Frugal Fridays: Dogs on the Docks

Although the fact that you can get a hot dog for under $5 isn't major news, in talking with people around my office, it seems like the fact that you can get a hot dog loaded with toppings in Downtown Seattle WAS a revelation. So today, I planned to go to Matt's Gourmet Hot Dogs on Pier 52. Nearly every hot dog & sausage on their menu is under $5 after tax - from the plain dog at $2.83 with tax to the turkey dog at $3.27 to the veggie sausage at $4.04. I was planning to go for their Spicy Polish (aka 'Fire Dog'), and enjoy it while walking along the waterfront, making sure to peek in Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.



But it wasn't meant to be...

The first bit of trouble occurred this morning, when - 2.5 miles into my 3 mile walk to work - I realized that I'd forgotten my camera at home. My camera phone would have to do.

Then, when I walked down to Matt's at 11:45am, they weren't open. I wasn't even sure they were still in business, the place looked so closed. But, the show must go on, so I kept walking.

And lo and behold, just a bit further (at Spring St & Alaskan Way), I spotted The Frankfurter. I grew up in the Everett area, and we had a Frankfurter up there when I was in high school, which a friend & I frequented. Seeing it reminded me of driving around town with nothing to do on a Summer day, stopping in for a simple hot dog with mustard.



Thankfully, their menu includes some dogs that come in under the $5 mark, including the Italian Hot, at $4.91 after tax. Not quite the deal at Matt's, but at least they were open, and the woman working the shop was friendly and quick. I had my dog, piled up with kraut in less than a minute, and was directed to the side of the shop for my choice of three kinds of mustard, ketchup (a sacrilege), two kinds of relish, and chopped onions. Matt's loads up their dogs for you, Chicago Style (mustard, onions, sweet relish, tomatoes, kosher dill pickle, hot pepper, and celery salt), but beggers can't be choosers.

At least I still got to window shop for mummies and Mexican jumping beans while eating street meat. And I walked back to the office full.

One word of warning to anyone walking down to the waterfront to enjoy a dog from Matt's or The Frankfurter: don't leave your dog unattended. The seagulls are aggressive, and won't think twice about grabbing your dog if they think you're not looking. And they don't care if it's Chicago Style or not.



(Frugal Fridays is a weekly series dedicated to finding Seattle lunch spots where you can walk in with a $5 bill and walk out with a fulfilling, preferably healthy, lunch. If you have suggestions of places in the Seattle area with a great lunch for under $5 after tax, post a comment - I'd love the help.)