Only 1 place to eat

OK I know there have been hundreds, if not thousands, of hot dog eateries mentioned in these links and I know some people have a favorite brand of dogs, but putting that all aside I would like to know if you had to choose 1 hot dog place to eat at and only one which one would it be and why? I don't want this to be a forum of putting one place or another down, everyone has their own tastes. I'm in the start up process of my own hot dog place and I'm just curious as to what your favorite place is. I just want to know what is so special about the place you would remain loyal to forever. I guess I'm more interested in the why than the where but as a lover of hot dog joints I love to hear about different places. Tell me about your favorite whether its still open or just a memory of the past. Thank you in advance.

The dog that is most prominent in my memory is the Char Dog at Gold Coast Dogs in Chicago. Although I last had one probably 10 years ago at their State Street store, and know that that particular location has been closed, I still look forward to my next visit to one of their remaining locations. Although the quintessential Chicago dog is steamed, Gold Coast will happily serve them up charcoal grilled, and then run it through the garden.

I would have to say Yesterdog in Grand Rapids... Once you step into the place it's like going back into the 1940's. They make a good dog with fresh ingredients, and when I approached the owner and mentioned his chili sauce was too salty, he cut back on the salt. Very worthy place! Not to mention they have a good amount of staff working behind the counter, so your order gets made real quick! A true Roadfood kinda place! Not one of them generic places with tables and blah pictures on the walls.

Lafayette Coney Island in Detroit.

Hot Doug's at the corner of California and Roscoe in Chicago.

Doug is a graduate of the Kendall College Culinary School in Evanston. He takes the art and business of selling "encased meats", as he calls them, as seriously as a chef at a four star restaurant would take his pate fois gras.

He sells not just the classic Chicago dog, but also a variety of other sausages, including Polish Sausage, Thuringer, Bratwurst, Corn Dogs, and a weekly Wild Game Special; sometimes a success, sometimes not.

Condiments include all the Chicago standards and he also offers grilled onions, kraut, and a variety of mustards.

On the weekends he cooks his French Fries in duck fat. He cooks them in duck fat because they tastes better. I wish he sold them all week long, but he wants to keep it special.

I know other folks who have opened Hot Dog joints in Chicago and other cities who have visited Hot Doug's and used his operation as a model. If you're opening your own place, let me suggest that you take a couple days and visit Doug's place.

Buddy

Jimmy's of Savin Rock (West Heven, Connecticut) in it's original incarnation. Absolutely no question about it. The split, grilled Roessler's Yellow Tag hotdog with mustard and relish, chopped onions and sauerkraut. Oh, my!

The old Jimmy's of Savin Rock was also my choice. The bad news is my father was there a few weeks ago and the 2 hot dog plate he had was terrible. The waitress said they switched from Hummel’s because they were too expensive. You can't even buy one hot dog you have to buy a hot dog dinner with a salad what have we become? If you have to buy a salad to get a hot dog then the terrorists have won.

Wow, marko, the very words 'salad' and 'hot dog' should never be in the same sentence unless the word 'potato' precedes 'salad.' Yuk.

My vote would be Coney Island Hot Dogs in wormtown MA. They used to used to use Kayem dogs. What say, dog experts? Those any good?

Funny story. A good pal of mine's dad met his inlaws, very rich and proper Swedish nationals who had never before set foot in America, a day or so before his wedding. He picked them up at the airport, took them to Coney Island for dinner, and then drove them to the rattiest neighborhood in Worcester, parked in front of the rattiest three-decker, and said, "We're home." Love that story!

quote:

Originally posted by markolenski

The old Jimmy's of Savin Rock was also my choice. The bad news is my father was there a few weeks ago and the 2 hot dog plate he had was terrible. The waitress said they switched from Hummel’s because they were too expensive. You can't even buy one hot dog you have to buy a hot dog dinner with a salad what have we become? If you have to buy a salad to get a hot dog then the terrorists have won.

I was in the "new" Jimmy's once. It was back in the 1980s. I was not pleased with what it had become. My mother had a condominium just down the beach from the new place, where the Savin Rock Amusement Park used to be. I didn't even know they'd switched from Roesslers.

Pearl brand hot dogs at the local VFW Buck a barker buck seventy five for a Bud. It just dosen't get any better. Chow Jim

Andy and Gregg's in Charlotte was the best. Gregg took his chili recipe w/ him when he passed a few years ago. Andy has been gone for twenty years. Meanest waitress on the planet but our office ate dogs there every Friday for twenty years. I probably haven't had ten dogs in the past two years.

Skin Thrasher's in Anderson SC is very good also. See Hollyeats.com for a review.

My choice would be The Original Hot Dog Shop (aka "The O" or better still, "The Dirty O") in Pittsburgh, original Oakland location only. Must have eaten hundreds (thousands? - no, I'm still alive) of them over 7 years of school at Carnegie Mellon. They were (hopefully still are) natural casing, crunchy from the grill. Had to have it with chili and cheese along with a basket of some of the best fries ever. There might be better dogs out there somewhere, but I had a lot of good times at this place.

Anyplace that serves a Koegel natural casing would be my first choice.

2nd would be the red brats from State Street Brats in Madison, WI.

poochies when im back in chi town (skokie) and hot dog heaven in downtown fort lauderdale when in florida,real chicago bllod there for vienna lovers

I'd have to say Lafayette.

