I had to make Jennifer and Cheyenne stop here yesterday for a late lunch! (Yeah, we are in Houston this morning but we’ll be home in a few hours.) Anyway, this local chain is best in the state for chili dogs as the main course. Way better than Sonic could dream of. Hands down superior to Der Weinerschnitzel. Hell, I’d go out on a limb and say, the best in USA. I will readily admit I haven’t tried rival cities Detroit where I think this delicacy started or Cincinnati which allegedly has good chili. Chicago I’m not going to argue as the Windy City excels in other categories of hot dogs and sausage, same for Milwaukee and our local place on Rainey Street, Banger’s.
Sadly, they’ve tried to make a go of Austin at least once and rapidly closed. It isn’t due to my fellow citizens not enjoying the offerings. JCI picked a terrible location. Downtown on Congress Avenue. Sure they’ll get a wave of people during the lunchtime rush with all the people working there. After five or six PM, Congress is pretty devoid of fast food biz. Then throw in the ridiculous rent. A better spot or ten would be where the people live as per this Houston branch we hit. Until they wise up, I will have to make the Hungry Man’s combo I had do the job for a couple years or longer.
Meanwhile, Congratulations James Comey Island for a century of success in Houston. You grew up with the city! I can only imagine how small Houston was in 1923 and then came the explosive growth with oil, WWII, NASA and while I was present in the Early Eighties. If current trends continue, Houston will finally overtake Chicago as the third biggest US city. May you have another hundred years!