Let’s Be Frank

Fine and dandy for a hot dog, but holy crap it was expensive in correlation to the portion. But I guess grass-​fed ingredients + being in the Marina will do that.

Stopped in for a dog before heading off to Beach Blanket Babylon. Had a regular Franks dog and DH had the italian sausage. We requested the Devil Sauce and sauteed onions on both along with a side order of coleslaw which they advertise as being big enough to share.
Hot dogs were tasty but not out-​of-​this world. To my taste, the devil sauce is pretty mild. Cole slaw wasn’t that good and came in a pretty small bowl. Best thing was the saurkraut that you could add. They hadn’t even started to make the chili yet that day so was kinda bummed. Seems you would have that stuff ready when you open the door. Also, no mayo.
With one drink, came to around $ 17. Not a very good value in my opinion.

This is about as delicious as you can get for hot dogs, AND as pricey. Yes, all those budget-​conscious reviewers below aren’t kidding when they mention the high cost of these magnificent meat tubes, but let’s be fair — the taste is worth it. My wife and I have consistently discovered that the ‘Bird Dog’ is the juiciest and most delectable of all the available dogs, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with any of the choices here.
The food comes out fast, and I highly recommend trying it with grilled onions and some of their chutney-​esque ‘Devil Sauce’, which isn’t really that hot, but DOES add a unique and mouthwatering spice to the proceedings.
If you’re in the Marina (or run into their food cart — we found it next to Torpedo Wharf, just west of Crissy Field) and have a hankering for a cylinder of meaty goodness, you could do a LOT worse than this place. Give it a shot!

One and a half stars for customer service at this location; two stars for unexciting all beef dog; two and a half stars for turkey dogs; three stars for brats and devil sauce and the mutt dog. I called their store because I had their mutt dog at the Warming Hut. The mix of pork and beef proved a more palette pleasing experience than their beef or turkey dogs, so I wanted to pick up a pack. When I called this store, the person at the Steiner location said that they didn’t distrubute the mutt dogs to local stores but only sold it at their shop (and also near the Warming Hut which he didn’t mention).
Anywho, I said I wanted to buy some packs of mutt-​dogs and did they have plenty of PACKS or should I put some on hold? No, they have plenty. I drove all the way across town to hear that they only sell them cooked as singles! We had obviously misunderstood each other and their person didn’t know enough to think that when I said I wanted to buy a pack of dogs I didn’t mean I was just buying one.
Ongoing saga of horrible customer service in san Francisco. On top of all this, they had no retail for purchase except turkey and beef dogs… My least favorite. In fact, they are chronically low on stock (which is why I always call ahead). It would be great if they retailed their mutt dogs. I’m sure they would be popular.
Another sad fact, the person behind the counter wasn’t the most pulled together looking fellow… He had big hair that wasn’t tied back or secured in a foodservice environment, and he had thick mucous coming out of his nose. I know it’s allergy session, but c’mon, really? Not very appetizing.

I’m not a hot dog type of person, but they were nearby and I wanted to see if they offered one that wasn’t just beef or pork, being that I only eat chicken and turkey.
They have a really simple menu and so I saw that they had a «Bird Dog,» which is described as a «family-​farmed turkey dog.» So, I decided to get it with grilled onions and the Devil’s sauce. It was around $ 6. Since when does a hot dog cost $ 6?!
Anyway, the turkey dog was ok. It wasn’t anything spectacular. I did like that it wasn’t greasy though. The best part would probably have to be the ACME bun. I was disappointed by the Devil’s sauce. It reminded me of an Indian chutney. But, wasn’t as spicy as I would’ve liked it to be.
Overall, I don’t think it was worth the price I paid for a turkey dog that I felt was sub-​par. I would much rather get a chicken habañero sausage from Rosamunde any day.

