Summer Food: The Tastes of Summer: Hot Dogs

* The Ichiro, a tempura hot dog named for Japanese ballplayer Ichiro Suzuki, sounds a lot like the Kobe cheesesteak; you ask yourself “Why?” But this hot-dog innovation from Alfa (1709 Walnut Street; 215-751-0201) might be the perfect bar snack. Two lightly battered and fried kosher dogs — sans buns — are served with three sauces. The pickled ginger chutney and wasabi mustard are perfectly good, but somehow all a hot dog really needs is Heinz 57. Ask for extra.

* People who know come to Casino Tony Goes (15 Anderson Street, Trenton; 609-393-5875) for the hot dogs; the restaurant serves upwards of 300 each day. The house version (right) is a Dietz & Watson beef dog topped with mustard, home fries, and sweet peppers and onions sautéed in olive oil.

Most people go to Johnny’s Hots (1234 North Delaware Avenue; 215-423-2280) for the hot sausage sandwiches, which are delicious. But we recently spied an old-timer getting down with the unusual “Philadelphia Surf and Turf” combo, a char-grilled dog topped with a grilled fish cake, best slathered with pepper hash and relish.