For the last 54 years, The Happy Hound in Los Gatos has served a menu of classic American diner fare: assorted hamburgers, hot dogs and milkshakes, with fries and onion rings as sides.
It’s a formula that works, as attested by the loyalty of longtime customers such as Gary Snyder, who said he only needs to wave his hand to workers at the counter to place his regular order of two mustard dogs.
“I’ve been coming here for over 40 years,” he told San José Spotlight. “I like everything about the place. The food has always been great, but the employees are what keeps me coming back — there are some wonderful people here.”
Not much has changed at the 23-seat diner since it first opened. The Happy Hound is still family owned. The burgers are still a third of a pound, and the hot dogs are still all-beef and eight inches long. Derek Quinet, co-owner and grandson of founder Hugh Dresslar, intends to keep it that way…