I’ve now been to nine out of the 15 places on the long and winding Sonoran Dog Trail.
Am I tired of savory, smoky bacon-wrapped hot dogs topped with all the spicy and tangy fixings, nestled inside a fluffy, buttery bun that has a perfectly toasted outer crust?
My taste for Sonoran dogs hasn’t dwindled even a bit. I’m still determined as ever to finish strong and get my new super cute Sonoran dog t-shirt — the prize you win when you finish going to every spot on Visit Tucson’s new interactive Sonoran Dog Trail challenge.
I hit my first milestone on this portion of the trail by unlocking the Sonoran dog themed stickers. Once you hit 80 points, you get to collect a page of stickers that includes desert-themed designs including a Gila monster, a smiling sun wearing a cowboy hat, and of course, a giant Sonoran dog.
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I made my way to the Southern Arizona Heritage and Visitor Center at the Pima County Historic Courthouse to collect my stickers, and I’ve been wearing them like a badge of honor.
I think the stickers brought me some good luck because I had some stellar hot dogs during this roundup, Part 2 of my three-part adventure, including one that currently holds the top spot as my favorite dog.
So grab your own Sonoran dog and let’s head down the trail together.
Jamie Donnelly, your guide on this Sonoran Dog Trail adventure.
Mamta Popat
Yami’s Hotdogs
1435 W. St. Mary’s Road
I’ve driven past Yami’s Hotdogs countless times, always making a mental note to try it one day. I just knew by the look that it would be good. As always: I was correct! I finally got to try this bright yellow truck that’s parked next to a carwash and was not disappointed.
The Sonoran dog from Yami’s Hotdogs comes with a chile wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese — a torito — which is one of Jamie’s favorite foods.
Jamie Donnelly
I got my typical order: one Sonoran dog without mayonnaise. I barely had time to scroll through Instagram while I waited. I was swiftly handed my order by the smiling workers and was on my way.
I opened the Styrofoam container and almost cried at the sight of one beautiful thing: a torito. Instead of giving you just a normal guero chile, Yami’s Hotdogs makes theirs into a torito, which means the chile is wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese. Toritos are one of my favorite things on this entire earth so I was so happy to see one laying right next to my Sonoran dog.
The dog itself was tucked inside a golden-brown bun, beautifully toasted on each of its sides, creating a nice crisp to go along with the fluffy inside.
I really enjoyed their cooked onions, which added a nice subtly sweet taste to the savory hot dog. They also topped their Sonoran dog with longer strips of tomatoes, which I loved. They brought a refreshing, bright flavor to the meal that really elevates everything.
🔥Guero spice rating: 4/5. This was a pretty spicy pepper that had my mouth burning a bit. I did finish it all, solely for my love of toritos. Even though I was tearing up a bit, I would eat 10 more of them.
Ruiz Hot Dogs los Chipilones
This was another spot I constantly drive by and have always wanted to try.
When I was finished with my dog I was so mad at myself …. Why hadn’t I been here earlier?!
The Sonoran dog from Ruiz Hot Dogs los Chipilone is currently in Jamie’s #1 spot as she travels along the Sonoran Dog Trail.
Jamie Donnelly
This hot dog is currently in my #1 spot — it was love at first bite.
I went at just the right time, too, because as I was making my way out of the charming metal trailer, a line was starting to form and hot dogs were beginning to cover each table.
The hot dog itself had a good chart, giving the whole meal a warm, smoky flavor that was delicious. You could also really taste the bacon, too; it wasn’t overwhelmed by all the other tasty ingredients stacked on top.
It was the perfect ratio of everything, and it tasted heavenly.
Of course, the bun was phenomenal, too. If the bun doesn’t have that beautiful, buttery toast on its side then I want nothing to do with it.
🔥Guero spice rating: 2/5. This one had a slight kick but what really impressed me was the flavor. This pepper was oozing with flavor that I didn’t even mind the spice that hits you at the end. It was addicting.
Hot Dogs La Reyna
Now when I think of the color yellow, I will instantly think about the lemon-yellow walls of Hot Dogs La Reyna’s sitting area.
The Sonoran dog from Hot Dogs la Reyna is prized for its jalapeño sauce.
Jamie Donnelly
This colorful hot dog stand definitely packs a punch! I got a front row seat and watched the cook craft my Sonoran dog, practically drooling when he put the bolillo bun on the flat-top to create that buttery crisp I love so much.
(Not to toot my own horn but my order in Spanish was flawless. 10/10, no notes for me.)
This was another Sonoran dog I really enjoyed. They had great cooked onions hidden under all the tomato and mustard that brought that nice, rich sweetness to the meal.
I also really liked how prominent their jalapeño sauce was — you get a slight spicy kick with every bite. There’s nothing more disappointing than barely tasting the jalapeño sauce on a Sonoran dog.
🔥Guero spice rating: 3/5. This pepper got a few coughs from me. The spice crept up and hit me in the face.
BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs
By the time I’m done with this trail, I want a Sonoran dog statue at my place just like BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs has.
The Sonoran dog from BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs is refreshing because they pack on the fresh tomatoes.
Jamie Donnelly
It’s very convenient they have a drive-thru, so I was to pick up my hot dog in the comfort of my cool, air-conditioned car.
This was definitely the most refreshing hot dog of the bunch. They pack on the tomatoes, so you get a fresh, slightly acidic taste that really brightens up the dog, giving it a more complex flavor than just savory.
You can tell they don’t buy the cheap, thin pieces of bacon. My hot dog was wrapped in a thick, perfectly cooked piece of bacon, so I got that delicious fatty taste with every bite.
🔥Guero spice rating: 1/5. I think this was the biggest guero chile I have ever seen. But there was barely any spice so I was able to enjoy it with no pain.
Aqui Con El Nene
4415 N. Flowing Wells Road
I’m ashamed to admit it, but I’ve never been to Aqui Con El Nene.
I know, I know, I feel like I’ve committed a Tucson sin.
When I walked into their outside courtyard I finally felt like a real Tucsonan. They have a nice outside eating area complete with a salsa bar, so you can add as much spice as you want on your Sonoran dog.
I was the most excited to eat this Sonoran dog and was impressed. The hot dog was savory and smoky, which I enjoy. I do like my hot dogs grilled so they have that BBQ flavor — I think it makes it 1,000 times more delicious.
At Aqui Con El Nene there’s a salsa bar, so you can add as much spice as you want on your Sonoran dog.
Jamie Donnelly
Just like Ruiz Hot Dogs los Chipilones, their toppings were the perfect ratio. I tasted everything, no flavor was hidden or underrepresented.
If I had one critique, I wished the bun was toasted. It was still a good, fluffy bun, I just wish it was a little bit more toasted.
The top stories from the Arizona Daily Star’s Caliente section for this week.
🔥Guero spice rating: 1/5. This was another flavorful guero chile with no burning sensation: a win for me.
Next Thursday, March 19, in Caliente: The trail concludes with Jamie’s Awards.
Jamie Donnelly is the food writer for #ThisIsTucson. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com
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