Best hot dog
The tasty dogs at Barker's Red Hots, your pick for best in Atlanta, sizzling away on the grill.
YOUR PICKS
1. Barker’s Red Hots
You say, “Barker’s – No one even compares. Water pulls the flavor out of the dog. Barker’s are grilled over real charcoal. Try their signature dog!! Dogs made by a 142 year old meat packer out of Buffalo, N.Y. Awesome rings and fries and their Bomb Italian Sausage – unbelievable. Wash it all down with a Loganberry and you died and went to heaven.”
2. Rivals
3. CJ’s Hot Dogs
4. The Varsity
5. Skip’s
6. America’s Top Dog
A pair of yummy dogs from Brandi's in Marietta, our pick for the best hot dog in and around Atlanta. Photo: Jon Watson
OUR PICKS
1. Brandi’s World Famous Hot Dogs
The AJC dining team’s Popular Eats specialist Jon Watson says, “Open only for lunch, you will always find this small diner-style hot dog shop in Marietta packed to the brim with regulars, and for good reason. Their spicy chili dogs are the epitome of a Georgia-style hot dog, and the best that I’ve had in the city.”
2. Holeman & Finch
3. Barker’s Red Hots
4. America’s Top Dog
5. The Varsity
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566 comments Add your comment
william
December 27th, 2010
9:48 pm
Over 70 years eating at the varsity. Flossie use to sing the minue.
zoom
December 27th, 2010
9:48 pm
brandys in marietta has the best hot dog no one can come close!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
william
December 27th, 2010
9:50 pm
Enter your comments here
mike
December 27th, 2010
9:50 pm
Mikes in Sandy Springs
Susan
December 27th, 2010
9:50 pm
2 possibilities – The Varsity, and Zesto’s footlong!!!
Tuckergirl
December 27th, 2010
9:56 pm
For easiest to get at a quasi chain, I’d say Five Guys. But am eager to try the other places you guys are mentioning!
Stew
December 27th, 2010
9:56 pm
I have never had a bad hot dog even in Atlanta. Nathen’s in New York with Kraut and mustard or the street guys in NYC are the best however.
fes
December 27th, 2010
10:08 pm
Taste of Chicago on Powder Springs in Marietta for a Chicago dog (cheap too!). Barker’s on Windy Hill for regulars. Brandy’s is good too, but not as good as the previous two.
Mark
December 27th, 2010
10:18 pm
The Streatery –it has multiple locations downtown, but i frequent the one on woodruff park the most often… hot dogs are amazing quality and the toppings are out of this world! yum. i love the varsity just for the tradition, but the streatery takes the cake for me!
Joe
December 27th, 2010
10:22 pm
Ollie’s Trolly was the best even better than the V…. What ever happened to them?
Jackie Fleeman Gramatas
December 27th, 2010
10:24 pm
The VARSITY…hands down…none beats it!
Warren
December 27th, 2010
10:26 pm
Zesto’s
JC
December 27th, 2010
10:47 pm
Brandy’s Hot Dogs in Marietta
Chili Dawg Connoisseur
December 27th, 2010
10:56 pm
CJ’s in McDonough!
Georgia Native
December 27th, 2010
11:01 pm
Wow the Varsity really, c’mon now! They have the worst hotdogs around. I’ve tried Cj’s and quite a few other places. Atlanta is no hot dog city, lets not even go there. LOL
Anna Redding
December 27th, 2010
11:11 pm
Nu-Way Weiners (sic) in Macon. Ask Lewis Grizzard.
Edward
December 27th, 2010
11:13 pm
I think people vote for Varsity only because they think they’re supposed to, it can’t be because it is any good. Zestos is far better than anything Varsity has ever made. Give me a Zestos footlong chili dawg, fries, and a nut brown crown.
The BEST hotdog was mentioned earlier, at Hankook Taqueria. Awesome!
booterlynn
December 27th, 2010
11:17 pm
Yellow Jackets in Ellenwood–I have been eating there since I was a child
sammy
December 27th, 2010
11:24 pm
skips ……..avondale
Chase
December 28th, 2010
12:07 am
Jimmy Buffs!
KP
December 28th, 2010
12:46 am
Costco
1 Dead DAWG
December 28th, 2010
12:55 am
Empire State Pizza & Dogs in Lawrenceville near Brookwood HS. For a NY dog that is the stuff.
tpdaman
December 28th, 2010
1:04 am
Well, crap, if you want to put “real hot dogs” and “incredible wings” I promise – Empire State Pizza & Dogs in Lawrenceville. It ain’t much to look at, inside or out but they truly have the best Pizza, wings and then damn good dogs anywhere north OTP. Dollar Dogs on Monday!
Mike
December 28th, 2010
1:17 am
Skip’s in Avondale!
Mike
December 28th, 2010
1:18 am
Skip’s
Car77
December 28th, 2010
1:21 am
I’m born and raised in Atlanta. I agree the Varsity is a landmark. Cheap fastfood for a long time. To say they have the BEST hot dog… a steamed oscar myer with the cheapest cafeteria white bun… give me a break. Re-read the question. It would be nice to have a place with real sausage and real ingredients to load it up with, fact is, we don’t have one inside metro Atlanta.
