Rippers, Texas Weiners, dirty water dogs, Italian-style—whichever you prefer, there’s no denying that hot dogs are ubiquitous in New Jersey. And for millions of New Jerseyans, the local hot dog joint is more than just lunch. It carries sentimental value. It’s a tradition you pass down to your kids, and they pass down to theirs.
Whether it’s old-school pushcarts dishing steamed Sabretts with hot onions, or deep-fried links stuffed into pizza bread with fried potatoes, peppers, and onions, New Jersey has no shortage of hot dogs to sink your teeth into.
They’re cheap. They snap. And they’re often served with a crisp birch beer or a glass bottle of Yoo-Hoo. Here are 21 iconic New Jersey hot dogs.
Dickie Dee’s – Newark
Italian hot dogs are really only a thing in New Jersey, and chief among them is Dickie Dee’s—a no-frills pizzeria and hot dog shop on Bloomfield Avenue. The typical order comes with a snappy fried hot dog, potatoes, peppers, onions, ketchup, and mustard stuffed into pizza bread.
Rutt’s Hut – Clifton
It’s the most famous hot dog in New Jersey—and maybe the world. Rutt’s Hut specializes in deep-fried Thumann’s links—called “rippers”—with cabbage relish, a secret German recipe that’s been passed down since Rutt’s first opened in 1928. Cash only.
Hiram’s – Fort Lee
Hiram’s serves what the late Anthony Bourdain, a New Jersey native, once called his favorite hot dog in the Garden State. The Fort Lee eatery specializes in rippers with a variety of toppings, including relish, chili, onions, and kraut.
The Hot Grill – Clifton
One of Clifton’s many iconic hot dogs, The Hot Grill serves Texas weiners—fried frankfurters served “all-the-way,” topped with a spiced chili sauce, raw onions, and mustard. You might remember the famous commercials from the 90s and 2000s—one of which featured the frightening “Hotgrilla,” a giant reptile who has a violent hunger that only a Hot Grill weiner can solve.
The Windmill – The Jersey Shore
The Windmill has been the favorite hot dog option among Jersey Shore beachgoers since the 1960s. A special-made Sabrett link is the secret to their flat top-griddled hot dogs, which come topped with the likes of chili, cheese, kraut, sauteed onions, and more. The signature snap of a Windmill dog is what keeps the regulars hooked.
Manny’s Texas Wieners – Vauxhall
Hungry patrons sit shoulder-to-shoulder at Manny’s, chowing down on none other than the Texas weiner. It’s the combo of spiced chili sauce, raw onion, and mustard that keeps the locals coming back daily for their lunch fix.
Note: You’ll see it spelled both “wiener” and “weiner” throughout this list. That’s not a typo!
Randy the Hot Dog Guy – Hillside
Owner Randy Pollack is, as the name suggests, the Hot Dog Guy—and he keeps things fun at his Route 22-located hot dog emporium. Over a dozen mustards to choose from, a mix of classic and new-school toppings, and the real thing that sets Randy apart? Multiple hot dog brands (and types) to try. A hot dog joint for the obsessives.
Chris’ Red Hots – Newark, Verona
Originally a food truck posted up in Newark, Chris’ Red Hots specializes in dirty water dogs, topped with a variety of toppings, like hot onions (AKA red hots), mashed potatoes, cherry peppers, and chili.
Hot Dog Johnny’s – Buttzville
This roadside stand in rural New Jersey will transport you back eight decades to the mid-1940s. The dogs are fried in peanut oil, typically topped with raw onion, mustard, and a pickle spear. Don’t forget a cold glass of buttermilk to wash it all down—that’s just the way they do it at Hot Dog Johnny’s.
Tony’s Specialized Hot Dogs – Newark
Tony’s is one of the many hot dog trucks in Newark—and they’ve been keeping things classic since 1968 with steamed franks, customized with your choice of toppings. Everything from kraut, chili, and cheese, to mustard, potato sticks, and hot onions. Find the truck in Branchburg Park.
