Vail Valley restaurants are going to the dogs … hot dogs, that is

In addition to the stunning views and incredible outdoor activities, the Eagle River Valley is also known as a culinary destination. From Michelin-recommended establishments to world-famous chef-driven concepts, these celebrated restaurants offer up the finest ingredients during unforgettable dining experiences.

Passion and attention to detail are evident not only in the elevated bastions of gastronomic gentility — they also extend to what, in other locales, might be considered humble fare: the hot dog.

Yes, in many places the hot dog is an oft-forgotten protein, eschewed until the barbecue grill comes a-callin’ or busy parents make a desperate play by tossing them into boiling water to assuage their ravenous offspring. Not here: In this valley, hot dogs are elevated to heights rivaling our local 14er featuring impeccable pedigrees and, for some, European inspiration.

To highlight the various establishments making this sandwich* a stand-out, we offer this tasting tour of the valley’s most notable hot dog destinations from east to west: Blü Cow, AlpenDogs, The Chi Shack and Slope & Hatch.

Blü Cow

For almost 50 years, the Blü Cow Café — which has also been known as the Swiss Hot Dog — has been a hot dog haven in the Vail Valley. Now helmed by chef and owner Simone Larese, Blü Cow began as her parents’ brainchild, bringing something special to Vail in 1967. Larese’s mother, Barbra, was inspired by a hot dog she had in Austria while visiting Simone’s dad, Ernst — the first iteration was named the Blue Cow as a nod to her Australian roots. The shop changed names and locations several times in the county before Simone brought it back to Vail Village as the Blü Cow.

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What sets Blü Cow’s hot dogs apart is a combination of history and closely-guarded alchemy. The signature Swiss Hot Dog features two unique half-pork, half-veal wieners, topped with a “homemade magical” house-mixed curry powder along with fresh sprouts, onions and parsley. Larese prepares the curry blend herself: It’s a closely guarded secret that’s become a hallmark of the shop’s cult following. The bread is also specially sourced — another element Simone keeps close to the vest. Blü Cow’s famous Swiss-style hotdog is finished with fresh arugula and pairs perfectly with a nice cold German beer. “A lot of people come in and they remember my father … from when they were kids,” Larese says. “And I’m now getting into the third and fourth generation of people like that.”

Come in for the world-famous Swiss Hot Dog — try a triple if you dare — or a panini, Chupacabra or grilled cheese; stay for a beer or two and savor a unique bite of Vail’s history.

AlpenDogs

Keeping with the European influence, yet totally different, AlpenDogs offers what the French would call “le chien chaud” or “le hot dog.”

Upon opening his petite restaurant next to The Little Diner, Chef Brian Little decided to focus on the French hot dog, a concept rarely seen in the United States.

“It’s kind of like a foot-long hot dog, but it’s more like a knackwurst and it has pork in it instead of being all beef,” Little explains. Custom-made by Continental Sausage in Denver, these chiens are encased in a sheep casing to deliver the signature “knack”— the satisfying snap that gives knackwurst its cracking sound.

Every detail is authentic, including the bread: Mini baguettes are provided by a French baker at Michel’s Bakery in Avon. The process is unique, too: A steamer warms both the sausage and the baguette before the bread is hollowed out and placed on a spike to toast it from the inside out — just like at train stations across France, Germany and Belgium.

Menu highlights include the Parisian, topped with Mornay sauce and a Gruyère-Fontina blend, and the Coney, with homemade chili, hot onions, cheddar and house-made Dijon. There’s also a nod to New York with the “Angouleme,” a riff on a dirty water hot dog featuring hot onions and sauerkraut. Le Clark, inspired by a Parisian favorite, comes with bacon bits, fried onions, cornichon relish and barbecue sauce. AlpenDogs also offers sweet treats including soft serve frozen custard and mini doughnuts, but the draw is the dogs. Order one and pretend you’re on the observation deck at the Eiffel Tower … bon appetit!

The Chi Shack

Let’s leave Europe now and turn to the home of the consummate hot dog: Chicago. Can’t get to Illinois? No problem! The Chi Shack will dispense what you desire. Helmed by chef/owner and proud Chicagoan Mark Ramos, The Chi Shack food truck brings authentic flavors of the Windy City to the Eagle River Valley.

