On National Hot Dog Day, try one of these 10 homegrown Delaware favorite spots 🌭

Sure, you could hit up national chain restaurants today to get your big bite of National Hot Dog Day.

But here in Delaware, we have plenty of homegrown greasy spoons, ranging from those specifically known for their mouth-watering wieners to spots that just happen to have top-notch dogs tucked away on the menu.

So if you don’t feel like firing up your barbecue on this hump day to make your National Hot Dog Day meal just as you like it, try one of these 10 eateries for some bun-worthy dogs.

The Dog House, New Castle 

Throw a rock, hit a Delawarean and ask them their favorite hot dog joint and The Dog House would most likely be near the top of the list.

Known for its foot-long hot dogs, The Dog House has been in business since 1952 and has a menu filled with a variety of pizzas, subs, cheesesteaks and its best-selling chili cheese dog.

The Dog House makes its own house relish and is partnered with Serpe & Sons Bakery, which makes the hot dog buns. And they just added credit cards and a dog-friendly outdoor dining area.

The Dog House, 1200 N. Du Pont Highway, near New Castle, (302) 328-5380

Deerhead Hot Dogs, near Wilmington and Stanton

If The Dog House isn’t the old school top dog in Delaware, then Deerhead Hot Dogs is.

They started in downtown Wilmington at Hotel Olivere in 1935 and has been cooking up hot dogs ever since.

A popular pairing is the Deerhead Hot Dog with everything, which includes mustard, onions and the secret Deerhead sauce that keeps fans coming. Hot dogs are also sold in doubles or 10 packs if you can’t get enough.

The restaurant, which no longer has a Wilmington location, is still grillin’ in Stanton.

Deerhead Hot Dogs, 1233 Churchmans Rd, Stanton, (302) 266-9333

Johnnie’s Dog House and Chicken Shack, Wilmington

Based in Talleyville, Johnnie’s Dog House and Chicken Shack was featured in an issue of People magazine a few years back for having the best hot dog in the state. And plenty of fans would still give them the honor.

The Delaware Destroyer, winner of the award, is actually two hot dogs served on a 6-inch hoagie roll topped with macaroni and cheese, chili, grilled onions and hot sauce. Burp!

If you’re looking for something a bit sweeter, try the Monkey Hill Dog, which comes topped with grilled bananas, crunchy peanut butter, chopped bacon and honey.

Johnnie’s offers its hot dogs in beef, chicken, turkey, kobe beef or veggie. You can also get a beef in a 13-inch jumbo size, which weighs almost a pound.

Johnnie’s Dog House and Chicken Shack, 3401 Concord Pike, Talleyville, (302) 477-1440

Taco Reho, Rehoboth Beach and Middletown

When you think about the Delaware chain Taco Reho, California-inspired burritos and tacos wrapped in warm, house-made corn tortillas probably come to mind.

But for all of July ― including National Hot Dog Day on the 17th ― their rock ‘n’ roll-themed, homegrown restaurants will be spotlighting one of America’s favorite summertime bites.

In fact, there are always some foot-long beef dogs on their menu, including Danger Dog: a bacon-wrapped hot dog with black beans, Monterey jack cheese, avocado, yellow mustard, chipotle mayo, pico de gallo, pickled red onions, queso fresco and cilantro.

For July, they have been offering a different hot dog each week to celebrate National Hot Dog Day. Their Danger Dog is the featured dog for this week and for the week starting July 22, you can get the new Elote: a hot dog topped with Mexican grilled corn, cheese and chile peppers.

Taco Reho, Rehoboth Beach (18784 Coastal Highway) and Middletown (100 Sandhill Drive), (302) 226-8226

Charcoal Pit, Talleyville

Sure, Charcoal Pit has thick milkshakes, high school-themed sundaes and a beloved hamburger line-up, but there’s another American classic on the menu that gets lost in the shuffle sometimes.

You have two options for their flame-grilled hot dogs: the basic plain char dog or the char dog special with two char dogs topped with chili and cheese with a side of French fries.

They have been serving them for nearly 70 years, so they must be doing something right.

Charcoal Pit, 2600 Concord Pike, Talleyville, (302) 478-2165

Twilley’s Willys, Fenwick Island  

Twilley’s Willys in Fenwick Island has a menu loaded with hot dogs just as unique as its name.

Try one of the 17 different city-style dogs such as The Baltimore, loaded with large lump Maryland crab, macaroni & cheese and Old Bay or The Philly, topped with chopped steak, cheese sauce and caramelized onions.

The “Other Dogs” menu features fun styles like the Dirty Dog, which comes with chorizo, pico de gallo, cheese sauce and cilantro lime crema.

All are also available in veggie form.

Twilley’s Willys, 300 Coastal Highway, Fenwick Island, (302) 581-0255

Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen, Rehoboth Beach and South Bethany Beach

Mixed among potato latkes, Reubens and matzo ball soup, you’ll find some big dogs in the center of the Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen menu.

There are seven third-pound split hot dogs just waiting to fill you up from a plain dog you can dress up with sauerkraut to something that call Twinsies: a pair of third-pound dogs on one big bun. That’s nearly 11 ounces of beef.

If you want to try something new (and probably take a follow-up nap), go for The Big Dog, which is topped with pastrami, corned beef, bologna, melted cheddar.

Rosenfeld’s Jewish Delicatessen, Rehoboth Beach (18949 Coastal Highway, 302-645-1700) and South Bethany Beach (34444 Coastal Highway, 302-539-8550)

Gus & Gus Place, Rehoboth Beach

Gus & Gus Place is located on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk and has a special hot dog that might bring on the nostalgia.

The classic oceanfront restaurant features basics such as a cheese dog, a chili dog and a sauerkraut dog, but rounds its menu off with a corn dog that will give you some real state fair feels. 

If you stop by, choose your dog and then be sure to grab some of the “legendary fresh Idaho fries” cooked in peanut oil to go with it.

Gus & Gus Place, 15 S. Boardwalk, Rehoboth Beach, (302) 227-3329

Ed’s Hot Dogs, New Castle

Located at Airport Plaza in New Castle, Ed’s Hot Dogs is known for its combo meals and great deals.

Their slogan? “Food so great, you’ll think we stole your Mom!”

The limited menu features hot dogs, hot sausages, Polish kielbasa, meatball sandwiches, cheesesteaks and breakfast sandwiches. And if you’re on a budget, it’s a winner.

Ed’s Hot Dogs, 138 Sunset Blvd., New Castle, (302) 883-1338

Doggie Style

Doggie Style, which grew from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar spot on Rehoboth Beach’s next to the former original home of Nicola Pizza, is the go-to spot for hot dogs in the “The Nation’s Summer Capital.”

A hot dog joint that also specializes on Caribbean fare offers 11 specialty hot dogs, alongside an array of sausages and a mini Mexican menu witch nachos, tacos and burritos.

The foot-long menu has dogs named after their style, ranging from the Lardeo, Little German and Little Brazilian to the Little Jamaican, Farmer and Little Weenie Between Two Eggs.

If you want to stick to the basics, try the Little Hillbilly with beef chili, cheese and onions. If you want to go off leash, try Little Boriqua topped with sweet plantains, chili, “Florida sauce,” cheese and potato sticks.

Doggie Style, 4 N. First St., Rehoboth Beach, (302) 384-4386

Have a story idea? Contact Ryan Cormier of Delaware Online/The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier) and X (@ryancormier).