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In search of something different than the typical hot dog stand, I found a charming little place in Encino called The Stand. Nestled on a corner of Ventura Blvd., it has shady outside eating area as well as a clean, almost restaurant-like inside.

What The Stand offers is hot dogs with all sorts of toppings. At last count, there were 26 toppings. Some are unique as raisin onions, baked beans, and coleslaw. While you can select from an assortment of pre-arranged toppings, some of the fun lies in choosing your own unique set. I, however, chickened out when the most interesting combination I created was chili, coleslaw, and saurkraut. Instead, I settled on the Chicago Dog.

My first reaction was amazement at how fresh the ingredients were. The pickels, relish, and onions were crisp while the tomatoes were firm. It created a hot dog eating experience that I have never had. The fries I ordered were also slightly different. It seemed as though they had been fried for an extra long time. They were crispy, yet also very greasy. Of course, the large order coupled with the chips and the hot dog made me feel as though I were going to have a heart attack right there. My suggestion is to order the small fries if you have 3 or less people sharing them.

My girlfriend decided none of the hot dogs were to her liking and ordered the Mushroom Burger. I tried a bite and it was extremely disappointing. The meat tasted as though it had been boiled and overall the burger had little flavor.

On Monday nights, The Stand offers $1 hot dogs, which is a steal for what you can add on for free. It also serves wine and beer, which creates an odd pseudo-restaurant feel. Ample parking is in the back as well as on the street. Overall, I can’t wait till I have an opportunity to go back and try some of the different combinations that I can put on my hot dog.

The Stand
17000 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA 91316

By Jeff (see more of his posts).