The Guide: Hot Dog Stands in New Jersey
Jersey Dog Confidential
We asked New Jersey’s most iconic hot dog stands what they serve. Some told us. Some absolutely did not. Then the hot dog underground showed up.
I have always been a hot dog girl.
Not in a sophisticated way. I am not pretending I grew up studying regional frankfurter preparation or debating natural casing versus skinless over dinner. I just know that if there is a hot dog on the menu with enough stuff piled on top of it, there is a pretty good chance I am ordering it.
So when we decided to build a Garden State Circle guide to New Jersey’s iconic hot dog stands, I thought this was going to be pretty straightforward.
Find the old-school places. Find the Shore places. Figure out the different styles. Call the businesses. Ask what they serve. Put everything together in one actually useful guide.
Easy.
Except I underestimated New Jersey hot dog people.
More importantly, I underestimated New Jersey hot dog secrecy.
We started calling the businesses directly because I wanted the guide to be different from the dozens of lists online that all seem to repeat the same information from one another. We asked each place what style of hot dog it serves, what frank it uses, when it opened and whether it closes seasonally.
Some businesses answered everything.
Some answered some things.
And a few essentially told us that what happens between the bun stays between the bun.
Rutt’s Hut told us it uses a beef-and-pork hot dog with a skin but declined to name the brand. Hiram’s confirmed a pork-and-beef natural-casing dog but would only describe the manufacturer as “a famous brand.” Bubba Dog’s told us its frank brand was private. Tony’s Hot Dogs declined to participate altogether. Hot Dog Johnny’s told us its frank is “special made for us.”
Which is all completely fair.
It is also exactly the kind of thing that makes me desperately want to know the answer.
I posted the guide in a Facebook group called Jersey Hot Dog Joints and basically said: I know I am walking into a room full of strong opinions. Tell me what we missed.
That was when things got interesting.
The hot dog guys arrived.
First came Jeff Ananson in the Facebook comments.
Jeff started rattling off information with the specificity of somebody discussing SEC filings.
Thumann’s.
Pork and beef.
Natural casing.
Made specifically for deep frying.
Hiram’s. Rutt’s Hut. Goffle Grill. Jersey Johnny’s.
Then he told us Hot Dog Johnny’s dogs are made by Schmalz’s Provisions.
Then came Texas Weiner I. According to Jeff: Grote and Weigel. Pork and beef. Natural casing. Texan brand. He also says Texas Weiner I dates to 1924 and is the oldest in the state.
Jake did what Jake does and immediately asked him where we could find something published to reference.
Jeff’s answer might be my favorite part of this entire project:
“just my knowledge and there are a lot of group experts on here.”
Honestly?
That is about as Jersey as this story gets.
Because almost simultaneously, John Fox reached out to me separately.
And John came with receipts of a different kind.
Not links.
Stories.
John runs the Hot Dog Nation group. Hot dogs are his hobby and passion, except calling it a hobby feels like calling Bruce Springsteen a guy who plays guitar sometimes.
John sent us information on 18 different hot dog businesses.
Not just the manufacturer.
The exact frank.
The size.
The casing.
The blend.
How it is prepared.
In some cases, why that particular frank exists.
He knows which Thumann’s dog is made for deep frying. He knows which Grote and Weigel recipe is different from another Grote and Weigel recipe. He knows that the WindMill dog is not the same Sabrett frank you are likely getting from a cart.
Apparently, there are levels to this.
What We Heard
The information below does not replace the verified guide that follows. These are details provided by John Fox of Hot Dog Nation and Jeff Ananson of the Jersey Hot Dog Joints Facebook group. Where both independently gave us the same information, we say so.
