The Lehigh Valley is blessed with cuisines from so many cultures, James Beard Award nominees, food and wine festivals and craft breweries, but one of the Valley’s most beloved delicacies remains the humble hot dog. In honor of this tasty treat, we have put together a hot dog tour, from East to West, highlighting some of the most popular, the tastiest and the most unique dogs in the area.
By no means is this an exhaustive list, as there are so many Valley establishments that serve up their own hot dog versions. Feel free to add your favorite Valley hot dog in the comments below.
Jimmy’s Hot Dogs
We begin our tour in Easton at Jimmy’s Hot Dogs. Just off 25th Street, Jimmy’s has been serving up its signature mustard, onion and pickle dogs for over 25 years in the current location. Jimmy’s is definitely for the hot dog purist, offering only mustard, onion, pickle or ketchup as toppings. Grab a bag of chips if you wish, but you won’t find this store cluttered with fries or pierogies. These guys really stick to what they know, and they do it really, really well. Just recently, the storefront had been up for auction because of a disagreement between family owners, which led to legions of dedicated customers lining up around the strip mall, waiting to get what they were hoping wasn’t their final Jimmy’s dog. Luckily for all of us, the auction ended with one of the original owners taking full ownership of the prized food stand.
Jimmy’s is takeout only. If you’re lucky, one of the two benches outside will be empty, so you can consume your dogs while they’re still hot. You might also notice regulars sitting in their cars, happily chowing down on Jimmy’s dogs and drinking ice cold chocolate milk. By the way, if you think you’ll be able to get away with sneaking a couple Jimmy’s dogs without letting friends and family know, think again. We’ve gotten caught many times with the smell of the signature dogs lingering in the car. “Hey, were you at Jimmy’s?!” 2555 Easton-Nazareth Hwy, Easton, (610) 258-7545
Potts’ Doggie Shop
Potts’ began in Bethlehem, just around the corner from where it currently stands today, on West Fairview Street. Adjacent to the Moravian College campus, Potts’ is tucked away on a side street just off Main Street, and its iconic Doggie Shop sign greets you as you round the corner. There are now several family-owned locations in the valley, and while we regularly visit the Nazareth location, we thought it was best to go to the original Potts’ for the official hot dog tour.
Potts’ is standing room only, though if you’re lucky, on a not-so-busy day you may be able to score a counter spot to chow down on your dogs fresh off the grill. Like so many of our hot dog spots on this tour, Potts’ uses Berks dogs, which they grill before placing in steamy hot Rockland Bakery hot dog buns. Toppings include the usual ketchup, mustard, onions, pickle, relish, chili and sauerkraut. For some spare pocket change you can add cheese or bacon to the grilled dog. The most popular dog at Potts’ is the “everything,” which includes mustard, onions and homemade hot dog chili. Our favorite is the everything with cheese, mainly because of how the cheese is applied. What sets Potts’ apart from some of our other tour locations is that when ordering cheese on a dog, the weiner is sliced open and a long squirt of Kraft EZ Cheez fills the hot dog crevice, creating a very smooth, textural counterpoint to the snappy dog and crunchy onions.
You’ll find Potts’ Doggie shops scattered throughout the Valley in Bethlehem, Allentown, Nazareth, Emmaus, Coopersburg and Northampton. Location visited: 114 W. Fairview St., Bethlehem, (610) 865-6644
Johnnie Lustig’s Frankfurters
For something maybe a bit more “traditional,” but still altogether different, you must try Johnnie Lustig’s. While definitely the new guys on the block, the shops comes in backed by a long history in the area. Owner John Lustig helped his late father, also John Lustig, run John Lustig Meats in Quakertown. The family meat packing business operated from 1966 to 2003, and even helped produce some of the hot dogs made famous by some shops on this list. With this new venture, John is using his decades of knowledge by being the only shop to make all of its products fresh, in house, every day. Johnnie Lustig’s offers traditional frankfurters and brats, made in a natural casing with a special blend of spices and then smoked with hickory to give a flavor, pop and texture like no other.
The Bethlehem eatery has also partnered with local Lusitania Bakery for freshly made rolls daily. Condiments include mustard, ketchup, relish, onion, sauerkraut and the “special sauce,” a meatless chili sauce with a bit of bourbon. Drink choices include A-Treat beverages (another legendary local favorite), chocolate milk, lemonade and iced tea. We can definitely see this being a stop for Musikfest-goers in downtown Bethlehem, who can grab a couple franks or brats with some sauerkraut to go along with a mug of beer from the festival’s biergarten. 835 N. New St., Bethlehem, (610) 419-8835
Blondies
Blondies has cornered the market in Slovak soul food in the Valley, though that is hardly its only claim to fame. Blondies also offers up some comfort food favorites like nachos and deep fried pretzels, as well as dozens of award-winning, awe-inspiring cupcakes. But make no mistake, Blondies makes some serious, over-the-top hot dogs.
Whereas with most of the other locations on our tour, one would expect to order a few dogs as a meal, at Blondies each dog is a meal in itself. Most varieties are piled high with toppings, including options like mashed potatoes, cole slaw, BBQ chicken or taco meat. Some toppings are a little more off-the-wall, like peanut butter, pineapple and strawberry jam. Each Blondies dog is either boiled, grilled or deep fried; tossed in a soft, chewy bun; and loaded with all of your favorite toppings. All dogs are also served with a heaping portion of Blondies seasoned french fries.
