Woodies Chili Dogs

*** Woodies is now Waldos

My phone rings, and the voice on the other side goes, "Hey, you want a Woodie...hehehehe?" Geez, no wonder we have to take Sexual Harassment Training classes every year! Though I'd always give in to temptation and answer with something like "I'd do just about anything for a woody".  The conversation would eventually sink into the depths of deprivation, which I won't go into. Once we get our act together we'll head off to Woodie's. Woodie's Chili Dogs is located right off Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in the sprawling Clairemont Town Square shopping center.

The menu at Woodies is fairly small and basic, and makes for easy ordering.

There are some very interesting items on the "retro" menu, like Frito Pie($2.75) and Corn Dogs($1.75).

Though I usually go for the cholesterol bomb combo. That would be the #2($7.00).

It starts with a Pastrami "Sandwich", we'll use the description of sandwich very loosely here. For me it's pastrami, mustard, pickles, and kraut in an hot dog bun.

The bun is really an afterthought, and I'm always glad that I'm given lots of napkins with my sandwich, because the bun disintegrates after one or two bites. The pastrami ends up being two-fisted fun! Not very oily, and with a passable fat content; the pastrami at Woodies is pretty decent. Though lacking in the slight fatty sweetness that pastrami from The Hat has, it's also less oily, and not as salty. That also makes the pastrami at Woodies less "rich".

But it's still passable, though I find the kraut to be a bit too mild for my tastes. I end up eating the sandwich with a fork...well who am I kidding, I inhale the darn thing, and eat up the remains "Ethiopian Style", using the bun as I would Injera. I don't think it's the best pastrami in San Diego, but it'll do in a pinch.

I really enjoy the fries, thin cut and usually fried to a golden brown.

The pictures are worth a thousand words. You need to eat them right away, they'll get pretty limp after a few minutes, and you really don't want a "limp Woodie"......

Finally, I know you've all been waiting to see my Woodie.......errrr, Kraut Dog($2.50):

The Dog is thin and a little on the small side(I can't wait for the comments on this one), the Dog has a natural casing that gives it a nice "snap". The dog has a nice mild flavor, though again the kraut is a bit too mild, though always nice and crisp. The dogs at Woodies is not everyone's cup of tea. The Missus doesn't care much for Woodies....hehehe, she much rather have the woodies Hot Dogs from Costco of all places.

Overall Woodies is a nice little stop.

So, let me ask you, "do you want a Woodie?" LOL!

Some notes: On many weekends during the Summer Woodies will host many car "cruises". I haven't had the Frito Pie, but it always tempts me. I've had the onion rings, and thought they were pretty good as well. You can also sneak your Woodie(LOL!) into the theaters, they are much better then the mystery meat hot dogs that you get at the movies nowadays.

Woodies Chili Dogs
4250 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117

Comments

[Kristy]

Hahaha...Woodies...Hot Dogs... ;) Not a big fan of Kraut at all...but love my dogs with chili and cheese. Hmm..by the way, what's a Frito Pie???

[Kady]

I guess I'm not the first to ask. What's a frito pie?

[clare eats]

Oh wow Kirk, you really went overboard on that one :) I bet you were thinking..."hmm, how much sexual inuendo can I pack in here?" LOL

But 2 fisting the woodie just went too far man LOL!!!!!!!

Now I know why you liked chiisai chimpo so much ROFLMFAO!

[RONW]

you hear all that crap about "da best hamburger in town," but to me the "best hot dog" is the true prize. Like at $5 for a hamburger you could have had NY steak at home. The hamburger better be worth eating. Natural casing is a must-have for a winner. Saurkraut as a topping is de riguer. Otherwise the meal is too clean. Must have the juices all over your fingers. Some of the kraut spilling onto your shoes and on the pavement. Anything less simply isn't kosher. That limited menu is to Woody's credit (nice pic). The only sandwich I like better than one hot dog is Pastrami, and you can have both at Woody's, you say?

[Rachel]

Wow I want a big woodie now!! I've never seen such a big pastrami sandwich ... its like 80%meat and pickle and 20% bun. I, too am curious as to what a Frito pie is :)I love crunchy dogs bursting with juice... hmm no inuendo intended ! :P And the pic of your woodie looks just fine kirk!

[clare eats]

"Wow I want a big woodie now!!" Oh boy Rachel, I think you need to be VERY careful or Rich is going to get very jealous LOL eh eh ehhhhh

[penny]

Another person wondering what the hey is Frito pie? I'm assuming it uses corn chips, but other than that, I'm stumped. You know...them costco polish dogs are pretty good...and cheap! I know X. loves em.

