An iconic Los Angeles hot dog shop is ready to take the world by storm by opening its first-ever location in the Japan.
Pink’s Hot Dogs has been a favorite for more than 80 years, serving up its famous chili dogs to celebrities, tourists and locals for decades.
The company said it plans to open its flagship restaurant in Tokyo by the end of the year, partnering with Japanese franchise operator Sunpark.
“Our Japanese partner, Sunpark, operates more than 100 restaurants throughout Japan and brings extensive experience in restaurant operations,” the company told NBC LA.
“We are confident in Sunpark’s ability to maintain the high standards of food quality, atmosphere, and service that have defined Pink’s for generations.”
“We have so many Japanese customers coming to Pink’s and they hear about it, and many of them come with their suitcases, and they’re either coming from the airport or going to the airport,” Richard Pink, co-owner of the buiness, told the LA Times.
“They stop off at Pink’s and want to try a chili dog. It’s fascinating.”
The company said its plans to offer 15 hot dog options catered to local tastes, along with burgers and desserts.
Pink said the first shop in Tokyo is the just the beginning, with plans to open five to 10 more stores in the country.
“It will be unique and different in Japan, and hopefully, they like hot dogs as much as Americans do, and they like the authenticity of Pink’s, the history, the Hollywood connection,” the company said.
“And so for all those reasons we felt very confident that this was the right move to make.”
The original Pink’s hot dog stand — located near La Brea Ave and Melrose — serves more than a thousand hot dogs and hundreds of hamburgers every day.
The franchise began back in 1939 with Paul and Betty Pink selling dogs for 10 cents out of a pushcart near the area.
Today, Pink’s menu features more than 40 different kinds of hot dogs, including franks named for everyone from Rosie O’Donnell and Carl Reiner to Shaquille O’Neal.
The family-run business has eight locations throughout Southern California and Nevada, as well as eateries in the Philippines and one slated to open in South Korea in November.
The company said future plans include opening up restaurants in Singapore, Australia and Mexico.
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