Yet Another Ambitious Hot Dog Concept Is Poised to Open Downtown

Look out: A new breed of hot dog restaurant is on its way. Business consultant Spike Friedman and restaurant manager Bob Parsons (Jake's, McCormick and Schmick's, The Benson Hotel) are partnering up to open the first of what they say will be ten-plus Spike's Hot Dogs restaurants. The first will be located inside Portland's Galleria (home to Target), at SW 9th and Alder, and aside from a chili made with hot dogs, Boyd's Coffee, and some other drinks, Spike's will pretty much only serve hot dogs—€”highly customizable hot dogs, to be specific.

Inside, you'll find counter-service involving a "hot dogologist" and seating for 33, and the condiment bar will run 25 feet, with everything from the classics, to signature Spike's sauces, like Spike's Magic Mustard Sauce, made for the restaurant by Beaverton Foods.

Open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., Spike's Hot Dogs will serve breakfast sausage hot dogs, and it will introduce what it's calling "the first biodegradable and compostable coffee pods," selling Boyd Coffee for one dollar a cup. You'll find another ten or so custom hot dogs, such as the Walla Walla Onion hot dog, and all of the dogs will be served split open, open-faced on hoagie sourdough rolls.

Hailing from Walla Walla, Friedman knew right where he wanted to source his dogs: Hill Meat Company, located in nearby Pendleton, OR. Friedman likens the company's sourcing procedures to "your grandmother going out and picking the perfect cranberries for Thanksgiving dinner."

The world of Portland hot dogs has ebbed and flowed over the past year, with Hop Dog unleashing its gourmet hot dogs to limited fanfare and Clutch Sausagery developing such applauded flavors as pad thai and buffalo chicken wings hot dogs. Will Spike's bring something new to the table? Find out March 22, when Spike's will officially open. Just look for the six-foot neon hot dog in the window.