Goffle Grill – Hawthorne
Goffle Grill is quintessentially North Jersey. The Texas wieners are the star, which they keep as classic as it gets: deep-fried Thumann’s link, raw onion, mustard, and a sludge-like chili sauce, which perfectly blankets the dogs, giving them that signature Goffle look.
Hank’s Franks – Lodi
Perched on the side of a busy Route 46 is Hank’s Franks. The Lodi staple is known for dirty water dogs, served all-the-way with chili, mustard and onion. But many regulars opt for kraut, hot onions, or cheese sauce, too. Add a cold RC Cola from the fountain and suddenly you have a lunch that’s hard to beat.
Boulevard Drinks – Jersey City
Boulevard Drinks is a quintessential part of the Jersey City fabric in Journal Square. The tiny lunch counter dishes out griddled dogs and spicy sausages, topped with a variety of condiments, like mustard, kraut, chili, and more. Don’t forget to grab one of their famous drinks—grapeade, lime rickey, orangeade, and beyond.
Jimmy Buff’s – West Orange
Jimmy Buff’s created the Italian hot dog when James “Bluff” Racioppi opened the shop on 14th Ave. & 9th St. in Newark in 1932. Since, the legendary hot dog joint has moved to nearby West Orange, but the Italian hot dogs are all the same: fried franks, peppers, onions, potatoes, and mustard, stuffed into fresh pizza bread.
Destination Dogs – New Brunswick
This beloved New Brunswick institution is known for their zany hot dog creations, which take inspiration from flavors found across the nation and globe. A Chinese-inspired dog combines Cantonese sausage with hoisin, cucumbers, chili crisp, sesame seed, shredded scallion, and cilantro; while a Queens, New York option sees an all-beef hot dog with cheese sauce, secret sauce, cabbage, onions, pickle, and sesame seeds.
Maui’s Dog House – Wildwood
The dogs at Maui’s are griddled until deeply browned, resulting in a flavor and texture that is synonymous with the legendary beachside stand. Nearly 30 toppings keep things fresh—everything from chili and beer-cooked sauerkraut, to brown mustard, cherry pepper relish, and cole slaw. Choose what you like. It’s your dog.
Hot Dog Tommy’s – Cape May
Walk into Hot Dog Tommy’s on any given day and chances are you’ll be greeted by Owner Bruce, donning his legendary hot dog hat. He takes his dogs seriously—serving a steamed-then-griddled Berks Foods weiner—available in two sizes—with a variety of fun toppings. It’s a Cape May institution for good reason. Don’t forget to grab a frozen Coke.
Tommy’s Italian Sausage & Hot Dogs – Elizabeth
Tommy’s is the kind of neighborhood hot dog joint that feels unapologetically New Jersey. It’s a true working-class joint, walk up to the sidewalk window and order your choice of classic-topped frankfurter, Italian hot dog, or house-made sausage, split and griddled. Don’t forget to grab a cup of fried potatoes on the side.
Texas Wiener I – Plainfield
For over 100 years, this institution has served Plainfield-style Texas weiners, which differ from the more commonly known Passaic-style in that the dogs are griddled instead of fried, and the chili is thicker and noticeably darker. Texas Wiener I is known for a chili so dark it’s nearly black. But that’s what keeps locals coming back. There’s no one else doing it like them.
Johnny & Hanges – Fair Lawn
One of New Jersey’s oldest continuously operating Passaic-style Texas weiner joints, Johnny & Hanges has been dishing out chili-topped dogs since 1939. The deep-fried franks are most commonly served all-the-way, but a chili cheese dog with a slice of white American is another popular option.
Russ Ayres Hot Dogs – Bordentown
Russ Ayres feels like the classic American hot dog joint. The yellow-and-red building has been serving simple steamed dogs in Bordentown since the 60s. The menu is as no-frills as it gets—mustard, relish, onions, kraut, cheese, chili, and bacon make up the toppings. Missing America’s favorite tomato condiment? Russ Ayres keeps it blunt: “KETCHUP IS FOR HAMBURGERS!”
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
