Related: Read about John Champlin and his “Weiner World”: Tour de Frank.
“It’s just a hole-in-the-wall tacked onto what looks like a house, and from what I’ve read, it’s been there for, like, 30 years, and before that, it was where the Trailways bus station was located. They serve you from a simple walk-up window and you get a hot dog topped with delicious chili.”
208 West Granville Street
Windsor, NC 27983
facebook.com/oldbusstop
“It has a great variety of toppings, from baked beans to barbecue sauce, as well as nacho cheese. They have a hot dog served like a grilled cheese. And you can find all that in a thriving downtown.”
209 Main Street Northwest
Lenoir, NC 28645
theshakendog.com/home
“I loved their BLT Dog with lettuce, tomato, and mayo, and their Cleveland Dog with coleslaw and hot sauce with French fries right on top.”
9040 Caratoke Highway
Harbinger, NC NC 27941
facebook.com/pkspitstop
“They have a great build-your-own selection with really wild toppings like Gruyère cheese, chimichurri sauce, and bacon marmalade.”
107 East Parrish Street No. 105
Durham, NC 27701
bullcityburgerandbrewery.com
“They serve their hot dogs on a hot, buttered, toasted bun with creamy coleslaw and tangy chili. Their hot dog is a model of consistency. I’ve been there at least 17 times over the past 11 years, and their hot dog looks the same and tastes just so good every time.”
1412 South Hawthorne Road
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
facebook.com/pbstakeout
“Their hot dog looks like a painting from Michelangelo. It looks and tastes perfect with its layered toppings of coleslaw, relish, and onions with a thick layer of chili and a perfect twizzle of mustard on top.”
921 East Memorial Drive
Ahoskie, NC 27910
facebook.com/Ottobbqandgrill
“Their hot dog is massive, one of the largest I’ve ever had. It takes up a whole dinner plate, and you can get it loaded with beer cheese and chili. And when it comes out, the chili is just pouring over the side.”
506 West Main Street
Sylva, NC 28779
balsamfallsbrewing.com
“It’s a great spot that serves its hot dogs with a chili that has this Sloppy Joe flavor that I just love.”
103 Garysburg Road
Gaston, NC 27832
thestirfrygrilltogo.com
“This is a college student favorite at both Carolina and ECU, and they have such a wide variety of toppings, from sweet pineapple, freshly cut jalapeños, and sour cream to something they call Sup Dog sauce.”
107 East Franklin Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
213 East Fifth Street
Greenville, NC 27858
supdogs.com
“It has tons of outdoor seating. It’s really such a beautiful mountain setting, and what I loved when I went there was their Breakfast Dawg with sliced bacon, cheese sauce, and a fried egg.”
1910 Asheville Highway
Brevard, NC 28712
corkysdawghouse.com
“It’s a community staple in downtown Clinton. It’s been there since 1979, and it has this counter that’s more than 30 feet long. You go there, and it’s like stepping back in time. It’s just full of wonderful, kind people. And they serve a great hot dog with coleslaw and a pickle right there on top.”
123 Vance Street
Clinton, NC 28328
“Get your ballpark favorites in downtown Concord at Not Just Franks. The one frank, one pretzel combo is the way to go here. My choices: the German Frank (mustard and sauerkraut) and the garlic-parmesan pretzel. Maybe even a cinnamon-sugar pretzel for dessert.”
72 Union Street South
Concord, NC 28025
facebook.com/notjustfranks
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John Champlin has traveled across the state — and the nation — in search of hard-to-find spots that serve an unforgettable hot dog. After 11 years, what he’s discovered goes way beyond the bun.
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