Dirt Dog, a locally owned restaurant with locations in California and Nevada, is popular for its street food-inspired gourmet hot dogs. Their hot dogs, famously known as Dirt Dogs, have earned the title “Official Hot Dog of Los Angeles.”
These dogs, known as “danger dogs” or “dirt dogs,” sold by food carts, are unique to Los Angeles. You know what I’m talking about if you’ve been to any event in the city, whether it’s a Lakers game at Staples Center or a show on Hollywood Boulevard.
Today, Dirt Dog continues the tradition of these food carts. But they have elevated the hot dogs to a new level with high-quality ingredients and over-the-top toppings.
Dirt Dog now operates five locations in the Los Angeles area along with six locations in Las Vegas.
On my recent visit to Las Vegas, I finally tried Dirt Dog at the Grand Bazaar Shops at Horseshoe on the Las Vegas Strip for the first time. But would it live up to the hype?
Looking for more cheap eats on the Las Vegas Strip? Be sure to check out my post on the best cheap eats on the Las Vegas Strip.
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Inspiration Behind Dirt Dog
When I think of Los Angeles street food, I think of hot dogs. The smell of grilled bacon-wrapped dogs, sautéed onions, and peppers on the streets of Los Angeles is something I can’t forget.
The inspiration for Dirt Dog came from these hot dog carts, even though they were technically illegal and often raided by the police or health department.
People nicknamed them dirt dogs because passing cars kicked up dirt and dust onto the grills as they cooked on the streets.
But these delicious and savory hot dogs were worth the risk and are today an iconic part of the Los Angeles food scene.
Waiting in Line at Dirt Dog
Dirt Dog can be hard to find if it’s your first time, hidden down a narrow alleyway inside the Grand Bazaar Shops. These shops sit in front of Horseshoe, formerly Bally’s, on the Las Vegas Strip. Despite its hidden location, I wasn’t surprised to find a line.
Since this was my first time trying it, I was okay with waiting in line. The experience of waiting in line for street food brought back memories of my travels to Asia. Luckily, the line moved fast, thanks to the well-trained staff.
While waiting in line, I enjoyed watching the chefs in the kitchen as they prepared dog after dog.
Their black t-shirts, which read “The Hype is Real,” got me excited and hungry as I made my way closer and closer to the front. After 15 minutes, I reached the front of the line.
I ordered with the friendly cashier, who recommended her favorite items. After paying, I was handed a receipt and told to listen for my name when my food was ready.
I had to listen closely for my name over the loud and lively music coming from the small kitchen. After a few minutes, I heard my name.
As a street food stall, there was no dedicated seating area other than a few scattered tables around the Grand Bazaar Shops. If you can’t find a place to eat, walk across the street to the Bellagio. From here, you can enjoy your food and the fountain show.
Dirt Dog Menu
The menu at Dirt Dog was small and straight to the point.
The menu’s highlight was the 100% beef mid-cut bacon-wrapped hot dogs, all served on a lobster roll bun. There was also a new item, the “Hot” Hot Dog with Tapatio matcha salsa and birria.
There were also six types of premium fries. As with the hot dogs, the fries came with unique toppings, including black garlic aioli and chorizo chili.
In addition to hot dogs and fries, they had three types of tacos, wings, fresh-shucked corn, and deep-fried Oreos.
You could “Make It a Meal” with small fries and a 12 oz fountain drink or a bottle of soda for an extra charge. Additionally, you could add Flaming Hot Cheetos with Takis dust or ghost pepper flakes to your item.
As for drinks, there was Mexican Coke, Jarritos soda, water, and agua fresca. If you want alcohol, you must purchase it from the bar next door.
Elote Dog
While there were many great options on the Dirt Dog menu, I chose the Elote Dog. This unique bacon-wrapped dog came with corn, lime, mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili powder, cilantro, and bacon bits.
I couldn’t believe the toppings piled on the premium lobster roll bun. The toppings were the king of this dog. It looked messy and filling, and I couldn’t wait to dig in.
The lobster roll bun, which was pillowy on the inside and grilled on the outside, held up to the last bite. It held up even with the enormous amounts of cheese, mayo, corn, and bacon on top.
While hard to see, at the core of this dog was a 100% Premium All Beef Nathan’s 5/1 dog wrapped in center cut bacon. The beef frank was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside with a rich and smoky flavor.
The bacon, while so thin I almost didn’t notice it, added more richness, saltiness, and a chewy texture.
A generous amount of crumbly, salty cotija cheese could be found on top of the dog. A layer of creamy rich mayonnaise, tart lime juice, and sweet corn complemented the saltiness of the cheese.
The corn might have been my favorite part. Not only did it add flavor, but it also had a crisp yet tender texture that I could taste in every bite. As with the corn, the bacon bits added another layer of crunchy goodness to each bite.
Finally, there was fresh cilantro and spicy, smoky chili powder. The combination of flavors and textures between the spicy chili powder, creamy mayo, tart lime, sweet and crisp corn, and crunchy bacon was special.
Service at Dirt Dog
Even with a seemingly never-ending line out front, the staff at Dirt Dog kept the line moving quickly and efficiently. The workers managed to do this while pumping out dog after dog without missing a beat.
The staff, from the cashier to the chefs, were trained to handle all the customers well. Don’t let the line fool you, the wait was worth it.
Conclusion
Though I live in the Los Angeles area, it took me a trip to Las Vegas to finally try Dirt Dog.
Though you can’t go wrong with any bacon-wrapped dogs on the menu, the Elote Dog was special. Its unique mix of textures and salty, fatty, meaty, rich, and tart flavors made me realize that the wait in line was well worth it.
Would I eat this every day? No. I prefer simpler hot dogs with just mustard and onions. But this over-the-top hot dog made sense in a city like Las Vegas, a city of excess.
With its unique menu, friendly service, and delicious dogs, I will return to Dirt Dog on my next visit to the Las Vegas Strip.
Pros
- Unique selection of bacon-wrapped dogs using 100% Premium All Beef Nathan’s 5/1 Dogs
- Interesting menu and toppings
- Elevated street food using high-quality ingredients
- Friendly and efficient service
Cons
- No dedicated seating area
- Always a line
Hours
Monday - Thursday: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Friday - Sunday: 11:00AM - 2:00 AM
Address
3649 S Las Vegas Blvd, Suite 617, Las Vegas, NV 89109
GPS Coordinates: 36.11379,-115.17169
Map
Website
https://www.dirtdogla.com/Last Updated on January 28, 2025
Sorry, that dog didn’t sound the least bit appetizing.
Besides, why ruin a perfectly good Nathan’s hot dog, with all that garbage.?
Mustard and sauerkraut, or mustard chili and onions are all that a decent dog requires.
Sam,
I have to agree with you somewhat. I am a fan of a simple, traditional dog with mustard and onions. I avoided Dirt Dog for many years because of your same reasons. But, I am glad I tried it at least once. While the toppings were messy, they weren’t garbage, at least in my opinion. The toppings came together in a great way that surprised me. Would I eat this everyday? No. But, sometimes I’m just in the mood for something unique and different and this hit the spot.