The Best Hot Dogs In New Jersey
Our search for the best hot dogs in New Jersey has been a quest to find out what is the most representative of a "New Jersey hot dog" and where they can be enjoyed.
While there are many claims such as Germany, Chicago, and Connecticut as to where the hot dog capital of the world is, there is strong evidence that New Jersey can claim it is the "hot dog capital of the world". If not all of New Jersey, than certainly northeast New Jersey which has claim to the origin of several popular versions of the hot dog and home to some of the top hot dog manufactures in the country.
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With all the hoopla about New Jersey hot dogs, it should be noted that south of the Raritan River in Central and South Jersey, there is a significant drop in the quality and popularity of hot dogs. This may also be a strong argument for northeast Jersey being the "hot dog capital of the world".
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Some New Jersey Hot Dog History
While the hot dog (frankfurter) was created in Germany, North Jersey has a long history of creating three of the most popular types of hot dogs consumed in the world --- the "Hot Texas Weiner", the "Italian Hot Dog", and the "Ripper". With the popularity of these hot dogs and other hot dog versions, New Jersey can make a legitimate claim to being the current hot dog capital 0f the world.
Its hard to find a region that has more variations of the hot dog than New Jersey
Despite the opinions expressed by Texans, there is a strong school of thought that claims the "Hot Texas Weiner" -- a chili dog -- was created and made famous in Paterson, NJ. This began in 1924 when a hot dog stand was opened and run by a Greek man in downtown Paterson. The name of the hot stand still remains a mystery. However, in 1936 a former employee of this Greek hot dog stand left and opened Pappas Lunch, later called Libby's Hot Grill, and has since become Libby's Lunch which is still in operation under different ownership. Since it's beginning, a number of former employees of Libby's left to open other Hot Dog stands in Paterson. One of them, the Falls View Grill opened in 1949 and carved out a reputation for serving an excellent Texas Weiner. The "original" Falls View Grill closed sometime in the eighties. Former employees of The Falls View Grill have also moved on to open their own "Hot Dog Stands" including The Colonial Grill on Chamberlain Avenue in Paterson, and the Hot Grill on Lexington Avenue in nearby Clifton.
The Italian Hot Dog was created by Jimmy Buff's more than 75 years ago in Newark and continues to remain a North Jersey favorite. Some claim it's the water in North Jersey, others claim that there just hasn't been any Italian Hot Dog restaurant former employees that have ventured south of the Raritan River.
The Italian Hot Dog is made from large loaves of pizza bread, cut into quarters, sliced down the middle, and stuffed with one or two deep fried hot dogs, topped with onions, peppers, and deep fried potatoes. The soft pizza bread is a perfect vehicle for the ingredients, holding everything together and soaking up some of the grease. If you're not from North Jersey, don't make the cardinal sin of adding ketchup to the Italian hot dog -- it destroys the true flavor of the Italian hot dog. Ketchup contains sugar and other ingredients that overwhelms the flavor of the hot dog.
The ripper was created in Clifton, NJ in 1928 by Royal Rutt, of Rutt's Hutt. The ripper is a pork and beef hot dog that's deep-fried in fat at a temperature of 310 degrees --- until it splits apart.
New jersey is Also Home to Three of the World's Largest Manufacturers of Hot Dogs.
Best's Hot Dogs made by Best Provisions in Newark, is one of the country's top manufacturers of hot dogs. They are gluten free beef franks made with natural spices that are blended, linked, and naturally smoked.
Sabrett Hot Dogs, known for their all beef natural casing and skinless hot dogs are manufactured in New Jersey. Sabrett hot dogs are often referred to as "dirty water dogs" because they are cooked in hot water.
Thumann's Hot Dogs are manufactured in Carlstadt, NJ and makes natural casing pork and beef franks.
To stay abreast of what happening with hot dog news and other regional foods, visit Roadfood.com
The Best Places to Eat Hot Dogs In New Jersey
The Best North Jersey Hot Dog Eateries |
Dickie Dee's |
Charlie's Pool Room |
Galloping Hill Inn |
Hiram's Road stand [ Read Review ]
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The Hot Grill |
Jerry's Famous Frankfurters |
| Jimmy Buff's They now operate out of three locations in East Hanover, Scotch Plains, and West Orange The New Jersey Italian Hot Dog was created in their original Newark location more than 75 years ago when Jimmy Buff's owner James Racioppi with influence from his grandmother created the Italian Hot Dog. The original Jimmy Buff's no longer exists today and has evolved to three locations in north Jersey. The East Hanover and West Orange locations are owned by Jim Raccioppi the grandson of the founder of Jimmy Buffs. The other 2 locations are owned by Jim's uncle Mike, nephew of the founder. The locations run by Jim Raccioppi are claimed to be the true recipe of the original Italian Hot Dog. The pizza bread comes from a local bakery and their Italian hot dogs are filled with potatoes, hot dogs, peppers, and onions with both the potatoes and hot dogs cook in soybean oil. |
Rutt's Hut The ripper is a pork and beef hot dog that deep-fried in fat until it splits apart. They also offer variations of the ripper. The "In and Outers" are just barely cooked, the "weller" is a well done ripper, and the "cremator" is totally burned. [ Read Review ] |
The Best Central Jersey Hot Dogs |
| Jersey Joe's |
Max's Famous Hot Dogs
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The Best South Jersey Hot Dogs |
Hotdog Tommy's
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| Joe Joe's Italian Hot Dogs Toms River One of the few places in central or south Jersey serving an authentic New Jersey Italian hot dog, |
[ Read Review ]
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| Russ Ayres Hot Dog Stand 680 U.S. 206 Bordentown, NJ A small stand with only 6 seats has an old school feeling with a drink cooler and soda sold in old style returnable bottles. They use Hatfield hot dogs with a tasty homemade chili. |
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