Zot's Hot Dogs And Deli - Chico

One of the hardest things to do is to find a great hot dog. Hundreds of places have hot dogs, but to find a high quality old fashion frankfurter is almost impossible. Chico is lucky to have such a place. Zot's Hot Dogs and Deli, located in the Garden Walk Mall in downtown Chico is such a place. For best parking, go to the back entrance of the Garden Walk on Wall Street between 2nd and third. Zot's is at the back entrance of the Mall.

I was in search of a hot dog. But not just any hot dog, Zot 's dog. The only problem with this mission was the hidden location. Besides a rather large green and yellow logo, the Garden Walk Mall on Main Street has always been a mystery to me. But after opening its doors for the first time, I found myself lost in an interior labyrinth with an American classic as my only target. After walking by myriad flower photographs and paintings, the smell of bread and cased mystery meats brewing since the early '70s drew closer as I approached the back of the mall. Zot 's Hot Dogs and Deli welcomed me with a white board that almost covered a wall with handwritten menu items: hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, corn dogs, soups and drinks. Can I help you? asked a woman behind the counter. Can I get the famous Zot dog? I responded with a confused and hungry doubt. I knew I wanted to try the chili after hearing remarks stating it was the best in Chico, but I wasn 't sure if it would exceed my budget. The woman recommended the $6 hot dog and soup or chili combo. With tax included, one famous Zot dog, a cup of chili and a small drink came to $7.23. But part of the strategy to this operation was figuring out where to sit, and how to get there. Seating in this deli is laid out extremely close together; if not cautious about the way you go between the tables, someone 's elbow may just accidentally brush your backside. I gazed at the chili momentarily, taking in the different murky colors of the beans and meat. I was surprised to see dark red hues in the cup. Unlike pinto or white beans, large and elongated kidney beans were the substance to this appetizer. Clusters of ground beef broke apart as I dug deeper into the chili. Its rough and grainy texture seemed to overwhelm the soft mushiness of the beans at times, but diced tomatoes glued them together. What seemed to be a cup became more like a thimble with each spoonful. The people were right; Zot 's chili is the best. I moved on to the frankfurter. The hot dog had been steamed to perfection, snapping off with a juicy crunch on the first bite. Mustard, relish, diced onions and fresh sliced tomatoes made what would normally be a simple snack into a hearty lunch. I grabbed a pickle from the salad bar and placed it inside the hot dog. Its bitter and tangy flavors enhanced the hot dog, which had fallen behind in taste a little.

Closed again today. No reason given. Is a frequent occurrence.

This is a fantastic restaurant! The staff were incredibly friendly, and the atmosphere feels very homey, almost like it's family-owned. I can't wait to come back and dine here again and again!

The new management at Zotts has elevated the experience with their large hot dogs and exciting new menu items, including pulled pork.