1950 Originals, Westwood. John Fox says: Thumann’s. Two custom quarter-pound franks, one all beef and one pork-and-beef. John says the recipe is different from the standard Thumann’s frank served elsewhere and intentionally milder to work with the restaurant’s gourmet toppings. He says both the owner of Thumann’s and the owner of 1950 Originals confirmed this to him. Source: John Fox
Boulevard Drinks, Jersey City. John Fox says: Sabrett all beef, 12-to-a-pound, natural casing. He says Boulevard Drinks opened in 1936. He also told us the business was dealing with a lease dispute and an uncertain future when he contacted us. Source: John Fox
Bubba Dog’s, Sea Isle City. John Fox believes: Sabrett all beef. He says a friend who owned a Sabrett hot dog truck saw a Sabrett umbrella at the business and later believed the same frank was still being served after the umbrella disappeared. Members of John’s Hot Dog Nation group have told him the same. Bubba Dog’s itself declined to identify its frank to us, so this remains John’s belief, not a business-confirmed fact. Source: John Fox
Chris’ Red Hots, Verona. John Fox says: Sabrett all beef, 11-to-a-pound, skinless. He also told us his late wife loved the restaurant’s hot onions and that he would take her there for hot dogs. Source: John Fox
Galloping Hill Inn, Union. John Fox says: Galloping Hill used a frank from Gaiser’s Pork Store until 1988. After Gaiser’s changed ownership, he says Galloping Hill obtained the recipe and Grote and Weigel began making the frank specifically for the restaurant. John says that recipe is exclusive to Galloping Hill and differs from Grote and Weigel’s Texan-brand frank served elsewhere. Source: John Fox
Goffle Grill, Hawthorne. John Fox says: Thumann’s pork-and-beef, 8-to-a-pound, natural casing and made specifically for deep frying. Jeff Ananson independently identified Goffle Grill as serving the Thumann’s pork-and-beef natural-casing frank made for deep frying. Sources: John Fox and Jeff Ananson
Hank’s Franks, Lodi. John Fox says: Sabrett all beef, 12-to-a-pound, natural casing. Source: John Fox
Hiram’s Roadstand, Fort Lee. John Fox says: Thumann’s pork-and-beef, 6-to-a-pound, natural casing and made for deep frying. Jeff Ananson independently identified Hiram’s as serving the Thumann’s pork-and-beef natural-casing frank made for deep frying. Hiram’s itself confirmed to us only that its frank is pork-and-beef on natural casing and described the manufacturer as “a famous brand.” Sources: John Fox and Jeff Ananson
Hot Dog Johnny’s, Buttzville. John Fox says: Kohler’s brand, made by Schmalz’s Provisions in Springfield, pork-and-beef and skinless. He says the dogs are fried in peanut oil. Jeff Ananson independently told us that Hot Dog Johnny’s dogs are made for the business by Schmalz’s Provisions. Hot Dog Johnny’s itself described its frank to us only as “special made for us.” Sources: John Fox and Jeff Ananson
Jimmy Buff’s, West Orange. John Fox says: Best Provisions all beef. He says the West Orange location uses a 10-to-a-pound frank. He also described a Kenilworth Jimmy Buff’s using an 8-to-a-pound frank, although Jimmy Buff’s own current website lists West Orange as its location, so we are not treating Kenilworth as a current verified location in the factual guide. Source: John Fox
Lou Dogs, Sea Isle City. John Fox says: Hatfield brand, pork-and-beef, skinless and boiled. Source: John Fox
Rutt’s Hut, Clifton. John Fox says: Thumann’s pork-and-beef, 8-to-a-pound, natural casing and made specifically for deep frying. Jeff Ananson independently identified Rutt’s Hut as using the Thumann’s pork-and-beef natural-casing frank made for deep frying. Rutt’s Hut itself confirmed to us that its dog has a skin and is a beef-and-pork mix but declined to name the brand. Sources: John Fox and Jeff Ananson
Texas Wiener I, Plainfield. John Fox says: Grote and Weigel Texan-brand, 6-to-a-pound, beef-and-pork. Jeff Ananson independently identified Texas Wiener I as serving a Grote and Weigel pork-and-beef natural-casing Texan-brand frank and says the business dates to 1924, making it the oldest Texas weiner establishment in the state. Texas Wiener I was not reached directly for our factual guide. Sources: John Fox and Jeff Ananson
