The (Hot) Dog Days of Summer

If you’re looking for some hot dog inspiration – beyond the basic grocery aisle selections – head to one of these fine Durham establishments:

The deli classic

Head to Lucky’s Delicatessen, a new Jewish and Italian deli from restaurateur Matt Kelly. You can get two all-beef hot dogs and a fountain drink for $7, and top your dogs off with sauerkraut, slaw, chili, or cheese sauce. Get your meal to go and chow down at one of the public tables in Five Points plaza.

The Southern red dog

King’s Sandwich Shop has been a Durham icon since 1942. Stop by this walk-up sandwich stand at the corner of Geer and Foster Streets and ask for King’s Southern Red Dog – a beef hot dog topped with King’s sauce, homemade slaw, and homemade chili. Pair your dog with some tater tots and fried okra, and you’re good to go.

The veggie dog

The Durham Hotel’s Hickory Smoked Carrot Dog proves that vegetarian hot dog options can be just as flavorful as the real thing. The Carrot Dog comes with sauerkraut, green tomato chow chow, or sweet onion relish. Enjoy your dog at The Roof, the hotel’s rooftop bar, which offers great views of the Bull City and delicious cocktails.

The scratch-made dog

Bull City Burger and Brewery uses antibiotic-free, North Carolina pasture-raised beef for its hot dogs, and even grinds the beef in house. Get your dog on a house-baked bun and customize it with pickled vegetables, slaw, or pimento cheese.

The old-school throwback

The Dog House has served hot dogs out of, well, a dog house since the 1970s. It’s hard to resist the kitsch, low prices, and signature toppings at any of the joint’s four Durham locations. Get the Ol’ Yallow – a pork hot dog with mustard, melted cheese, and bacon bits – for the perfect Dog House experience.

The cider soul mate

Every hot dog benefits from an ice cold beverage. At Black Twig Cider House, you can pair your bratwurst with 80 available ciders. Order the Handsome Norman, which comes with Firsthand Foods’ bratwurst, slaw, smoked pimento cheese, mustard, and Picnic pork barbecue. Hot dog purists can also choose the Roxbury Russet – a classic dog with caramelized onions and mustard.

The ballpark favorite

Fresh cut grass and a baseball game pair well with a hot dog. Get a Bright Leaf hot dog at a Durham Bulls game at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park during the spring and summer months. Take your ballpark frank experience to a whole new level with a pint of beer from Bull Durham Beer Co., the only brewery located in a minor league baseball park.