Hot Dog Charlies, Cohoes, NY

I took a trip up to Albany last weekend and stopped off at Hot Dog Charlies before heading home. 
They serve Sabrett all beef hot dogs in two versions, a small mini dog which is very popular in the area and a large dog which is about the size of a typical street cart dog. 
If you order one with Everything, you'll get a grilled dog on a steamed bun with yellow mustard, white onions and meat sauce.
 

Two mini dogs all the way
 
 

One large dog all the way
 

From left to right: Bun steamer, griddle for hot dogs, hot dog par boiler, mustard and onions.
 

further along are two big pots of meat chili which is on the spicy side and in my opinion very good.  You can purchase containers of the chili to take home.
 

 

Are there beans in that chili, Matt, or is that just chunky beef?  They look terrific.

No beans in the chili, just meat, onions and spices.  It's like a very course michigan sauce.
 
Matt

Nice pictures Matt. They look like natural casing dogs. If so, this would be the same recipe dog served at Katz's and the Papaya places in Manhatten. A great dog.

Did this place use to get their dogs from the Troy Pork Store before they closed?

Matt,
Next time you are up in the area...drive a mile or so south on Rte 32 to Watervliet and make a right at 25th St for Gus's Hot Dogs....many folks like to try both places as a mini hot dog tour.
Each has their own legion of fans.

John,
The last time I was there they were serving Troy Pork Store brand but at some point they also served Helmbolds.  Regardless of the mini hot dog maker, they always purchased the larger dog from Sabrett.
 
Matt

looking good

If I'm not mistaken Troy Pork Store went out of business so Helmbold's is the supplier now. They are natural casing dogs. I agree about Gus's. Their dogs are good but they are more famous for their sausage and pepper sandwich. The sausage is done in patty form not the usual link style and it rocks!! I also recommend Famous Lunch in Troy I think on Congress street for the mini dogs. Of all 3 places I like their "chili" sauce best. My dad (that's him in the blue coat in the doorway) tells me when he was a teen and went to Troy High School which used to be right up the street from Famous Lunch they would go there for lunch and the guy would make the dogs by lining the buns up his uncovered arm then insert the dogs then add the toppings. Guess health standards were a tad different then.
 

Great report Matt !!!

Sounds like you could hit all of them in a day no problem

Benzee

Seafarer John, Aversian and my self hit all three in a single day about a year ago.

Walt