Casey's Café
First, we went to one of the most obvious in downtown Salem, Casey's Café. Their specialty is the Chicago dog. Upon inquiry, I found that means an all-beef hot dog on a sourdough bun topped with grilled onions, mustard, pickles, cucumbers, tomatoes and jalapeno. You can add your own ketchup. My daughter stayed with the safe, familiar choice, a corndog with a side of yummy homemade French fries and strawberry lemonade. Casey's is a hopping place during the lunch hour. We sat upstairs where we had a birds-eye view of the grill and the people below. The walls are covered with pictures and autographs of movie stars. When I got my dog, the grilled onions were flavorful but I wasn't sure if I liked the addition of the cold pickles, tomatoes and cucumbers. Maybe if I was from Chicago I would savor it, but for me it was a bit off the mark. Not to fear, though, there were more hotdogs to be tried.  The Chicago dog was $5 and the kids' meal $2.99. They also serve plain dogs, several burgers, sandwiches, and salads. Casey's is located at 466 Court Street NE in downtown Salem.

Donut Delite
A donut run found my teen son and I at Donut Delite. Since it was close to lunchtime, we were looking for more than just a donut. My hot dog aficionado son ordered kielbasa on a fresh homemade bun the size of a small loaf of bread, rather than a traditional hot dog bun. This dog can be ordered with or without chili. Even without, it was the heaviest of the dogs we had tried, and certainly the best bun. It came topped with ketchup, mustard, sweet relish, cheese, tomatoes, and red onions. It received rave reviews. This dog was $3.50 or a dollar more to add chili. Who knew that one of the best dogs would be found at a donut shop? Donut Delite is at 2234 Fairgrounds Rd NE and is known for their oversized donuts and fresh apple fritters.

A&W
The next stop was A&W in Stayton. This is one of the last few drive-ins where you can sit in your car and have a carhop bring your food to your car and perch it on your rolled-down window. This was the most fun, kid-friendly experience we had. They feature the Coney Dog and boast the "Coney Dog Preservation Society" on their sign, although it wasn't clear just what that meant. I ordered one through the speaker, and my son went for the kids' meal featuring a corndog, fries and their famous root beer float. My Coney Dog was covered in chili, cheese and chopped onions. It seems that a person comes here more to experience a part of the past and the root beer floats than the hot dogs. But everything tastes better when you are having fun. It is well worth the drive to experience the A&W drive-in even if you end up with food covering the floor! A&W is at 1215 W. Washington Street in Stayton.

The Dog House
On a recent trip to Portland, we ate at The Dog House, a quaint dog house-shaped building that was a locksmith's shop and a bank drive-through before it became this little hot dog joint. Seating is al fresco, on their deck with picnic tables, or ordered to go. The Dog House features every kind of hot dog or sausage you can imagine -- foot-long, kosher dogs, veggie dogs, Polish supper sausage, kielbasa and more. We tried the Polish supper sausage, seasoned with garlic and paprika, and the special of the day, Andouille sausage, flavored with jalapenos. Other than their Chicago dog or chili dog, the hot dogs are custom-topped to your liking. I added cheese and tomatoes (a small extra charge) along with red onions, relish and, a new choice, barbeque sauce. This dog was very flavorful without being too spicy. Most hot dogs are under $3 or a combo meal with a drink and choice of macaroni salad or potato salad is offered for $5.75. The Dog House is located at 29th and East Burnside in Portland. Their hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Capitol Dog
Salem's only place specializing in gourmet hot dogs with a variety of toppings is Capitol Dog. Although you might not notice its unassuming storefront in downtown, this little place actually offers some surprising choices. After being at other hot dog stands, all of which offered very basic hot dog toppings, this was a breath of fresh air. Capitol Dog features a Greek Dog, Italian Dog, French Dog, Honey Bacon Dog, Ranch Dog, Reuben Dog, Russian Dog, and a Mushroom Dog, as well as the now-familiar Chicago Dog and Coney Dog. Now we are talking HOT DOGS! I chose the Greek Dog, which was a kosher dog topped with black olives, artichoke hearts, Italian dressing, peppers and feta cheese.  It had a lot of flavor that one doesn't normally think of in conjunction with a hot dog, but was a delightful discovery. Our next trip will be to try the Honey Bacon Dog. Even those who are not hot dog lovers would find one they like here.  The dogs are $2 for plain to $4.75 for a gourmet dog. Capitol Dog is located in downtown Salem at 525 Ferry St SE and their hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Capitol Dog also features Ukrainian food such as piroshki, borscht, cabbage rolls, and specialty chocolates.