Gone are the days when ordering a hot dog meant choosing between ketchup and mustard.
Today's hot dog trucks and restaurants pile ingredients of all kinds on their hot dogs, from spicy potatoes to pork roll, egg and cheese.
If classic hot dogs are your preference, enjoy! Local favorites include Max's in Long Branch, several locations of The WindMill, and Der Wunder Wiener in Berkeley Township.
But if you're craving something different, you'll find that at the Shore, too. Here are 10 great hot dog spots to try.
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Classic hot dogs
Dogs on First, Atlantic Highlands: A push cart that expanded into a trailer, this hot dog spot offers Sabrett hot dogs with plenty of toppings. The chili cheese dog is the most popular, owner Marissa Ober said, or try a Chicago hot dog with mustard, relish, tomato, pickles, sport peppers and celery salt; a Ranchero hot dog with chili, salsa verde, cheese sauce and onion; or a classic hot dog with cooked onions. Find it next to the borough skate park on First Avenue in Atlantic Highlands; instagram.com/dogsonfirst.
G&G's, Red Bank: This food truck, which began as a push cart in Jersey City, has been serving hot dogs for more than half a century from its corner of Red Bank. Hot dogs come topped with your choice of onions, sauerkraut, chili, relish or everything. G&G's is next to the Red Bank train station at Shrewsbury Avenue.
Olde Heidelberg, Keansburg: This iconic spot, operated by the Gelhaus family, has come a long way since first offering hot dogs for 5 cents on the Keansburg Boardwalk in 1934. The hot dogs are still cooked the same way — on a flat-top grill, for no less than an hour, which makes for a crisp outer skin. These dogs are all beef, no filler added, and shipped from a top-secret butcher in Connecticut. The bar also uses an antique fry cutter for a perfect four-sided crinkle cut. 275 Beachway Ave.; 732-495-1400, keansburgamusementpark.com.
Pattie's Franks, Brick: Spicy onions, sweet onions, chili, spicy mashed potatoes, cheese sauce, bacon bits and more get piled onto Sabrett hot dogs at Pattie's Franks, a hot dog truck that has been parked along Route 88 for more than a decade. 1436 Route 88; search "Pattie's Franks" on Facebook.
Italian hot dogs
La Madre Maria food truck, Brick: Joseph Inneo spent most of his life in Newark, so when he moved to the Shore several years ago, he brought the city's hot dogs with him. On the truck he owns with sons Joseph Jr. and Nicholas, he serves Sabrett hot dogs, makes his own chili and onions, and does his Italian hot dog "the Newark way." It starts with fresh pizza bread from Nicolo's Italian Bakery and Deli in Montclair, which is spread with mustard and layered with hot dogs, peppers, onions and potatoes with ketchup on top. 2480 Hooper Ave.; lamadremariafoodtruckandcatering.com.
Oakwood's Point Pizza, Point Pleasant Borough: Hot dogs at a pizza place? You bet. This Italian hot dog overflows with large chunks of crispy potatoes and sautéed peppers and onions, with two juicy hot dogs nestled into fluffy pizza bread. 2708 Bridge Ave.; 732-892-6112, pointpizzanj.com.
Over-the-top hot dogs
Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ food truck: Take your pick of seven signature hot dogs. The most popular, said owner Frank Nastro, are the Memphis dog, topped with pulled pork, coleslaw and barbecue sauce, and Chicago, with diced onion and tomato, sport peppers, relish and mustard. Find the truck at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck on Wednesday, July 24, and at Hazlet Day on Saturday, Sept. 7; instagram.com/cravefoodtrucknewjersey.
Dicky's Dogs, South Toms River: Quarter-pound footlong hot dogs are fried and topped with everything from shredded pork shoulder and pico de gallo (the Border Dog) and black beans and chorizo (the Texas Dog) to cheddar cheese, pink sauce, pineapple sauce, chips, onions and mustard (the Colombian hot dog, which is also wrapped in bacon). The diner-style restaurant is at 332 Atlantic City Blvd.; 848-221-2735.
The Seaside Eatery, Seaside Heights: This boardwalk beach stand has everything from breakfast tater tots and toasts to funnel cake and fried Oreos — and also hot dogs. There are more than a dozen, including the Duck Hunter Dog with cheese curds and garlic parm sauce; the Aunt Kelly with tater tots, brown gravy and Cheese Whiz; and the Uncle Larry with lettuce, tomato, bacon, mayo and jalapenos. 1800 Boardwalk Blvd., Unit 8; instagram.com/theseasideeatery.
Sonny's Grille, Belmar: There's a hot dog for everyone at Sonny's, which has plain Sabrett hot dogs, jumbo Schickhaus hot dogs, Italian hot dogs and nearly 20 specialty hot dogs, including the Route 66 Dog with baked beans, shredded cheddar and onions in red sauce; and the Belmar Dog with cheese sauce, crushed cherry peppers, relish and chili. 821 Belmar Plaza; 732-585-9388, sonnysgrillenj.com.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com. Follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
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