicely with the toasted and buttered bun.

And the toppings made the salty dog even better. Pineapple salsa added some cold sweetness, while the apple chipotle slaw added a smoky tangy crispness. Creamy kewpie mayo, crunchy potato chip crumbles, and a dusting of salty cotija cheese (which they refer to as perico, the slang word for cocaine) gave the snappy dog its final layers of textures.

After tasting this wacky combination of flavors at a sobering mid-afternoon hour, it makes me trust that any of these stoner-ific concoctions will be delicious regardless of your level of intoxication. Bring on the ChipZana sauce!

Interestingly, a place called Links opened around the same time directly across the street. Those hot dogs are much more traditional for us gringos (I’ll have to stop by to give them a taste) and probably more appropriate for my exploration of classic NY Dogs. But I can’t imagine they’re nearly as delicious as these loco creations. Viva el perro!

Does Los Perros Locos have the best hot dog in NY? Again, we’re getting a little bit away from what one might expect from the classic NYC frank, but in this case, that’s a great thing with wonderful flavors and irresistibly textured toppings. 9 out of 10.