Wurstkuche Los Angeles- Rattlesnake and Alligator Hot Dogs!

While visiting a friend in LA the other day, I had the opportunity to experience a new restaurant. “Wurstkuche Restaurant” – Purveyor of Exotic Grilled Sausages is located near the corner of3rd Street and Alameda in downtown Los Angeles. The friend that told me about the place had been there before and mentioned something about Rattlesnake, Rabbit and Alligator hot dogs. I didn’t need to hear any more, I was already on my way to my car, pockets jingling and tum growling. Finding parking wasn’t too easy because the surrounding area is questionable, and finding the door to the restaurant was difficult too- we ended up walking in the wrong door and had to navigate to find the cash register. (Later I realized that there is a huge entryway door on the other side of the building… if only I had walked around the building rather than just opening the closest unlocked door to the restaurant)

This photo was taken from Seattlemet.com, photo courtesy of potatomato.com.
I wanted to post this because it gives you an idea of what the inside of the restaurant
looks like with its bench seating and beer bar along the wall!

The menu was very exciting but my eyes went straight to the Exotic Sausages. Alligator & Pork, Andouille Sausage and Rattlesnake & Rabbit with Jalepeno Peppers (mildly spicy). We decided to get one each because they were big and switch hotdogs halfway through, that way we could enjoy both. We ordered the alligator with Sauerkraut and Caramelized onions toppings and the Rattlesnake with Spicy Peppers and Carmelized onions. Then we decided to share a small order of their famous Belgian fries with home-made dipping sauce (we got the Bleu Cheese Walnut & Bacon dipping sauce), and to share a beer. We shared an Affligem Noel beer which is a dark caramel seasonal ale 9% alcohol by volume. It had a robust flavor profile and caramel, prune, and brown sugar flavors in it.  Each dog was $7.50, the small (Klein) fries were $3.5 and the beer was $8. We tipped the lady because we were such a pain trying to decide which beer to get and she helped us decide.

We ordered in a small room, and were handed our beer and a number. We walked down a long hallway (found the bathrooms!) into a big room. The seating was long bench seating and there was a raised area and a corner that my friend and I sat in. There was a beer bar along one wall and the restaurant was pretty busy for a Tuesday night. Our little seat in the corner gave us a good view of the restaurant and everyone eating their delicious hot dogs. On each of the tables were squeeze bottles of different gourmet mustards (Whole grain, Dijon, Spicy Brown, Honey Mustard, American Yellow and Ketchup).

After trying both the Alligator and the Rattlesnake/Rabbit Hotdogs, I decided I like the Alligator more. It is, of course, a tough comparison because they are ground up into sausages with some fillers rather than just the meat of the animal, but the Alligator was more of a milder flavor, and the Jalepenos in the Rattlesnake hot dog set my mouth on fire. Neither tasted like chicken! I definitely plan on trying all of those meats again soon, separately so I can really compare the flavors.

   

I started with the Alligator hot dog covered in Carmelized Onions and Saurkraut. YUM! Then I switched with my friend at tackled the rest of the Rattlesnake/ Rabbit/Jalepeno dog.

I really liked the restaurant. $30ish for a dinner for two was a good price and the food was so delicious. Plus the whole novelty of eating rattlesnake was pretty cool. I think I’ll try the Buffalo hot dog next time!!!