National Hot Dog Day: Ranking Pittsburgh's Most Fantastic Franks

PITTSBURGH, PA - Your friends here at Patch would never recommend following the lead of Joey Chestnut. Earlier this month, he downed what, depending on your perspective, is either an awe-inspiring or revolting 72 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win the 2017 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

But there’s nothing wrong with indulging in one or two of those hot diggity dogs at a ball game or for a quick lunch. And with July 19 being National Hot Dog Day, there’s no better time to answer the question of which places in Pittsburgh serve the best dogs.

As usual, we turned to the people who aren’t shy about letting their opinions be known - the folks who use Yelp. Do you agree with their Top 10 choices? Was your favorite hot dog place injudiciously omitted from the rankings? Let us know in the comments section below or on the Patch Pittsburgh Facebook page.

1. D’s Six Pax & Dogz, 1118 South Braddock Ave., Regent Square
We would concur that D’s does indeed have the best dogs in town, and the fact that they sell more than a thousand brands of beer is another good reason to go there. But back to the dogs, here’s one happy Yelpster’s assessment: “The Chicago is -gasp- just as good as if you were in Chicago. The Chihuahua is like if a hot dog and a taco got married - yum. The Mac'N'Cheese dog weighs 20 pounds but is worth it just for the delicious mac. The Cuban is everything you love about Cubans but in hot dog form. The Angry Tiki was my favorite: pineapple, bacon, hoison, and Double Dip sauce - um, yes please.”
We’re going to D’s as soon as we’re finished typing this piece.

2. Yovi’s, 477 Greame St., Market Square
High praise indeed for this longtime Downtown establishments dogs. “(Yovi’s) has one of the very best not-in-Chicago Chicago dogs you'll ever try. It's so good, that were it in Chicago, it would still be one of my top 10 places to get a Chicago dog, along with the likes of Fat Johnnie's and Kim & Carlo's,” one Yelpster wrote. Added another: “I've been to Chicago on multiple occasions and can say with certainty that they've got it down pat when it comes to authenticity.”
We’re going to Yovi’s as soon as we’re finished going to D’s.

3. The Original Hot Dog Shop, 3901 Forbes Ave., Oakland.
The O is best known for its superlative fries, but don’t discount the dogs that actually are part of the establishment’s name. One Yelpster wrote, Here, I got two kosher beef dogs for $9.25. One had chili (they were out of kraut) and the other had pickle, ketchup, and brown mustard. The dogs here are slightly burned, giving it a satisfying crunch and have a distinct greasy and salty flavors.” Sounds good to us. We also agree with this reviewer, who wrote: “The hot dogs have a ‘snap’ to them when you take a bite. They are really good hot dogs. They are longer than a regular hotdog but not quite a foot-long.”

4. Packs & Dogs, 223 Shiloh St., Mt. Washington
“The hot dogs are solid,” wrote one Yelpster. “The value is definitely there and the dogs are definitely a nice size.” Offered this reviewer: “I decided on the Chihuahua which is nothing more than a chili cheese dog with onions. When I got my order I was floored almost. I was pleasantly surprised to see that although I ordered only one hot dog, it was more than enough for a single meal.”

5. Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe, 2401 Noblestown Road, West End
Some swell comparisons from this Yelp reviewer” “When I think of great hot dogs, I think of cheese Coneys from Skyline in Cincinnati, or Yocco's hot dogs with their funky chili sauce out in Allentown.Brighton fits this bill as well. The flavor of the hot dogs they use is unique.” This place won’t break your bank either, according to this reviewer: “Got two chili and kraut dogs. The dogs were fantastic and (cost) $1.55 each. What a deal.”

6. The New York Hot Dog Shop, 9022 Old Perry Highway, McCandless
“The hot dog had great taste and the bun was soft as could be,” this Yelpster wrote. “But the real star of each bite was the chili. This isn't that typical, runny, greasy chili that you receive at just about every place you go.” Another reveled in the place’s simplicity: “Come here and get your basic dog and a side of fries, and go home happy.”

7. Franktuary, 115 Forbes Ave., Market Square
The choices here are many, according to this reviewer: “You can get anything from a plain dog to traditional condiments (think onions and ketchup) to fancy toppings like kimchee or pierogies, or just a nice juicy chili dog. They have plenty of non-meat options too, if that's your preference.”

8. The Shady Dog, (street vendor), Baum and Liberty, Shadyside
Joey Chestnut would like this place, according to this reviewer:”The Shady Dog uses Nathan's for their $3 signature `Shady Dog,’ which is juicy to the core.” Added this one: “The hot dogs themselves are great. Crispy on the outside, juicy and flavorful on the inside.”

9. Nana’s Hot Dog Shop, 1110 Federal St., North Side
This sounds like a place we’d love, based on this review: “If you're of the Chemex-and-tofu set you'll hate this place. But this is an old-school Pittsburgh establishment, and the prices feel straight out of 1990. The hot dogs and kielbasa are amazing and a meal won't set you back more than $5.”

10. Wiener World, 626 Smithfield St., Downtown
A good tasting dog, with natural casing that snaps when you bite into it,” one Yelpster raved. “Love the long sliced pickle on top.”

Photos via Yelp.