Ramos garnered years of experience in restaurants in Chicago — including at the legendary Portillo’s — before he moved to Colorado. In June 2024 he opened The Chi Shack, sharing his passion for the true Chicago experience. “It’s been exciting and amazing and hard, but it’s everything that I want it to be because we get to do what we love,” Ramos says. “I get to wear Chicago sports shirts to work and make my own schedule and introduce my favorite food on the planet to everybody in this beautiful valley. And it’s really great.”

Ramos prides himself on his unwavering commitment to authenticity, sourcing genuine Vienna Beef hot dogs with natural casings straight from Chicago so that guests get that signature “snap” with every bite. The buns are classic steamed poppy seed buns and every Chicago dog is topped with the iconic neon-green relish, sport peppers and crisp pickles — ingredients that Ramos says are nearly impossible to find outside the Windy City. Along with the dogs, he also serves Italian beef sandwiches, Polish sausages and funnel cake fries. His pride shines through in every detail, from the careful steaming of each poppy seed bun to the scratch-made giardiniera for the Italian beef (sweet or hot). The Chi Shack isn’t just a food truck; it’s a mobile love letter to Chicago in which Ramos seals every order with a (metaphorical) kiss. It’s a hub for homesick Chicagoans, curious locals and those who have watched “The Bear” and want to see what it’s all about. Ramos’ dedication to quality and his infectious spirit make The Chi Shack a peripatetic crowd pleaser, serving up the best dogs done right, every time.

Slope & Hatch

Slope & Hatch has quickly become a locals’ favorite, first in Glenwood Springs and now with a second location in Eagle. Sure, it’s known for its inventive tacos, but the menu also features hot dogs – and owner Gregg Lemkau, who bought Slope & Hatch four years ago – admits that for a hot minute, he didn’t get the hot dog situation. “When I bought Slope & Hatch I thought we might get rid of the hot dogs ’cause I love the tacos so much and I don’t understand the combo,” Lemkau says. “But I watched people … and just continued to get the vibe of the tacos/hot dogs and understand it more.” Apparently, not everyone wants tacos every day … and some people don’t like tacos (the horror!), so the combo gives guests more options when they come for fancy sandwiches.* At Slope & Hatch, the humble hot dog gets a mountain town treatment. The menu leans on classics, with the Chicago dog reigning supreme among the area’s Midwestern transplants. This isn’t just nostalgia: the Chicago dog at Slope & Hatch is “legit,” Lemkau says, loaded with all the traditional fixings and a slight house twist that keeps regulars coming back for more. There’s also a Coney dog with house-made chili, or more adventurous options like the Big Valley “MAC,” loaded with mac and cheese, and the “Glenwood Completo,” which is wrapped in bacon and comes with avocado, pico de gallo and chipotle mayo. But the proof is in the pudding — er, dog — and what sets these hot dogs apart, Lemkau says, is a commitment to local sourcing. “I think what actually makes our dogs really good is the fact that it’s a natural casing hot dog made in Denver,” he explains. “It’s local. It’s also 10 inches long. It’s huge.”

The kitchen preps everything from scratch daily and the generous portions — served up with a heap of fries — make for a satisfying meal. As the dog days of summer arrive, don’t relegate your hot dog enjoyment to just one holiday barbecue. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic dog, one with European flair or a totally unique creation, the Valley has you covered. No matter what part of the valley you might be frequenting, there’s a hot dog experience waiting for your particular palate and mood. Go dogs! *The divisive question of “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” is one that endures. The restauranteurs interviewed here were pretty evenly split on the question (much like their buns); however, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, a hot dog is not a sandwich. According to the council, “Our verdict is…a hot dog is an exclamation of joy, a food, a verb describing one ‘showing off’ and even an emoji. It is truly a category unto its own. Limiting the hot dog’s significance by saying it’s ‘just a sandwich’ is like calling the Dalai Lama ‘just a guy.'” As for our opinion … we’ll get back to you later, after we finish this hot dog.