The Dog House

I’ve been going to the Dog House for years, literally since the first one opened back when I was about 9 years old. I should have featured the Dog House sooner; better late than never.

It’s a cute theme. The building looks like Snoopy’s dog house. Trash cans are fire hydrants and mailboxes. And the hot dogs have names like Collie, Puppy, Ol’ Yallow, Boxer, German Shepherd, and my favorite, the Bull Dog. They used to have a Chiahuahua, my second favorite, but I haven’t see those in a while. 

I grew up in Bahama, and on Friday nights, it was a big deal for us to “go to town.” Lots of times, we’d visit family or shop in downtown Durham before Belk, Thalhimer’s, and all the other stores moved from the center of the city to the malls in suburbia.

On these trips, we’d “eat out,” and that usually meant grabbing a hot dog at King’s Sandwich Shop or the newcomer, the Dog House. I loved the Dog House back then. And I’ve loved it throughout the years.

When I was a kid, the only location was the Miami Boulevard spot. 

When I was in working in a grocery store on weekends in college, the Guess Road location was my favorite. Back then their employees stuck around, and I remember watching several familiar faces age through the years--always delivering awesome Bull Dogs, my dog of choice.

For a while, my grocery store transferred me, and I lunched on Miami Boulevard, at the location of my childhood.

Later, when I worked at a software company in Morrisville, I’d grab a satisfying lunch at the now-departed Dog House on Airtech Drive. After that closed, I’d sometimes make the trek to the one closer to the intersection of NC54 and NC55 on Allendown Drive.

I even remember when one Dog House sat near where the Durham Farmers’ Market stands now. 

According to their website, now they have locations in Hillsborough and Kinston. There’s even one in North Durham, near where I went to high school.

The most convenient Dog House for me is the one on Hillsborough Road. I like that it has a drive-thru window. Sadly, it's not my favorite.

Hillsborough Road, Durham

For most of my life, I found their hot dogs to be near the best one could get.

As time goes on, things, change. That’s true for the Dog House, as well. 

I noticed that sometime in the last 10-15 years, their dogs changed. Gone were the older ladies who served me great dogs over the years. And along with them, some of the magic also disappeared.

It’s hard to put my finger on just what changed. 

Until the past decade or so, I never got a wrong order, but I’ve gotten my dogs home upon occasion to find poor hot dogs smothered in a nasty cheese sauce with fake bacon bits—something I’d never order. Other times, I’d pay for a quart of slaw and find I received a pint.

It’s not just the accuracy, the look and taste seem to have changed, as well. 

I think it’s mainly the care. It all seems to have happened when they stopped wrapping the hot dogs in the white tissue paper and started using an unbleached, thicker paper, but I doubt it was the paper that caused the change. The slaw doesn’t seem as fresh—and I really loved their slaw. 

Maybe it’s just because I’m older and have romanticized my earlier experiences. But I’m not so sure.

Despite all that, I still find myself hankering for a couple of Bull Dogs. And sometimes, I give in. I gave in a couple of weeks ago—and I decided to go back to where I first experienced the Dog House: Miami Boulevard.

I ordered two Bulls and a large fry. 

Two Bull Dogs

Despite being wrapped in the new, unbleached paper, my dogs were pretty darn good. I wouldn’t say they were as good as my memory, but they were pretty decent. And the fries were delightful. These fries are beautiful crinkle-cut fries. The salt sparkles on them, and they’re best when they slightly burn your fingers. The slaw isn’t quite as delightful as I remember, but it was homemade, and that’s the key to a good Carolina dog.

Crinkle cut fries

I think the original location is the closest to what I remember as the Dog House I grew up with.

My verdict: 4 weenies

Bill's Hot Dogs

Bill's Hot Dogs

For years, a couple of friends of mine have been telling me about a unique hot dog experience in (Little) Washington, NC. Trouble was... I don’t find myself in that area very often. When my husband and I decided to celebrate my birthday at the Chef and the Farmer in Kinston, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to make our way to Little Washington the next day. As luck would have it, the friends who have raved for years about Bill’s Hot Dog Stand were able to meet us for the experience.

