Kentucky
Looking for the best hot dog in Louisville? Try these 15 spots
Louisville’s best hot dog locations you should try in 2026
See our list of the top three places around Louisville, Kentucky, to grab a hot dog this summer.
Maybe you sensed the tides changing toward beef and buns during the first seconds of July 1.
As soon as midnight struck, gone were the days of National Iced Tea Month or National Candy Month, both observed in June, the same month that hosts National Doughnut Day.
It’s July now, and that means National Hot Dog Month is here to stay for 31 days.
Louisville is home to plenty of hot dog joints, whether they serve classics with a $3 price tag or gourmet glizzies topped with unlikely ingredients such as wild arugula or a fried mac-and-cheese ball.
To kick off National Hot Dog Month and ahead of National Hot Dog Day on July 15, here are 15 of the best spots, presented in alphabetical order, to grab a hot dog in Louisville.
Did we miss your favorite? Send a note to ahancock@courier-journal.com.
Where to get hot dogs in Louisville, Ky.
This Schnitzleburg neighborhood favorite, which has been open for more than 60 years, is a go-to spot for a classic one-quarter pound grilled hot dog. Or you can upgrade to the knife-and-fork production of the Check’s Chili Cheese Dog, a grilled hot dog topped with its famous chili and cheddar cheese, served smothered on a bun ($11.99).
Details: 1101 E. Burnett Ave., Louisville, Ky., Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday, noon to 10 p.m., checkscafe.com
This Louisville staple has been around since 1951 and serves a variety of milkshakes, sundaes, hand-dipped ice cream cones, soft-serve ice cream and smoothies. Specialty treats include a funnel fry sundae, banana split, s’mores parfait and hot fudge cake. A whole section of the menu is dedicated to hot dogs, Polish sausages, and brats, which start at just $2.25.
Details: 1516 S. Shelby St., Louisville, Ky., daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., facebook.com/DairyDel/
You’ll get a sweet sense of nostalgia at this walk-up spot that’s been soft serve royalty for 40 years in Louisville. Along with treats like sundaes, flurries and milkshakes, hot dogs are a hit at Dairy Kastle. You’ll find a regular hot dog, along with a chili dog, bratwurst, a vegan dog and a taco-in-a-bag.
Details: 575 Eastern Parkway, Louisville, Ky., Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; closed Monday, dairykastle.com
Derby Dogs, a gourmet hot dog shop “where every dog is a winner” opened in the Highlands in late 2025. Look for fan favorites including the Talk Derby to Me, which is smothered in creamy mac and cheese, topped with shredded cheddar and finished with a crispy mac-and-cheese ball or the Sir Trots-A-Lot, which comes with tomato, sauerkraut, relish, onion, pickle spear, ketchup and mustard. For each specialty concoction, you can choose from a jumbo, Polish or plant‑based dog.
Custom toppings run the gamut and include onions, jalapenos, banana peppers, sour cream, shredded cheddar, chili and curly fries.
Details: 1285 Bardstown Road, Louisville, Ky., Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, derbydogs.dog/
While Dizzy Whizz might be known for burgers, you can also get your hot dog fix here by chowing down on a one-quarter pound hot dog, which costs $3.99. You can also get a hot dog with chili, an item the menu promises “never fails you,” for less than a dollar more.
Details: 217 W. St. Catherine St., Louisville, Ky., Hours: Monday-Thursday 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, noon to 9 p.m., dizzywhizz.com
This hot dog chain originally opened in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in 2017 and now has six locations, including one in Middletown. The menu includes pizza, burgers, sandwiches and dishes such as a chicken pot pie. But, at least with the restaurant’s name on your mind, you may walk in wanting a hot dog. For $12.49, The Ballpark “Double” Dog includes two steamed ballpark hot dogs with mustard, relish and diced onions. For cheese lovers, The Tillamook Dog starts with a Hebrew National hot dog topped with a strip of hickory smoked bacon and includes the restaurant’s “famous” Tillamook cheese spread, diced onions and fresh diced tomatoes on a toasted bun.
Details: 13307 Shelbyville Road, Louisville, Ky. Hours: Sunday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., doubledogs.biz/menu/louisville-middletown/
This Pasadena, California-born chain opened its first location in the area in 2024. Hot dogs on the menu include options such as the Chili Idol, which features Haus chili, cheddar cheese sauce and onions, the Old Town, which features smoked bacon, caramelized onions, chipotle aioli, pickled jalapenos and cojita cheese and the SoooCali, which features wild arugula, avocado, tomato, crispy onions and spicy basil aioli.
