New Jersey is the center of the hotdog universe. New York City or Chicago? Distant runners-up.
There are most likely more hotdog trucks, carts and stores stuffed into Passaic, Essex, Bergen and Union counties than any comparably-sized location in the nation.
Birthplace of the Italian hotdog? Newark, Jimmy Buff’s, 1932.
Birthplace of the chili dog or Texas weiner? Paterson or Plainfield, choose (both cities declare the honor).
Sabrett, discovered at hotdog carts and trucks throughout the nation, is headquartered in Englewood.
Best Provision, a significant provider of hot dogs to grocery stores, is headquartered in Newark. Here’s my behind-the-scenes profile of this low-profile business.
July is National Hot Dog Month (July 19 is National Hot Dog Day), so there’s no much better time for an upgraded list of the state’s finest hotdog joints. Fifteen hotdog joints were contributed to the 2021 list; 14 were contributed to the 2022 list and 5 were contributed to this one.
The ranking is based upon my not-inconsiderable hotdog experience. In 2006, I led the six-member S.W.A.T. Dog Patrol in our statewide look for Jersey’s finest dogs. In 2014, hotdog professional extraordinaire John Fox (have a look at Hot Dog Nation on FB) and I checked out 92 hotdog areas around the state for the Hot Dog Heaven problem of Inside Jersey publication.
In 2018, our NJ’s finest hotdog face-off drew almost 30,000 votes from readers; I checked out the 50 semifinalists, chose 10 finalists, re-visited those, and chose a winner.
Over the years, I’ve roamed from the leading to the bottom of Jersey tasting chili dogs and unclean water dogs and Italian hot dogs, every type and topping possible.
Thanks again to John Fox for upgrading me on brand-new areas that opened because in 2015’s list.
Best book about hot dogs? “Raw Dog,” comedian/podcaster Jamie Loftus’ travelogue/history. ”Hot dogs,” she composes, ”are the sort of American that you understand there is something deeply incorrect with however still discover capitivating.” Her #1 preferred hotdog occurs to be #1 on this list.
This ranking is not almost the quality and brand name of the hot dogs, however history, custom, environment and general dining experience.
Hackensack Hotdogs, open about 6 weeks, is among the more recent kids on the hotdog block. Photos and murals of the train station, bus terminal, post workplace and Jersey icon White Manna offer regional color. They serve Thumann’s deep-fried dogs, and sides consist of a “cup of beans.” The mangia mangia, a nod to the Italian restaurant that previously inhabited the space, is an Italian hotdog, and a sorry one at that. Instead of the typical pizza bread, it is available in a basic hotdog roll, and the potatoes are teeny-tiny cubes of potatoes. Fortunately, the Hackensack Hotdog, a chili dog, is considerably much better.
You truly can’t miss out on Mr. Bill’s. Look for the 25-foot-high statue of the big-eared kid with the silly smile. The restaurant was initially called Bill’s Drive-In. A previous owner, Ray Giannascoli, re-named it Mr. Bill’s after the “Saturday Night Live” character who kept getting smacked around. (See my book Roadside New Jersey for the complete story.) Mr. Bill’s is among the couple of locations in New Jersey to get a real Chicago-design hotdog, with relish, tomatoes, pickle, onions, peppers and mustard (see image). They utilize a Vienna brand name all-beef dog, with Vienna buns, too.
Hank Benanti began Hank’s Franks in 1959 with a hotdog cart; the building occurred in 1965. Hank has actually because died; his child, Gary, now runs the store. They usage Sabrett’s all-beef dogs and the homemade red onions are a popular draw.
Galloping Hill Inn at Five Points in Union is a Jersey hotdog landmark; it opened in 1925. Old-timers and residents still call it Peterson’s. You can get hamburgers and cheesesteaks, however Galloping Hill made its representative with dogs. Get one with the sweet or hot relish.
Russ Ayres began as a hotdog cart in Trenton, relocating to the existing area in the ‘60s. Chris and Pam Baldassari have been the owners of the mustard-yellow building for 20-plus years; they also own an ice cream stand behind it, Bordentown Creamery, which made my best soft-serve ice cream list.
Frankfurter funny man and longtime owner Tommy Snyder is no longer behind the counter, but Hot Dog Tommy’s lives on in its hole-in-the-wall area a half block from the beach. The menu — it might be the state’s most extensive —consists of the Big Bad Dog (all-beef hotdog on a deli bun) the Leaner Wiener (pork and beef dog on a steamed bun), Messy Bessy (barbeque sauce and shredded cheddar cheese); and the Tornado, an unlikely mix of mashed potatoes, chili, shredded cheese, salsa, banana peppers and sour cream.
