In Search of: NoVa's best Chili Dog!

OK...I have a hankering that even more cowbell can't satisfy.

I grew up in No NJ...Rutt's Hutt, The Corral, The Hot Grill... chili dogs that are etched into the collective soul of all who eat them for time and memorial.

I am on a search...NAY! A quest for the holy grail of chili dogs within easy driving distance of Ashburn.

Sooo...I need your help to get my chili dog on

I got a fever...and the only prescription is more chili dog.:confeyes:

Where do YOU get your chili dog prescription filled???:boogie:

 

Vienna Inn

 

Werd Up.

 

Hard Times Cafe?

 

Nothing beats a "ripper" from the Hutt...in and out is my fav and grew up on those...yummm

...but +1 on Vienna Inn.

 

I have spent many a time at the VI as it was a local haunt for many where I worked at the time. However, I have always enjoyed the atmosphere (and beer) more than the food. The food is appropriate for a greasy spoon but the chili dogs at Hard Times easily top the dogs at VI.

I would suggest creating your own at home. You can do better than most every other place in the area.

 

Give this place a try: Windy City Red Hots
http://www.windycityredhots.com/whattoeat.html

 

I will...tomorrow!

Seems like VI is front runner at this point. A former colleague, now living in Thailand just sent me a message voting for VI.

I'll post my results.

 

Another Jersey pursoin.

Only the strong survive!

/wouldn't move back if my life depended on it but do miss the little things like:

a) REALLY good canoli
b) Taylor ham and cheese on a fresh hardroll
c) The aforementioned Chili Dog
d) Cheap gas
e) 24 hour Greek/Italian dinners
f) Being among Giant fans.

 

Pullease! I used to work 2 miles from the Vienna Inn, and sampled their cuisine many times. It is an interesting place! But the chili dogs are disgusting for anyone who is not legally intoxicated. The chili is a smooth, bland paste that comes from a can and the hotdogs are equally tastless.

But the beer is cold and the crowd is interesting. One night (or more correctly, early morning) I pulled in for a totally unnecessary beer. In the parking lot was a Limo, a 7 Series BMW, an antique (circa 1960) Jaguar, and several total beaters. The place was packed with people from every walk of life. It was quite the motley crew, and a fun place to go.

I think that you are better off at Hard Times, make your own, or buy some of the Chili from Original Steakhouse and put it on a Hebrew National.

 

Hey hey hey! Watch it! There is no such thing as an "unnecessary" beer!

 

Best chili dogs? You'll have to got to Toledo. Tony Packo's.

 

I grew up in Johnstown, PA....nothing beats a Coney Island dog with everything.

 

Hmmm...Really good Canoli says Little Italy in Baltimore to Me....There is a debate between Piedigrotta and Vicarros for the best. The first has some flavors like lemon, hazelnut, etc and is said to be creamier and the 2nd is traditional....YuMMMY!

For a Pork roll- I'm guessing that is what you mean by taylor ham? and cheese - again in Downtown Harbor of Baltimore go to a place called Burke's on Lightfoot and you can get a Taylor Ham Sandwich OR a hot dog wrapped in Taylor Pork roll! Have you made it yourself? You can get the taylor pork roll in a sliced package at HT and a whole roll to cut yourself at Wegmans.

On the chili dog front- if you are willing to drive to the city I hear Ben's Chili bowl has awesome chili dogs!

On the 24 Hour diner- there is Amphora but not as good as they used to be I've hear. Or how about Bob and Edith's in Arlington on Columbia pike- still family owned but not Italian or Greek....

 

When we lived in Arlington we tried to go to Bob and Edith's because we like local diner type places. B&E's reeked of cigarette smoke and we just couldn't take it and were sorry about it.

How about a nice hot dog cooked on the grill with some Wolf brand chili on it?

 

Oh darn...guess we'll cross that one off our list to try!

 

Hmmm...same hankerin', but since I grew up in WV, the ingredients were dog, mustard, chili and onions. I also am partial to some cheese and/or slaw, but those last two are rejected by the WV hot dog purists.

I'll also put in a vote for the VI. Theirs is about the closest I've experienced around NoVa.

 

Four thumbs up for the Vienna Inn. (WARNING: beer may cause double vision)

I had my first beer at the Vienna Inn when I was 8 years old. Root Beer that is, after a glorious win by the AA Cubs of the Vienna Little League. I've been a fan ever since.

 

Forgot about Ben's since I haven't been there since early 90's! But they did and hopefully still do have AWESOME chili! They were/are a DC favorite for almost forever.