Here's something you might be interested in.
Wen it comes to hot dogs, the beautiful Carla is the World's Greatest Critic. But hey, she's like me.
Appreciates a bargain.
And here at the 8th Street trolley stop in National City, I may have the biggest bargain yet.
How's about an 87-cent hot dog?
I'd just missed a trolley, so naturally started foraging for food while I waited the 15 minutes till the next.
Spotted this unpretentious little place ten yards from the tracks and right under a ginormous electric power transmission line tower, the Trolley Side Deli & Minimart (530 West 21st Street, National City).
What catches my eye is a sign outside. Something about "Hot dogs, $1."
It has a couple of mosaic-covered concrete tables outside. Pretty tiny inside.
Chaldean couple serving a string of customers, all in a hurry.
"Dollar each, or two for $1.75," says the gal, when my turn comes. Wow. That's 87, 88 cents each. I go for two.
"You want me to heat them?" she says.
"Just one," I say. Thinking of Carla. Kind of big-hearted feller I am.
She points to the cooler cupboard.
Customer contemplates dinner
I pull out two dogs, tightly wrapped in plastic, she unwraps one, nukes it, and hands it to me in a little cardboard boat, and gives me packets of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise.
I also spotted hard-boiled eggs in the cooler.
"Two for a dollar," she says.
Deal.
Outside, I squirt everything on, crack off the shells of one egg, sprinkle the salt and pepper she gave me, and munch me a pretty passable little two-course meal for, uh, $1.37. Who's complaining?
You can watch for your bus or trolley right from the table
Can just imagine the conversation when I get home.
"What's for dinner?"
"I was thinking, hot dog and cold egg?"
Wen it comes to hot dogs, the beautiful Carla is the World's Greatest Critic. But hey, she's like me.
Appreciates a bargain.
And here at the 8th Street trolley stop in National City, I may have the biggest bargain yet.
How's about an 87-cent hot dog?
I'd just missed a trolley, so naturally started foraging for food while I waited the 15 minutes till the next.
Spotted this unpretentious little place ten yards from the tracks and right under a ginormous electric power transmission line tower, the Trolley Side Deli & Minimart (530 West 21st Street, National City).
What catches my eye is a sign outside. Something about "Hot dogs, $1."
It has a couple of mosaic-covered concrete tables outside. Pretty tiny inside.
Chaldean couple serving a string of customers, all in a hurry.
"Dollar each, or two for $1.75," says the gal, when my turn comes. Wow. That's 87, 88 cents each. I go for two.
"You want me to heat them?" she says.
"Just one," I say. Thinking of Carla. Kind of big-hearted feller I am.
She points to the cooler cupboard.
Customer contemplates dinner
I pull out two dogs, tightly wrapped in plastic, she unwraps one, nukes it, and hands it to me in a little cardboard boat, and gives me packets of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise.
I also spotted hard-boiled eggs in the cooler.
"Two for a dollar," she says.
Deal.
Outside, I squirt everything on, crack off the shells of one egg, sprinkle the salt and pepper she gave me, and munch me a pretty passable little two-course meal for, uh, $1.37. Who's complaining?
You can watch for your bus or trolley right from the table
Can just imagine the conversation when I get home.
"What's for dinner?"
"I was thinking, hot dog and cold egg?"