Best-understood hotdog stand in New Jersey? You might quickly make a case for Hot Dog Johnny’s in Buttzville, the state’s most colorfully called town. No Jersey hotdog business has a more agrarian setting than Hot Dog Johnny’s, nestled along the Pequest River. John Kovalsky opened it in 1944 and the small initial stand can be seen on the premises. No designer garnishes at Hot Dog Johnny’s; you can get mustard, catsup, onion, pickle or relish which’s it. Oh, and don’t forget to attempt the buttermilk with that dog.
Big Dogs Cafe inhabits the space previously inhabited by Chomp! and, prior to that, JoJo’s Italian hot dogs. It’s more than a hotdog joint; hamburgers, shakes, cheesesteaks, wings, salads, breakfast sandwiches, healthy smoothies and more can be discovered on the menu. Both the double Italian dog and the charbroiled dog (I had one with mustard and onions) were served on durable rolls. That charbroiled dog isn’t low-cost — $8.25.
The state’s ultimate retro hotdog hangout is unquestionably Johnny Prince’s Bayway Diner. It was among 7 dining establishments in the pilot episode of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives” back in 2006. The restaurant might be the tiniest, seating-wise, in the state, with simply 7 stools. There are tables outside, virtually in the shadow of Bayway itself. They’re best understood for their chili dogs.
J&G, a Texas weiner (chili dog) legend, opened in 1977. Like Texas Weiner I in Plainfield, likewise on this list, the grill is right in advance, producing prime walkway hotdog watching. The chili dog is a must; the menu likewise consist of hamburgers, cheesesteaks, grilled chicken and more.
Jersey Dog isn’t your grandma’s, possibly not even your auntie’s, hotdog joint: Apart from dogs with the typical garnishes, there are 16 sort of “signature dogs,” consisting of the Jersey Dog, a Taylor ham-wrapped dog with sliced American cheese and topped with collapsed hash browns. Hot dog perfectionists simply check out that sentence, and passed out. Most hotdog joints use one brand name of hotdog. Jersey Dog provides 3: a Sabrett unclean water all-beef, a Thumann’s deep-fried beef and pork, and a foot-long beef and pork. Must-attempt: the homemade “dirty Jersey” mustard.
At initially glimpse, Dicky’s Dogs looks like a ‘50s diner, with red stools and booths, but the food carries an international flair, with tacos, quesadillas, and such Colombian specialties as beefsteak topped with a fried egg. The hot dogs also are diverse, with a tropical dog (ham, bacon, pineapple salsa), border dog (shredded pork shoulder, pico de gallo) and Colombian hot dog (cheddar cheese, pineapple sauce, chips, salted onion, mustard), along with plain dogs, bacon-wrapped dogs and chili dogs.
Legendary Shore hot dog joint Max’s went through a significant remodelling in 2018. The brand-new Max’s boasts a 10-seat counter, bar and broadened dining-room, however the beef/pork dog stays. The business is called after Max Altman, who began offering foot-long hot dogs in 1928 on the Long Branch boardwalk. He had actually opened a little restaurant there in 1916.
Best location to consume a hotdog in New Jersey? The upstairs deck at the WindMill in Long Branch. Grilled dogs are the draw. Try the chili dog, or the hot pepper relish.
The chili dog is the star at the Dover Grill, a long time roadside favorite. It’s tomatoey and spicy and entirely a weiner winner. Good hot onions here, too. Next door is Dover Dairy Maid, likewise suggested.
35. Munce’s, Rahway
Munce’s, a hotdog truck parked along with Rahway River Park, has actually been dispensing dogs because 1963. Their chili is distinct, sweet and tomatoey.
Sonny’s Grille, previously in Neptune and now in Belmar, is amongst the new age of Jersey hotdog joints: lots of hotdog alternatives, improved with neon, celeb pictures and sports souvenirs. The menu provides the requisite Boss Dog and Bon Jovi dog. There are 30-plus kinds in all, from a Jersey dog (chili, kraut, sport peppers, dill pickle, mustard) and Texan (bacon, baked beans, barbeque sauce) to the Mac Piggy Dog (homemade mac and cheese) and the Volcano Dog (chili, crushed cherry peppers, jalapeños, cayenne pepper sauce). Sonny’s lies in Belmar Mall, the very best shopping center for food in New Jersey.
