There are few things in this world that never get old. And a hot dog is one of them. What do you eat at the ballpark? What’s on your grill at picnics? What appears on almost every menu?

Hot dogs. Hot dogs. And more hot dogs.

America is ruled by them like an army of steamrollers. They are grilled, placed on a bun, eaten, and rebuilt with condiments again and again.

So there shouldn’t be any reason to explain why hot dog shops are just as common. They are the perfect Saturday get-away: a place to socialize with your buddies, drink a few brews and scarf down condiments like your life depends on it.

Pittsburgh, just like several cities in America, has its fair share of them.

D’s 6 Pax & Dogz, which has two locations in Regent Square and Monroeville, offers an old European pub atmosphere. They have been serving Pittsburghers’ fetish for hot dogs and beer since 1999 with classics like the Chicago Dog (yellow mustard, neon green relish, onion, tomatoes, sport peppers, a pickle and a dash of celery) and The Big Ben Dog (fries, cheddar cheese and coleslaw on top of an all-beef dog).

Franktuary in Downtown has a variety of hot dogs named after major cities. There are Gourmet Franks like the Pittsburgh (smooshed pierogie and coleslaw) and the Chicago Imposter (yellow mustard, relish, onions, banana peppers, celery salt, tomatoes, pickle spear). And classics like the New Yorker (sauerkraut, brown mustard, Vidalia onion sauce) and the Buffalo (bleu cheese dressing, Frank’s Buffalo Wing sauce). They have a take-out service, catering and even make bicycle delivers.

But the granddaddy of burgh hot dog joints rests on Forbes Avenue in Oakland, where the Original Hotdog Shop (412.621.7388) has been open since 1960. The restaurant’s menu lists Hot Cheese Dogs, Hot Dog Parmesan, Deluxe Kosher Pure Dogs, Beef Dogs and Slaw Dogs. A sign in the window says that Hall of Fame football player Dan Marino ate here for many years.

Complete the tour with Frankie’s Extra Long (412.687.5220) in Lawrenceville. A neighborhood institution, Frankie’s fills the street with the smell of fried onions, making sure their foot long dogs are no secret those who walk by.

Photo: prettywar-stl via Flickr.com