The Hot Grill, Clifton. John Fox says: The Hot Grill uses a Grote and Weigel frank made specifically for deep frying. He says it is different from the exclusive Grote and Weigel recipe made for Galloping Hill Inn. The Hot Grill itself confirmed Grote and Weigel and natural casing to us but did not provide that additional recipe distinction. Source: John Fox
Tommy’s Italian Hot Dogs. John Fox says: Best Provisions all beef, 8-to-a-pound and skinless. He says it is the same frank used by Jimmy Buff’s and Dickie Dee’s. Our current guide contains Tommy’s Italian Sausage in Elizabeth, not a business listed under the exact name “Tommy’s Italian Hot Dogs,” so we are not attaching this information to that factual entry without confirming they are the same business. Source: John Fox
Tony’s Hot Dogs, Newark. John Fox says: Sabrett all beef, 10-to-a-pound, natural casing. Tony’s declined to participate in our factual guide, so the table will continue to reflect the business’s own response. Source: John Fox
The WindMill, Long Branch. John Fox says: Sabrett, quarter-pound, beef-and-pork blend, natural casing. He says this frank is different from the Sabrett all-beef franks commonly served by carts and trucks. Source: John Fox
Jersey Johnny’s. John Fox and Jeff Ananson independently identify Jersey Johnny’s as serving the same Thumann’s pork-and-beef natural-casing frank made for deep frying that appears at several North Jersey hot dog spots. Jersey Johnny’s is not currently an entry in our guide. Sources: John Fox and Jeff Ananson
Additional businesses raised by the hot dog community. Jeff Ananson also named New Coral, JJ’s Belmont Grill, Jolly Nick’s, Rocco’s, Bubba’s Texas Weiners, Double A’s Eats, Dawg House and Cubby’s/Quarry Grill in connection with the Thumann’s deep-frying frank. John Fox additionally mentioned J&G’s Texas Weiners, Manny’s Texas Weiner and Middlesex Texas Weiner in connection with the Grote and Weigel Texan-brand frank; Jersey Dog and Dickie Dee’s also came up in his notes. These businesses are leads for future reporting and are not being added to the factual guide based solely on these comments.
One more reader, Charlie Roberts, told us we were missing Hot Diggidy Dog in Chatsworth, describing it as open-air, unique and seasonal.
We heard you.
We are apparently going to need a bigger hot dog guide.
Now, the verified guide
Everything below this point follows a different standard.
The factual entries are based on what each business told Garden State Circle directly or what the business publishes on its own website or social channels. Information from John, Jeff and other readers does not silently become a verified fact in the table.
Think of the section above as Jersey Dog Confidential.
The section below is the record.
And yes, we will keep calling people until somebody cracks.
I have always been more of a hot dog gal than a hamburger girl. Give me a good hot dog loaded with toppings, and I am happy.
When we started researching New Jersey hot dog stands, I expected to find some great local places and a few interesting combinations. What I did not expect was just how seriously people in the Garden State take their hot dogs.
New Jersey has its own distinct hot dog styles, each with a history and a loyal following. There are rippers fried until the casing splits, Texas weiners topped with mustard, onions and chili sauce, and Newark-style Italian hot dogs packed into pizza bread with peppers, onions and potatoes. At the Shore, the toppings become even more creative.
The differences go beyond how the hot dogs are prepared. Some businesses have served the same communities for nearly a century. Some close when summer ends, while others remain open throughout the year. The stands also use different frank brands, although a few were not willing to share exactly what they serve.
We contacted hot dog stands across New Jersey to learn what type of hot dog each one is known for, which frank it uses, when the business opened and whether it closes for the season. We also found that some information repeated in other guides is outdated or incorrect.
This guide is not a ranking. With this many regional styles and strong opinions involved, choosing one best hot dog in New Jersey would be nearly impossible.
Instead, consider this your guide to finding the New Jersey hot dog that sounds best to you.
This guide is part of @TiffanyKnowsNJ, where I share the places, experiences and local finds worth knowing across the Garden State.
