Hot dogs a hot trend in Wichita

An odd culinary mini-trend in Wichita is putting the "hot" back in hot dogs.

Suddenly, hot-dog-centric restaurants are opening or are about to open all over town.

It started last spring with the arrival of Let's Be Frank (now Get Franked) at 2425 E. Douglas.

Inspired by late-night, post-bar-hopping hunger pangs, buddies Brad Standing and Kody Allen opened a hot dog restaurant that offered 38 varieties of inventively topped dogs.

A year later, lots of hot dog places are in the works.

There's Linkhaus, an eatery scheduled to open next month at 37th Street North and Rock Road and offering 13 styles of hot dogs.

There's Dog House Carryout, which should be open in a week or two at 707 N. Mount Carmel.

And there's also the Comeback Burger Stand, which laid-off aircraft worker Rick Burns plans to open Saturday on the southwest corner of 13th and Hydraulic, specializing in burgers and dogs.

That's not even counting all of the hot dog vendors, old and new, already established in Wichita, from Dog-N-Shake to the new Five Guys Burgers and Fries.

So what's with the hot dog explosion?

Standing of Get Franked wonders if other entrepreneurs noticed their success and are trying to replicate it.

Beyond that, though, hot dogs are a nationally beloved food everyone can agree on.

"It's like an American classic," he said. "Everyone likes hot dogs, whether they like to admit it or not."

Following is a guide to hot dog eating in Wichita.

Opening soon

* Linkhaus, 37th and Rock: A group of investors including local orthopedic surgeon Robert Eyster are behind this restaurant, which will offer 13 styles of hot dogs, double-fried tater tots and breakfast. It's scheduled to open in April.

* Dog House Carryout, 707 N. Mount Carmel: Laid-off Cessna Aircraft worker Kurt Allen plans to open his restaurant within the next week or two. It's mainly a carryout place (though there's seating for 10), and the menu will feature more than a dozen quarter-pound, all-beef steamed hot dogs, each one named for a different U.S. city, with corresponding toppings.

* Comeback Burger Stand, 1649 E. 13th St. Laid-off aircraft worker Burns plans to open a burger and hot dog carryout stand on Saturday. The dogs are roller grilled and topped with a special sauce on toasted buns. He'll also sell fries, onion rings and tots. He'll be open 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays.

Vendor veterans

* Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 2616 N. Maize Road: The burger place everyone's buzzing about also sells kosher hot dogs, and diners can choose from a long list of toppings, from jalapeno peppers to relish to bacon.

* Get Franked, 2425 E. Douglas: Wichita's original crazy hot dog place offers nearly 40 expected and off-the-wall toppings. They'll be moving from their current location to a new place in the downtown area in the next few months.

* Metro Grill, Towne East Square: Michael Gonzalez's fabulous sandwich stand in the mall food court also specializes in Nathan's all-beef franks.

* Smashburger, 3570 N. Woodlawn

* Dog-N-Shake, several Wichita locations

* Freddy's Frozen Custard, 8621 W. 21st St., 310 N. Rock Road and 1525 E. 13th St.

* Nu-Way Cafe, several Wichita locations

* Riverside Cafe, 739 W. 13th St.

This story was originally published March 10, 2010 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Hot dogs a hot trend in Wichita."