Coolest hotdog joint in New Jersey? That would be the Hot Dog Caboose, housed in a you-know-what that the owners discovered in Jim Thorpe, Pa. The Fire in the Caboose Chili — smooth, meaty and spicy — alone deserves the journey. Hot dogs consist of a Chicago Dog (yellow mustard, neon relish, tomato, onion, dill pickle, sport peppers, celery salt); Junkyard Dog (baked beans, coleslaw) and the Spuds Dog (smashed potatoes, shredded cheddar and bacon bits).
I’ll constantly have a soft area in my heart and stomach for Newark hotdog trucks. JJ’s, open because 1971, is a component on Bloomfield Avenue. Get a dog with hot works (sauerkraut, hot onions) or sweet works (sauerkraut, sweet relish). They likewise have a store in Fairfield.
Pattie’s Franks is a food truck parked on an uninhabited lot simply east of the Parkway. Her hot onions are a must; include mustard and dog, and you have a vibrant lunch. Thinking huge? Try the Belly Buster, a dog with your option of 3 garnishes.
Captain Paul’s is embellished with numerous contributed spots, decals and helmets from military, authorities, fire department and emergency situation services workers. The owner, Paul Tweedly, served 26 years in the Trenton Fire Department. He imagined Captain Paul’s as a location where policeman, firefighters, and others can hang, “a place where you can let loose a little bit, let your guard down.” It’s a fantastic location for everybody to hang out, with its shaded picnic location. Dogs consist of the thin red line (fried dog, hot sauce, cattle ranch and bacon); bootcamp (fried dog, bacon, chili and cheese) and Seal Teams (mustard and onion sauce).
The “dirty water dog” — a boiled hotdog — is a North Jersey custom, and Jerry’s Famous Frankfurters provides an intriguing twist — a boiled water dog (in this case, from Best’s in Newark) rounded off in a pan. The initial owner began offering dogs from a cart at the Peterstown market and the shop opened in the 1950s.
Delores Antonucci most likely wins the hotdog durability award; she’s been working her Dee’s Hut truck because 1973. There are a million (alright, possibly not rather that lots of) hotdog trucks in New Jersey, however Dee’s handles to stand apart for her dogs, good and stylish. She keeps them in the water for “five, ten minutes, no more,” she as soon as informed me.
The Goffle Grill is a legend in a county (Passaic) teeming with hotdog legends. Open because 1979, it dishes out a dog filled with homemade chili, mustard and onions. Excellent shakes here, remarkably.
One of my preferred chili dogs can be discovered at Curbside Cafe, run by 2 ex-cops and situated beside an adult book store, of all things, in Parsippany. The initially truck Gene DiGiacomo and Frank Cocchi obtained was a lemon. The 2nd one, a previous DHL truck, ended up much better.
It’s hectic, it’s loud, it’s confined, it’s a food legend. Dickie Dee’s, open because 1958, would remain in the charter class of the New Jersey Hot Dog Hall of Fame. The Italian hotdog, prepared in bubbling hot oil right in front of you, is justly well-known. Yes, there was a person called Dickie Dee — he and his spouse Toni Dee were previous owners.
Bubba Dogs close-by gets all the promotion, however Lou Dogs is much better. Try the LouDog, with German mustard, catsup and diced onions, or the HankDog, with cilantro sauce, mango chutney and diced red onions.
The La Madre Maria food truck can be discovered on a dirt lot on Hooper Avenue in Brick, beside Brick Recycling. The double Italian hotdog provides good bread, although I want the potatoes had actually been crisper. Best play here: the Maria dog, with hot onions and relish (it features catsup, however I’m of the mind that catsup need to never ever appear on a hotdog).
Hottest chili in New Jersey? It may be the one at the Hot Dog House, Carlstadt. The vibrant little Route 17 shack provides a range dogs, from the gang green (kraut, relish) and the Jersey Dog (dill pickle, raw onions) to the taco dog (chili, cheese, lettuce, tomato, raw onions) and house unique (chili, peppers, onions, potatoes). Next door next is Steve’s Sizzling Steaks, among New Jersey’s particular dining establishments.
The hot dogs at Designer Dawgs — all beef from Chicago-based Vienna Beef — are very first steamed, then grilled. The menu board lists 28 developments, consisting of The Mastiff (2 hot dogs, pork roll, bacon, ham, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, Russian dressing) and Al Capone (mustard, relish, pickles, sauteed onions, sport peppers).
