The neighborhood that puts the cream cheese on top

God's answer to Job was simple. He told him to go to Capitol Hill and get himself a cream cheese hot dog—and all would be right with the world.

The cream cheese hot dog is indubitably the best food anyone could ever have on a Friday night, sober or otherwise. Capitol Hill is known for many things—one of the standouts being the hot dog stands perfectly positioned in front of the bars and show venues.

"When I wake up, and there is that smell of half-grilled onions and cream cheese residue still on my fingertips, I know I had a great night with some great friends," said Alex Sanchez, junior accounting major.


There are two main (consistent) hot dog stands: The Hot Dog Stand in front of Chop Suey and The Hot Dog Stand in front of The Comet, named as they're called on Yelp.com.

The stand in front of Chop Suey, though limited in its menu, appears to be the cleanest. The options include polish, hot link or tofurkey, with or without cream cheese and/or onions. The price range is the same for both stands, ranging from $4 to $5 a dog–a quick and cheap meal you can acquire at 2:30 in the morning.


Though both stands provide more than enough nutrients and nourishment after one too many drinks, the Hill was left in a state of panic a few months ago when a third regular stand, parked in front of Neighbors, disappeared. It was, to many, the best one out of the three.


Javier Lara, the man behind the stand in front of Neighbors, was a true hero to the throngs that would frequent him. Though he had provided the standard cream cheese option that is a must for any stand on the Hill, he was also rebellious enough to provide eight different combinations.

Lara's disappearance left many people questioning what happened.


"That stand in front of Neighbors was my absolute favorite one," said Cherlaine Ordona, a junior psychology major. "I was so bummed when I realized they had stopped setting up out there. Where are you Javier, where are you? Where is my New York steak hot dog combo?"


Lara was the only food cart operating on that block. In fact, that was, as he reports, the bitter irony that forced him to migrate and uproot his business.


"I was making up to a thousand a night," Lara said. "There would be a line that would stretch for hours."

Lara was in the process of opening up his own restaurant on Harrison and Broadway, when, according to Lara, the police banned him from operating his cart in front of Neighbors. Lara says the police were receiving too many complaints about the crowds that would surround Lara's cart.

Unable to afford making payments on time, Lara ended up losing his dream restaurant, and since his loyal regulars at the Neighbors location didn't know where he was operating, he also lost many of those customers.


Starting over from scratch, Lara now operates his hot dog truck from Sunday through Wednesday at the Shell station parking lot on Pike and Broadway.

Lara has spent the last few months revamping his hot dog truck's image. Now Lara's mouth-watering hot dogs are accompanied by disco lights and a computer-generated high-tech menu that Lara put together himself in his garage.

"You need to have imagination to make more money," Lara said. "One day, I'll get that restaurant started."


Until then, the Hill no longer has to lament the loss of Javier Lara–he's just been a block away.

All within walking distance of each other, each of the hot dog stands are open almost every night.

Carolyn can be reached at chuynh@su-spectator.com