Best Hot Dogs In & Around Burlington VT

Looking for a place to get a hot dog? You will love this list of the best hot dogs in and around Burlington, VT. Find your hot dog fix now!

While working on the Taste of Home article, The Best Hot Dogs in Every State I found all kinds of hot dog places across the country: brand new spots, family-owned businesses, food trucks, and decades-old eateries

In addition to hot dog classics like the Chicago, the Michigan, and the Coney there are chefs out there dreaming up pretty unique flavor combinations⁠—like one dog I found in Delaware topped with bananas, peanut butter, bacon, and honey!

When you're grilling hot dogs at home, add a side of Syracuse Salt Potatoes.

Jump to:

• Local hot dogs
• A hot dog glossary
• 🌭 The Best Hot Dogs In and Around Burlington VT
• Bessery's Butcher Shoppe & Delicatessen, Burlington
• Guilty Plate Diner, Colchester
• Handy's Lunch, Burlington
• Kate's Food Truck, Jericho
• Al's French Frys, South Burlington
• Burger Bar, Colchester
• Out Front Foods, Williston
• Pingala Cafe, Burlington
• Maple Wind Farm, Burlington Farmer's Market
• Switchback Brewery & Taproom, Burlington
• Seb's Snack Bar, South Hero
• Beansie's Bus, Burlington
• Archie's Grill, Shelburne
• Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern, Colchester
• Sausage Shack, Essex Junction
• Kountry Kart Deli, Burlington
• Lake Monsters Baseball Games, Burlington
• 💬 Tell me
• 💬 Comments

Local hot dogs

My weeks spent immersed in all things hot dogs got me thinking⁠—where do folks around here like to get their hot dogs?

Summer is a delightful time to find Delectable Destinations, so why not those for hot dogs? After asking and searching around I'm ready to help you on your hot dog quest this summer with the Best Hot Dogs In & Around Burlington VT!

There is a mix of eateries here: family-friendly spots, classic joints that have been around forever, and places doing original things with plain ol' dogs. These spots are all close to beautiful beaches, bike paths, museums, shopping areas, walking malls, and parks—it's so easy to add a hot dog stop to your day!

A hot dog glossary

Before we get to the weenie eateries⁠, have you ever wondered what a Chicago dog is exactly? Here is a glossary for varieties of regional 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 or 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. In Maine, they love their red snappers, which are natural casing dogs with a fiery 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 referred to as "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 cole slaw. 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 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.

🌭 The Best Hot Dogs In and Around Burlington VT

2023 note: Eateries of all sizes are struggling to find help and grappling with increased food costs. They want your business, but also need your patience and understanding! Check the hours listed below as well as their websites, and keep in mind that weekends and holidays are busy. Most importantly, BE A KIND HUMAN!

Bessery's Butcher Shoppe & Delicatessen, Burlington

This North End butcher shop has my hot dog favorite: Red Hots! They're made in the Vermont-style Michigan way: split and grilled, topped with spicy ground meat, onions, and yellow mustard. Get these Michigan-style dogs or a grilled hot dog fixed up however you like. This shop is a bit of a hidden gem in the area: a great butcher shop with wines and beer, plus the deli with unbelievably good grinders, burgers, and dogs.

Bessery's Butcher Shoppe: 1398 North Ave., Burlington, VT 05401. Hours: open Mon - Thurs 12pm - 8pm; Fri - Sat 12pm - 9am; Sun 12pm - 7pm

Guilty Plate Diner, Colchester

I'm so happy to have Guilty Plate Diner back on the list. They were closed for a short while, but now are back up and running under the ownership of the folks from Mark BBQ. Find it near Sunset Drive-In in Mallett's Bay.

In the summertime, you can choose from four different hot dogs: the New Yorker with sauerkraut and bacon, the Chili Wagon topped with brisket-based chili, a Chicago dog, and the Dirty Dog which is pictured above. It's topped with "Chef Darrell's special meat sauce" which we thought was really savory and so delicious!

Guilty Plate Diner, 164 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, VT 05446. Hours: open Thur - Sat 7am - 8:30pm, Sun 7am - 2:30pm

Handy's Lunch, Burlington

This downtown favorite, Handy's Lunch, has been in business and family-run since 1945. On their menu is a regular hot dog⁠—or for 75 cents more make it a Texas dog, with mustard, onion, and beef chili sauce! They have popular breakfast and lunch specials, too.

Handy's Lunch: 74 Maple St. Burlington, VT 05401. Hours: open 7 days: Mon - Fri 7am - 3pm; Sat 7:30am - 1pm; Sun 8:30am - 1pm

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 an impressive variety of hot dogs to try, too: from a classic Michigan dog to a Ballpark dog with bread and butter pickles, mustard, and onion. Try their Tofu Dog with ginger-soy dressing. And this one is the most intriguing of all—the Three Little Pigs Dog, an Angus beef hotdog stuffed with bacon and pulled pork. Holy moley!

