California Bacon-Wrapped
Bacon-wrapped hot dog with grilled onions, peppers, and sometimes beans, salsa, or mayonnaise, popular in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles popularized the bacon‑wrapped ‘danger dog,’ sold from late‑night carts outside venues and along busy streets, with roots in Tijuana/Sonora. The L.A. build typically adds griddled onions and peppers and a trio of sauces. Today the bacon‑wrapped dog is shorthand for L.A. street food.
Authentic Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 All-beef hot dogs
- 4 Bacon strips (Regular cut, not thick)
- 4 Hot dog buns (Bolillo rolls preferred, or regular buns)
- 1 Large white onion (Sliced)
- 2 Bell peppers (Red and green, sliced into strips)
- as needed Mayonnaise
- as needed Ketchup
- as needed Mustard (Yellow or spicy brown)
- 1/2 cup Salsa (Optional)
- 1 can Refried beans (Optional, heated)
- as needed Jalapeños (Fresh or pickled, sliced)
Instructions
- Wrap each hot dog tightly with one strip of bacon, securing ends with toothpicks.
- Heat large skillet or griddle over medium heat.
- Cook bacon-wrapped hot dogs, turning frequently, until bacon is crispy and fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes.
- Remove hot dogs to plate and keep warm. Remove toothpicks.
- In same pan with bacon fat, sauté onions and peppers until softened and lightly caramelized.
- Toast buns lightly on griddle.
- Place bacon-wrapped hot dog in bun.
- Top with grilled onions and peppers.
- Add mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard as desired.
- Optional: Add warm refried beans, salsa, and jalapeños.
- Serve immediately. This is LA's legendary 'danger dog' - street food at its finest!
Related Styles (kinda)
4 similar styles
Foot-long pork hot dog topped with chili, nacho cheese, chopped tomatoes, onions, and jalapeños, a popular variant at Dodger Stadium, LA
Hot dog in a baguette topped with pickled carrots and daikon, cucumber, cilantro, jalapeños, and mayonnaise, a fusion creation from Los Angeles.
All-beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, bright green relish, raw onions, tomato slices, pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt; NO KETCHUP.
Cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped hot dog, often deep-fried or grilled, served with mustard, a style from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.