John

Your friend wouldn't happen to be Rick Rubenstein, would he?

I've never had the Abeles & Heymann's franks. I'm sure that they're available at the Clark Shop Rite. When I get low on dogs, I'll pick up a pack. So far the best kosher dog I've had is Empire National. They are available at Tabatchniks in a giant 1/3 lb size. You can get them in a smaller size (8 to a lb) at Zayda's in South Orange and another kosher deli on Mill Rd. in Irvington. The name is Seroff's I believe. Tommy, the Best dogs in the supermarket are very good. I get the regular ones rather than low sodium. The regular dogs come in 2 sizes; 10 to a lb, and the longer 8 to a lb. I like the longer dogs. I spoke with the plant manager at Best, who told me that all of their dogs are made to the same recipe, which is the only recipe they've had since they opened in 1939. I prefer the dogs with casing, so I go to the plant to get them. Like Curlz, I grew up eating these franks. I've had them probably more than any other brand. And she's right, they are exceptional on the grill for whatever reason. As good a dog on the grill as there is, and that includes Usinger's. Last summer I grilled Sabrett and Best's at a party for my sister. Six people compared the 2 without knowing anything about what brands they were. All 6 chose the Best dog. Even though you can get natural casing at the factory, you can still get the skinless dogs. In sizes ranging from 4 to 12 per lb. And cheaper than what you would pay at the supermarket. Something like $2.25 per lb. A little more expensive for casing. Occasionally you will see Best on sale at Shop Rite for $1.99 per lb. They are regularly anywhere from $3.69 to $4.99.

Best Provisions in Newark makes dogs that are kosher style, not kosher. The Chicago Best makes the following brands: Best Kosher, Sinai 48, Shofar, and Oscherwitz. The first 3 are kosher, while Oscherwitz is Glatt Kosher. Sinai 48 is the brand served at the famous Superdawg in Chicago. Shofar used to be widely available in Jersey, now you only see it occasionally at a few hot dog carts. There's one at Sears in Watchung. You can also get Shofar at Restaurant Depot. Best Kosher is sold at Sams Club and Wegmans. I bought a package at the Woodbridge Wegmans. The dog is a typical kosher dog; salty, beefy, and good. Better, in my opinion than Shofar. But not as good as Best's from Jersey. On here I may be John the hot dog guy, but to my family I'm John that needs to get a life. But there are few things I enjoy more than a good hot dog, a good beer, and a good baseball game. Keeps me out of trouble too.

Don't risk death, although you never know what might happen when you open a package nowadays. Seriously, I would say that I've probably eaten Best hot dogs more than any other brand. It's what I'm used to. The first time I had Usinger's, I told people that I finally found a frank better than Best's. But the more I sample the 2, the more I come to the conclusion that I like them equally, depending on the mood that I'm in. Best's is definitely better in an Italian Hot Dog, as the garlic and paprika stand out. On the outdoor grill, Best's also tastes great. If you are cooking the dogs in water or on a griddle, Usinger's are better. These two dogs are probably my 2 favorites out of all that I sampled. Best is more in the N.Y./N.J./Chicago/Eastern kosher style than Usinger's. Best is milder than Sabrett and Nathan's, but has the garlic and paprika that a dog in this style typifies. A great casing and a great blend of spices. Usinger's also has a great blend of spices, but the spices aren't what you usually find in a kosher style dog in the Eastern US. Usinger's has nutmeg, coriander, white pepper, and other esoteric spices. And it has a smoky flavor which is usually found in the beef/pork franks rather than all beef. The size is also different. Shorter and thicker than what is considered normal for this type of dog. But it tastes great. Even though it may not be considered true to style; so what. If it tastes good, eat it. All in all, if I was forced to pick what tasted better, I'd go with Usinger's. But the Best 5 to a lb frank which is served at Syd's is right there. A softer casing, longer , sleeker dog, with the taste and spicing that is typical of this area. To really get an idea of how this dog tastes, I suggest going to Syd's and ordering a grilled dog (they also come boiled).

