In the Macy’s Courtyard at Fashion Island, steps from Sushi Roku and RH Ocean Grill, is another kind of dining experience altogether, one that predates those eateries by nearly 25 years and 35 years, respectively: the Gourmet Hot Dogs cart.

Owner Dean Lindsay has been serving his hot dogs – now 20 styles including the New York dog with sauerkraut, Hebrew National jumbo dog, Island dog with pineapple mango relish and Veggie Tofu dog – to generations of customers since 1991.

The cart is bright red with gold lettering; there are shaded tables and chairs nearby. Lindsay has stories aplenty.

“Families come after church, especially around the holidays,” he says. “I’ve had women tell me my hot dog was the meal they had right before they had their kids. A man came with his husky named Rasputin – he’d sing opera and the dog would howl along.”

His favorite?

“This huge guy orders two hot dogs,” Lindsay recalls. “I served him and kept on serving other people. When I looked over, he’d taken one half of his bun and his little daughter had the other half. They were acting like they were talking on the telephone. One of the sweetest things I’ve ever seen.”