The Hot Grill provides the “World’s Tastiest Texas Wieners” (outdoors indication) or “World’s Testiest Texas Wieners” (inside indication). Call me insane, however I choose the previous. You might call Clifton the hotdog capital of New Jersey, with New Corral and Rutt’s Hut likewise on this list. I’m not a huge fan of the Hot Grill’s chili, however you can’t argue with the location’s appeal. The Hot Grill opened on Friday the 13th in 1961; think the owners weren’t superstitious.
19. Texas Weiner I, Plainfield
Texas Weiner I is the granddaddy of the state’s Texas weiner joints; it’s been open almost 100 years. The diner-like counter and stools stay, and a nighttime image of the neon-lit shop, with the grill noticeable from the walkway, produces an Instagram-all set traditional.
Another Jersey hotdog legend, Johnny and Hanges opened in Paterson July 4, 1939, the very same day Lou Gehrig made his extraordinary retirement speech at Yankee Stadium. Johnny was Johnny Scovich and Hange was Angelo Mariano. The business crossed the river to Fair Lawn in 1999. A Texas weiner “all the way” (mustard, raw onions, chili) is what you require to understand at Johnny and Hanges. A chili dog with raw onions is at left in the image, a dog with mustard and spicy relish is at right.
My recent implant restricted me from consuming hot/cold/spicy foods for 3 days, which doesn’t explain why I bought a hot chili dog at Boulevard Dogs n More the day after the treatment. Hey, I had work to do, and editors breathing down my neck! That hot chili dog struck the hog dog area, and my other Sabrett dog, one with relish and mustard, boasted a great breeze. Hope my dental professional is not reading this.
The Italian hotdog began at Jimmy Buff’s, 9th Street and 14th Avenue in Newark, in 1932. That area was home to another hotdog stand (because closed), however Buff’s still stays, with areas in Kenilworth and West Orange. The latter is a journey, a hotdog restaurant where you can see and hear the hot dogs and potatoes appearing the hot oil.
A hotdog cart in the middle of the Pine Barrens? Hot Diggidy Dog does a vigorous business in what lots of big-city folk may think about the middle of no place. Robin Bednar opened for business in 1989 outside her moms and dads’ house, putting herself through school while doing so. She utilizes Dietz & Watson beef/pork dogs. The jalapeño cheddar chili dog is a juicy, tacky pleasure, and the cranberry hot sauce, from a regional purveyor, might be my brand-new preferred topping.
Lover Dogs, open about 3 years, is the only hotdog joint in the state to air-fry their dogs, according to hotdog professional John Fox. The outcome: a hotdog with a somewhat smoky breeze (and 65 to 85 percent less fat than your typical hotdog, according to Lover Dogs). Good chili, too. They usage Hofmann’s franks, a rarity in New Jersey. Love Dogs likewise has a gelato counter, equipped by Gelotti in Paterson.
I don’t understand about you, however I believe every deli or meat store need to have somebody barbecuing hot dogs out on the walkway. That’s the appeal at Karl Ehmer Meats, which began in New York City in 1932). The beef/pork hot dogs are made by Kocher, a German butcher in Fort Lee. The park throughout the street produces a fantastic lunch area.
It’s everything about the hot onions — red hots — at Chris’ Red Hots, open 50 years, in the very same family for thirty years. There’s a cheeseburger dog, a careless joe dog, and a penne vodka dog, to name a few, however adhere to the traditional, one with hot onions.
The New Corral appears like a common Greek restaurant, with counter, swivel stools and plentiful stainless-steel, however their chili dog is first-class. It’s not the typical nutmeg/cinnamon-tasting Passaic County chili. The Corral’s is spicier and more tomatoey. And much better than the Hot Grill, in my mind. They were called the state’s 2nd finest chili because 2014 Hot Dog Heaven problem of Inside Jersey publication.
Probably no other location in New Jersey presses the hotdog envelope rather like Destination Dogs in New Brunswick, which began as a little shop on Spring Street and now commands prime space at the corner of Paterson and Joyce Kilmer. The tourist attraction here: hot dogs influenced by worldwide foods — Spain, Chile, France, Argentina, Greece and more. My preferred is most likely the Vietnamese-affected Bun Mi, a sausage with shaved foie gras, marinaded veggies, fresh jalapenos, cilantro and srirachi mayo.
Boulevard Drinks is a hotdog joint right out of Hollywood Hot Dog Central Casting, with its walk-up counter, intense orange/yellow interior and a flickering red and green neon indication. The cubicles and lighting are so intense they may hurt your eyes. Located throughout the street from Journal Square, Boulevard Drinks is an important Jersey food experience, the sort of location where the hotdog itself plays a supporting function, at finest.
