The (Hot) Dog Days of Summer
Craving a hot dog in Durham? Check out these recommendations to find your ideal dog.
We couldn't have predicted it, but 2025 seems to be the year of the hot dog. As a baseball city where our James Beard Award-winning chefs proudly serve their food on paper trays and our legacy businesses are decades old sandwich stands, Durham's got plenty of takes on the classic and not-so-classic dog. If you’re looking for some hot dog inspiration – beyond the basic grocery aisle selections – head to one of these fine Durham establishments:
Alley Twenty Six
What to get: Brasstown Beef Hot Dog
Where: 320 E. Chapel Hill St.
While Alley Twenty Six is typically known for its award-winning cocktails and tinned fish menu, its hot dogs deserve some respect as well. The late night menu offers two different hot dog options, both made with dogs from local farm Brasstown Beef. Add sauerkraut and pimento cheese to kick it up a notch, or get the classic chili cheese dog. Keep an eye on their Instagram to catch their occasional specialty dog offerings.
BB's Grill
What to get: The Venezuelan Dog
Where: Variable, 2312 US-70 E.
This Venezuelan food truck packs more flavor into a hot dog bun than you could imagine. You can typically find them at their semi-permanent spot on US-70, but check their socials to make sure they haven't set up shop somewhere else for the day. For a one-of-a-kind hot dog experience, order the Venezuelan dog, piled high with potato sticks, slaw, special sauce, onion and cheese.
Bull City Burger and Brewery
What to get: Reubenesque Dog
Where: 107 E. Parrish St.
Bull City Burger and Brewery uses antibiotic-free, North Carolina pasture-raised beef for its hot dogs, and even grinds the beef in house. Get your dog on a house-baked bun and customize it with pickled vegetables, slaw or pimento cheese.
Cate's Cookout
What to get: 2 Chicken Dogs, All The Way
Where: 2100 Angier Ave.
There are few things like a hot dog grilled in your own backyard, but Cate's Cookout is about as close as you can get. The hot dogs here will transport you grill-side. Take your pick from beef, chicken or turkey hot dogs, or get one of each. Order them all the way and finish your order off with a side of crispy crinkle cut fries.
Cookout
What to get: 2 Hot Dog Tray
Where: 1540 S. Miami Blvd., 3624 Hillsborough Rd., 4245 N. Roxboro St.
You can't talk North Carolina hot dogs without bringing up Cookout. While this fast food legend has locations all across the southeast, it originated in NC. One of the great things about Cookout is the variety. You can order a single hot dog, but for the true Cookout experience, you'll want to get a 2 dog tray. Customize your hot dogs however you want, or order them Carolina Style All the Way for a true-to-form NC hot dog. The "perfect Cookout tray" is a highly controversial topic, so we recommend choosing whichever sides and Cheerwine Float speak to your taste buds the loudest.
Dain's Place
What to get: Kosher Dog with mustard, slaw, red onions and chili
Where: 754 9th St.
Dain's Place is known for many things: being one of the best bars in town, the burgers, and, you guessed it, their hot dogs. Served on a fresh baked roll, Dain's all beef kosher hot dogs are a little link of heaven. One of the things that really kicks Dain's dogs up to the next level is their homemade sweet beef chili. Make your own creation using their exhaustive list of toppings or get a classic chili dog with mustard, slaw and onions. Whatever you get, make sure you pair it with a side of crispy tots and a draft beer.
E.O.'s Athletic Club
What to get: Fried Hot Dog
Where: 341 W. Main St.
West Main's newest sports bar came to do something different: center community, champion women's sports, and feed you well while you watch. Order the fried hot dog topped with onions and mustard relish and you won't be thinking about much else.
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
What to get: Bright Leaf Hot Dog
Where: 409 Blackwell St.
Fresh cut grass and a baseball game pair well with a hot dog. Get a Bright Leaf hot dog at a Durham Bulls game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park during the spring and summer months. Take your ballpark frank experience to a whole new level with a pint of beer from Bull Durham Beer Co., the the team's signature brew. Get tickets to a Thursday game for their hot dog special: Dollar Dog Night.
