Features Restaurant Hot Dogs Delicious Dives Highlight Homepage Guide To Our Favorite Hot Dogs In Connecticut Hannah Goodman June 25, 2024 This daily heat and humidity can only mean one thing: it’s summertime in Connecticut. It’s also hot dog time in Connecticut! Meat-grilling season is here and Independence Day is right around the corner and with that brings the pressure of entertaining friends and family, lighting off “legal” fireworks, and curating an outdoor feast. But what if you didn’t have to worry about any of those things and instead decided to celebrate the season and holiday somewhere else, say, a local CT eatery that offers delicious hot dogs and other festive culinary options? As someone who grew up working at a hot dog stand, I know what makes a true dog standout from all the rest. Sometimes it’s about the basics, like mustard and kraut, and for others it’s about the chili, cheese, and other specialty toppings that cover the dog. No matter what you have in store for the summer and for the Fourth of July, the hot dog stands, restaurants, and drive-ins on this list will surely make you want to say “screw our plans, let’s keep it simple and leave the food to those that know it best.” And to that we say, “we’ve got you covered!” Goodbye, summer stress. Hello, mouth-watering hot dogs. Augie & Rays Drive-in - East Hartfordhttps://www.augieandrays.com/Augie and Ray’s has been serving up their famous footlong dogs and their secret recipe chili (aka “the sauce”) to sports stars, politicians, and the East Hartford community since 1946. Ray’s great grandsons run the restaurant today and their goal has remained the same since Augie and Ray’s opened: serving great food, duh! Blackies - Cheshirehttps://blackieshotdogs.com/At Blackie’s, it’s all about the dog and the pepper relish, which has been true since they opened in 1928! They’ve been voted best hot dog in CT by USA Today, TripAdvisor, New England Today, and more. Try a dog with their famous homemade hot pepper relish, some ketchup, and brown mustard. Camacho Garage - New Haven https://www.camachogarage.com/This contemporary Mexican-style restaurant in the Westville neighborhood offers a vintage garage atmosphere as well as a unique “Mexican Hot Dog.” This hot dog consists of a Hummel beef dog, minced escabeche (Mexican pickled veggies), pico, and chipotle mayo. That sounds too good to be true, yet it is! Capitol Lunch - New Britainhttps://www.capitollunch.com/Capitol Lunch is a classic fast food family-run joint that has been specializing in hot dogs with their famous meat sauce since 1929. Their dogs are made to order and they use Martin Rosol’s hot dogs that have an all-natural casing, which are made with quality pork just a few doors down from Capitol’s. Chez Lenard - Ridgefield https://chezlenard.com/Chez Lenard has been a staple of Ridgefield’s main street for decades. They use all-beef, kosher Hebrew National Franks as the base for all of their creative toppings. A couple favorites include the chili-cheese dog (homemade beef chili and cheese fondue - a combo of American, gruyere, white wine, and Kirsch) and the sauerkraut and horseradish dog. They also cater all types of parties and events, so be sure to check them out!The Colombian Hot Dog - Bridgeporthttp://www.thecolombianhotdog.com/A Colombian hot dog is a typical all-beef dog with unique toppings and sauces, which is what makes it a very popular street food item across Colombia. Some of their toppings include crushed potato chips, slaw, mayo, cheese, and pineapple sauce (plus a secret sauce). You can also find their food truck in other cities around CT, so be sure to check out their Instagram to see where they’ll be next! Craven Dawgs & Ting - Norwalkhttps://www.cravendawgs.com/Craven is home to the original gourmet Jamaican jerk chili hot dog, which is a juicy all beef, natural casing dog topped with spicy jerk chili. Their other toppings include sweet plantains (an original idea), baked mac & cheese (yes please), curry potato salad, spicy mango mustard, and much, much more. Cricket Car Hop - Stratfordhttps://cricketcarhop.com/The Cricket originally opened in 1949 and their retro-styled restaurant still perfectly encapsulates the nostalgia of that era. Though they closed in 2004, they reopened in 2017 and with that came the resurgence of their famous Cricket Long Dog, which is a dog with hot sauce and red relish on a toasted golden New England-style roll. Heck, yeah! Dog Daze Cafe - Wiltonhttps://www.facebook.com/DogDazeCafe/?