How We Selected These Stands
Every business on this guide is a fixed-location business in New Jersey whose trade is the hot dog — a counter, stand, grill or roadstand where the hot dog is the reason people come. Carts and trucks without a fixed address are not included. Every fact on this page comes from one of two places, and each cell says which: the business’s own word, on a phone call, or the business’s own website or social account, dated as read. Nothing here is taken from another published guide, list or reference — several of the corrections on this page exist because those sources are wrong. This guide covers the whole state of New Jersey.
About This Guide
This guide is produced by Garden State Circle. Hot dog stands appear here because they meet the criteria described above — each is a fixed-location New Jersey business whose trade is the hot dog. That is a test, not a judgment, and it is the only route onto this page. No business can pay to be included in this guide, to be listed higher, or to change what the comparison table says about it. Businesses are listed alphabetically, and every detail in the table was verified against each business’s own website, its own social account, or its own word on a phone call, in September 2026.
Everything under the heading that begins this guide is governed by the rules above, on every guide we publish. Where a sponsor’s message appears above that heading, it is paid for and labelled, and it buys nothing in the guide. Garden State Circle is supported by the businesses that participate in it. Participation pays for our ongoing work: keeping a business’s entry accurate, re-checking its record, and publishing a page of its own details that the business maintains. There is no paid placement in this guide. Participation does not buy a place here, a position here, or anything the comparison table says. Where a row carries a verification date, that is when we last checked that business’s record ourselves. A row without one has not been checked recently — that is a fact about our work, not about the business. Ingredients, preparation and allergen handling change, and we record what each business publishes rather than inspecting kitchens; if you have a food allergy, confirm directly with the business before you order. Hours, seasons and menus change often; every detail here was verified on the date shown above.
Garden State Circle is published in New Jersey by Jake Slowinski and Tiffany Slowinski, and covers the whole state. Contact the publisher at jake@gardenstatecircle.com.
How to Read the Frank Column
Three things can appear in the Frank column, and each means something different. A named brand — Thumann’s, Grote & Weigel, Hofmann — is the business’s own word for what it uses. “Declined to say” means we asked on a call and the business chose not to name it; three of the state’s most famous counters gave that answer, and it is printed exactly as they gave it. “Not published” or “Not reached” means we called and could not confirm it, or the business’s own website is silent on the question; we will update the cell when we do.
Hot Dog Stands in New Jersey
What We’ve Been Told
| Business | Town | Style | Frank, as stated | Founded, as stated | Season and closures, as stated | Record checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 Originals | Westwood | Ripper | Two of its own, made for it by Thumann’s since 2023: Original (pork and beef) and Signature (all beef) | Not reached | Not reached | September 2026 |
| Boulevard Drinks | Jersey City | Griddled | Not reached | Not reached | Not reached | September 2026 |
| Bubba Dog’s | Sea Isle City | Wacky Topping | Declined to say | 2002 | Seasonal (Memorial Day–Labor Day); also open for occasions off-season | September 2026 |
| Charlie’s Hot Dogs | Alpha | Easton-style | Berks All Beef Hotdog | 1925 | All year | September 2026 |
| Chris’ Red Hots | Verona | Pushcart / dirty water | Not reached | Not reached | Not reached | September 2026 |
| Dickie Dee’s | Newark | Italian | Best Provision | 1958 | All year; closed one week around July 4th | September 2026 |
| Galloping Hill Inn | Union | Texas Weiner | Not reached | Not published | Not published | September 2026 |
| Goffle Grill | Hawthorne | Texas Weiner | Not reached | 1979, as published | Not published | September 2026 |