That is the site! I don't know where you're coming from, but an easy way to get there is to take rt 78 East (assuming you're coming from the west) to exit 56 Clinton Ave. Take this street to the end and make a left onto Avon Ave. A couple of blocks down, make a left onto Jeliff St. Best's is on Avon and Jeliff, but the entrance to the plant is on Jeliff. In addition to their great hot dogs, they also sell other beef products including corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, beef bacon, hambugers, and spicy beef sausage. If you go for hot dogs, let me suggest that you get those with natural casing. They come in a variety of sizes. I get either the 5 to a lb (Syd's) or 8's (Jerry's). They are open at 6:00 in the AM and stay open till around 4. On Saturday they close at 12 or 1. An interesting story. I can't always get to Best's because I work on Saturdays and usually work my day off during the week. I wanted some of their hot dogs for the weekend and asked my wife to pick them up. She replied something like, "What are you crazy? I don't want to go there and get shot!" It's not in the one of the greatest neighborhoods, but I've never had a problem. You park right near the back loading dock and go in through the slotted door about 10 feet away. Well, since I didn't feel like getting up extra early to be there Saturday before work, I went without the hot dogs. The next day in the Sunday Star Ledger, I read about a cop that was shot right on the same street in front of Best! Luckily, he was wearing a bullet proof vest which saved him. I showed the article to my wife who now refuses to even drive with me when I make the trip there. Hope I didn't scare you away. I've never had a problem. The Police happenned to be chasing some drug dealers and they ended up in the area.

Daniel, The hot dogs used at Tommy's are Best's which are one of my 4 favorite all beef dogs along with Usinger's, Hatfield's angus beef dog, and Sabrett. The other famous place is Jerry's, 2 doors down. Jerry's uses the same natural casing Best's dog, but after boiling, they throw it on a griddle for a little while for added flavor and snap. It does make a difference. I prefer Jerry's dog to Tommy's. And Jerry's chili is better in my opinion. Tommy's uses the natural casing dogs for regular hot dogs, but the skinless version for their Italian Hot Dogs. Both places are very good, and worth going out of your way for. When I'm really hungry, I get an Italian Hot Dog at Tommy's and one or 2 regular dogs at Jerry's. Being married to me, my wife can't help but eat a fair share of hot dogs. Out of all that she's sampled, Jerry's is her favorite hot dog and chili. Thanks to your pictures, I think I'm headed to Tommy's for a sausage sandwich. And maybe a few dogs at Jerry's. Luckily only 3.6 miles from my driveway.

Red Chimney is now a Falls View. There are about 8 Falls View restaurants in North Jersey. They specialize in Texas Weiners. I went last week for the first time. Pretty good. They use a Thumann's dog, but not the special one made for deep frying used by Rutts, Libby's, and numerous other places. You can have your dog grilled or deep fried. Typical thin North Jersey style Texas Weiner or "all the way" sauce. Ok, but I prefer the Hot Grill for this type of hot dog.

Congratulations on realizing a dream!!! I too am in the process, albeit the beginning stages of it, of opening my own hot dog joint. You Egulleters will have yet another stop to make on the next hot dog run!! Anyway, Good luck to you guys!! ← Ooh, a new hot dog joint!! Where will it be located, and what type of dog are you planning to serve?

On the label, it says Hatfield Natural Casing Beef Frankfurters. Underneath is added Made With Black Angus Beef. I spoke with someone from the company last August and was told that these franks were made to compete with Sabrett and other all beef dogs in the tri state area. A much better dog than their regular one found in supermarkets, which contains turkey in addition to beef and pork. As I said, my wife and son love this hot dog. I gave a few to one of my friends who also likes it, but says that it's a little too smoky.

Out of the three you mentioned, I prefer Best's. But the natural casing dogs which are only available at the factory or the hot dog joints that serve them. For some reason, Best's really stands out when prepared on the backyard grill. This is how Syd's makes them, but on an indoor gas grill. Hatfield's and Usinger's are great no matter how they're cooked. Sabrett is good in water and on the griddle; not so good on the grill in my opinion.