_rdrIf you have traveled route 7 as many times as I have, then you’ve definitely passed this quaint, roadside food stand. Google has even listed Dog Daze as one of the top-rated hot dog restaurants in the country! They use Nathan’s all-beef hot dogs as the base to their many dog options, including the “Bayou Dog,” the “Coney Island Dog,” the “Reuben Dog,” and the “Wilton Dog” (just to name a few!). Denmo’s Famous - Southbury https://www.denmosdrivein.com/It’s officially summertime, which means Denmo’s is open daily from 10am to 9pm. For locals and out-of-towners, their famous charred and crispy footlong dog can be topped with chili, bacon, cheese, fried onions, and more. Serving Southbury since 1978, this place is not one to miss! Dogtown - Milfordhttps://www.dogtownct.com/Dogtown opened in 2017 with the goal of combining the food and lifestyle of Southern California with a classic New England twist, and that they did! They offer many dog options, including “freestyle dogs” (BYO with the basic toppings) and “tricked out dogs” (a whole slew of fun combos and homemade toppings). Pair the dogs with some loaded tots, onion rings, coleslaw, and much more. Doogies - Newington https://www.doogieshotdogs.com/Proudly serving Grote & Weigel hot dogs, Doogies has been featured on Man v. Food, in CT Magazine, and in Rachel Ray Magazine. You can choose either a beef & pork dog with natural casing or a 10” skinless all-beef dog with your choice of toppings, including but not limited to kraut, chili, cheese, and homemade slaw. On Tuesdays they offer a 2-foot dog with free fries and a drink! Frankie’s Family Restaurants - Multiple Locations https://frankieshotdogs.com/Frankie’s is a family-owned operation and originated in Waterbury way back in 1937. They have many restaurants throughout the state and they cater! Their menu offers an array of delicious hot dogs, from just your basic-topping dog to dogs with baked beans, cherry peppers, chili, and plenty more. Glenwood Drive-in - Hamdenhttps://www.glenwooddrivein.com/This popular family-run drive-in has been serving the Hamden community for over 65 years. A few menu favorites include the juicy lobster roll, onion rings, and of course, their famous hot dog with their signature hot relish (voted #1 hot dog by Connecticut Magazine)! Gooseboro Drive-in - Bantamhttps://www.facebook.com/GooseboroDriveIn/Gooseboro has been a family-owned and operated business since 1961 where they serve hot dogs, burgers, fries, ice cream, and other yummy treats. You can try a Hummel Red Hot, which is split and grilled and gives you a punch of heat with each bite. Nothing like a lil extra heat in the heat of the summer! Heibeck’s - Wiltonhttps://www.heibecksstand.com/Heibeck’s has been serving award-winning food since they opened in 1931. They offer burgers, seafood, ice cream, hot dogs, and more! A couple featured dogs (all-beef & kosher) include the “Doe Doe Dog” (tomatoes, pickles, banana peppers, mayo, and yellow mustard) and the “Colorado Dog” (balsamic-glazed bacon, blue cheese sauce, and frizzled onions). Open Tues-Sun for the summer, this place is not one to miss! Jake’s Diggity Dogs - Milford http://www.jakesdiggitydogs.com/This downtown Milford hot dog shop, which opened in 2019, isn’t just any place with a wacky name. They have some seriously inventive hot dog creations, like the Reuben dog (pastrami, Swiss, russian dressing, brown mustard, and kraut or slaw) and the Hawaaian dog (diced pineapple and coconut shavings). I’ll see you there! Jordan’s Hot Dogs & Mac - New Havenhttps://www.jordanshotdogsnewhaven.com/our-menuJordan’s Hot Dogs & Mac is named after the owner’s son, the inspiration behind their epic mac & cheese hot dog, now a New Haven staple. Not into a beef dog? No problem! They also offer turkey dogs with any and all the toppings one could want on a regular dog. La Calle Arepas Bar - Norwalkhttps://lacallearepasbar.com/La Calle is an authentic Venezuelan eatery that offers staples like stuffed arepas, empanadas, and pastelitos. And yes, they also have some kickass hot dogs on the menu! Their perros calientes (hot dogs) are stacked with toppings like potato