Details: 415 W. Bank St., New Albany, Indiana, Hours: daily, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., doghaus.com
One of Louisville’s oldest food trucks offers hot dogs including its Booty Dog, a smoked sausage, chili, two kinds of cheese, grilled pepper and onions and the chili cheese dog, a 1/3 pound Angus all-beef dog, chili and shredded cheese and smoked sausage. Get It On a Bun at Booty also serves the Booty Deluxe Burger, a Kentucky State Fair award-winning hamburger that is topped with smoked Gouda, applewood bacon, grilled pepper/onion medley, chipotle mayo, lettuce and tomato on a toasted brioche bun.
Details:822 State St., New Albany, Indiana, also a food truck, Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday, 812-292-3800; facebook.com/BootysDiner
Hauck’s Corner, a favorite in the Schnitzelburg-Germantown neighborhood, offers a variety of food in a funky setting. The menu inclues The Hauck’s Dog, a bacon-wrapped hot dog smothered with smokey brisket chili, creamy queso, zesty pickled red onions and jalapenos. Also look for grilled bratwurst and vegan bratwurst options.
Details: 1000 Goss Ave., Louisville, Ky., Hours: daily, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., hauckscorner.com
One of Louisville’s newer hot dog joints is a small walk-up joint in the Highlands. Parachute Ice Cream and Hotdog opened in April 2026. Parachute offers a variety of all-beef hot dogs from New Jersey-based Thumann’s, including hot dogs in the style of Kansas City, San Antonio, Seattle, Chicago or New York City. The menu also offers the option to build your own hot dog. Plus, Parachute serves farm-fresh ice cream made by Chaney’s Dairy Barn, which is based in Bowling Green.
Details: 1770 1/2 Bardstown Road, Louisville, Ky., Hours: Monday-Thursday, 3 p.m. to midnight, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday, noon to 2 a.m., Sunday, 12-7 p.m., instagram.com/parachutelou/
Red Top is known for offering a source of local pride with its “Louisville” dog, which brings together yellow mustard and coney sauce, as well as beer cheese, making for a decadent and, probably, highly messy experience. Also on the menu is the Black & Blue, which features chunky blue cheese, bourbon grilled onions, smoked bacon and blackberry jam. After years of being parked outside Atrium Brewing, Red Top joined Mashup Food Hall as of late 2025.
Details: 750 E Jefferson St., Louisville, Ky., Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday redtopdogs.com
If you seek a taste of the Windy City with your hot dog, check out Sam’s Chicago Grill. The Chicago Dog here is made with a Vienna all-beef frank on a poppy seed bun and is loaded with yellow mustard, chopped onions, green relish, tomato wedges, peppers, a pickle spear and a dash of celery salt. The hot dog looks like it was “dragged through the garden, just like they do it back home,” according to Sam’s website, referring to a classic Chicago phrase about the city’s vegetable-covered hot dogs.
Details: 4501 Cane Run Road, Louisville, Ky. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Closed Sunday, samschicagogrill.com
This neighborhood smashburger joint serves up a variety of five tasty hot dogs, including its signature Toasty Dog, featuring an all-beef hot dog topped with smoked poblano relish and Toasty sauce. Toasty’s also serves a Seattle Dog, topped with dijon cream cheese, griddled onions, and pickled jalapeno, and a Hot Brown Dog, made with cheese sauce and tomato relish.
Details: 1258 S. Shelby St., Louisville, Ky., Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 a.m., closed Monday, toastystavern.com
Trellis Brewing in Smoketown has tried out a few food programs since launching in June 2024. Its most recent concept, going by Trellis Foods, includes an in-house kitchen led by chef James Andrews, formerly of Red Hog Restaurant & Butcher Shop. The menu includes the KY Slaw Dog, topped with slaw and chili as well as the Pickle Express Dog, composed of brown mustard, sweet relish, pickled peppers and a garlic pickle spear. Here’s a hot dog tip: A special from 5-9 p.m. every Monday gets you a hot dog, side of fries and a beer for $12.
Details: 827 Logan St., Louisville, Ky., Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Sunday, trellisbrewing.com.
This bar and restaurant serving a unique trio of boat drinks, oysters and hot dogs opened in May 2025. YachtSea’s array of fancy hot dogs include one made with IPA beer cheese, fried onions, gochujang ketchup, papaya mustard and a pickle spear. The Bratsea! is a deep-fried bratwurst with sauerkraut, pickled jalapeños, and honey rum Dijon. Those dishes are made to pair well with drinks such as a house piña colada, which is served in a coconut milk can.
Details: 111 N. Wenzel St., Louisville, Ky., Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday, yachtseabar.com
Reach food and dining reporter Amanda Hancock at ahancock@courier-journal.com. Reach Features Clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.