These franks were introduced about a year ago at certain food distributors in central and north Jersey. Hatfield wanted to make a quality beef frank to compete with Sabrett. I don't even know if they are available in Pennsylvania, as the Pa. market is geared to milder tasting dogs. I don't much care for the standard Hatfield frank. But the angus beef frank is exceptional. I first saw them at a distributor last summer but balked at buying the 5 lb minimum. The guy on duty told me of a cart nearby that switched to this brand from Sabrett. Unfortunately, it was past closing time, but I went back and really liked the dog. It had a rich beefy flavor that I preferred to the Sabrett dog from the cart a few blocks away. I was in Restaurant Depot this week and came across these dogs again. This time I sprang for the 5 lb bag (only $13.00 and change wholesale) and threw a few in water when I got home. They were incredible; just as good as I remembered them. I also cooked one on the backyard grill. This is one dog that tastes as good in water as on the grill. I wanted to see how these dogs compared to some of my favorites, so I went to a few places and got a dog of each kind still cold. I tasted Hatfield's, Usinger's Angus, Best, Sabrett, Grote & Weigel all beef, and Thumann's. For me, it's hard to pick a favorite since some of them have different flavor characteristics. Thumann's is the only dog that wasn't all beef. But the Grote & Weigel dog clearly wasn't as good as the other beef dogs. It lacked the flavor and spice. Father & Son in Linden used this dog, switched to a different dog, and then switched back. I wonder if they changed the recipe. Let me add that I cooked all of these dogs on a griddle. Usinger's has a unique spicing, with spices that you don't normally find in hot dogs. This dog has the widest array of flavors. Sabrett is spicy with garlic and papricka dominating. The Hatfield beef dog just had a rich beefy taste where you can taste the spices, but they weren't overpowering or dominant. Best's is sort of between Hatfield and Sabrett as far as spicing. Thumann's is a different animal. Which was my favorite? I don't know. My wife and son both picked the Hatfield frank. For me, the Grote & Weigel frank wasn't as good as the rest, the Thumann's dog was mild compared to the others, and the Sabrett was a little too spicy/garlicky, although this is the dog I get when I'm in the mood for this. On the backyard grill, Best is as good as there is, but on the griddle Hatfield and Usinger's really stood out. I'm glad that I have access to Hatfield's. I wish that Usinger's was available in my area. Only one place I know of has it, but they have the low fat skinless version. Anyone know if the Hatfield frank is available in South Jersey/Pa., or is it just shipped to north jersey? In any event, it is well worth seeking out.

Have no fear, on Route 46 west just 1 1/2 miles east of Anthony Wayne is The Hearth serving up terrific charcoal hamburgers and hot dogs. Slightly less expensive than AWayne, The Hearth also has unlimited pickles-- and they are very very good!! They also have specials every week where a main dish is offered for a reduced price, e.g., hot dogs for 99 cents, or burgers for $1.50. Try the Hearth!! Hearth Charcoal Restaurant 1116 US Highway 46 Clifton, NJ Phone: (973) 473-6444 ← Do you know what brand of dogs are used here? I know that the Anthony Wayne charbroiled Thumann's beef and pork dogs.

Try Usinger's natural casing beef franks. And bratwurst.

Sorry, I can't help you, but was wondering about something. I've heard that in or near Toronto, Shopsy's all beef hot dogs are considered quite good. In your opinion, how do they compare to Nathan's or Gray's?

The dog used at SuperDawg is Sinai 48, which is made by Best Kosher. The same company makes Shofar, Sinai 48, Oscherwitz, and Best Kosher. At Wegmans, we have Best Kosher. A good dog; better in my opinion than Vienna. Kosher dogs in general are very good, but I prefer all beef dogs that are kosher style rather than actual kosher. Kosher style usually have a wider range of flavors, while most kosher dogs, while good, are a little too salty and one dimensional. We also get the Zweigles White Hots at Wegmans. This is a good product, but I would consider it more of a bratwurst than a hot dog. Thicker than a hot dog, white in color, and made of pork, veal, and beef; this really fits the definition of a cooked bratwurst. Johnsonville Stadium Brats are similar.

One of my hobbies is sampling different brands of hot dogs as well as going to hot dog restaurants. Where I live, N.J., has a great diversity of dogs and styles. Conn. and New York are also good. I've had hot dogs served every which way, and I suppose when it comes down to it, there is really no right or wrong, although I believe if you are going to enjoy a good quality hot dog, it's best to stay away from poultry or veggie dogs. I usually enjoy a quality dog with just a little deli mustard. I like to taste and evaluate the dog itself. Other times I enjoy chili, or the special relish made at Rutt's Hut. And of course in Jersey there is the Italian Hot Dog. I'm not a big fan of the Chicago Hot Dog. Too much crap which takes away from the dog itself. I make a distinction between kosher style all beef dogs and German style beef and pork dogs. The latter is milder with a different spicing. Little or no garlic, and spices like mace which aren't usually found in all beef dogs. I like all beef dogs grilled or griddled. Beef/pork dogs I like on the griddle or sometimes deep fried. My favorite beef dogs are Best (the long natural casing dog served at Syd's), Usinger's Angus beef wiener, Sabrett, Boars Head, Nathan's, Grote & Weigel, and Empire National. For a beef and pork dog, Thumann's on the griddle is head and shoulders above the rest. Lieh's and Steigerwald of Syracuse, N.Y is a butcher shop making excellent hot dogs and wursts. Schickhaus/Grote & Weigel, Hummel's, and Berk's are also good. There is a lot of hot dog posts elsewhere on E-Gullet.

