The Hot Grill - Clifton, NJ

Posted By Michael Stern on March 23, 2010 9:19 PM

New Jersey is well-endowed with restaurants that sell Texas weiners (and that is the way most of them spell wiener!); the first one is known to have been a hot dog stand in the Manhattan Hotel in Paterson, New Jersey, as early as 1920. Paterson still has an abundance of shops that specialize in Texas weiners, (we like Libby’s Lunch on McBride Ave. best); but if you are looking for a terrific example of this Garden State delight in Clifton, we recommend a visit to The Hot Grill.

Step up to the order counter, where empty trays await and order a pair. NOBODY gets just one Texas weiner! The counter man will holler out to the back kitchen, “Two, all the way!” And within ninety seconds, a pair of handsome little hot dogs will appear on the tray in front of you. Each is a deep-fried pup with rugged skin nestled in a too-short bun topped with mustard, onion, and spicy/sweet beef-chili sauce. Exemplary eats! On the side you can get French fries topped with gravy, sauce, or cheese or any combination of the three; and the preferred beverage with a Texas weiner is always root beer.

It’s fun to dine in the Hot Grill’s vast modern dining room where, you are serenaded by the calls of the countermen back to the kitchen.

Overall Rating

Texas hot weiner

Gravy Fries

18 out of 20 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By Nanci Schenkein on August 16, 2010 10:32 PM

I have been eating at The Hot Grill since the day it opened, when I was eight years old. It was, and continues to be, not only delicious but a source of comfort and solace when life gets too much to bear. You can always walk in and order your usual, know exactly what it will cost, and what it will taste like.

The chili sauce which tops everything on the All The Way items is as good today as it was in 1960. The fries are always hot, and the gravy is just a tad spicy and typical of New Jersey.

Run by if you are in the neighborhood and grab a tee-shirt with a dancing dog; even those are well-priced and it will become one of your faves.

Overall Rating

Texas hot weiner

Gravy Fries

Chili Sauce To Go

4 out of 5 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes

Posted By Mike Iacoucci on February 24, 2009 11:53 PM

Being from as North Jersey as is possible (Montvale), when I crave hot dogs, I first ask myself the all-important question: do I want chili or do I want gravy fries? If the answer is yes, then there's only one destination!

I occasionally dabble in an "all-the-way" dog, but my standard order is "two with chili, gravy fries, and a root beer" and I am NEVER disappointed. If you're in the mood for an excellent Texas weiner, this is the place to be. They also sell their chili in "to-go" containers; I would stop here if that's all they sold. It's not a hot chili, but has an excellent flavor that does the dog justice.

The thing that fascinates me about The Hot Grill is the ordering system. The place is packed with people, but there are no orderly lines. There's a long counter, end-to-end with counter personnel. All of the customers mull around, waiting for their turn in line, but somehow it runs with intricate precision like a Swiss watch. Go figure!

Overall Rating

Texas hot weiner

Gravy Fries

Chili Sauce To Go

9 out of 9 people found the review helpful. Was it helpful to you?

No Yes