Bear's Hot Dog Truck, Sayreville

     Back in the late 80's when I first visited Bear's, it was only a small stainless steel cart with the blue & yellow umbrella that you can see (above) on the far right.  The new trailer has provided the necessary room to offer many more choices.  They offer either a Sabrett 8:1 NC all beef frank or a larger Sabrett 6:1 pork/beef Griller.  Many of the folks who I visited with ordered their dogs with the chili which received very high reviews!  Other options include: cheese, Sabrett onion sauce, raw onions, relish or their homemade hot pepper relish.

     I had the all beef 8:1 NC dog with cheese and added a bit of their homemade hot pepper relish.  It was absolutely delicious!  Having the relish available for the patron to apply allows for just the right amount of heat.  You can see from the picture above that I came with a large group, and whether it was the delicious dogs, the reasonable prices or the fantastic staff, everyone had a smile on their face!  I'm hoping this hot dog truck is around for at least another 45 years!!  (hint, hint: Scott K.!)

<-- Bear himself!

Their mascot -->

Little Buffalo, Cranford (permanently closed)

     Opening in November 2017, the owners grew up in Buffalo, NY and wanted to bring some of their favorite foods to NJ.  They serve Zweigle's franks (only shop in NJ that I know of) in 3 varieties.  Red pop-open dogs are beef/pork blend and come in either 6 in. or 12 in. lengths.  Interestingly, the smaller dog (not that small, weighing in at 6/1) has a spicier flavor due to a small difference in the recipe.  They also serve white pop-opens which are a veal/pork/beef blend that retain the white color since they are neither smoked nor cured.

     Once you've selected your meat, you have a choice of 4 different sauces, each of which were inspired by one of the Buffalo area hot dog restaurants.  They offer a cumin-based meat sauce that was inspired by Nick Tohue, a spicy meat sauce similar to what you'll find at Coach Tony's, a sweet red sauce like the one at Reid's and a spicy red sauce inspired by Ted's.  With so many combinations to choose from (and I personally enjoyed every one that I tried) you'll have to make several visits to try them all!!  Thanks to Mike Maggio for such a great idea!

***  Update - Little Buffalo has closed permanently, possibly due to the 2020 COVID Pandemic

Charlie's Famous Italian Hot Dogs, Union

     Charlie's has been serving Italian hot dogs to New Jerseyans in the traditional method for decades.  They moved their main operation from Kenilworth to Union a few years back but their their focus on serving authentic IHDs has not changed.  The single or double hot dog is nestled into a 1/2 round loaf of pizza bread, doused with mustard, covered with sauteed onions and peppers, then topped with thin, deep fried potato slices and ketchup.

     Though there are many shops trying to serve Italians on sub rolls, and others that offer diced potatoes (or even french fries!!) there is definite value to be found in an authentic IHD.  Charlie's is one of the best and will have my patronage for years to come!

Hot Dog Joe, Bridgewater

     While speaking with Joe it became clear that he is a passionate cook.  He prepares all of his toppings and even grows some of the ingredients in the small garden he tends behind the trailer.  He insists on serving only all beef hot dogs.  His go-to brand is Thumann's but he has been known to serve Black Bear if he runs out.  Joe adds a bit if apple cider vinegar to the water when boiling his dogs soften the natural casing.

     The hot onions (w/ peppers) were outstanding!  These are homemade and the tangy flavor held a nice amount of heat.  His chili was very good but was a bit milder than I prefer.  It had neither the strong cinnamon/coriander/nutmeg flavor that most of the texas weiner joints serve but it also didn't have a tomato base.  It is best described as a mildly seasoned ground beef.  If you're near Bridgewater around lunch time, give this stop a try!  He's open 10:30a-2:30p 6 days a week (closed Sundays).

Apple's Deli, Springfield (permanently closed)

     Apple's Deli has a long, interesting history (although it only opened in 2016!)  The owner, Matthew Applebaum, bought the old Evergreen Deli in Springfield after serving as chef at several North Jersey restaurants.  One of these was Amazing Hot Dog in Verona, now long gone.  This was an opportunity for Matt to serve what he loves under his own banner.