[Kirk]

Hi Kristy and Kady - Frito Pie, and least the one I had is I think Tex-Mex, and it's Fritos covered with chili, and topped with cheese. What most places do is not smother the entire layer of Fritos(has to be Fritos, BTW) with chili, thus you have Fritos in various stages of hydration for a varying texture. Alton Brown should do Frito Pie!

Hi Clare - No, I was thinking how much innuendo could someone pack into a short comment! LOL!

Hi RONW - Yes, you can pack in a month's worth of cholesterol in one sitting and get a hot dog, pastrami sandwich, chili-cheese fries, frito pie, and some beer battered onions rings...and then find a nice place to go moi-moi!

Hi Rachel - And the winner is....Rachel for best intended - unintended innuendo. You're still the best at it! LOL! :o)

Hi Penny - So true, it's hard not to get a Hot Dog at Costco - I treat it as a reward for surviving the shopping experience.

[howie]

Hehe, I love Woodies! They do have a nice sloppy pastrami sandwich.

By the way, what's your favorite pastrami in SD?

The best I've had anywhere are at Katz's Delicatessen in NYC, where they filmed the infamous fake orgasm scene from When Harry Met Sally.

[Pam]

LOL!!!! Forget about my "Trader Joe's Nuts"...you take home the prize for Most Beavis & Butthead Moments In A Post!

Have to agree about the pastrami at The Hat...it's good, but salty!!!

[kyle]

Hey Kirk,

Great post!! Not to get off the subject...Have you ever tried Johnny's Pastrami in Culver City?? I go there everytime I get to L.A.

[Scott]

That Pastrami Sandwich looks great - I will try it soon. The idea of a chili dog sounds disgusting though.

[dietchilicheesefries]

kirk, how's the chili there? how does it compare to Tommy's/Carneys?

been going to PCH dog up in Orange and Huntington Beach for chilidogs.. standard, natural casing and all.. they have a kickass rootbeer shake too...

my bro lives in san diego, but now i have a real reason to go down there.. ;)

[Kirk]

Hi Howie - I really don't think that there is outstanding pastrami in San Diego. I do like Woodies and DZ's - though I think that many times DZ's uses quantity to disguise quality, but I still enjoy it. Nothing quite as good as the Hat for greasy, but I also enjoyed Stage Deli at Caesars in Vegas, though talk about sticker shock!

Hi Pam - Believe me when I say, nothing can even come close to any of your posts....and it all started for me with Asparagus Pee!

http://dailygluttony.blogspot.com/2005/05/food-mysteries-unsolved-asparagus-pee.html

Hi Kyle - Thanks for stopping by and commenting. Never been to Johnnie's or Langers, it was a bit far from where we lived in LA. We had a branch of The Hat, over the hill in Brea. Though I really want to try Langers.

Hi Scott - So no chili dog, I'm sure you're gonna have Tommy's, right? The pastrami sandwich is worth the$4.50 you spend, ok but not outstanding. Eat it right away though.

Hi DCCF - I like Tommy's, chili at Woodies is ok.....Don't know if Woodies would be a reason to visit, but it's pretty nice down here!

[Green Turtle]

So, how do they compare to Tommy's? I had a Tommy's chili hotdog which was came with a sliced tomato, it was $2.05 tax included. It was a good hotdog and the price was right. Of course, their single burger with extra chili ($1.95) makes a nice messy meal.

[Kirk]

Hi Green Turtle - I like the texture and the richer(call it greasy if you must) taste of Tommy's - though I've never had a Chili Dog from there. Tell you what - maybe I'll do a side by side comparison. How does that sound? BTW, welcome back - haven't heard from you in a while!

[dietchilicheesefries]

http://www.stockteam.com/PCHdog.html

kirk, been going to the PCH dog in Orange lately.. this one's in H.B., if you're in the area def. worth a try... with a rootbeer shake of course...

[Kirk]

Hi DCCF - Thanks for the rec - I'll add it my list! Those fries look good! Mahalo

[Jack]

I'm going to have to bring my wife here for the frito pie. When she was pregnant we use to pass the Weinerschnitzel in Hillcrest every day. At the time they had an advertisment for a frito pie which always caught our eye. One day one of those cravings came and she had a frito pie for four or five days straight! A bag of Fritos and Weinerschnitzel chili....I doubt that she will order it but it will be good for a "remember when...."

[Kirk]

Hi Jack - Well Woodies has frito pie every day....memories are always a good thing. The food might not necessarily be how you remember, but those memories...well, are priceless!