The Glendale in New Haven (Hamden, actually) and Super Duper came to mind as well as Nick's Nest ... but, when you think about it all four places approach the dog in a completely different manner.

a hotdog is a hotdog is a hotdog but more on point and not trying to sound like a commercial... "LUBI'S" on Jax Bch, Fl.. the chili dogs with cheese, jalapeno and onion.. but then I cant beat the price anywhere else ... FREE

quote:

Originally posted by BuddyRoadhouse

Hot Doug's at the corner of California and Roscoe in Chicago.

Doug is a graduate of the Kendall College Culinary School in Evanston. He takes the art and business of selling "encased meats", as he calls them, as seriously as a chef at a four star restaurant would take his pate fois gras.

He sells not just the classic Chicago dog, but also a variety of other sausages, including Polish Sausage, Thuringer, Bratwurst, Corn Dogs, and a weekly Wild Game Special; sometimes a success, sometimes not.

Condiments include all the Chicago standards and he also offers grilled onions, kraut, and a variety of mustards.

On the weekends he cooks his French Fries in duck fat. He cooks them in duck fat because they tastes better. I wish he sold them all week long, but he wants to keep it special.

I know other folks who have opened Hot Dog joints in Chicago and other cities who have visited Hot Doug's and used his operation as a model. If you're opening your own place, let me suggest that you take a couple days and visit Doug's place.



Buddy

If this post moves anyone to visit Hot Doug's,(I went there for my fix on Tuesday and had the Jumbo Dog stuffed with Jalapeno cheese, wrapped in applewood smoked bacon and topped with horseradish mustard) they will be closed for vacation 2-27 thru 2-11. re-opening the 13th.

quote:

Originally posted by Tommy2dogs

quote:

Originally posted by BuddyRoadhouse

Hot Doug's at the corner of California and Roscoe in Chicago.

Doug is a graduate of the Kendall College Culinary School in Evanston. He takes the art and business of selling "encased meats", as he calls them, as seriously as a chef at a four star restaurant would take his pate fois gras.

He sells not just the classic Chicago dog, but also a variety of other sausages, including Polish Sausage, Thuringer, Bratwurst, Corn Dogs, and a weekly Wild Game Special; sometimes a success, sometimes not.

Condiments include all the Chicago standards and he also offers grilled onions, kraut, and a variety of mustards.

On the weekends he cooks his French Fries in duck fat. He cooks them in duck fat because they tastes better. I wish he sold them all week long, but he wants to keep it special.

I know other folks who have opened Hot Dog joints in Chicago and other cities who have visited Hot Doug's and used his operation as a model. If you're opening your own place, let me suggest that you take a couple days and visit Doug's place.



Buddy

If this post moves anyone to visit Hot Doug's,(I went there for my fix on Tuesday and had the Jumbo Dog stuffed with Jalapeno cheese, wrapped in applewood smoked bacon and topped with horseradish mustard) they will be closed for vacation 2-27 thru 2-11. re-opening the 13th.

Correction 3-11

So far the best hotdog I've eaten out was last summer in of all places Maine. Place in Scarborough right on route 1 called Chicago Dogs. Website is www.chidog.com
Fantastic hotdogs. Says they use all beef Vienna hotdogs from Chicago.

Greg -

I think you mean the Glenwood in Hamden.
It would make any top 10 lists of mine as well.


The main reason - long dogs cooked on a real fire.

It's a texture and taste that NO GRILL or GRIDDLE can duplicate.

I can't! I can't I've tried, but I can't. I have too many favorites. One suits one taste...another suits another taste. And then there are moods that are fulfilled by others. I can narrow it to 5.

Today the inclination for a deep-fried, pork-beef "ripper" topped with brown mustard and "secret" relish was satisfied at Rutt's Hut like nobody's business. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?
The Bear

Otto"s Sausage Kitchen in Portland, Oregon is my favorite.

Ted's in Buffalo, NY for a well burned dog with kraut, fries with vinegar and bug juice (loganberry) to drink.

Three cheers for sonjaab...I second the vote for Heids. Even though I moved away from Syracuse when I was 3, I always have to go back to Heids when visiting relatives. Life is incomplete without a cooney (or two) and Byrne dairy chocolate milk......Mike

Heid's of Liverpool (NY).
One of the oldest continuous running hot dog stands and true fast food joints in America. (since 1883). MY absolute favorite and must stop when visiting relatives in the 'cuse.

Only one place...that would have to be Don & Bob's in Rochester. Zweigle's Texas (red) and White Hots are the key. Rochester area only, so far. Luckily, my daughter goes to Univ. of Rochester, and brings me about 10 packages from Wegman's when she visits. Don & Bob's is a little upscale now, at least the one on Monroe, but the Hots are just as good.

db

Camp Washington Chili in Cincinnati for Coney Islands with heavy onions.

Max's in Long Branch, NJ. A big ol' Schickhaus griddle frank with mustard and ketchup. I'm going back to Jersey this weekend to see family and friends, but I think I need to make a stop first ...

Just remember that Momma Max has probably not opened up for the season yet. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. You could always stop at the Windmill. They are just as good as Max, in my opinion. If I had to choose one it would be Rutts Hutt. Love those deep fried dogs.

my name is jules and I think the best dogs are in NJ,in Oxford nj on rte31 theres Johnny O's deep fried thumans w/ the works But it hasen't been open for 4 months ???????, they have beer lic. great combination