Road Trip: Connecticut hot dog tour

News 12 also asked viewers for YOUR favorite spots.

Brian Heyman and Lori Golias

Mar 30, 2023, 9:00 AM

Updated 557 days ago

Share:

Hot dogs may just be the quintessential American food of summer, and there is no shortage of classic hot dog joints in Connecticut to grab a dog.
Photojournalist Lori Golias and sports anchor Justin DeVellis visited Glenwood Drive-In, Blackie's Hot Dog Stand, Frankie's and Rawley's Drive-In for a taste of summer.
News 12 also asked viewers for YOUR favorite spots. Here are some of the best spots in Connecticut to grab a dog!

Al's Hot Dogs

  • 248 S Main St. | Naugatuck, Connecticut 06770
  • Website

Augie & Ray's

  • 314 Main St. | East Hartford, Connecticut 06118
  • Website

Bethel Hot Dog Palace

  • 44 Stony Hill Road | Bethel, Connecticut 06801
  • Website

Big Dawgg's & More

  • 1111 Voluntown Road | Griswold, Connecticut 06351
  • Website

Billy's Old Fashioned Ice Cream & Marketplace

  • 742 Amity Road | Bethany, Connecticut 06524
  • Website

Blackie's Hot Dog Stand

  • 2200 Waterbury Road | Cheshire, Connecticut 06410
  • Website

Burgerittoville

  • 57 Church Hill Road | Newtown, Connecticut 06470
  • Website

Buster's Drive In

  • 884 Terryville Ave. | Bristol, Connecticut 06010
  • Website

Captain Seas

  • 905 N Colony Road | Wallingford, Connecticut 06492
  • Website

Capitol Lunch

  • 510 Main St. | New Britain, Connecticut 06051
  • Website

Carol's Lunchbox

  • 1365 Farmington Ave. | Farmington, Connecticut 06032
  • Website

Chef's Dog House

  • 337 Willard Ave. | Newington, Connecticut 06111
  • Website

Chez Lenard

  • 32 Colonial Lane | Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877
  • Website

Costco

Country Store

  • 2187 New London Turnpike | Glastonbury, Connecticut 06073
  • Website

Cricket Car Hop

  • 900 Access Road | Stratford, Connecticut 06615
  • Website

Denmo's Snack and Dairy

Denmo's Snack and Dairy's most popular hotdog gets the works (sauerkraut, brown mustard, relish and chopped raw onion). The dog on the right is called the Pood Attack, inspired by the owner's half-poodle, consisting of a split and charred hotdog on a bed of lettuce, covered in American cheese, homemade Thousand Island dressing and chopped onions. It's on their "Legendary Lucarelli menu," which has an item created off of each member of our family. Denmo's is kicking off its 45th year of business, with Chloe Lucarelli and her wife Nicky Lucarelli carrying on the legacy of Chloe's father, Dennis Lucarelli, who opened the drive-in in 1978.
  • 340 Main St. | South Southbury, CT 06487
  • Website

Dive

  • 15 Water St. | Mystic, Connecticut 06355
  • Website

Dogtown

  • 664 New Haven Ave. | Milford, Connecticut 06460
  • Website

Doogie's

Doogie's offers a 10-inch, 16-inch and a 2-foot hot dog. Order one plain and top it your way or choose from signature dogs such as the MAN V. FOOD, the Dixie, the Works, the Turnpike, the Doogie, the Boston, the Reuben, the Tijuana, the College, the Kelly, the Rebel and the Coney. Rachel Ray Magazine called Doogie's the No. 1 grilled hot dog in the country.
  • 2525 Berlin Turnpike | Newington, CT 06111
  • Website

Duchess

Duchess Restaurants have been known in Connecticut for their hotdogs for over 65 years. Their hot dog with "the works" (mustard, sauerkraut and relish) is their most popular, but their chili cheese dog is a close second. Duchess' hotdogs are made locally by Hummel Brothers in New Haven, with rolls baked fresh daily by Chaves Bakery in Bridgeport using the Duchess recipe. Duchess says they believe in using the best ingredients to make the best tasting hot dog and that they work with local partners to do just that.

