C.O.D

C.O.D stands for Cash on Delivery, though these days the name is more of a relic than a payment warning. The Kita-Aoyama shop has been open for around 40 years, which is exactly how it became the laid-back hot dog institution it is today: experience. The space has a loose California garage feel, with events, a DJ booth and a nighttime bar setup that closes whenever the person behind the bar decides the night is over.

The dogs here lean more Tex-Mex than ballpark classic, with loaded toppings and a slightly messy, very satisfying energy. Go for the chilli cheese dog: warm, heavy, saucy and exactly the kind of thing you want when you’re pretending summer in Tokyo is less brutal than it is.