After getting my boba fix at Teaway, we walked around the neighborhood and came across Let’s Be Frank. The boy loves hot dogs, so it’s no surprise that he wanted to get a hot dog to try… less than an hour before we were going to go eat ramen for dinner!
The restaurant is kind of cute looking with seating inside and outside. The hot dog was good, but kind of pricey — about $ 5. But the price could be justified because the animals are grass fed and there are no hormones injected. (There were posters about these facts all over their walls!) Service was very friendly, and food came out fairly fast. If we lived around here, it could be a place that we’d go to for our hot dog fixes!

Roaming around the Marina I found this newly open hot dog place. This of course was a while back! However, it has been one of the yummiest hot dogs I have ever had! Not only was the sausage very tasty but the grilled onions as well. And to top it off… the Devil Sauce! It was pretty spicy! And I’m used to spicy food, so if your not a big fan or can’t take much spicy I suggest you don’t get the sauce!
A place everyone should try!

So, I called them asking to order 30 hot dogs. The response was «Yeah, that’s not going to happen.» First the reason was they were having their lunch rush. I offered to work with them on the time. Then he said if he sold me 30 hot dogs he wouldn’t have enough for the weekend. I had no idea hot dogs were that hard to come by. Funny thing is, I placed this same order at this same location before with no problem.
I am in food, and I would never turn away a customer, especially by saying «That’s not going to happen.» It’s rude.
So, while I like their hot dogs I will never go back.

Let’s Be Frank is my favorite hot dog stand. Who would resist a plump and juicy wiener on a chewy bun? Grab a ‘Hot’ Dog and Devil it up! Quick, cheap and delicious!

Yummy! My bf and I enjoyed a beef frank with chili and cheese this afternoon for a snack. The frank is good, lots of flavor and the chili (its more of a sauce-​not the other chili they serve with the beans, etc) was a nice addition with the cheese. The bun was also delicious!
Cute, little place and dogs are cooked fresh and to order.
Prices were also very reasonable. Just $ 4.95 for a frank.
This is a small location to eat in but there are a few seats to dine at.
Would definitely return for more soon! I have also seen their food stand around before near Golden Gate Bridge and the Warming Hut.

I write this review as a person who doesn’t like hot dogs.
Don’t get me wrong, I love me some processed meats – Spam, wieners, fish balls, you name it – and buns, but for some reason wieners *in* buns just doesn’t do it for me. Then came the ray of light that was Let’s Be Frank. And I’ll be frank (har har!) – I LOVED their hot dogs!
Let’s Be Frank was one of the caterers at a corporate sponsored event at work. I initially had no intention of making my way to their unassuming cart since there were so many other food options. But then I thought, if there was ever a time for me to try their hot dogs, it would be now – i.e. when I don’t have to pay for it. So I got a Frank dog (100% local grass-​fed beef) with grilled onions (
).
It wasn’t just that I had low expectations or that free food tastes better, the hot dog was FABULOUS! After careful analysis (which, as a scientific person I’m prone to do), I’ve come up with the following rationale how this rare phenomenon came about:
1. DEVIL SAUCE: Ketchup, mustard, and relish – what are those again? This tangy and chunky sauce (
) makes me forget about all the other typical condiments. It has the perfect combination of spices (loved the curry, fennel, and cumin flavours!) with a touch of heat that just knocks this dog out of the park. This Indian-​influenced sauce really is diabolically delicious!
2. The «SNAP»: My dog not only tasted great, it felt great. I read on their website the lamb casing they use is one of the reasons for the higher prices – but it’s SOOOO worth it.
3. The SAUSAGE: Soft, juicy, fatty, and flavourful – just all around wow!
4. ACME BUNS: It’s no wonder so many restaurants in the city serve bread from that bakery. The bun had a really nice chewy crust that was still soft enough to bite through – pure perfection.
5. The ONIONS: Slightly caramelized, sweet, crunchy, and very aromatic. I mean really, onions just make everything taste better.
Thanks, Let’s Be Frank, for elevating the humble hot dog and showing me how good wieners in buns can be ;)

let’s be frank was at eat real fest 2010. offering was a 100% grass fed beef dog or something eles i’ve forgotten. (spicy?)
sampling: 100% grass feed beef (5)
–came with grilled onions if you want. condiments available also. dog came in an acme bun
–wasn’t that impressed. not so tasty.
–lots of condiments on side.
foodnotes:
–this stand never had a line. now i know why.