Which place did Philadelphia Magazine name as best cheesesteak? I think last year it was Chick's in Cherry Hill.

The Union Pork Store on Morris Ave. in Union probably has what you're looking for. There are several butchers in Union, and from what I've heard, the Union Pork store has the biggest variety of Polish sausages. I go for bratwurst and hot dogs. You might also want to try Pulaski Meats on Wood Ave in Linden. Close to Stash's.

AllisonA, Love your avatar!

As of about 2 months ago, Father & Son switched back to Grote & Weigel. The owner, who is a tough person to both work for and do business with, has switched franks numerous times. He used Sabrett originally, then switched to Best, which he used for years. A salesman for Grote & Weigel came in a few years ago and promised better service from their distributor along with a comparable dog, so he switched to G&W. About a year and a half ago, G&W made a mistake while producing a batch of franks by adding hot (cajun?) spices. They offerred to send a replacement batch at no charge, but the owner refused and switched back to Best. I think I prefer Best, but I liked being able to have the G&W franks available at a place near me. The owner perceived (wrongly in my opinion) that Best leaves too much grease on the griddle, so he switched back to Grote & Weigel. Most customers can't tell the difference because the dogs are somewhat similar. Father & Son does have a wonderfully spicy chili that I buy to take home. Worth a stop if you are in or near Linden.

Never been to the place on Stelton Rd. There is a Texas Weiner place (I forget the name) on Park Ave. in South Plainfield that I've been to. Similar to Texas Weiner ll in Greenbrook. They use the same Grote & Weigel griddle frank as does Red Tower up the street in Plainfield and another Red Tower on rt. 22 in North Plainfield. Dickiee Dee's and JJ's sounds like a good idea. They are a stones throw from each other. Tony's is also a few blocks away. Known for their hot onions if you like that kind of thing. JJ's has a real spicy chili. Definitely something to keep in mind for the near future.

Someone had told me about Frankie D's awhile back. They said it was a new place specializing in Italian Hot Dogs. I called on a Sunday about 3 or 4 weeks ago to see if they were open (they were) so I could make a trip to Nutley. It's a very small place that used to be a pizzeria. Mostly take out since there are only 2 tables. They opened in August or September of last year. Even though they are called Frankie D's Dog House, they also make various sandwiches. And pizza, but only on certain days. As for the hot dogs, they make Italian Hot Dogs and plain hot dogs. The plain dogs are the deep fried Thumanns which are used at Rutt's, Hirams, Libby's, Goffle Grill, Johnny n Hanges, etc. I had one of these as well as a double Italian Dog. The Italian Hot Dog was similar to Dickiee Dees in appearance. Meaning they topped the sandwich with chunks of potatoes rather than thinly sliced ones like Charlies. Dickiee Dee's and Frank's Newark Style cut their potatoes in chunks, while Tommy's, Charlies, and Jimmy Buff's slice them thin. In my opinion, Frankie D's makes a good Italian Hot Dog. The potatoes, while similar to Dickiee Dees, tasted fresher and better. The dogs (Best brand) are bigger than the tiny ones used at Dees, and there were more peppers. All in all, a good sandwich, probably the best one I've had in Essex County or anywhere north of Union County. But Charlies in Kenilworth and Tommy's in Elizabeth are better. The plain hot dog was good, but I should have told them to make it well done.

I've been to Goffle Grill and Johnny n Hanges. Last time I went to the Goffle Grill, I stopped at Clixes, which is right down the street, but they were closed since it was Sunday. Definitely up for another trip. Would like to try Clixes, Falls View, and the Karl Ehmers cart in front of their store.

In addition to wine, the Wine Library also offers a great selection of imported and microbrewed beer. Currently they are only carrying 20 brands of beer because they are in the process of expanding and don't have the space yet. In the meantime, another great place for beer is Gary's on Main St. in Madison.