8. Toby’s Cup, Lopatcong
Toby’s Cup, on Route 22 in Lopatcong, looks more like a carnival enjoyable house than hotdog stand, with its sputnik-like world (what the heck is that?) atop the roofing, and confined, low-ceilinged interior more similar to a drive-in motion picture sandwich shop. They utilize a Berks beef/pork dog, a rarity in NJ. Oh, and it’s much better than the far more declared Hot Dog Johnny’s in close-by Buttzville. Toby’s is closed and is currently up for sale, however there is hope the brand-new owner will keep Toby’s alive, We’ll keep it on the list for the time being.
There will constantly be a location in my hotdog heart for Tony’s Specialized Hot Dogs, which was the very first Eat with Pete column I composed for The Star-Ledger back in 1998. Tony Cavallo began with a three-wheel scooter, wandering the streets of Newark till late in the evening.
The truck has actually remained in a repaired area in Branch Brook Park because 1968, which may be a record in the hotdog business. Tony has actually because offered the truck, however the hot dogs stay. Try the Super Dog, with mustard, catsup, chili, hot onions and cheese. You’ll thank me later on.
Maui’s Dog House in North Wildwood provides a head-spinning range of dogs (attempt the Horsey dog, with ground horseradish and spicy mustard) and garnishes. The location gets so hectic it encourages appointments on summer season weekends. It’s an enjoyable, al fresco hangout. One must-try: the salted balls, little potatoes prepared in salt water and spices. Bet you can’t consume simply one.
A stop at Andys’ Roadside Dive is a see to the external reaches of the hotdog universe. About the “Andys’ in the name? There were once two guys named Andy running the trailer, parked on the shores of Lake Hopatcong; now there’s just one, Andy Patin. You could just get a chili dog or one with mustard and kraut, but you can get those anywhere. These are definitely not your grandmother’s hot dogs; toppings/fillings include nachos, Cajun coleslaw, and spicy baked beans. My favorite: the Nacho Dogito, with chili, cheddar sauce, crumbled Doritos and sliced jalapeños. Andys’ Roadside Dive has opened a storefront at 324 Howard Blvd., just up the street from where the trailer was located.
There is no more colorful hot dog vendor in New Jersey than Randy the Hot Dog Guy in Hillside. Lovably nutty Randy Pollack is a self-described “oddball with a hot dog truck” and “God’s gift to capitalism.”
Pollack offers a range of hotdog brand names, which separates him from a lot of others, however the schtick is valuable. Here’s my profile of him, appropriately entitled “An Underdog with Relish.”
American flags fluttering out front, well-worn signs, beer on tap, vest-pocket picnic location, and possibly the state’s tiniest toilet: That’s Hiram’s, which opened in 1932. There obviously never ever was a person called Hiram at Hiram’s, which began as a shack that began offering hot dogs in the 1930s. This was as soon as Jersey’s hotdog crossroads, with famous Callahan’s right throughout the street. Hiram’s chili dog is among my 2 or 3 preferred in the state. They usage Thumann’s beef and pork dogs. Did I discuss there’s beer on tap?
The state’s most ideal potatoes — deep-fried, crispy excellence — can be discovered at Tommy’s Italian Hot Sausage & Hot Dogs, which won our statewide finest hotdog face-off in 2018. Instead of being prepared in a sizzling swimming pool of oil, the thin-sliced potatoes are prepared in a deep fryer, then packed, with hotdog, peppers and onions, in a wedge of pizza bread.
The potatoes are so good they’re offered by the cup. Tommy’s opened in 1969; actions away is Jerry’s (see above). The 2 produce a fantastic hotdog daily double.
Rutt’s Hut in Clifton is the overall hotdog package — a brick-walled roadhouse exuding history and environment. Abe Rutt began the restaurant in 1928 and the existing owners purchased it in 1975. Nothing has actually altered for many years — tile flooring, fluorescent lighting, people behind the counter talking hotdog code — “traveling” implies it’s a takeout order.
Get the legendary Ripper, a deep-fried hotdog, so-called due to the fact that it divides apart while cooking. Brave? Order a Weller, a well-done Ripper. Really brave? Try a Cremator, which is well beyond well-done.
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Peter Genovese might be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter, @petegenovese. On Instagram, @peteknowsjersey and @themunchmobile.
