Pink's was founded by Paul and Betty Pink in 1939 as a pushcart near the corner of La Brea and Melrose.[7] The Great Depression was still having an impact on the country and money was scarce. People could purchase a chili dog made with Betty's chili recipe accompanied by mustard and onions on a steamed bun for ten cents each. As the business grew, thanks to Betty's chili and the custom-made Hoffy-brand hot dogs, with their natural sausage casings, so did Pink's. The family built the current building in 1946 at 709 North La Brea Avenue in the Fairfax District.
Pink's has named several newer menu items after Hollywood celebrities, some of whom can be seen at the restaurant.[8] Numerous signed celebrity photographs are hanging on the walls inside; some celebrities have signed more than one photo. The celebrity-named hot dogs are often versions ordered by the person in question, such as the "Martha Stewart Dog" with mustard, relish, onions, chopped tomatoes, sauerkraut, bacon, and sour cream. Another is the "Rosie O'DonnellLong Island Dog", which is a 10" dog topped with mustard, onions, chili, and sauerkraut. The "Huell Howser Dog" is a standard chili dog with two of the regular hot dogs on a single bun while the "Ozzy Spicy Dog" named for Ozzy Osbourne features a Polish sausage, nacho cheese, American cheese, grilled onions, guacamole and chopped tomatoes.[9]
A smaller selection of hamburgers are available, and desserts are a choice of coconut or marble cake.
There is usually a long line of customers in front despite the lack of parking in the area. The often slow-moving line is viewed by some as part of the attraction at Pink's, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when the stand becomes packed with club and concertgoers.
Pink's has a parking lot attendant, even though parking is free.[8] According to the menu, Pink's original signature chili dog, with a measure of ten inches (25.4 centimeters), remains the stand's top seller.
During the Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series run against the Houston Astros in 2017, the restaurant changed its name to Blue's and repainted its pink and white facade for the first time in 78 years, making it blue and white and featuring Dodger logos and player names on the windows. [10]
They also challenged Good Dog Houston, a Texas-based hot dog stand, to a friendly bet. The winner would give out 250 free hot dogs courtesy of the losing city’s hot dog stand. [11] But the Astros won the series. The restaurant named itself Blue’s again when the Dodgers made it to the World Series in 2018, 2020 and 2024, the latter battling against the New York Yankees.
In mid-March 2020, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as with other restaurants, its locations indefinitely shut down indoor dine-ins. Pink's flagship location closed between mid-March to mid-August 2020 and shut down again from January 4 to February 2021.
In April 2010, another location opened in Universal CityWalk [on the second level, across from the movie theaters] and introduced "The Betty White Naked Dog" (no condiments or toppings). In November 2010, a location opened at Harrah's Rincon in Valley Center. It was closed in 2018 and replaced with a Smashburger.
On June 10, 2016, Pink's opened their first international location at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines.[12]
The original Pink's location is the subject of an episode of the satirical reality television series Nathan for You. In the episode, host Nathan Fielder convinces Paul and Betty Pink to institute a policy that allows customers to jump the line in the event of an emergency. When Fielder requests permission to seek vengeance on a customer he learns lied about going to a doctor's appointment, the Pinks fire him.
The location becomes a hangout of the main characters in the novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow following their relocation from New England to California.
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