could he just be a dog I can't ever properly train to recall? No 
Do not beat yourself up about being more exciting - there is more to this than that and making yourself feel boring will not help (and is not the reason)
Recall is so much more than recalling from a situation.
From a dogs point of view recall needs to mean more fun things are about to start and not finish (eg recalling from a dog and getting abit of sausage will not be enough
).
So start at home, for a few days reward for eye contact. Have treats on you all the time and everytime your dog looks at you reward. Every time.
Go into the garden and just stand still reward when you have eye contact.
Get a tuggy toy and in a small room with no distractions play with your dog (no excuse he does not play with toys have fun and he will play with toys) get down and make the toy move slowly and then quickly hid the toy behind your back, hide the toy in your arms and dont let him get it, get him interested in the toy and then pull it out of his way, then run away and let him have the toy.
When he has his meals for the next few days, have him in another room and call him when the food is ready, he should charge in from the other room.
Over the next few days have him indoors and go out into the garden and call him to his supper which he can eat outside (scatter feed if it is possible)
Start to give him events to enjoy with you, searching for food, tuggy games, hide and seek games all of these will be at home.
THEN and this is the bit that people miss, slowly and gradually build up distractions to when you call him to his food. The distractions will depend on the dog, for my collies I will throw a tennis ball and then call them to me. They will come to me rather than chase the ball. So maybe have a family member being exciting and you calling your dog to you.
If you can't call off distractions at home there is no way on earth you will call him off dogs out and about.
Then look at the Distance you are calling him from so call him initially when you are close together and gradually incrase the space between you and him.
This takes time, it takes a long time and it has to be consistent.
Consider using toy for recall rather than food, call his name and run off with the toy and see if he prefers this reinforcement, it is longer reinforcement than food and most dogs prefer it, although dont often get offered it.
Also someone said up thread reward him for every recall always. I DO NOT do this. The criteria for all my dogs recalls is a fast straight line run to me immediately they hear the recall cue.
If they take time to come, or dawdle they have not made criteria and will not get rewarded. They may get some praise, I will evaluate why they did not return immediately look at distractions, distance etc and train initially with less. But then give them the chance to offer the full belt recall and reward like crazy.
Sorry I've gone on a bit BUT if you feel you have done all of the above consistently then you need to look at distractions and distance. You are asking too much in a highly stimulated environment. Keep at the basics for longer.
Do not allow the behaviour to continue so long line, (if he is quaranteed to run off to dogs I would be holding the line at all times not letting it drag on the ground) whie out with dogs and treat for eye focus on you when around other dogs. Again start with huge distance and gradually get nearer. If you cant calmly walk past a dog on lead you will not be able to recall from the dogs.
tons of books, talked to trainers, watched videos this bit made me smile I have done this with yoga still cant do a head stand though