| Hank’s Franks | Lodi | Pushcart / dirty water | Not reached | 1959, as published | Not published | September 2026 |
| Hiram’s Roadstand | Fort Lee | Ripper | Declined to say | 1932 | All year, minus the holidays | September 2026 |
| Hot Dog Johnny’s | Buttzville | Deep fried | “Special made for us” | 1944 | Closed late January through February | September 2026 |
| Hot Dog Tommy’s | Cape May | Jumbo / griddled | Berks Brand (as published) | Not reached | Open May through October, as published | September 2026 |
| The Hot Grill | Clifton | Texas Weiner | Grote & Weigel | 1961 | All year; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s | September 2026 |
| Jimmy Buff’s | West Orange | Italian (origin 1932) | Not reached | 1932, as published | Not reached | September 2026 |
| Johnny & Hanges | Fair Lawn | Texas Weiner (Passaic) | Thumann’s | 1939 | All year | September 2026 |
| Lou Dogs | Sea Isle City | Wacky Topping | Not reached | 1982, as published | Not reached | September 2026 |
| Maui’s Dog House | North Wildwood | Wacky Topping | Hofmann | 1999 | Seasonal | September 2026 |
| Max’s Bar & Grill | Long Branch | Jumbo | Wenning | 1928 | Seasonal; open until the end of this season (February) | September 2026 |
| Rutt’s Hut | Clifton | Ripper | Declined to say | 1928 | Not reached | September 2026 |
| Texas Wiener I | Plainfield | Texas Weiner (Plainfield) | Not reached | Not reached | Not reached | September 2026 |
| Tommy’s Italian Sausage | Elizabeth | Italian | Not reached | Not reached | Not reached | September 2026 |
| Tony’s Hot Dogs | Newark | Steamed | Declined to say | Declined to say | Declined to say | September 2026 |
| The WindMill | Long Branch (West End) | Jumbo / griddled | Not reached | 1963 or 1964, as published | Daily 11:00am–Midnight, as published (West End) | September 2026 |
The Entries
Bubba Dog’s — Sea Isle City
Bubba Dog’s declined to name its frank brand, calling it private; the franks are skinless. Founded 2002. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day; the business also opens for occasions outside that window. Cash and credit cards accepted. The signature order is the 59th Street — melted cheddar, bacon, BBQ sauce and crunchy potato sticks. Asked what other guides get wrong about the business, owner/operator Tim McNamara said on a Sept 3 2026 call: “Yes, there is. There’s a lot.” The specifics were not captured on the call and are not otherwise available to this page.
Hot Dog Tommy’s — Cape May
Hot Dog Tommy’s was not reached by phone. Its own website states its franks are Berks Brand, the official hot dog of Hersheypark, and that it is open May through October. Called Sept 2, 3 and 4; email sent Sept 2; not reached at publish.
Lou Dogs — Sea Isle City
Lou Dogs was not reached by phone. Its own website states it was founded in the summer of 1982 by Lou Subashi, starting as a cart on 75th Street beach in Sea Isle City; the business moved to 38th and Pleasure in 2010 and to its current Boardwalk location in 2024. The site does not publish a specific end-of-season date. Instagram message sent; the business asked to speak directly with the publisher and gave a marketing director’s number for a callback that has not yet been made.
Maui’s Dog House — North Wildwood
Maui’s uses Hofmann, a beef/veal/pork blend, on natural casing. Founded 1999. Seasonal. Cash and credit cards accepted. The menu carries more than 30 toppings, and staff read it out to help customers choose. Owner/operator Michael “Maui” D’Antuono, asked what other guides get wrong, said on a Sept 1 2026 call: “I’ve been on national TV, Food Network twice, the French Canadian travel channel — there are millions of articles about the business on Google.”
Max’s Bar & Grill — Long Branch
Max’s uses Wenning, an 80/20 beef-pork blend, on natural casing. Founded 1928. This year the business is open through the end of the season in February. Cash and credit cards accepted. Signature items are Mrs. Max and The New Yorker. General manager Marques Jackson, asked what other guides get wrong, said on a Sept 2 2026 call that published articles about the business are accurate.
Texas Wiener I — Plainfield
Texas Wiener I was not reached by phone; the call was dropped on a second attempt. No first-party website or social account was found for this page, so its founding year and frank brand are not published here. Called Sept 2; call dropped Sept 3; not reached at publish.