Frankie's

  • 700 Watertown Ave. | Waterbury, Connecticut 06708
  • 464 Reidville Drive | Waterbury, Connecticut 06705
  • 348 Chase Ave. | Waterbury, Connecticut 06704
  • Website

Glenwood Drive-In

  • 2538 Whitney Ave.
  • Hamden, Connecticut 06518
  • Website

GoldBurger's

  • 1096 Main St. | Newington, Connecticut 06111
  • Website

Harry's Place

  • 104 Broadway St. | Colchester, Connecticut 06415
  • Website

Jack Rabbit's Burgers, Wings and Things

  • 254 Main St. | Old Saybrook, Connecticut 06475
  • Website

Jake's Diggity Dog

  • 40 Broad St. | Milford, Connecticut 06460
  • Website

JK's Original

  • 126 South St. | Danbury, Connecticut 06810
  • Website

Lake Zoar Drive In

Popular dogs at Lake Zoar Drive In include the Pastrami Reuben Dog (with choice of Russian dressing or mustard), the chili dog with onion and the Mike’s Slaw Dog topped with chili, horseradish mustard and coleslaw.
  • 14 Roosevelt Drive Rural, CT-34 | Stevenson, Connecticut 06491
  • Website

Merritt Canteen

  • 4355 Main St. | Bridgeport, Connecticut 06606
  • Website

Mickey's Oceanic Grill

  • 119 Pitkin St. | East Hartford, Connecticut 06108
  • Website

Mr. Mac's Canteen

  • 838 Main St. | Monroe, Connecticut 06468
  • Website

New Guida's

  • 484 Meriden Road | Middlefield, Connecticut 06455
  • Website

Nikki's Dog House

Nikki's Dog House and their famous Coney Island Dogs celebrate 43 years on April 1. Nikki's Coney Dog has been the staple item on the menu since the very beginning. Some call it a Nikki Dog, The Works, All the Way, or "I'll Have Three", but anyway you call it you get a grilled hot dog in a steamed bun topped with yellow mustard, our secret Coney Island meat sauce, and chopped onions!
  • 5 Canal St. | Putnam, Connecticut 06260
  • Website

Ordinary New Haven

  • 990 Chapel St. | New Haven, Connecticut 06510
  • Website

Original Ranchhouse

  • 27 Windsor Ave. | Windsor, Connecticut 06095
  • Website

Roadside Gourmet

  • 205 Governor’s Highway | South Windsor, Connecticut 06074
  • Website

Rawley's Drive-In

Rawley's Drive-In
Rawley's Fairfield in Fairfield is home to the legendary Martha Stewart's favorite dog.
  • 1886 Post Road | Fairfield, Connecticut 06824
  • Website

Riley's Hot Dog & Burger Gourmet

Riley's Hot Dog and Burger Gourmet is a funky locale with over 20 gourmet hot dog options. One of the most popular hot dogs on the menu is the Loco Taco Dog that's not only fun for kids but also the kid in you. It's topped with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, tomato, taco sauce, sour cream, shredded cheddar and nacho chips. Riley's says the dog will tame your cravings for tacos and hot dogs in one bite.
  • 61 Glen St. | New Britain, Connecticut 06051
  • Website

Saint's

  • 1248 Queen St. | Southington, Connecticut 06489
  • Website

Super Duper Weenie

  • 306 Black Rock Turnpike | Fairfield, Connecticut 06825
  • Website

Sycamore

The Sycamore has been in continuous operation since 1948 and offers car hop service. The famous Sycamore hot dog is crispy on the outside - a hot dog served with mustard, relish, sauerkraut, onion and a crisp slice of bacon.
  • 282 Greenwood Ave. | Bethel, Connecticut 06801
  • Website

Tomlinson's

  • 1400 Noble Ave. | Bridgeport, Connecticut 06610
  • Website

Top Dog Portland

  • 211 Route 66 (Marlbourgh Road) | Portland, Connecticut
  • Website

Valley Farms

  • 1995 Boston Ave. | Bridgeport, Connecticut 06610

The Wienery

  • 17 Bridge St. | Stamford, Connecticut 06905
  • Website

The Windmill Tavern

  • 400 Hollister St. | Stratford, Connecticut 06615
  • Website

Windsock Inn

Windsock Inn in Stratford has been in business for almost 50 years, with airplane-memorabilia covered walls and a pub-like atmosphere. Windsock is well-known for its chili, burgers and Hummel hot dogs. An old-school kind of place that is comfortable and welcoming.
  • 295 Main St. | Stratford, Connecticut 06615
  • Website
Did we miss your place? Click HERE to send us the information.