Stanley’s Steamers

Specialties

We operate 10 locations throughout San Francisco, and we have an entire fleet of carts available for parties, rentals, and special events.

As the City’s very first hot dog company established in 1974, Stanley’s Steamers prides itself on unequaled quality.

Stanley’s Steamers is best known for its 100% Angus beef «Stanley’s Steamer» hot dog, made exclusively from Niman Ranch grass-​and-​vegetarian fed beef, without the use of any growth hormones or antibiotics. Vienna Beef and Aidell’s Sausage provide the rest of our hot dog menu.

History

Established in 1974.

You CAN fight City Hall and win.

In 1974, there were no food vendors on the streets of San Francisco. The law required anyone seeking to peddle food to first obtain a Peddler Permit from the SFPD. But when Stanley Roth, then a 24-​year old U.C. Berkeley student, tried to obtain a permit to help pay the costs of law school, he was told he had to first obtain a «sidewalk occupancy permit» from the Department of Public Works.

The DPW told Roth such a permit didn’t exist. The Police refused to accept an application without it. Frustrated at being caught in a «Catch 22,» Roth decided to sell his pretzels under the newly passed Street Artist law, and obtained a Street Artist license to sell his pretzels as «Baked Sculptures of Flour and Water.» Roth posted a sign on his pretzel cart that read: «Pretzel earrings $ 25, or make your own, 25 cents each.»

What followed was a 2-​year battle to obtain the City’s very first food vending permit. The entire story is at www​.sfcarts​.com/​s​t​o​r​y.htm