Rate-A-Restaurant, #101 in a series

Restaurant: Pink's Hot Dogs

Location: 709 N. La Brea Blvd. (Melrose Area)

Type of restaurant: Hot Dogs

We stipulated: My parents were in town on Memorial Day weekend... and after years of visits, had still never made it over to Pink's. It was time.

They stipulated: There's almost always a line in front of Pink's -- but luckily even the longest of lines (and it being Memorial Day weekend, this was a pretty long line) moves relatively fast.



What we ordered: Mike: Millennium Dog (12 inch jalapeno dog, with tomatoes, chili, guacamole and grilled onions and lettuce), $5.65; Maria: Planet Hollywood Dog(Polish sausage with grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, bacon and cheese), $5.45. Also, onion rings ($2.45) and fries ($2.10).

High point: If it wasn't apparent before, it was obvious by the time we munched on these Pink's dogs: Maria and I were officially off our diet. Oh well -- it was for a good cause. The service is brisk, the dogs tasty and the experience just what you'd expect on a warm California day.

Low point: Of course, you can't eat all this and not feel a tad ill after. Still, I enjoyed my Millennium Dog, and would get it again... months from now, of course, when I've finally worked it off.

Overall impression: Like any over-hyped attraction, Pink's relies as much on its fame as it does its dogs. There's nothing ultra special about the food... but that's not really the point. It's a gastro-splurge that you're more than willing to take when friends and family are in town.

Chance we will go back: Sure... but again, my stomach has requested a slight break before I subject it to a jalapeno dog, chili, grilled onions and guacamole in the same bite.

(For a full roster of Franklin Avenue's restaurant reviews, check out our companion Rate-A-Restaurant site.)