Best Hot Dogs In and Around Burlington, Vermont

Types of hot dogs

Before we get to the weenie eateries⁠, have you ever wondered—what exactly is a Chicago dog? Or a Michigan dog? Well, here's a guide to regional types of hot dogs. How many have you tried?

• Michigan: steamed hot dog in a steamed bun topped with spicy ground meat and chopped onions.
• Vermont-style Michigan: hot dog split in half and grilled, the bun is often grilled as well, topped with spicy ground meat, chopped onion, and yellow mustard. They're also known as "red hots".
• Snap dogs (natural casing dogs): Regular hot dogs are skinless, but natural casing dogs have a casing that gives a little "snap!" when you bite into them.
• New York System: A specialty of Rhode Island, this is technically a weiner, not a hot dog. Pork and veal weiners are served in a steamed bun topped with meat sauce, chopped onions, yellow mustard, and celery salt.
• Red Snapper: In Maine, folks love their red snappers! They're snap dogs (natural casing dogs) with a bright, fire-engine-red hue.
• Chicago dog: all-beef kosher dog, usually steamed, in a poppy seed bun topped with yellow mustard, chopped onions, neon-green sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, slices or wedges of tomato, pickled hot sport peppers, and celery salt. This topping combo is also called "dragged through the garden".
• Coney: hot dog in a bun topped with a savory meat sauce, white onion, yellow mustard, and sometimes cheese.
• Danger dog: a hot dog wrapped in bacon and deep-fried.
• Carolina-style: hot dog in a bun topped with chili and coleslaw. Sometimes yellow mustard is included or replaces the slaw.
• Sonoran: a hot dog wrapped in bacon and grilled, then served in a bolillo roll (similar to a baguette), and topped with beans, tomatoes, and onions.
• Italian hot dog: hot dog fried in oil and served in an Italian bread roll or pizza bread roll. Topped with diced fried potatoes, fried peppers. and onions.
• Ripper: a New Jersery original, a ripper is a hot dog that's deep-fried until it splits or "rips".
• Seattle-style: a grilled hot dog in a grilled roll topped with cream cheese and grilled onions.

Weenies, Burlington

The newest hot dog joint on the list! Weenies is located right downtown on Church Street, so it's easy to grab a bite while shopping or on a lunch break from work. You can build your own weenie, or choose from nearly a dozen different creations. Some especially intriguing dogs include the Truffle Dog, the Spicy Sriracha Sensation, and the Electric Deer Fence. Best of all, you can choose between a Hebrew National dog or a vegan hot dog for any of the menu items.

• Weenies: 80 Church Street, Burlington VT 05401
• EatWeenies.com

Bessery's Butcher Shoppe & Delicatessen, Burlington

Handy's Lunch, Burlington

Kate's Food Truck, Jericho

There's been quite a buzz building about Kate's Food Truck in the past couple of years, with rave reviews for their fried chicken sandwiches and Vermont maple milkshakes. Kate's has hot dogs, too: like a classic Michigan dog and a build-your-own dog that you can customize with any of their toppings.

• Kate's Food Truck: 261 Route 15 Jericho, VT 05465
• katesfoodtruck.com

Al's French Frys, South Burlington

This is a fun spot to head to with your family⁠—or with anyone who wants a lot of tasty, fast food (especially fries) for just a few bucks! Their dog options are plain, cheesy, and chili, as well as a corn dog. When your order comes up the staff will give you a yell: "What's on the hot dogs?" (Yes: hot dogs, plural. C'mon, you know yer gettin' more than one.) Ask for "the works" to get dogs topped with mustard, onion, and relish!

• Al's French Frys: 1251 Williston Road, South Burlington, VT 05403
• alsfrenchfrys.com

Burger Bar, Colchester

This eatery near St. Michael's College and Bessery's Butcher Shoppe are owned by the same family⁠—so you can find Red Hots here, too! There are corn dogs too, plus great burgers and brews.

• Burger Bar: 831 College Parkway, Colchester, VT 05446
• burgerbarvt.com

Out Front Foods, Williston

When you head to Home Depot to pick up your new nail gun, potting soil, or half-priced duct tape, be sure to stop "Out Front" to get a hot dog, too! In addition to a regular, quarter-pound hot dog, their menu also has a Michigan dog and Italian sausage.

• Out Front Foods: in front of Home Depot, 759 Harvest Lane, Williston, VT 05495
• outfrontfoods.com

Maple Wind Farm, Burlington Farmer's Market

Many thanks to Alexx from The Vermont Marshmallow Company for suggesting this addition to the list! Maple Wind Farm, based in Richmond, Vermont, specializes in meats from their humanely raised and pasture-fed animals, and they have a stand at the Burlington Farmer's Market every Saturday during the summer and fall. They'll grill up one of their beef or pork hot dogs for you to enjoy while you wander the market. Alexx says it's her "go-to market lunch!"

• Maple Wind Farm at the Burlington Summer Farmer's Market: 345 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401
• burlingtonfarmersmarket.org

Beansie's Bus, Burlington

Perched on the waterfront at the edge of Battery Park, Beansie's bright yellow school bus has been a favorite local snack spot since 1944. Hot dogs here (McKenzie all-beef dogs) include plain and Michigan⁠—and you can even ask for extra Michigan sauce! They also have a "Virginia dog": a hot dog wrapped in bacon. Bacon!!

• Beansie's Bus: Battery Park & Sherman St., Burlington, VT 05401
• facebook.com/beansiesbus

Archie's Grill, Shelburne

Though it's on the outskirts, this dogs and burgers spot is only 20 minutes from downtown Burlington and five minutes from Shelburne Museum. Come here for the Archie's Chili Dog, topped with beef chili and Cabot Cheddar cheese. There's the Lake Monster Dog, too: a jumbo hot dog with sautéed peppers and onions. Be sure to try their homemade chips on the side!

• Archie's Grill: 4066 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482
• archiesgrill.com

Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern, Colchester

This longtime Malletts Bay favorite is close to marinas, Bayside Park, and Thayer Beach. Rozzi's has a pretty large menu that includes hot dogs: grilled natural casing dogs (also called snap dogs), and their take on Red Hots with a very spicy Michigan sauce. They also have a Sea Dog on the menu—a long hot dog-shaped piece of fried fish!

• Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern: 1022 West Lakeshore Drive, Colchester, VT 05446
• rozzislakeshoretavern.com

Zero Gravity Brewery, Burlington

This brewery is a fantastic place to meet up with friends, especially in the summer when you can chill outside. Have a single or double Detroit-style Coney dog topped with chili and onions—they're fantastic alongside one of the famous Zero Gravity brews like Green State lager or Cone Head IPA.

• Zero Gravity: 716 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401
• zerogravitybeer.com