And an experience it is!

Wall of Fame

We arrived on a Saturday around lunch time, and we weren’t the only ones. The line snaked back and forth through the small storefront. You find the back of the line and follow the folks in front of you until you can place your order. Take a couple more steps, and pay, telling the cashier if you want any soft drinks or banana pudding. By the time you pay, your order is ready. Stop by the drink case to get your beverages and dessert, and exit, leaving a fresh batch of hot dog hungry people waiting for their turn.

Line Snaking Through the Storefront

Bill’s hardy has enough room for the throng waiting for dogs, so you have to eat them somewhere else. We took our bounty across the street to the riverside park. Ours was a sunny day with a balmy coastal wind--nearly perfect for munching at a picnic table.

I’ve really never had anything quite like these dogs. They aren’t really the traditional Carolina Hot Dog; they don’t offer coleslaw, and the chili is made of bacon grease, old buns, onions, and spices. Yes, bacon grease. Actually, it tastes like it could be grease from fatback, but I’ve been told it’s bacon grease. 

It doesn’t look or sound the most appetizing, but it’s amazingly good! It’s more than a flavor thing; it’s also textural—the way the chili is absorbed by the white bread bun and makes it nearly fall apart in your hand. Mustard, onions, and chili make a dog all the way, and they all work in harmony to create a wonderful sensation.

It sounds like an odd comparison, but the chili reminded me of my great-grandmother’s milk gravy on loaf bread—pumped up with a nice burn from cayenne.

Of all the hot dogs I’ve tasted, I’d say Bill’s Hot Dogs were the most unique experience. I’ll be on the lookout to find other hot dog stands with a similar culinary philosophy. If you’re ever in Little Washington, or want to make the trip, I highly recommend checking these out.


My verdict: A solid 3 weenies, maybe 4 for uniqueness

Sam's Hot Dog Stand

Sam's Hot Dog Stand

I love an accidental discovery.

A gloomy Sunday at the beach made for a good time to drive to Wilmington.

As we drove in on Oleander, a man dressed as a hot dog caught my attention. I made a note to return and investigate.

An hour or so later, we headed back, keeping alert for a hot dog man. Sadly he was gone. Or maybe we missed him.

We turned around.

On the final pass, we saw the big hot dog sign and a sign for Sam's Hot Dog Stand just behind it.

It looked quiet and deserted. Afraid they were closed for the day, we investigated a little further and found they were open for a couple more hours. Let's do this!

Inside, an open kitchen looked out upon a handful of tables and numerous stools with the Sam's Hot Dog Stand logo encased in shiny varnish. Near the register, a menu board detailed their offerings: hot dogs and BBQ sandwiches in various combinations.  The menu board was surrounded by various cans of soft drink, including Sun-Drop and diet Sun-Drop. Score! A chalkboard on another wall detailed their daily deals.

After inquiring about their slaw, I ordered two with the signature Carolina Hot Dog toppings: mustard, slaw, chili, and onions--or as they call them, "All the Way," including their spicy chili.

The two dogs arrived nicely packaged in a Sam's Hot Dog Stand paper bag, along with my chips and diet Sun-Drop.

They looked great and tasted better. The slaw is clearly fresh and made on-site, a perfect blend of cabbage, mayo, and seasoning. 

.

The spicy chili added just a bit of kick. It was meaty and savory. Not sweet like so many lesser hot dog chilis, this was near perfect.

The mustard, onion, hot dog, and bun  each played their part to support the starring chili and slaw. Truly a great Carolina dog.

Before I left, I also sampled the mild chili and the BBQ. The mild chili was almost as good as the spicy--but without that little extra something. The BBQ, imported from Siler City, was smoky and delicious.

What a great find. I loved Sam's Hot Dog Stand. It is now my favorite hot dog in Wilmington, easily the best southeast of Raleigh, maybe further.

My verdict: 5 weenies