The WindMill — Long Branch (West End)
The WindMill’s own website carries two different founding years: the page’s title reads “the place to be since 1964,” and its body text reads “Since 1963, WindMill has been the heart and soul of the Jersey Shore.” Both are printed as the business states them. The West End location’s own site lists hours as daily 11:00am to midnight. The WindMill’s own locations page currently lists five addresses — West End/Long Branch, Red Bank, Belmar, North Long Branch, and Asbury Park/Ocean Grove; Brick and West Long Branch, both named on other published lists, are not on the business’s own current locations page. Called Sept 1, 2 and 3; Instagram message sent; not reached at publish.
Rutt’s Hut — Clifton
Rutt’s Hut declined to name its frank brand; asked directly, the business said, “There’s a skin. It’s a beef and pork mix.” Founded 1928. The business asked to be called back another time; the call was not completed. Season, casing detail beyond the composition given, and payment policy were not confirmed.
Jimmy Buff’s — West Orange
Jimmy Buff’s was not reached by phone. Its own website states the Italian hot dog “was first concocted by the founder James ‘Bluff’ Racioppi in 1932” — the business’s own spelling is Bluff, where the standard published reference (Wikipedia, citing a 2009 food book) spells it Buff. The business’s own current locations page lists West Orange only; a Kenilworth location named on other published lists is not on it. Instagram reply gave a callback number and asked for Tom; the business was unavailable Sept 3; not reached at publish.
The Hot Grill — Clifton
The Hot Grill uses Grote & Weigel on natural casing. Founded 1961. Open all year, closing for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Cash and credit cards accepted. “All The Way” is the business’s name for its hot items with mustard, chopped onion and chili sauce at no additional charge. Asked what other guides get wrong, a staff member who did not give a name said on a Sept 3 2026 call: “Not to my knowledge.”
Hiram’s Roadstand — Fort Lee
Hiram’s declined to name its frank brand, calling it “a famous brand”; the business did confirm a pork-and-beef mix on natural casing. Founded 1932. Open all year except holidays. Cash only. Co-owner Jeff Escudero, asked what other guides get wrong, said on a Sept 3 2026 call: “I really don’t know.”
1950 Originals — Westwood
1950 Originals was not reached by phone. Its own website states its founder is “the 3rd Generation Grandson of Callahan’s” — confirming the family link to the Callahan’s hot dog business. Founding year and frank brand are not published on the site read for this page. Email sent to two addresses; the business’s phone line went to an automated messaging system; not reached at publish.
Owner Dan DeMiglio, in a message to Garden State Circle on September 17, 2026: both hot dogs are the business’s own formulations, made only for 1950 Originals. His grandfather sold his partnership in Hiram’s in 1949 and opened Callahan’s in 1950; he is the third generation.
Johnny & Hanges — Fair Lawn
Johnny & Hanges uses Thumann’s on natural casing. Founded July 4, 1939. Open all year. Cash and credit cards accepted. The hot dog “All The Way” is deep fried with mustard, raw onions and chili sauce; the standard next item is plain french fries. Phil Grosso, asked what other guides get wrong, said on a Sept 1 2026 call: “I don’t know. Usually anything online that you see is very positive. That’s all I know. I don’t look online very much.”
Hot Dog Johnny’s — Buttzville
Hot Dog Johnny’s franks are “special made for us,” on skinless casing. Founded 1944. Closed from the end of January through February. Cash only. The Everything Hot Dog carries mustard, onion and pickle, alongside french fries. The business’s own address is 333 US-46, Buttzville — some published guides give the town as Belvidere. Manager Seph Baroffki, asked what other guides get wrong, said on a Sept 3 2026 call: “None.”
Galloping Hill Inn — Union
Galloping Hill Inn was not reached by phone; a receptionist advised the business is run as a catering operation and asked that queries go to the owner by email first. Its own website describes the business as operating “for nearly a century” without naming a specific founding year; that is printed here as the business’s own words rather than resolved to a single year. Frank brand is not published on the site. Not reached at publish.
Goffle Grill — Hawthorne
Goffle Grill was not reached by phone. Its own Facebook bio states it was founded in 1979. Frank brand and season are not published on its own channels. Instagram gave a callback number; the business asked to be called back another time; that callback was not completed. Not reached at publish.
