Hot girl summer? Eh. Hot dog summer? Always. And what better way to celebrate than chowing down a hot dog in front of the Giant Hot Dog at Tail O’ the Pup in West Hollywood, California. Trust me, it’s a bun-believable stop!
Let’s be frank: hot dogs and I go together like mustard and relish. They were a staple at barbecues with friends, the only reason I’ll tolerate a baseball game, and I even once competed in the Nathan’s Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest (never mind that I came in last place). I’m as much a hot dog girl as I am a roadside attraction girl, so when I was in Los Angeles driving California’s stretch of Route 66, I couldn’t pass up a visit to Tail O’ the Pup.
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Tail O’ the Pup is one of LA’s most recognizable roadside icons. First opened in 1946, the hot dog stand stood out for its unique 17-foot-long hot-dog-shaped design. Built in the “programmatic architecture” style, where buildings take the shape of what they sell, the Pup quickly became a popular stop for locals, visitors, and even celebrities.
Commissioned by dance team Frank Veloz and Yolanda Casazza and designed by architect Milton J. Black, the stand drew plenty of star power over the years. Sigourney Weaver, Betty White, Andy Warhol, and even DEVO all stopped by for a bite. For years, Tail O’ the Pup bounced between locations before finally closing in 2005.
For hot dog lovers and fans of roadside architecture, it was a sad day. For me, it meant I might never get to experience it.
Thankfully, preservation group 1933 saved the stand and reopened it in 2022 on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood, just blocks from its original spot. The new location features indoor seating, outdoor patios, and playful hot dog–themed design details. (Seriously, the hot dog stair risers and hot dog tile stripes were chef’s kisses.) Every inch of the place screams HOT DOGS LIVE HERE.
Today, Tail O’ the Pup serves a full menu of hot dogs that nod to different points in its history, including the original 1946 Pup with grilled onions and mustard and the naked griddled 1976 Pup. You’ll also find Chicago-style dogs, chili dogs, burgers, fries, corn dogs, veggie options, shakes, beer, and cocktails. Even four-legged visitors get a treat with “Bowser Beer” and a kids-sized Puppy Dog is served in a puppy-shaped bun.
I went with the 1946 Pup, fries dipped in ketchup, and a cherry vanilla Coke. The hot dog had the perfect snap and just the right amount of greasy goodness. I mustard mit, it was one of the best hot dogs I’ve ever had!
Of course, I couldn’t leave without taking about a million photos with the giant hot dog out front. And I’ll always relish that hot dog summer moment: with me, my onion-and-mustard-topped Pup, and the giant mustard-topped glizzy. This roadside attraction? It’s a weiner!
Photos of Tail O’ the Pup and the Giant Hot Dog in West Hollywood, California
