Hot dogs, lemonade, and apple pie. Could there be a more quintessentially American summer meal? While it’s cheap and easy to grab a pack of frankfurters and buns at the local supermarket to make at home, there’s something nostalgic about getting a hot dog right off the grill at a restaurant, food truck, amusement park, or ball game. You can even get all-you-can-eat dogs in certain sections of Globe Life Field while watching the Texas Rangers play.
All across DFW, hot dogs find their way onto menus—from beloved burger joints to food trucks that specialize in the handheld treat. Whether or not it’s technically a sandwich is the subject of much debate, but who really cares as long as it’s hot, the bun’s fresh, and the toppings are in perfect balance.
Here are 12 spots around DFW to live footlong and fancy free.
Burger Schmurger
The pop-up-turned-brick-and-mortar neighborhood favorite in the Lake Highlands neighborhood of East Dallas focuses almost exclusively on creatively topped double smash burgers, but if you look all the way at the bottom right-hand side of the menu, you’ll find the amazing Loaded Schmog. This juicy number features a split-and-seared hot dog on a toasty brioche bun, topped with grilled onions, Schmurger dill pickles, and fresh jalapeños. Pair it with some tallow-fried onion strings for an extra treat. 718 N. Buckner Blvd., Ste. 100, Dallas, burgerschmurger.com
TJ’s Dog Haus
Food truck owners often pick one very specialized item to focus on and do it better than anyone else. That’s the philosophy behind TJ’s, which pops up daily during lunch hours in front of a Lowe’s home improvement store before heading out to other destinations across North Texas. They use Vienna Beef jumbo dogs from Chicago with a variety of topping combos, from classic Chi-Town-style with relish, onions, sport peppers, tomato, and pickle to more creative options, including the Double Egg Hangover with grilled onions, peppers, jalapeños, and two fried eggs. 501 S. Plano Rd., Richardson, facebook.com
Angry Dog
This Deep Ellum staple’s namesake is an absolute must-try, whether you’re popping in for lunch or before a concert down the street. An all-beef Kosher hot dog gets slathered with mustard, meaty chili, grilled purple onions, grated cheddar, and a side of pickles. Best of all, it comes with your choice of French fries, pasta salad, or refried beans, making it a complete meal. 2726 Commerce St., Dallas, angrydog.com
Dairy-Ette
Since 1956, this old-school drive-in has delighted East Dallas diners with burgers, dogs, soft-serve ice cream, and homemade root beer. Order from a carhop and dine in your front seat or grab a booth or stool at the counter. The chili-cheese dog comes slathered in so much beefy chili that you won’t even see the frank, especially with a blanket of American cheese. Don’t sleep on the hand-dipped corn dogs. 9785 Ferguson Rd., Dallas, facebook.com
Okaeri Cafe
Japanese comfort food gets top billing at this cafe, from dumplings and steam buns to yakisoba noodles and chicken katsu curry. However, many of the restaurant’s fans come in especially for the “Hottodoggu” section of the menu. Among the five options, the Okonomi Doggu may be the most quintessentially Japanese, with its grilled beef hot dog loaded with bonito flakes, nori, furikake, ketchup, and Japanese mayo, all working together to deliver a major umami punch and a range of textures and colors. 312 N. Greenville Ave., Ste. 100, Richardson, okaericafe.square.site
Hunky’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers
Since 1984, the Oak Lawn original and Bishop Arts District spin-off have been doling out tasty burgers, fries, and tots to hungry patrons looking for a satisfying meal at a fair price. The Hunky Chili Cheese Dog is no exception. A split, quarter-pound, all-beef hot dog gets grilled on the flat top, then layered with all-beef (no-bean!) Texas chili, cheddar, grilled onions, and mustard on a soft toasty bun. Multiple locations, hunkys.com
Dog Haus Biergarten
Based in Pasadena, California, this small national chain has three locations across DFW serving up six different on-a-bun hot dogs alongside root-beer-battered corn dogs. Take your taste buds to the West Coast with the Sooo Cali, a fresh take on the restaurant’s hormone- and antibiotic-free all-beef franks served on King’s Hawaiian rolls. This version features wild arugula, sliced avocado and tomato, fried onion strings, and spicy basil aioli. Multiple locations, doghaus.com
FrankSeoul
Head to Carrollton or Frisco to enjoy authentic Korean snacks and specialty hot dogs, but bring a group because you can get buckets of seven or more at a discount. Try the Potato Hot Dog, which, as the name suggests, features crispy potatoes surrounding a hot dog on a stick. Or opt for the Half and Half Dog, made with half mozzarella and half hot dog for a hybrid cheesestick-corndog experience. Multiple locations, frankseoulus.com
Mash Dogs
Prepare to make some tough decisions with five different gourmet dogs and two monthly special options, which might feature something outside the box, like a full Philly cheesesteak atop a hot dog. Regularly available, the Mad Dog comes with a 100% Halal beef hot dog, cream cheese, sriracha, housemade curry ketchup, honey mayo, and some battered fried onions for a little crunch. Multiple locations, eatmashdogs.com
Fletcher’s Corny Dogs
Most people agree that a trip to the State Fair of Texas wouldn’t be the same without a stop at the iconic Fletcher’s Corny Dogs booth across from Big Tex. Luckily, you don’t have to wait until September, thanks to the Klyde Warren Park food truck, which offers the 1942 original, as well as veggie versions, a cheese-only option, and the spicy beef, pork, cheddar, and jalapeño Make Mine Texan. 2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy., Dallas, fletcherscornydogs.com
Flaming Burger
Anyone who’s ever been to Mexico has likely been lured to a street vendor by the enticing aromas of bacon-wrapped hot dogs after a day on the beach or a night out at the bars. This East Dallas strip-center burger joint delivers the goods with its Mexicdog. In addition to the crispy bacon wrap, it comes with hot mustard, ketchup, mayo, and pico de gallo for added kick—all for under four bucks. 1255 Garland Rd., Ste. 101A, Dallas, flamingburger.net
Portillo’s
Founded in Villa Park, Illinois, in 1963, Portillo’s has recently been expanding its reach all across the country. Dallas is fortunate to have several outposts in the area for when a Chicago-style hot dog craving hits. Dogs come on poppyseed buns, and there’s even a plant-based sausage option. For a major fix, try the Char-Grilled Maxwell Street Polish sausage, topped with extra yellow mustard and caramelized grilled onions. And, of course, crinkle fries make everything better. Multiple locations, portillos.com
El Perro Loco
Tap into your inner chef by creating your own custom hot dog at this Denton food truck. Choose a 6- or 8-inch hot dog, then load it up with your favorite condiments, plus grilled onions and bell peppers for a fajita-style moment. Or, get one of their carefully crafted dogs, including the LA Style, made with mayo, mustard, ketchup, grilled jalapeños, peppers, and onions, plus a generous sprinkle of Cheetos dust. 2315 Colorado Blvd., Denton, facebook.com