Charlie’s Hot Dogs — Alpha
Charlie’s uses a Berks All Beef Hotdog on natural casing. Founded 1925; the business closed in 2014 and reopened in July 2025. Open all year. Cash and credit cards accepted. The Mealie — a hot dog with the business’s secret Hungarian sauce, raw onion, pickles and hot cherry peppers — remains the signature item, along with Grandma Fencz’s sauce. This Charlie’s Hot Dogs, in Alpha, is not related to the closed Charlie’s Hot Dogs / Charlie’s Famous Italian Hot Dogs in Kenilworth. Manager Bruce Rambo, asked what other guides get wrong, said on a Sept 3 2026 call: “None.”
Dickie Dee’s — Newark
Dickie Dee’s uses Best Provision on natural casing. Founded 1958. Open all year, closing for one week around the Fourth of July. Cash only. The Italian Hotdog is the signature order. Owner Robert D’Innocenzio, asked what other guides get wrong, said on a Sept 2 2026 call: “Not that I know” — and asked to be told when this guide is published.
Tommy’s Italian Sausage — Elizabeth
Tommy’s Italian Sausage was not reached by phone. No official website was found for this page. Founding year and frank brand are not published anywhere the business itself controls. Called Sept 2 and 3, no answer; not reached at publish.
Chris’ Red Hots — Verona
Chris’ Red Hots is listed here at its Verona storefront, 478 Bloomfield Ave, as its own website publishes that address. The business’s own website separately describes its Newark presence, on Heller Parkway, as a food truck rather than a fixed premises. Frank brand is not published on the site. An email sent Sept 2 to the business’s Newark contact address went unanswered; no other contact channel was found. Not reached at publish.
Hank’s Franks — Lodi
Hank’s Franks was not reached by phone; its own Facebook page, posting within the last month, states the business was “founded in 1959.” A separate published account describes the business starting as a pushcart in 1959 and moving into its current building in 1965; that detail is not confirmed on the business’s own channels. Frank brand is not published on its own channels. Instagram gave a callback number; voicemail left Sept 3; the number was disconnected Sept 4.
Boulevard Drinks — Jersey City
Boulevard Drinks was not reached by phone. No dedicated website was found; founding year and frank brand are not published anywhere the business itself controls, so neither is printed here. Not reached at publish.
Tony’s Hot Dogs — Newark
Tony’s Hot Dogs declined to participate and declined to answer any questions. Every field beyond business name and town reads Declined to say. The business’s silence beyond that refusal is its own.
Formerly Listed
- Libby’s Lunch, Paterson — closed at the end of July 2020. The Library of Congress’s “Working in Paterson” collection still lists the business (under the name Libby’s Hot Grill) as operating. Read Sept 1 2026.
- Callahan’s (Norwood) — the Norwood storefront closed; the family now trades as 1950 Originals, Westwood, run by the founder’s grandson. Read Sept 1 2026.
- Charlie’s Famous Italian Hot Dogs, Kenilworth — closed; not related to the operating Charlie’s Hot Dogs in Alpha. Read Sept 1 2026.
- Sonny’s Grille, Belmar — closed April 27, 2025. Source: the business’s own Instagram post of April 26, 2025 announcing its last day. Read Sept 7 2026.
- Designer Dawgs, Clinton — the Clinton storefront has closed; the business now operates as a mobile food trailer. Source: the business’s own Facebook page. Read Sept 7 2026.
What the Styles Are, and When They Were Founded
New Jersey’s hot dog counters split roughly into two eras. The historic counters were founded between 1925 and 1961 — Charlie’s Hot Dogs (1925), Rutt’s Hut (1928), Johnny & Hanges (1939), Hot Dog Johnny’s (1944), Dickie Dee’s (1958) and The Hot Grill (1961) among them — and carry names like the ripper, the Texas weiner and the Italian hot dog. The Shore’s topping stands mostly date from 1999 on — Maui’s Dog House (1999) and Bubba Dog’s (2002) among them.
