It’s an iconic Phoenix dining experience. You pull up to El Caprichoso’s parking lot location on a warm summer night. You sit at a plastic table topped with a piece of red oilcloth. The waiter takes your order, and a surprisingly short time later, a Sonoran hot dog and an ice-cold drink are sitting in front of you. The bun is impossibly pillowy, and the plump frank is buried underneath the traditional toppings: bacon, beans, tomato, onion, guacamole, mayo, and cotija.
In 1987 when I came to Phoenix from the state of Sinaloa with no relatives or money, I ended up living in an abandoned car in an alley. I came here to learn English and make some money to pay for my school and help my family back in Mexico. Even though I had some education back home, that meant nothing here…so I had to work washing dishes in restaurants, at car washes, and in construction to survive. I had one thing in mind: NOT GOING BACK AS A LOSER – whatever it took.
A couple of years later while working nights at a liquor store, I noticed people hanging out near a nightclub with no food around. I figured those people must be hungry after all that dancing, so an idea came to me: to feed those people.
Having deep roots in both states, Sinaloa and Sonora, I chose Sonoran hotdogs. It was something that didn’t require a big investment. I borrowed a small hotdog cart in 1990 and started making hot dogs after working as a construction laborer during the day. I stayed at that location for 20 years.
While I take pride to be the first Sonoran-style hotdog vendor in Phoenix and now with four locations, I strive to be the best. Best is primo.
The split-top bun is always fluffy, the hot dog nicely charred and juicy, the beans nicely seasoned, and the various toppings — pico, a dusting of salty cheese, and a squiggle of mayonnaise — are carefully composed and balanced. The El Caprichoso Sonoran dog, enjoyed on a picnic table with a curbside view of the streets of Phoenix, is one of the best dinners in town. If you weren’t an Arizonan before, you are now.
“Best Sonoran dog in Phoenix. Open late nights, fast service, unique menu options, and the food is delicious. If you haven’t been, you need to go if you enjoy 🌭. This place also has a drive-through in addition to the seating area that’s outside.” — Ramiah Spencer
2024 El Caprichoso Sonoran Hotdogs | Privacy Policy | Accessibility