Zach’s Shack: Hawthorne’s Home of Hot Dogs

[image by socialendproduct, flickr]

Article By Anna Brones, Intercrossings

Hot dogs have always felt like a food stand item, not a restaurant one. So when my friend suggested that we meet at Zach’s Shack on Hawthorne for some “delicious dogs” (his words) I was just slightly skeptical. I mean, aren’t hot dogs basic sporting game food that you eat standing up?

Zach’s Shack however has banked on that sporting game food feeling that people love, turning their small, funky joint into a place where you really can slide yourself into a booth and order the most complicated of hot dogs, all for under $5. You can tell it’s a Portland joint; they’ll replace that meat dog for a veggie one free of charge.

Not wanting to overdo it on my first visit, I went with the Grateful Dog, covered with tomatoes, cucumbers and celery salt, and although on the verge of vegetarianism, I did not replace the beef dog for a veggie one. My friend ordered the New York Dog, a Zach’s Shack Classic, which cannot however be deemed the best “date food”; the hot dog is covered in onions, chili and cheese. Don’t expect a goodnight kiss after that one.

And just like a good sporting event, there is beer on tap as well as the classic cans of PBR and other quality beers. If you want to go all the way, order the cheese fries, a great addition to any dog.

Open until 3am, I am pretty sure that it welcomes many a stumbler in the wee hours of the morning, so go ahead and add it to your Portland Late Night Eats list.

Location: 4611 SE Hawthorne

[image by kevincrumb, flickr]