Two north Jersey styles are documented distinctly. The Paterson-style Texas weiner carries a thin, dark chili that drips over the edge of the bun, and is deep fried; Johnny & Hanges and The Hot Grill both serve this style, on two different frank brands twelve miles apart. The Plainfield style is described as fluffier and less liquid, and is griddled rather than fried.
A ripper is a hot dog fried until the casing splits. Rutt’s Hut, in Clifton, names four frying grades from a brief dip to well-done to charred; Hiram’s Roadstand, in Fort Lee, also fries its hot dogs. Both businesses describe their franks as natural casing.
The Italian hot dog is Newark and Essex County’s contribution — a hot dog and toppings stuffed into a section of pizza bread. Dickie Dee’s, in Newark, describes its Italian Hotdog on its own site as pizza bread packed with peppers, onions and potatoes around the hot dog itself.
Closure windows are specific to each business and nobody else publishes them together: Hiram’s closes for holidays; The Hot Grill closes for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s; Dickie Dee’s closes for a week around the Fourth of July; Hot Dog Johnny’s closes from the end of January through February; Max’s said it is staying open into February this year.
Common Questions
Do New Jersey’s hot dog places all use the same brand of frank?
No. Of the ten businesses that answered the question, six named a brand and no two named the same one: Thumann’s (Johnny & Hanges), Grote & Weigel (The Hot Grill), Best Provision (Dickie Dee’s), Berks (Charlie’s), Wenning (Max’s) and Hofmann (Maui’s). Hot Dog Johnny’s said its franks are made specially for it. Rutt’s Hut, Hiram’s and Bubba Dog’s declined to name theirs. The table shows each business’s own answer.
Which of these places are open in winter?
Most of the counters north of the Shore are open year-round with specific closures: Hiram’s closes for holidays; The Hot Grill closes Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s; Dickie Dee’s closes for a week around the Fourth of July; Hot Dog Johnny’s closes from the end of January through February. Max’s in Long Branch said it stays open into February. The Shore stands are seasonal; Bubba Dog’s said it opens for occasions off-season. Each entry carries what the business told us and the date.
What is a ripper?
A hot dog deep-fried until the casing splits. Rutt’s Hut in Clifton names four frying grades — in-and-outer, ripper, weller and cremator — from a brief dip to charred. Hiram’s in Fort Lee also fries. Both told us their franks are natural-casing.
Is Hot Dog Johnny’s in Buttzville or Belvidere?
Buttzville — 333 US-46, as the manager confirmed to us in September 2026. Some published references give Belvidere.
Is Libby’s Lunch in Paterson still open?
No. It closed at the end of July 2020. At least one widely cited reference still lists it as operating; it is named in the Formerly Listed section for that reason.
Which stands in this guide use Thumann’s?
One does: Johnny & Hanges, in Fair Lawn. It’s the only business on this guide that named Thumann’s as its frank brand.
Where can you get a ripper in New Jersey?
Three stands on this guide list their style as a ripper: 1950 Originals in Westwood, Hiram’s Roadstand in Fort Lee, and Rutt’s Hut in Clifton.
Which of the old-school stands on the published lists have closed?
Five: Libby’s Lunch in Paterson (closed July 2020), Callahan’s in Norwood (now trades as 1950 Originals, Westwood), Charlie’s Famous Italian Hot Dogs in Kenilworth, Sonny’s Grille in Belmar (closed April 27, 2025), and Designer Dawgs in Clinton (now a mobile food trailer). Each is listed in Formerly Listed above, with its source and date.
More Garden State Circle guides: Water Parks in and Near New Jersey.
Corrections
Hours, seasons, ownership and frank brands are the kinds of thing most likely to change on this guide. If something here is wrong, tell us at admin@gardenstatecircle.com and we will fix it — there is no cost and no condition attached to a correction. If you believe a business should be on this guide and is not, email the same address; the criteria it needs to meet are described above, under How We Selected These Stands.
Corrected September 19, 2026: 1950 Originals — frank, and a statement from the owner, confirmed by the business.
This is not a ranking.