Blondies offers over 20 hot dog topping combinations, most with names associated with college teams. Some of our favorites include the Vandal, which is loaded with mashed potatoes, two kinds of cheese and sprinkled with paprika; the Catty Roughie Dog, which is topped with mashed potatoes, ham, bacon, pepperoni and cheese; and the South Carolina Gamecocks, overflowing with spicy BBQ shredded chicken, sautéed onions and peppers, cheese and Blondies’ super creamy coleslaw.
Stopping in for a dog at Blondies is like visiting with family; the second you step in the screen door you are greeted with smiles and a warm welcome as well as heavenly scents of fried foods and freshly made cupcakes. By the way, it’s a good idea to check Blondies’ Facebook page to see what cupcakes are in the shop before you go—then definitely call to reserve yours if you are thinking of bringing some home. They are amazing and often sell out. 333 Front St., Catasauqua, (610) 443-1741
Yocco’s
Stopping by the West End’s Yocco’s on a Saturday afternoon, one is welcomed by a line stretching from one end of the establishment to the other. Families and other hungry patrons are anxiously waiting for their chance to yell out their order to the awaiting ears of the smiling Yocco’s staff. Spending time in Yocco’s in quite the feast for the senses, from the hollers of orders by the service staff to the smells of dogs, burgers and other tasty treats on the grill wafting across the counter.
While the line may deter someone in a rush, many are appreciative of the wait, as it allows some time for contemplation of the vast menu of options, including the aforementioned dogs, burgers, as well as chicken sandwiches, pierogies and other deep-fried and grilled goodies. Ordering does happen quickly, so it’s a good thing to know your order ahead of time so you can yell it out proudly when your turn comes. Like other hot dog establishments, Yocco’s has its own version of the “everything” dog, which includes spicy brown mustard, diced white onions and Yocco’s famous chili sauce all piled on top of a well-done hot dog wrapped in a steamed bakery roll. Not interested in everything? Other toppings include white American cheese, pickles (but not relish!), stewed onions, ketchup, mushrooms and sweet or hot peppers.
Yocco’s dogs are a special blend of meats and spices created just for Yocco’s by Hatfield Meats. And while we certainly enjoy the hot dogs, we just can’t say no to a large order of Yocco’s deep-fried pierogies—definitely a must try! Multiple locations. Location visited: 2128 Hamilton St., Allentown, (610) 821-8488
Willy Joe’s
Our next stop on the hot dog tour of the Valley is Willy Joe’s on Lehigh Street in Allentown. Found tucked away just off the auto mile, Willy Joe’s is the largest establishment on our tour and most notably, the only one that serves beer with its famous hot dogs. Using Berks dogs, Willy Joe’s grills ‘em up on the flat-top and serves them in piping hot, steamed (yet toasty) buns.
Willy Joe’s everything dog includes yellow mustard, white onion and homemade chili. The most requested dog is the everything with cheese, which includes a melted American cheese slice that adds a satisfying layer of flavor and texture to the hot dog.
The french fries are not to be missed; they come out of the frier super crispy and perfectly salted, a great accompaniment to any of the hot dog or sandwich options on the menu. And what goes best with a hot dog and french fries? A cold draught beer of course! Willy Joe’s offers three beers on tap as well as draught birch beer along with single bottles of beer for those craving a frosty beverage with their dine-in meal. Getting your hot dogs to go? Willy Joe’s also offers six packs of a variety of beers and malt beverages. Two locations. Location visited: 2407 Lehigh St., Allentown, (610) 797-7009
Traub’s Doggie Shop
On a snowy spring day we headed to Emmaus, our most western spot on the list, to sample what many in the town believe to be the best dogs in the Valley. Traub’s is easy to spot on Main Street, with its inviting green canopy hanging out over the sidewalk. We figured it would be a slow day when we arrived because of the crummy weather, but there was still a constant rush of people, a sure sign that great food was awaiting us. Traub’s has been in its location for 20 years, with the current owners running the small but mighty establishment since May 2014.
The most popular hot dog is the Traub’s dog, which comes with spicy brown mustard, onions and chili sauce. Other topping options for your dogs include cheese, relish, ketchup, pickles, hot peppers and sauerkraut. Traub’s uses a rolling grill to cook its dogs, and real American cheese slices and large pickle spears adorn the snappy Berks hot dogs. The small shop also offers a tasty variety of fresh burgers, homemade soups, chili and cheesesteaks. With just a few benches and four tiny, wooden tables, most take their Traub’s to go, but we prefer eating on the premises if you can snag one of the few seats.
Traub’s also partners with many local businesses to produce many of the items on the menu, including Malone’s Bakery; Berks; Rosenberger’s iced tea, chocolate milk and lemonade; A-treat sodas; Utz chips; and Nelson’s Dutch Farms ice cream.
Try the Traub’s Doggie Pack! For just under $9 you can get an 8-pack of dogs, 8 Malone’s rolls, onions, mustard and even Traub’s special hot dog sauce to create your very own Traub’s everything dog at home. 251 Main St., Emmaus, (610) 967-5003
- Top photo: BigStock
- Remaining photos: Cheryl Doll
2 Comments