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One person was killed and four victims were injured in a mass shooting at an outdoor concert in Kentucky on Saturday.
The shooting took place in Lexington and was barely a mile away from an event where Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was holding a Kentucky Democratic Party dinner.
Authorities say two of the victims injured were children ages 14 and 4, while the other two injured were adults. All four were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Before I continue, I do need to let y’all know we do have some tough news tonight,” Beshear said at his event after hearing of the shooting.
GUNFIRE ERUPTS NEAR SEATTLE MAYOR’S EVENT AS FAMILIES, CHILDREN GATHER
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear speaks during a campaign event with Rob Sand, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for Iowa at The River Center in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 7, 2026. (KC McGinnis/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“About a mile and a half from here, we’ve had a shooting actually since we started this dinner,” he continued.
“We have five people that I think received injuries and probably have one deceased,” he added before assuring diners that the situation had been resolved.
“To stop mass shootings, we have got to elect Democrats that will actually do something about it,” Beshear said.
Authorities say the shooting took place at around 6:45 p.m. in Charles Young Park. They did not offer any details about the victims, the deceased person or a suspect.
VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY SHOOTING SUSPECT FOUND HIDING IN DORM CLOSET ARRESTED
Drone view of the skyline in Lexington, Kentucky. (Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
No arrests have been made in the case as of Sunday morning, but police say there is no threat to the public.
“If you know somebody who might be inclined to use a weapon, please do anything you can do to let us know before something happens. Please let us know,” Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers said at a press conference.
The incident came on the heels of another mass shooting at Virginia State University on Saturday morning.
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That attack left five people injured, and police arrested 19-year-old suspect Camron Harris in connection with the case.
BEREA, Ky. (WKRC) — A Kentucky woman was arrested after police said four children and eight animals in her care were found living in a home filled with garbage, insects and animal feces with no running water.
According to WKYT, Tiffany Madsen, 36, faces one count of first-degree wanton endangerment, three counts of second-degree criminal abuse of a child under 12 and one count of second-degree cruelty to animals, according to an arrest citation.
Berea police began investigating after receiving information about possible child neglect. According to the citation, Madsen was reluctant to allow officers into her home and asked whether she could have time to clean before they visited.
When officers arrived, they reported finding garbage covering the front porch and a foul odor coming from the property. Police said conditions inside were severe enough that officers used personal protective equipment.
Investigators reported finding a large number of insects, open food containers and piles of feces throughout the home. Police said feces were mixed with clothing and children’s toys, while clutter made it difficult to move through the residence.
The home also had holes in the walls and no running water, according to the citation. The family was reportedly relying on bottled water from a cooler.
Police said some of Madsen’s four children had dirty and matted hair. One child told investigators the family went to a relative’s home to shower but could not say how frequently.
Officers also found three dogs and five cats that were described as being in poor condition.
Authorities removed all four children and eight animals from the home.
MERCER COUNTY, Ky. (LEX News) — The Kentucky River Palisades in Mercer County are one of the Bluegrass State’s best-kept secrets, offering outdoor enthusiasts everything from ancient cliffs to calm river waters perfect for paddling.
Framing the Kentucky River, the Palisades are cliffs that rise more than 250 feet above the water. According to the Historical Marker Database, the Palisades formed several million years ago, with the rocks that make up the cliffs dating back 460 million years. The forest is home to much wildlife and several endangered plants.
The area has evolved into a hot spot for outdoor enthusiasts, anchored by the popular Cummins Ferry RV Park and Campground, located an hour southwest of Lexington. The campground has been around for more than 10 years and offers long-term and short-term stays.
Visitor Michelle Roush has a personal connection to the area.
“My dad actually lives at the campgrounds down at the camp on Kentucky,” Roush said.
For visitors, there is always an activity to try. From hiking the Palisades on foot to fishing, the options are plentiful.
“So a couple of years ago we actually went to the caves and went hiking down in the caves, and they do fishing. I don’t fish,” Roush said.
Swimming is another popular draw, with a picture-perfect waterfall adding to the experience.
“We just mainly come down here and swim on the river. Just come up to the waterfall,” Roush said.
The river spans 10 miles long, with 5 to 7 miles on each side, and its calm waters make it easy to navigate whether you are an experienced kayaker, a beginner, or prefer taking a boat out. The scenery along the bend of the Palisades is a bonus that is hard to beat.
“Come visit. It’s an amazing place,” Roush said.
Kayleigh Randle is committed to covering the stories that matter to you. If you have an idea, please reach out to Kayleigh at kayleigh.randle@wlex.tv
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