As the sun was slowly setting, the weather was cooling down, and my craving for hot dogs increased. Not just any hot dogs, but Sonoran hot dogs. Heck, why not a few tacos as well?
My family invited me to eat with them at Periquín Sonoran Hot Dogs. As I stepped outside the car, the rushing scent of food being prepared hit my nose, intensifying my cravings.
Owner Pedro “Periquín” Picón has been running Periquín Sonoran Hot Dogs for more than 13 years alongside his father, mother, and brother. Picón’s desire to run his own food truck began when he was working at other local restaurants.
“When I was younger, I would work for food trucks like El Kora, BK Tacos, and Taco Fish. There, I was later inspired to open our food truck,” he said.
At first, it was just Sonoran hot dogs, but later they added more to the menu like quesadillas, a Quesa-Dogo, and a Tosti-Dogo (keep reading to learn about this dish).
The idea of having seven different types of hot dogs, such as El Chavo, came from watching the popular Mexican sitcom. El Chavo, the main character of the television show, loved eating ham tortas, inspiring the name and the ingredients.
It’s your typical hot dog but includes a slice of ham!
As time went on, they were able to purchase a bigger food truck, increasing the menu size by adding tacos, tortas, and burros. Some of the meats they offer are carne asada, pollo adobada, and birria.
The reason the food truck has a very unique name is because of Picón’s nickname, Periquín.
“My dad’s name is Pedro, and so I’m Junior,” he said. “They would call my dad ‘Perico’ and they would call me ‘Periquín’ so we knew who they were talking to.”
When I asked Picón what foods he would like to try if this was his first time eating at the food truck, he couldn’t decide on what to choose.
“I like to try a little of everything to see what I like the most, and when I find out what I enjoy, I come back and eat it again.”
So, I decided to eat a Tosti-Dogo, which includes chopped hot dogs, onions, tomato, beans, mustard, mayo, and a jalapeño sauce.
Instead of a bun, you eat it mixed in with Tostitos Salsa Verde chips. To make it my own, I added shredded cheese and avocado sauce, giving it the classic toppings of a Sonoran hot dog.
It’s very fulfilling — you can eat the whole thing all at once or save some for later.
I also had tacos: carne asada and adobada.
The adobada was well-seasoned and well-cooked, with a light crunch to each bite. The carne asada was cooked to what I consider perfection; the meat wasn’t too wet or too dry, providing a perfect taste and texture to each bite. Adding lime juice and avocado sauce gave both tacos an extra kick.
Lastly, I am a big garlic fan, so I had to try a Sal con Ajo hot dog, which includes garlic salt and buttered toasted bread. It brought so much enjoyment to my taste buds!
If you want to give these Sonoran hot dogs and tacos a try, Periquín Sonoran Hot Dogs is located at 6500 S. Sixth Ave.
For more information, follow Periquín Sonoran Hot Dogs on Facebook and Instagram.
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