WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – What better day to celebrate our local hot dogs, than on National Hot Dog Day? My thoughts exactly. Then again, how is that we are already through the middle of July and we’re just now going on our first Hot Dog Road Trip of the summer? It’s truly shameful on my end. But we’re all here now, the gas tank is full, the 100 CD holder is bursting at the seams, and the AC is struggling to keep up in this unrelenting heat…so let’s put rubber on the road.

Here’s a quick rundown of my entirely arbitrary rules for the Road Trip. For one, I try to stay away from chain restaurants at all costs (think Sonic or Cook Out). Secondly, I only order my hot dogs one way, with chili, slaw, onions, and mustard. To many here, that’s a Carolina Dog, for others it’s a West Virginia Dog. Either way it’s delicious and I highly recommend you give it a try if you haven’t before. Finally, I am judging these “scores” based on the hot dog itself, the bun, onions, chili, and slaw (sorry mustard).

Thank you to everyone who answered my Hot Dog Road Trip roll call, I received nearly 50 emails and comments about places I needed to check out. Some of them I have tried before, and you can read the previous three Road Trips here:

Hot Dog Road Trip Part 1

Hot Dog Road Trip Part 2

Hot Dog Road Trip Part 3

Many suggestions were of places I have never heard of before, or had on my list for a long time. I plan to make a trip to all of them, but here are a handful to satisfy your appetite.

Sweet D’s Cuisine

Some may find it strange our first stop is at a bakery known for it’s delicious sweet treats, including fresh croissants drizzled and filled with a variety of sugar-laden goodies. However, Sweet D’s Cuisine also offers plenty of savory items as well, including hot dogs. When it comes to this dog, the chili has a solid beef flavor (albeit a little dry), the slaw is fine cut and creamy, the onions freshly diced, and the bun was soft and perfectly enveloped its contents. The weakest link here was the hot dog itself (no pun intended), it seemed overcooked and tough, which is a real shame because the rest of the ingredients are top notch. This dog gets a respectable 3.25/5.

Monkey Junction Pit Stop

The next stop on our route takes us to a convenience store along Carolina Beach Road, the Monkey Junction Pit Stop. This place is a one stop shop for nearly everything you need on the way to the beach, they also have some killer hot dogs. You will have to ask the clerk to whip up your order, this isn’t a gas station where the hot dogs rack up more miles than your car while rolling under a heat lamp. The dog is quality, the chili is a meaty sauce, the slaw has a real creamy zing to it, the onions are fresh and finely diced, and the bun is firm but soft. A glamorous glizzy here, 4/5.

Truck’s Chicken ‘n Fish

When walking into Truck’s Chicken ‘n Fish on Red Cross St., you immediately smell the hunger-enducing aroma of fried chicken. Which makes sense, it’s in the name. Though some suggest they also make a hot dog worth stopping in for, so that’s exactly what I did. As you can see from the picture, Truck’s doesn’t skimp on the toppings (though mustard was accidentally forgotten). While this is a fork and knife hot dog, with each dog piled high, nothing particularly stands out. I will be back for some other menu items, and maybe give these dogs a shot at redemption. A lackluster showing, 2.5/5.

Sea Level City Vegan Diner

I know what you’re thinking, a vegan hot dog? As they say, “all’s fair in love and hot dogs,” or something like that. This may seem like a detour on our road trip, but it’s a stop I’ve wanted to make for some time. The soy-based dog here tasted just fine, the toasted bun was a positive as well, in fact, the entire package was one of the prettiest hot dogs I’ve ever ate. Yet, something just wasn’t right. Maybe it was the black bean chili (beans typically aren’t in hot dog chili) or the red slaw that didn’t impart much flavor, but this dog was more bark than bite. This creation is in the dog house, 2.5/5.

Sam’s Hot Dog Stand

I’m technically breaking the first rule of the Hot Dog Road Trip here…no, you can still talk about the Road Trip, it’s not that kind of rule. I visited a chain (of sorts). Sam’s Hot Dog Stand started in my native West Virginia, and has dozens of locations spread out through the Mountain State, Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina. However, I have received plenty of suggestions through the years for me to pay Sam’s a visit, so I finally obliged. The ladies here could not have been any nicer, and the hot dog they provided is about as good as you can get. A perfectly steamed bun cradles a beef hot dog, then its lathered in your choice of mild or spicy chili (I went with the latter) and topped with onions, mustard, and fresh, finely chopped, and creamy coleslaw. Others take note, this is how slaw should be on every hot dog. A blue ribbon frankfurter worth telling people about, 4.8/5.

Stay tuned this summer, as I visit many more locations, and as always, I am always seeking new suggestions. Have a favorite hot dog? Send me a note at corey.preece@gray.tv

IF YOU GO:

Sweet D’s Cuisine is located at 2321 S 17th St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Monkey Junction Pit Stop is located at 4902 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington, NC 28412

Truck’s Chicken ‘n Fish is located at 604 Red Cross St, Wilmington, NC 28401

Sea Level City Vegan Diner is located at 1015 S Kerr Ave Unit A & B, Wilmington, NC 28403

Sam’s Hot Dog Stand is located at 5917 Oleander Dr STE 110, Wilmington, NC 28403

Do you recommend a restaurant? Or know of a best-kept secret that you want the rest of the Cape Fear to know about? Shoot me an email at corey.preece@gray.tv and I would love to feature your selection. Cheers!

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