sticks, shredded cabbage, ham, sweet corn, onions, and salsa. You can try the “normal,” the “especial,” or their titular “La Calle” dog. Check them out for a true Venezuelan street-style culinary experience. Oh K-Dog - New Havenhttps://www.ohkdog.com/Korean Rice Hot Dogs have become an extremely popular street food item in Korea, and now it’s right here in CT! They use a stick to deep fry the dog until it becomes nice and crispy. You can get a dog filled with mozzarella cheese, squid ink, or a rice cake (vegetarian) and exciting toppings like potatoes, avocado, and more. Overton’s - Norwalkhttps://www.facebook.com/overtonsseafood/This is your classic no-frills “let’s get down to business” food stand, located just a few steps away from the Sound. With its beautiful water-front view, Overton’s menu offers fresh fish, burgers, hot dogs, and sides (fries, slaw, and onion rings). You can nosh on a couple of plain dogs or enjoy one of their dogs with the works (bacon, cheese, chili, and onions). Stop by the next time you’re in SoNo and want a simple, but delicious dog (or three)! Paul’s Ranch House & Pizza - Hartford https://www.paulsranchhousepizza.com/Paul’s Ranch House serves pizza, burgers, seafood, and of course, hot dogs. They feature the popular “junkyard dog” or a dog with fried onions, fried peppers, sauerkraut, chili, and cheese. The Pearl @ Fair Haven Oyster Company - New Havenhttps://www.fairhavenoysterco.com/the-pearlThe Pearl’s New Haven-style Hummel footlongs, served on the classic Martin’s bun, are classic, yet creative. You can get the classic (mustard, onions, and relish), the “cheesy chili,” the “surf & turf” (lobster salad and trout roe), or the “New Haven style” (clam jam, bacon, and red pepper relish). Check them out Thursday-Sunday. The Port of Call - Mystic https://theportofcallct.com/The Port of Call’s menu has culinary influences from South America, Southeast Asia, Puerto Rico, and the Mediterranean. Their smoked hot dog is a guaranteed winner, with bonito aioli, spicy kimchi, and a shallot and kelp crunch, all on a double-fermented house-made steamed bao bun. Paired with one of their many spirits, this dog is a true competitor. Ranch House - Hartford https://ranchhousehartford.com/Ranch House in East Hartford offers customers a diverse menu, which can be customized to your liking and dietary preferences. They have a variety of dogs, including chili dogs, chili-cheese dogs, and a kielbasa dog. Rawley’s Drive-in - Fairfieldhttps://www.rawleysdrivein.com/Rawley’s has been serving up quality since 1947 and has been featured in USA Today and is one of Martha Stewart’s CT faves. Their Hummel dogs can be topped with classics like chili, onions, relish, and kraut. Riley’s - New Britainhttp://www.rileysgourmet.com/Riley's Hot Dog and Burger Gourmet is a funky locale with a lengthy menu of creative hot dogs and burgers with hand-cut fries and craft beer. They strive to use locally sourced meats and ingredients while keeping it innovative, fresh, and delicious for their community. Super Duper Weenie - Fairfieldhttps://www.superduperweenie.com/At Super Duper Weenie, they serve split and grilled hot dogs that are laid in a freshly baked roll and covered with their house-made relishes and other quality toppings. You can order hot dogs that are named after US cities known for having some of the best dogs, including the New Yorker (kraut, mustard, hot relish, and onion sauce), the Chicagoan (lettuce, tomato, mustard, celery salt, hot relish, and a pickle), and plenty more. The Wienery - Stamfordhttps://www.thewienery.com/The Wienery squad is embarking on their journey to “world-weiner domination” and needs your help! This task only requires you to taste and enjoy their natural-casing Angus beef hot dogs, which are split, grilled, and placed in Pepperidge Farm buns. A few specialty dogs sure to knock your socks off are the “Tater Dog,” the “Big Sloppy Dog,” and the “Squealer Dog” (feat. BBQ pulled pork and slaw!). The White Buffalo - New Canaanhttps://www.thewhitebuffalo.net/The White Buffalo is open everyday (except Mondays) and offers plenty of Menu favorites. The “W.B. (White Buffalo) Hot Dog” is a BYO (build your own) dog with classic toppings, including ketchup/mustard, relish, bacon, chili, cheese, sauerkraut, and jalapenos. What else could you ask for?