     The big hit at Apple's Deli has got to be the Syd's dog.  Originally served as Syd's in Newark (also long gone) this is a Best natural casing 5:1 all beef dog that is only available at the Best Provisions store, also in Newark.  It is first boiled and then given some char on the grill.  Below is a shot of mine with brown mustard.  Absolutely fantastic!

     The pic at the bottom of this post was taken during the 15th Annual NJ Hot Dog Tour where Apple's hosted an outdoor cookout for the participants.  It was a great day for an outdoor venue and everyone enjoyed their wonderful hospitality!

*** Update - Permanently closed in 2019

Relish Hot Dog & Sausage Co.

     Relish Hot Dog & Sausage Co. opened its doors in 2017 and has already made a big impact in the hot dog world.  They were one of the 10 finalists in the 2018 Best Hot Dog in NJ competition.  Their unique rolls add to the magic.  They cut a loaf of Italian bread in half and the skewer the flat end onto one of the metal spikes that sit next to their grill (see below).  The process makes room for the dog and toppings as well as warming the roll.  What a great idea!

     The storefront boasts a large window that allows direct access to the street traffic, so buying a dog to satisfy tour hunger is pretty convenient.  One downside to the structure is that it does not provide any seating, either inside or out.  There isn't much room surrounding the building to loiter while you eat!

     The "hole in a roll" technique provides a stout container for your hot dog and toppings.  The dogs are all beef Thumann's and weigh in at a quarter pound.  Standard toppings are available and Relish provides several creative topping combinations as suggestions.  Below I sampled a K.C.Kraut which boasts beer kraut, house wiz & awesome sauce.  The flavor and texture was a real treat, but as I neared the end of my meal I recognized a possible flaw in this unique design.  The wiz, sauce and residual moisture from the kraut tended to accumulate at the bottom of the "roll" since it was being held vertically.  The result was that the last few bites were considerably more messy than my first bites.  I will plan for this on my next visit, so don't you be caught unprepared!!

Destination Dogs, New Brunswick

     This is one of the nicest looking hot dog joints on this blog.  It's really a gastropub that specializes in extraordinary hot dogs and serves craft beer.  Finding a nearby parking spot is a bit challenging as their own lot holds 5-6 cars maximum.  I visited during rush hour on a Tuesday so it wasn't exactly hoppin' but it looks like it would be a fun place to spend a Friday night!  Perhaps I will get the opportunity to test that theory in the future.


     The variety of sausages available at DD is quite impressive.  They offer options such as: chicken, lamb, duck and chorizo, all of which I have seen in other restaurants.  But I will bet that this is one of very few venues that serve sausage made from: wild boar, alligator, kangaroo or python!  Of course, the rarer alternatives do bump up the cost considerably ($14 being their highest price meals).

     Below you will see pictures of our selections.  The first meal is a Chivas Royale: an all beef dog with natural casing from Best Provisions (Newark, NJ), deep fried and topped with cheese sauce, bacon, salsa verde, sour cream and chives.  The second meal is Le Poutine: a duck sausage topped with french fries, brown gravy, cheese curds and chives.  Both of these selections were absolutely delicious!  The buns are baked on premises and are buttery, toasted delights with a flat bottom to keep the contents from tipping out.  I can't wait for the opportunity to return so I can sample some of their other choices!

   So the meals following the next 2 represent subsequent visits to this establishment!

Chivas Royale: an all beef dog with natural casing from Best Provisions (Newark, NJ), deep fried and topped with cheese sauce, bacon, salsa verde, sour cream and chives.

Le Poutine: a duck sausage topped with french fries, brown gravy, cheese curds and chives.

 One Bite in Bangkok: Python sausage, cucumber salad, pepper jelly, crushed peanuts and cilantro.

 Andouille Armstrong: Alligator & Shrimp sausage, cabbage, tomatoes, jalapeno remoulade, scallions and a lemon wedge.

The Underdog: Kangaroo sausage, frizzled onions, vegemite aioli and scallions.