3720to1
December 28th, 2010
1:53 am
IF I had to pick somewhere other than THE Varsity, I would have to go with Turner Field!
Mark O'Barske
December 28th, 2010
2:01 am
Being from the “South side of Chicago”, the true mecca of Hot Dog Restaurants. And being of Polish desent, I believe I am a good judge on why Hot Dog Heaven in Woodstock should be strongly considered. Great variety, authentic Vienna Hot Dogs, great small town personal service. The Varsity??? surely you jest; why not just put ketchup on a Hot Dog, same end result…it would taste terrible!
Hotdog Lover
December 28th, 2010
2:44 am
I am born and raised in Georgia. I married a Chicago girl 31 years ago. So speaking fairly and from experience, I will proudly tell you that the north cannot touch us on Fried Chicken, sweet tea, cobblers, buscuits, and many other foods.
However, I concede that no pizza in the south comes close to any I tasted while living up there. Ditto on hotdogs! I love chili, slaw, and Chicago style dawgs all equally. But just speaking of the wieners, we simply don’t make them with the same snap here in the south.
As far as the “tried and true” Varsity…well I tried them, and truly ended up in the privy. What total junk!!
ben
December 28th, 2010
3:22 am
the vortex or bobby g’s
Duchess
December 28th, 2010
4:58 am
I gotta say Sam’s. It’s one darn good dog.
Jeff from Atlanta
December 28th, 2010
6:51 am
America’s Top Dog on Chamblee Tucker Rd just inside the Perimeter. I just had the best dog I’ve had since I left NY 3 years ago. Anyone who thinks the Varsity, Costco or Sam’s has the best they just don’t know what a good dog is all about. And not only do they have the best dogs, they offer you 40 different toppings at a self service topping bar so you can do your own thing. Name one other place in town where you can do that. And order the onion rings, best I ever had. My wife had the big Q she said the best dog she’s ever had.
Foodie-B
December 28th, 2010
9:56 am
Because it’s Atlanta you gotta meet me @ The “V” but that being said not the best dog not much of snap when you bite into it but it is tradition here and you can’t mess with tradition. Nu-Way in Macon not bad either or even the footlong coney @ Sonic.
Ka
December 28th, 2010
10:17 am
I was born and raised in Atlanta and for the life of me I still can’t figure out how The Varsity got a so popular, the food is not good, but if you want a good hot dog, go to Zesto’s
Tiffney
December 28th, 2010
10:20 am
CJ’s in McDonough is the best place going. They have the BEST food and GREAT people working there!!!
LoveMyDogs
December 28th, 2010
11:02 am
my vote is for Hot Dog Heaven in Woodstock or their second location in Kennesaw. gotta have a Chicago style or chili and slaw.
Rizz
December 28th, 2010
11:06 am
If it aint CJ’s It aint right. CJ’s All The Way
cheepfoodie
December 28th, 2010
12:06 pm
Chili dog at Nu-Way in Macon…my fave….
doc martin
December 28th, 2010
12:28 pm
Nathan’s Concourse D at Hartsfield, Varsity sucks!
Bo
December 28th, 2010
12:40 pm
Rivals hot dogs in Loganville Ga . Best dog I have ever had . Homemade chili and pink slaw . This place Rocks..
Msbee
December 28th, 2010
12:42 pm
Rivals in Loganville is my vote…..Chuck makes the best slaw and chili!
Mack
December 28th, 2010
12:47 pm
Rivals Hotdogs in Loganville, Ga. BEST DAWGS IN THE SOUTH!!!!!
Sara
December 28th, 2010
12:57 pm
Rivals is amazing!!!!! I love rivals in loganville georgia
Tammy
December 28th, 2010
1:07 pm
Rivals hotdogs in Loganville are the best of what used to be called za “southern dog”. A truly good slaw dog is an artform. it is privately owned, so are always open to suggestions and will custom make a dog to your liking. Hotdog eating contests and good old fashioned hospitality. AND…fried apple and peach pies!!
Doug
December 28th, 2010
1:09 pm
I seldom eat out (at home) since I work all aorund the city, but friday night hotdogs at Rivals has been my favorite fior quite a while. I even choose them over the BBQ place in the same shopping center. Great dogs!
dawgfan
December 28th, 2010
1:10 pm
The best hotdog ever is Rival’s in Loganville!
WAYNE
December 28th, 2010
1:11 pm
Rivals in Loganville, Ga. Great food, friendly service,& excellent prices.
Brandon
December 28th, 2010
1:13 pm
Rivals Hot dogs in Loganville Ga.
Cmac
December 28th, 2010
1:15 pm
Rivals Hotdogs in Loganville! Absolutely
the best, especially the Devil Dog with slaw!!!!
Greg30052
December 28th, 2010
1:17 pm
Rivals in Loganville, everything else is a pink floppy weiner. Get the Red Devil!