There's a small chain around here called Top Dog - maybe six or so units.
In addition, and they have great hot dogs - NY style with crispy skin that pops in your mouth when you bite into it, and a variety of other sausages, each provided by the best manufacturer in the area of that type of sausage. So, unlike most places where one provider is chosen for all the shop’s needs, often on the basis of cost, Top Dog chooses from several suppliers, each for the quality of their particular products. A rather novel way of doing things these days.
Another nice thing is that they’ll sell you a "six pack" which you can take home and cook yourself. For a flat - and very reasonable cost of $7.50 - you can buy six dogs (most styles, for some of the more expensive dogs there’s a small surcharge, mix or match) and six buns, and, if you’re so inclined, pick up small containers of condiments as well. They sell NY style dogs, bockwurst, bratwurst, keilbasa, linguica, calabrese, Thai flavored chicken dogs, german style franks, and so on - they must sell a dozen or so varieties.
The place opened in the mid-1960's, and there are two - maybe three -stores in Berkeley, one on either side of the Berkeley campus, perfect spots for them. They are literally "hole-in-the-wall" places - the one on the north side has maybe six stools at the counter and that’s it. I’ve not been to the one on the south side in years, but it may even be smaller. Both are always busy, especially when there’s a football game or some event at the university. I usually go for lunch when things are quieter. There are four other stores of which I’ve only been to one. I must try the others as they sometimes carry different dogs.
Best dogs since the early Nathan's in NYC ...
Shel