Kate's Food Truck: 261 Route 15 Jericho, VT 05465. Hours: open : Mon - Sat 11am - 8:30pm; Sun 11am - 8pm

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?" (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 Rd., So. Burlington, VT 05403. Hours: Sun - Thur 10:30am - 11pm; til midnight Fri and Sat

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. Hours: open 7 days Mon - Thurs 11am - 8:30pm; Fri - Sat 11am - 9pm; Sun 12pm - 8:30pm

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. Hours: open seven days 10am - 5pm

Pingala Cafe, Burlington

If you're looking for a meat-free, vegan hot dog experience, this is the one to try! Pingala Cafe has "dawgs" made of huge, hickory-smoked, marinated carrots served on soft rolls. Flavors include the Krauty By Nature with house-made sauerkraut and the Chili Cheese with Impossible Burger crumbles. I think we liked the Bahn-Me the best (far-right above.) It had a really vibrant flavor from pickled veggies, Korean barbecue sauce, and toasted coconut. Pingala was one of Guy Fieri's stops when he whirled through town a few years ago. I hope he tried one of these dawgs!

Pingala Cafe: 1 Mill Street, Burlington, VT 05401. Hours: open seven days 10am - 4pm

Maple Wind Farm, Burlington Farmer's Market

Many thanks to Alexx from Nomadic Kitchen (the Marshmallow Girl) 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 Burlington Farmer's Market: 345 Pine Street, Burlington, VT 05401. Hours: Saturdays 9am to 2pm, May through October

Switchback Brewery & Taproom, Burlington

A short distance from Pine Street (and the World's Tallest Filing Cabinet) is Switchback Brewing Company. Come into their taproom to have a hot dog alongside one of their brews. They steam the franks and also bratwurst and vegan dogs in their signature amber ale. Toppings include vegan chili and sauerkraut.

Switchback Brewing Company: 160 Flynn Ave., Burlington, VT 05401. Hours: open Mon - Thurs 1pm to 8pm; Fri 12pm - 9pm; Sat 12pm - 9pm; Sun 12pm - 7pm

Seb's Snack Bar, South Hero

Folks love to stop at Seb's in the islands for ice cream (over 30 kinds of hard ice cream flavors plus creemees!) but don't forget to try their hot dogs, too! Red Hots are available here, as well as regular grilled dogs and corndogs. This snack bar is just up the road from the Sandbar State Park.

Seb's Snack Bar: 297 US Route 2, South Hero, VT 05486. Hours: open 7 days, 11am - 8:30pm

Beansie's Bus, Burlington

Perched on the waterfront at the edge of Battery Park, the 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 it's only 50 cents more 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. Hours: open mid-April through early October. Seven days a week, 10:30am - 6pm

Archie's Grill, Shelburne

Though it's on the outskirts of the area, 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 Rd., Shelburne, VT 05482. Hours: open Sun - Thurs 11:30am - 8:00pm, Fri - Sat 11:30am - 9:00pm

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. Hours: open Mon - Fri 11am - 10pm; Sat - Sun 9am - 10pm (These are kitchen hours - the bar stays open into the wee hours.)

Sausage Shack, Essex Junction

I look for this food truck whenever we go to the Champlain Valley Fair for their delicious grilled sausage, peppers, and onions. And they have delicious grilled franks and Michigan dogs, too! Find them at their usual spot on Pearl St. in front of Essex Automotive, at the Champlain Valley Fair, or hire them to bring their food to your next event!

Sausage Shack: 141 Pearl St. (in front of Essex Automotive), Essex Junction, VT 05452. Hours: open Mon - Fri 7:30am - 2pm, plus at special events - check their Facebook page.

Kountry Kart Deli, Burlington

This downtown deli (KKD for short) has quite the list of comfort foods⁠—fantastic news if you're coming from a show at the Flynn Theater or need a snack before barhopping in Burlington. Craving lunchtime or dinner-time weenies? Their indulgent choices include a Michigan dog, kraut dog, cheese dog, chili cheese dog, and a bacon cheese dog!

Kountry Kart Deli: 155 Main St., Burlington, VT 05401. Hours: open Sun - Thurs 6:30am - 8:00am; Fri - Sat 6:30am - 10pm

Lake Monsters Baseball Games, Burlington

Having a dog and a beer at a ballgame is just Summertime 101! Head to the Lake Monsters' home games at Centennial Field for hot dogs with ketchup, mustard, and relish. And if they're not enough there are burgers, fried dough, Dippin' Dots, and fries.

Lake Monsters Baseball: Centennial Field, 98 University Rd., Burlington, VT 05401. Hours: season runs from mid-June to early September. Check the website for home game dates and times

💬 Tell me

Now that you have this Burlington area hot dog road map, tell me: Is your favorite on this list? Is there a hot dog spot I missed? Leave a comment below!

Enjoy your franks! And while you're here, you should check out some other Delectable Destinations:

Post first published in July 2019.