Guglhupf
What to get: Grilled Bratwurst
Where: 2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.
Guglhupf's restaurant menu is full of classic German plates that are designed to delight, and the Grilled Bratwurst is no exception. Served with sauerkraut and Düsseldorf mustard on a brezel bun with a dill spear on the side, this dog is so good you won't even think about arguing whether or not brats count as hot dogs.
High Dive
What to get: The Vegas Dog
Where: 101 W. Main St., Ste Lo2
Duck down into High Dive for a classic dive bar experience, complete with elevated dive bar dogs. They keep the rotisserie loaded with JUMBO Nathan's Hot Dogs, ready to be ordered directly from the bar. You can order your dog in a variety of ways. But for a unique treat, get yours Vegas Style, topped with chili, nacho cheese, and house made pickled jalapeños.
Jimmy's Famous Hot Dogs
What to get: Jimmy's Famous with Cheese
Where: 2728 Guess Rd., 4435 NC-55
A list of best hot dogs in Durham would not be complete without Jimmy's Famous Hot Dogs. A monument to all thinks frank, Jimmy's serves affordable classic sized and foot long hot dogs. Jimmy's Famous with Cheese comes with mustard, chili, slaw, onions and cheddar cheese sauce, and its the clear winner when picking the medium for your first Jimmy's experience. Honorable mentions include The Cowboy and Yankee Dog.
King's Sandwich Shop
What to get: The Southern Red Dog
Where: 701 Foster St.
King’s Sandwich Shop has been a Durham icon since 1942. Stop by this walk-up sandwich stand at the corner of Geer and Foster Streets and ask for King’s Southern Red Dog – a beef hot dog topped with King’s sauce, homemade slaw, and homemade chili. Pair your dog with some tater tots and fried okra, and you’re good to go. Not a meat eater? Not to fear. King's serves veggie dogs as well.
Only Burger
What to get: The Hawaiian Dog
Where: 3710 Shannon Rd.
Don't let the name fool you: Only Burger has hot dogs too. Serving only the best, Only Burger's Hawaiian Dog, stacked with guac, melted pepper jack cheese and pineapple salsa, needs to be on your list of hot dogs to try in Durham. Regardless of the toppings you choose, all dogs are a full quarter pound of 100% beef.
Original Q Shack
What to get: Jalapeño Smoked Sausage Sandwich
Where: 2510 University Dr.
Take a break from the grill and take a ride on the smokier side with the Q Shack's smoked hot dogs and sausages. The Q Shack will often announce specials on their socials, a recurring item being two all-beef smoked hot dogs, any toppings, with a side of hush puppies. If they're not running the special during your visit, not to worry. The jalapeño smoked sausage sandwich is a great option.
QueDogs
What to get: The QueDog
Where: 2020 Chapel Hill Rd.
QueDogs has solved the age old problem of needing to decide between hot dogs or BBQ by putting the two amazing foods together. Step up to the window at QueDogs for some of the best pulled pork and hot dogs in the Bull City. Whether you get a pork or beef hot dog, the QueDog comes loaded up with their award winning pulled pork barbecue and a generous helping of slaw.
The Boot Room
What to get: The Lewandowski
Where: 2501 University Dr.
This soccer focused sports bar is well known around town for its delicious, creatively named sandwiches. The Boot Room's hot dog, named after famous Polish footballer Robert Lewandoski, has rightfully earned its namesake. Combining Polish Kielbasa with a Guglhupf bretzel roll is already a game winning combo. Top it off with braised sauerkraut and spicy grain mustard with an order of tots on the side, and you're on your way to a world cup wiener.
The Dog House
What to get: Ol' Yallow
Where: 931 N. Miami Blvd, 5279 N Roxboro Rd., 3521 Hillsborough Road
The Dog House has served hot dogs out of, well, a dog house since the 1970s. It’s hard to resist the kitsch, low prices and signature toppings at any of the joint’s four Durham locations. Get the Ol’ Yallow – a pork hot dog with mustard, melted cheese, and bacon bits – for the perfect Dog House experience.
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