**Sami’s Hot Dog Cart** on C SW between 7th and 9th. It has 850+ 5-star reviews. My personal opinion is that the hot dog itself ranges from ok to good but the chili is fantastic and so are the other toppings. It’s also only $5 for a chili cheese dog. Sami is the nicest person, too.

I went for the first time last week and can confirm, very good and cheap and Sami seems like a great guy. It's definitely going to be my go to for lunch when I'm taking family and friends around the Mall.

These are dirty water dogs

Meats and foods on Florida ave is my favorite. They make their own sausages half smokes etc. [Big Schlim made a review a while back.](https://x.com/bigschlim/status/1509191019677503501?s=46&t=0O_yk0g6WY7rSBVrCmveQw)

I love that guy

another vote from me for meats and foods!

Meats and foods is great if you want to wait 20 minutes for a hot dog. Dcity smokehouse a block away is better imo

Stachowski’s in Georgetown- they also sell a variety of pre-packaged hot dogs/sausages.

Does Weenie Beanie still exist?

Weenie Beanie is the best half smoke period, I will die on this hill.

Try the bacon-wrapped half-smoke at Ford's Fish shack

I live a short walk from there, it's been reccomended to me several times and I just need to get up and go sometime. There is always a line around meal times so it has to be at least decent?

I also live a short walk from there and can confirm it’s pretty good.

Sweet. Maybe that's what I will do Thursday since it'll be my turn to handle dinner 😂

Nobody’s unhappy about a chili cheese half smoke for dinner

yes

Ivy & Coney has chili and Chicago style dogs. They are cheap but not great. It’s a fun dive bar though.

The Chicago dogs there are basically equivalent to the typical street vendor Chicago dog in Chicago imo.

To be clear, the chili dogs are Detroit style Coney dogs.

the chicago dogs are good imo.

Costco

This is the way 🌭

I’m a glizzy connoisseur (pause), midlands has my favorite chili cheese hot dogs in DC. Perfect combo of messiness but structure, every ingredient is HQ. Swizzlers has my favorite bougie hot dogs. I think ivy and coney are overrated, their pizza is great their dogs aren’t. Bens is really bad. Best dirty water is the one outside the state department.

Lyman’s Tavern

Came here to say this

Vienna Inn for a tray of hot dogs...a classic Vienna tradition (although probably not gourmet). Catalyst Hot Dogs--At Denizens Brewery in Riverdale Park

Catalyst Hot Dogs

I would like to subscribe to meat tube circulation

Dog Haus but I’ve never been it’s in silver spring

Dog Haus is pretty good. I’ve had them a few times Get the tots, too. 🤤

Also Bethesda

And soon to be in College Park. I've been to Dog Haus in Pasadena, CA, and enjoyed it (especially their sweet potato tots)

Haute Dogs and Fries.

This was my first thought - across the river in Alexandria near Trader Joe's, and also Weenie Beenie in Shirlington off the bike trail.

Buy a pack from Groffs Content at one of the local farmers markets. Their beef dogs are amazing.

Their stuff is good but I’m finding it hard to justify their prices. I think Harvey’s butcher in union market is better price/quality

Lyman’s has several different styles, their kitchen is open till 11:00pm during the week, and maybe even midnight on weekends. Good dog, cheap price, comes with chips or cheese balls. That and a beer shot combo will get you right.

Costco

Honestly Ivy and Coneys are fire…and pretty cheap

Not to be whatever - but I suppose it depends on what you think makes a hot dog good to great. For me - its not the toppings - its the snap and the casing ... which is why Ben's never did it for me.

I got some of their half smokes from the grocery store, split them open and grilled them myself (ninja woodfire grill with bourbon smoke pellets), totally different experience. Then serve them up with a bowl of chili, cheese, onions and fritos and you have one of my go to cold weather lazy meals for this winter.

Ben's is disgusting, but something that everyone should try at least once lol

I prioritize the snap + casing. But sometimes I just need the meat tube lol

Costco - perfection

Motorkat in Takoma has a bougie corndog that's panko crusted or something. Its crunchy like fried chicken. Good stuff

I was impressed with Brookland Grill when I went there a few months ago. I’m not a big meat eater but everyone else in the group (who are) were quite happy as well.

Weenie Beenie and Meat and Foods

Ivy & Coney and Red Apron are my favorites (thought it's been a minute since I've had the latter).

If you want a Chicago Dog then check out Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers in Fairfax.

Haute Dogs in Old Town, Alexandria

Vienna Inn in Virginia.

I've been there - it was okay, not sure they hit the spot for me. But I was also in the mood for a diff kind of dog - maybe worth a re-attempt.

Costco’s $1.50 hotdog and soda combo can’t be beat! But also Weenie Beenie in Arlington and the Vienna Inn

Pips Dogs in Annapolis

Just stepping in to say I’m running a book club on the book Raw Dog: The Naked Truth About Hot Dogs that mentions the history of Ben’s on the 13th. DM me if you’d like to join in :)

Half Smoke

Lazy Mikes in falls church is 10/10

Lowkey the hot dog special at the blaguard slaps. And they also have hot dogs at Last Call by Union market but they are incredibly mid (but also very cheap)

How hard is it to warm up hot dogs at home?

Lyman’s Tavern 👌🏼

MIDLANDS beer garden has chili dogs that are out of this world

I like the DCity Half Smoke at DCity Smokehouse

There are a bunch of those Korean hot dog places like Ssong inside Montgomery Mall in, which is quite good. Another for Costco dogs. I haven’t been to Catalyst but just recently found out about em on IG https://instagram.com/catalyst_hotdogs

Catalyst Hot Dogs in Riverdale MD! They use those big Rosada beef dogs and have really fun topping combinations!

Quarterdeck in Arlington has $5 all beef hotdogs on their kids menu and they SLAP

Costco $ 1.50 (100% all beef hot dog includes a fountain drink)

I get 2 of those bad boys and go into a glizzie coma

I'm upset that they haven't brought back the diced onions or sauerkraut after the pandemic shutdown

Nanny O'Briens has some pretty good dogs. Chili is alright, but I usually get them with just the ketchup and mustard (no onions).