A dude named Aaron turned us on to Sonoran hot dogs years ago. Cheap beer, a beater Chevy Monte Carlo and midnight runs for the border may have been involved. Aaron is married, respectable and keeping kosher these days, but now we have El Guero Canelo; today, there's no need to dodge the narcos in Nogales or cops along Interstate 19 to get your late-night fix. Blanca Contreras came up with the idea in 1993, and husband Daniel made it a reality. They took the quintessential all-American food—the hot dog—repackaged it with bacon, beans, salsa, onions and crema, and then cradled it all in a meltingly soft bun, in the process making us all believers in the power of bicultural fronterizo gustatory diversity.
Runners up:
2. BK Carne Asada and Hot Dogs
5118 S. 12th Ave.
295-0105
2680 N. First Ave.
207-2245; www.bktacos.com
3. Aqui Con El Nene
Truck at Wetmore and Flowing Wells roads