Hot Doug’s

When word got out last May that Hot Doug’s would shutter its doors FOREVER on October 3, 2014, I knew I had to make a pilgrimage with the Hot Dog Stories “crew.” Since opening in 2001 (it’s been at the 324 N. California Ave. location since early 2005), Hot Doug’s became a Chicago icon. Internationally recognized […]

Ted’s Hot Dogs – Buffalo, NY

Ted’s Hot Dogs is a Buffalo, New York area icon. With 8 locations in the greater Buffalo area and one in Tempe, Arizona, Ted’s Hot Dogs is a true example of taking America’s simplest (and favorite) food to another level! Ted’s Hot Dogs History Ted’s got its start in 1927 when Greek immigrant Theodore Spiro Liaros […]

Casey’s Diner – National Hot Dog Month Day 31

Casey’s Diner in downtown Natick, Massachusetts is largely responsible for my love of hot dogs. I’ve been dining at the iconic Worcester Lunch Car since 1969 and not a thing (other than the location of the diner) has changed. The dogs are hot, the atmosphere cozy, and the condiments are served “All Around.” Casey’s Diner […]

Olneyville New York System – National Hot Dog Month Day 28

Olneyville New York System has been selling hot wieners (don’t call it a hot dog here) since the 1930’s and has been in their present location since 1953. This place, quite simply, rocks! It has the rare combination of icon status, personality, and great tasting hot wieners and hot wiener sauce. Anywhere else but Rhode […]

Caspers – National Hot Dog Month Day 24

Caspers Hot Dogs have been a San Francisco Bay area staple since the 1930’s. The original stand is located in Richmond, California – just north of Oakland. There are  now eight Caspers in the Bay Area and they’ve been manufacturing their own hot dogs since the 1980’s. Many hot dog cart operators use Caspers Franks […]

Charlies – National Hot Dog Month Day 15

Charlies Hot Dog Stand has been a fixture on Achusshnett Ave. in New Bedford since the 1930’s. The current owners are the fourth caretakers of this iconic little stand and they’re serving up grilled Kayems on grilled buns with their signature “meat sauce” that’s reminiscent of a Coney Island sauce. Niece Kristine was on the […]

Rutts Hut – National Hot Dog Month Day 12

Rutts Hut is the second New Jersey hot dog icon to appear on the 2013 National Hot Dog Month Tour. As with yesterday’s featured  stop, Jimmy Buff’s, Mr. John Fox “hosts” the visit to Rutts Hut. Hurricane Sandy blew the original Rutts Hut sign off the roof of the place, so the place looks like […]

Jimmy Buffs – National Hot Dog Month Day 11

The National Hot Dog Month Tour visits Jimmy Buffs in Kenilworth, New Jersey with special guest dogger, John Fox. Mr. Fox is the “president of Hot Dog Nation,” so as the ambassador, I wanted to include him in on the fun. I asked John to take me to some New Jersey Icons, the first of […]

Coney Island Grill – National Hot Dog Month Day 7

The Coney Island Grill, located at 250 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North in Saint Petersburg, Florida is a third generation Coney Island Hot Dog Shop run by Pete Barlas. Pete recently took the business over from his dad, who’d been running the joint since the 1970’s. Pete’s grandfather started the business way back in […]

American Coney Island in Las Vegas

American Coney Island is normally associated with Detroit, not Las Vegas. The original American Coney Island is an iconic Detroit institution that’s been run by the same family for three generations over 95 years. When I got wind they were opening a Las Vegas location, I gave owner Grace Keros a call. She said to […]