Healthier and delicious hot dog alternative to the What’s Up Dog’s scattered around downtown/​FiDi. I’m not sure how long they’ve been carting out here in Justin Herman Plaza, but they are here Tues-​Saturday from 11am-​4pm.
100% grass-​fed beef in a Frank Dog sounded enticing enough and I went for one — with grilled onions (available at no additional charge but you have to request it).
The beef frank itself is a decent size, not so plump and sits low in the delicious Acme bun. But that’s okay so I can load up yummy sauerkraut, mustard, and the Devil Sauce.
I walked over by the plaza fountain and bit into the dog. The bun is DELICIOUS. Soft, a bit chewy, and just great texture overall. The frank had the tear away texture and insides were juicy and flavorful in spices. I could tell the meat was of high-​quality. The grilled onions were fragrant and grilled just right, excellent addition and recommended! What made the dog great was the Devil Sauce! It’s got this little spicy kick to it and blends in oh so well with the rest of the dog, and really kicks the flavors up a notch.
They also offer brat, spicy brat, and turkey dog. I’d love to try the others. Don’t expect your dogs from Let’s Be Frank to be bathing in cheese or chili. It’s the simplistic presentation and «good for you» meats and yummy bun and grilled onions and DEVIL SAUCE and. that make this a great frank. Dogs gone good, indeed!

Date: Saturday June 12^th 4PM
Company: GF
Order: 1 — Chili & Cheese and 1 — Regular
We were going to get a hamburger at Barney’s but realized we didn’t have the time and ended up here. The little shop was clean and bright and welcoming.
Our hot dogs were good but not the best and I may be back but this won’t be my first choice although its great if your in a rush. Three starts for Great service, cleanliness and a decent dog. On what ever you get I recommend the grilled onions.

Can it be? After transplanting from NYC about a year ago, I actually prefer hot dogs that are so «San Francisco» since they come from local, happy pasture raised livestock with only natural ingredients? Sure this cart is several times the price of snappy NYC «Recession Specials», but the taste and health benefit are worth it! Locally, they are only priced at a buck and change above the less exciting hot dog stand down the street. Now if only they would start wrapping these dogs in local/​sustainable/​organic/​pasture-​raised/​happy/​well-​educated bacon…
Frank Dog: The beef version. Got the right bite and then tear away texture that street vendor hot dogs should have, must be the lamb casing. It has some extra kick compared to traditional hot dogs. The ingredients mention garlic, paprika and celery powder to name a few. I really think the Acme bun is win on the texture front because it is soft, but has some real bready chew too, unlike those synthetic Wonder bread buns. They could do a better job cutting the bun though, the ends of my dog were sagging through the bottom sides that would have been better if not cut through.
«Hot» Dog: The spicy pork version. Basically a thin Italian sausage, which fits the bun much better than those short and fat Italians. The inner texture is more coarsely cut like a sausage should be, so it was a nice contrast to the Frank Dog I had with it. A good mix of spices beyond just pepper that are best appreciated without any toppings to detract.
Devil Sauce: Now that’s the kind of cultural melting pot I like to see! Take an Indian-​inspired chutney and put it on animals (cow & pig) that most of the country would never eat due to religious restrictions!!! If they got a taste of this smoky/​spicy condiment on one of these awesome dogs, they might be tempted to covert…
Grilled Onions: Usually I wouldn’t note onions, but these were done so well. Not soupy and flavorless like Gray’s Papaya in NYC and not raw tasting like some impatient hot dog vendors serve. I even tasted some caramelized accents, which is a big accomplishment for onions from a cart.

