The Red Hot

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  • 5/5 Star Rating.

Based on 1 Rating

2914 6th Ave.
(253) 779-0229

www.myspace.com/redhottacoma

Cuisines:
American
Amenities:
Beer and Wine Only, Credit Cards Accepted, Outdoor Dining
Avg. Meal:
Less than $6

The Review

Reviewed by: Jake and Jason de Paul

ANNOUNCER: Hot dogs smothered in cheese sauce, chili and jalapeños served with Pabst Blue Ribbon and chased by a Moon Pie — the boys are in heaven. The Red Hot opened a year ago on crowded Sixth Avenue (and celebrates its one year anniversary this Saturday) to prove that you can never put enough ingredients on a dog. With a tavern-like atmosphere, a simple menu, excellent drink and food specials, and friendly people, this place is like Tacoma itself — gritty — although the boys wish the walls were a bit more gritty. If it was around during the smoking years the joint would be perfect now.

JASON: Gritty? OK, maybe — if you mean a little rough, a bit overindulgent and yet unpretentious — yeah I can get behind those sentiments. The Red Hot impresses me. It seems the creative geniuses behind this joint figured out how to make a neighborhood watering hole appealing to the masses. While regulars occupy the stools during the day (sometimes all day), it still speaks volumes to businessmen and the like looking for a quick yet memorable lunch.

JAKE: There is nothing fancy about the place, and yet, the high tables, the large screen, the impressive list of off-rack beverages like RC Cola and Jarritos sodas, plus 10 brews on tap and many more by the bottle — all make for a unique outing. But, really, bottom line, it’s all about the hot dogs.

JASON: They call it the gauntlet — 10 hot dog creations that line the lefthand side of the menu. The Chicago, the Coney, The Hilltop Strangler and Tideflats — dogs that give you gas but in a glorious and highly worthwhile manner. On the right side of the menu they add a few sausages, a couple of vegan dogs and a sandwich or too plus the snack bar including a Frito Pie, nachos, potato chips and yes, a Moon Pie.

JAKE: I’ve eaten just about everything on the Gauntlet side. I think my favorite is The Red Hot — a ballpark frank, yellow mustard, onions and freakishly fluorescent relish. Simple, true, homage to America, and yet satisfying as all get-out when chased with beer.

JASON: The Red Hot is my favorite as well. But to understand this place one must grab a fork and a knife and have at least one of the all-encompassing, everything-but-the-kitchen sink dogs. The Tideflat, for example, features two all-beef dogs on an open faced, poppy seed bun topped with yellow mustard, ketchup, onions, relish, tomatoes, pickle spear, sport peppers, jalapenos, coleslaw, sauerkraut, Giardiniera, nacho cheese and meat chili — gawd it hurts my stomach just writing about it. It may sound like overkill, however the flavors blend nicely. Legal? I’m not sure, but this bad boy not only hits the spot, it freaking bashes its brains out.

JAKE: I had to nap for two hours after eating a Tideflat. But the gut-busters don’t end there. Take the Hilltop Strangler — all-beef dog with bacon, onion, mustard, Thousand Island dressing, nacho cheese and tomatoes. It’s a lot like giving your brain an overdose of pleasure — the flavors slide down with lots of tangy and silky goop. I’d slip and slide in this stuff if I could.

JASON: Well, since this review landed in the Weekly Volcano’s sex issue, order the Frito Pie — Frito corn chips smothered in chili and nacho cheese (insert inappropriate sex sounds here).

JAKE: I’m thinking the “munchie” seeking population may have found their nirvana at The Red Hot. The cardiac community, however, might want to bring their pills.

 

User Reviews of The Red Hot (1)

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  • 5/5 Star Rating.

Ryan said on May. 03, 2011 at 12:13pm

The Red Hot is fantastic, go there!

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