The Red Hot

Cheap eats and an endless beer selection

By Jake de Paul on April 6, 2017

ANNOUNCER:  With Jason off on vacation, he has left Jake all on his own for the next few weeks. It's no surprise that Jake went where there was beer and cheap eats; in this case, The Red Hot on 6th Ave in Tacoma for those 21 and over.

JAKE:  There's absolutely nothing wrong with cheap eats, especially when it comes with what seems to be an endless selection of beer choices.  With a rotating tap selection, I like that I can try different favorites like Stouts, Pale Ales, Hefeweizens, and Lagers from several vendors.  Don't worry cider lovers, The Red Hot has a larger selection than most.

The menu is entirely driven by hot dogs and sausages, but not your everyday hot dogs.  Most of what they call the basic hot dogs are available for around $5, give or take.  However, the Red Hot has a different definition of basic than most of us.  The basics here include The 6th Ave Strut, that offers cream cheese, onions and tomatoes; the BLT, which is exactly what it sounds like - a hot dog with bacon, lettuce and tomatoes; or the Rainier Ruben, with Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut. Each of these will take hot dog loving to a new level.

The sausages on the menu present even more creative options, such as The Big Kahuna, of Hawaiian sausage, spicy sauce, onions, cole slaw and pineapple for a sweet and spicy experience.  Another option is The Cowboys, which combines a beef and cheese sausage with BBQ sauce, onions, bacon, baked beans, jalapenos and nacho cheese.  Add a beer to this one and you'll feel like you're out on the range.

The Tideflats is an option that nearly has it all.  Served open-faced with two hot dogs, it is topped with yellow mustard, ketchup, onions, sweet relish, jalapenos, sport peppers, sauerkraut, chili, nacho cheese, cole slaw and a pickle.  It's basically a giant plate of sweet and spicy, soft and crunchy, and beefy and sour.

The Red Hot is a great community feel bar with a lot of options that will fill you up without emptying your wallet, especially if you visit during happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-7 p.m.  They also offer a beer and breakfast menu on Saturdays and Sundays only.  And lastly, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that there are a handful of vegan options on the menu as well.  

The Red Hot, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight, Friday; 9 a.m. to midnight, Saturday; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday, 2914 6th Ave.,Tacoma, 253.779.0229, redhottacoma.com