Sam's Corner, Myrtle Beach
Hot dogs: Is there a more American food than hot dogs? Sure, some people may argue that its really a German food or that corn or turkey could be considered more American because they are native to the land.
However, you don’t go to the ball game and order corn on the cob. You don’t celebrate the Fourth of July out in the back yard grilling up some turkey breast.
I am sure I have mentioned that hot dogs are my favorite food, and have been since … well longer than I can remember. And yes, I have been told all the dreadful tales of supposed ingredients and health risks. In fact, those culinary horror stories inspired my award-winning piece entitled “No one here gets out alive.” (Reprinted Here at PirateJournalism.com)
However, we are straying from the point, which was that hot dogs were one of the first things I ate as a new resident of Myrtle Beach.
I was meeting with a real estate agent about an apartment shortly after I had loaded up the Buick and made the 700-mile exodus to the promised land of the Grand Strand. I had basically bet everything on this trip, burned my bridges and hoped that I could find a place to live, a job and a life before my tiny bankroll ran out. Well, after signing a lease for a new apartment, I decided it was time for a reward — and lunch.
Lo and behold, right there next to the realtor’s office was Sam’s Corner. Well, okay, it was one of them. They have three locations: Garden City, Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island. I was at the Myrtle Beach location in the plaza on the 77th North block of Highway 17. It wasn’t on a corner — closer to the center of the plaza — but I was nitpicking.
Sam’s is a narrow place with booths on one side and “old-style diner” bar seating on the other. The walls are alive with vintage style signs advertising chili-cheese fries and “state fair-style Italian sausage hot dogs.” However, this place had me at “World Famous Hot Dogs.”
I grew up as a purist of my hot dogs. Weiner, bun and ketchup — that was all that you needed or should have on a hot dog. Of course, over the years, I have matured and come to enjoy the variety of things you can put on your dog, except for maybe onions. In addition, I usually don’t go for chilidogs, but Sam’s proved to be the exception.
Their basic foot long comes with chili, mustard and onions (I get them with no-onions), and dawg-gone-it, if these aren’t the best chilidogs I have ever had.
Moreover, Sam’s is not just a one-trick pony. Their Ocean Burger — served on a pita with cheddar and American cheese and ranch dressing — is good, too. In addition, while it is not my thing, I have a buddy who raves about the El Paso sandwich — grilled pimento cheese, bacon, jalapeños and tomato on wheat.
I have also enjoyed hearty, hot breakfasts there. In addition, if you need a little pick-me-up or nightcap, they offer draft beers and a selection of cocktails and frozen drinks.
While Sam’s Corner may not be one of those big flashy touristy places to be, I am here to tell you that those chili dogs are well worth the trip.
(Originally published in the Myrtle Beach Herald.)