I’d had a hot dog craving for a few days when I decided to make the trek down the hill to try this place. I was a little skeptical based on the mixed reviews, but was pleasantly surprised. I haven’t had a hot dog in years ever since I took a fiber art class and this fiber artist made us weave sausage casings for a very gross project. I decided Let’s Be Frank would be a good way to ease myself back into eating hot dogs since they’re healthy and wouldn’t conjure images of the art project.
The counter staff was quite friendly and although I wanted to strangle the lady in front of me for asking questions about every aspect of the limited menu, the server answered her questions patiently and without any sarcasm (Um… lady who made me wait an extra 6 minutes to place my order: They have descriptions next to each item. I know you can read since you were reading a stack of papers while eating your hot dog. Next time step aside while you decide on what you want.).
The hot dogs themselves were very good. I had a bird dog with chili and it was excellent! I tried a sample of the devil sauce and it was also good but I didn’t think it would go well with the chili. Next time I go back, I’ll have to try the devil sauce on a hot dog. The buns are tasty, I just wish (like other Unilocalers mentioned) that they had whole wheat buns as an option).
I also love that everything they serve the dogs with are recyclable or compostable. Awesome!

Let’s be REAL frank. $ 6.02 all in for a hot dog. Do I get a baseball game with that?
I will admit I was drawn in with the fun colors, cartoon dogs and oversized awning. The place is clean, looks great, and they even sell t-​shirts and home sauces to qualify the place.
But make no mistake — it’s an average dog at best. I got the regular frank with a touch of dijon and a thin strip of ketchup. The frank came out of a heating box and had a 20 second touch on the grill. Warming grill? The bun was good — dense, chewy, and it felt expensive. The ‘grass-​fed cow’ beef dog was long and lean. But it didn’t have that salt blast. It seemed a little dry, maybe it was just me. It didn’t have that crisp snap either. It was more of a tear slash chew.
I was very disappointed…

I had a fun Saturday lunch here. The staff was really friendly and enthusiastic, I enjoyed my hot dog with pickles and sauerkraut and grill onions, and the beef chili was tasty (not amazing, but still good), and they have Bi-​Rite creamery ice cream sandwiches.
3.5 stars over all.

Imagine grass-​fed beef and heritage pork sausages nestled in gourmet Acme buns with homemade condiments. Let’s Be Frank sausages are lean, healthier, free from fillers and preservatives, and fair trade. Sound good?
The menu is quite limited but focus is a good thing. They have four different sausages (one is vegetarian), toppings (50 cents — $ 2 for creamy coleslaw, house chili, etc.), Bi Rite cookies and ice cream sandwiches, sides, potato chips and drinks. You can buy signature hoodies, tees, tote bags, and jars of their signature «Devil Sauce.» Their utensils are biodegradable.
The shop is very cute, painted in mustard and ketchup colors with limited seating (just a two stools inside, a few tables outside). The kitchen is open, so you can watch your dogs sizzle on the grill.
I had the «Hot» Dog — a spicy Italian sausage and I added the Devil Sauce (+$ 1) = $ 7.12. The sausage is long and extra skinny. While the sausage tasted great, it wasn’t juicy (they do use lean meat though). The bun was firm and warm but not the best for holding toppings (too narrow). They were generous with the warm, sweet grilled onions. The Devil Sauce, their own spicy Indian chutney/​relish, is worth the extra $ 1; with all the spices (cumin, ginger, garlic, mustard seed, fennel), it really packs a flavorful punch.
There are some freebies — free grilled onions w/​your sausage and a small condiments bar with organic mustard (2 kinds — yellow, stoneground), ketchup, kraut, and relish. The kraut was on the sour side.
Where are the raw chopped onions? And the sport peppers? They could be more generous with their condiments bar. And I’d love to see other signature relishes/​chutneys.

Hey! They’re open! Too bad I had ordered my Amici’s pizza but I had to try them so, BIG lunch today!
Tasty «Hot» Dog and nice, friendly staff!
Stop by for a dog!