If you're eating a hotdog in a parking lot, it could mean that something has gone awry.
But if you're eating a hotdog in a parking lot surrounded by trucks, tents, friends, football fans and surprisingly high-tech TV setups, then you're probably just at a tailgate.
In which case, let's make sure that hotdog, as well as burgers, brats and other essentials, are perfectly grilled.
To that end, here are seven great portable grills for deploying at tailgates, campsites and other occasions where you might like to cook something outdoors. They range from rugged ceramic smokers and a fire pit pizza oven to Japanese grills and a briefcase that's a lot more compelling than it seems.
Kamado Joe Jr.
Kamado Joe makes ceramic grills and smokers that are built to last. This is like that, but smaller — hence the Joe Jr. moniker. It's sporting 150 square inches of cooking space, plus a thick-walled, heat-resistant shell that locks in smoke and moisture at any temperature. Burgers, hotdogs, ribs, a whole brisket... this thing can do it all.
BioLite FirePit+
The BioLite FirePit+ burns wood behind a mesh screen, and it's engineered to reduce smoke, so you can comfortably sit around the fire as warmth radiates 360 degrees. When it's time to cook, load the chamber with wood or charcoal, slide on the metal grate, and throw down your proteins of choice. The rechargeable power pack that runs the smoke-eating fan also has a USB port, so you can charge your phone.
Pi Fire
Best known for its popular fire pits, this Solo Stove pizza oven is dome-shaped and designed for capturing, keeping and transferring heat to the cordierite stone surface, so your pizza cooks evenly and comes out crispy. It can bake 12-inch pizzas in 7-8 minutes, with temperatures topping 600 degrees.
Nomad Grill & Smoker
You can't be bothered lugging around your usual patio grill to a tailgate. But you can absolutely haul this 28-pound portable briefcase-size Nomad Grill & Smoker with you. It opens to reveal two grates totaling 425 square inches of cooking space, or enough room to hold about 30 burger patties. You can also use this contraption as a closed smoker for slow-cooking brisket and ribs. It stays surprisingly cool to the touch, so when it's time to go into the stadium, you can just pack this up and throw it back in your car.
Everdure Cube
British chef Heston Blumenthal is behind the Everdure Cube, a handsome and portable charcoal grill that lets you cook without the mess. There's a food-grade storage tray and prep board, plus a porcelain enamel firebox to keep the heat securely inside. The safe-to-touch handles make this thing easy to move, even while you're in the middle of cooking.
Takibi Fire & Grill
Snow Peak makes some of the most functional and reliable gear on the market. The Japanese company is known for its minimal camp gear, accessories and rugged apparel, and that extends to the Tabiki grill, which is made from stainless steel and designed to last a lifetime. The little pop-up grill comes in five parts and is easy to assemble, so you can cook a good meal over wood or charcoal. And it all comes with a handy carrying case.
Weber Traveler
This Weber portable gas grill folds flat for transporting in your trunk, has wheels so you can easily drag it to your spot, and then pops up and locks in place when it's go time. The large cooking surface fits 15 burgers or 20 sausages, so you can feed a crowd. And it's available in a trio of colors to match your favorite team.
