Ten Best Hot Dog Spots in Broward and Palm Beach Counties

7. Howie's Top Dog
5021 S. State Rd. 7, Davie; 954-792-8686; howiestopdog.com.
This Chicago-style eatery serves all the classic all-beef hot dogs — seven different types available in singles or double-style, to be exact. There's traditional Chicago fare like the famous Chicago dog and the less well-known Char dog, what is essentially the same as the classic seven-topping version, except that a grilled or "charred" hot dog is used instead of a steamed one. When given a choice, order the char for the added layer of flavor from the grill. If Chi-Town dogs aren't your favorite, you can always opt for the Ripper, a New Jersey-style one (typically made with a Thumann's beef and pork dog, although not here) deep-fried until it literally rips open. Add your own toppings, from neon-green relish and diced white onion to plain old yellow mustard, each a refreshing garnish for these crispy, deep-fried dogs.
The Chili-N-Cheese and jumbo-size corn dogs aren't too bad, either.
6. Coney Island Joe's
6401 Sheridan St., Hollywood; 954-966-8800.
Coney Island Joe's is owned and operated by a man named Elliot Garber who makes some of the best New York-style Coney Island hot dogs on this side of the country. The place is named after the original Coney Island Joe's that opened in Brooklyn in 1952. Today, Garber is quick to point out that his dogs aren't just New York-style hot dogs. They're authentic New York-style hot dogs that "pop" when you take a bite. Garber has been making and serving each and every dog himself since he opened the place 15 years ago, all 300-400 dogs each day, seven days a week. The menu offers a number of versions, from a plain grilled dog with ketchup and mustard to a true New York pushcart water dog topped with yellow mustard, sauerkraut, and chopped onions. Sure, the giant yellow-and-blue tent isn't really a restaurant — more of a giant hot dog stand exposed to the elements and looking a little ragged. But that's a real New York City pushcart in there, and those are real Sabrett hot dogs he's cooking, shipped straight from New York. What this place lacks in ambiance, it makes up for with plenty of New York pride; customers come as far as Riviera Beach and Homestead for a taste of nostalgic New York. When you get there, just say thank you to Garber. He saved you a 1,400-mile trip.
5. Jersey Dawg (Food Truck)
Visit jerseydawg.com.
When you're talking hot dogs, nothing quite beats a Jersey ripper. And Rob Goodman's Fort Lauderdale-based Jersey Dawg food truck is known for delivering the real deal to patrons hankering for a taste of this northern New Jersey specialty. For the past two years, he's been serving these deep-fried hot dogs at the corner of Powerline Road and Cypress Creek Road every weekday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where patrons line up for a taste of the real deal and ingredients delivered straight from the sacred state of New Joisey. If someone tries to sell you an ordinary dog wrapped in bacon and deep-fried, just run, says Goodman. That's not a true ripper. The authentic ripper is much, much better: a special seven-inch hot dog (one that Goodman refuses to name) that is deep-fried until the meat casing crisps up and bursts open, resulting in a dense, caramelized outer casing and a juicy, plump interior — so it has that satisfying crunch when you bite into it, he says, one reason why they call it a "ripper." Then he places it in a doughy, soft, toasted Martin's potato roll and tops it off with homemade relish. The menu has other specialities, of course, everything from a ripper topped with pushcart onions and kraut to fries, spicy chili, and Taylor pork roll. Just be warned: Once you try a ripper, you won't go back to eating regular hot dogs.
4. Gourmet Killer Dogs
4057 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 917-656-3664; facebook.com.
When Kathryn Cohen's eatery opened off West Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, it immediately became a hit with the locals. The place is exactly what it sounds like: a restaurant that serves up gourmet-style killer hot dogs. The "gourmet" part is the fancy fare they serve, too, like lobster rolls; the "killer" part is how good everything tastes, no matter what you decide order. The menu offers 12 ways to do your dog, including a create-your-own option, made using jumbo beef hotdogs that make for a perfect classic Chicago- or New York-style take. Or get creative with options like the #5 Chili Mac Attack (chili, mac and cheese, Canadian bacon, and raw onion) and the #11 Bajalicious (lettuce, pineapple, avocado, jalapeño, and salsa).
3. Diner Dogs
720 Park Ave., Lake Park; 561-707-4471; facebook.com.
Just like mangoes, hot dogs are summer food. Putting the two together just seems natural — at least for Diner Dogs owner Anthony Arnold. Throw it all in a gyro-bread wrap, and the meal somehow becomes intergalactic, out-of-this-world delicious. Now based in Lake Park, the former Jupiter-based Diner Dog food cart operates several days a week at the Brewhouse Gallery, where Arnold offers a menu of specialty dogs. Each is made using skinless Sabrett hot dogs wrapped not with regular, poppy seed, or potato buns, but instead with fresh-baked, garlic-buttered pita flatbread. The Mango Monroe dog is one of the most popular according to Arnold, his fresh mango salsa paired with diced onion, feta cheese, and cilantro. Others have funky names like the Teriyaki T-Bird (pineapple, onion, bacon, cilantro, and barbecue and teriyaki sauce); BBQ Bowzer (jalapeños, fried onion strings, cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and sour cream); and the Sinatra Slaw Dog (horseradish sauce, caramelized onion, sweet coleslaw, fried onion strings, and barbecue sauce). Bonus: All dogs are served "double dog" style, meaning you get two hot dogs in one pita. 
2. HotDog-Opolis
6020 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Rato; 561-988-5959; hotdogopolis.com.
A few years back, three friends — Harvey Loewenstein, Jay Wertheim, and Judy Zimmer — decided to open a place where hot dogs would be the main menu attraction. The frank-loving owners opened HotDog-Opolis in Boca Raton off Federal Highway, a small place that serves some of the most original hot dogs and sausages for a bargain (a second location opened in west Boca Raton in 2015). In a city already full of inexpensive eateries with plenty of diners, delis, and bagel shops, this is one restaurant where you can find some amazing fusion dogs and dishes for an equally amazing deal. Here, you'll get more than a basic, boring hot dog. The daily chalkboard specials cover a range of specialty dogs such as the Korean, with kimchee, red onion, and Asian mustard, or the gyro, a lamb hot dog topped with tzatziki, feta cheese, onion, oregano, and garlic. There's also a well-stocked variety of specialty sausages, from duck and pheasant to wild boar, venison, elk, and buffalo. Of course, we can't say no to the classic Chi-town dog, a Vienna footlong that's been "dragged through the garden." 
1. PS561 (Food Truck)
Visit facebook.com/PS561.
A few years ago, Aaron Merullo decided to roll out with a Palm Beach County-based food truck specializing in his favorite fare: the hot dog. New England transplants, the couple named and designed their truck PS561 in homage to the old-school-style NYC public schools. But that's where the nostalgia begins and ends. Their goal was to take the classic hot dog and transform it into an "experience." And that's exactly what they've done. Aaron starts by grilling his all-beef Sabrett hot dogs (or smoked turkey and vegan veggie dogs). Next, he places them on a toasted and buttered bun made fresh daily by Old School Bakery in Delray Beach. Finally, he offers any of his signature topping combinations, all made from scratch. The menu of signature staples hasn't changed much since they first rolled out in 2010, a compilation of gourmet dogs from the Hall Monitor (a Reuben-style dog with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing) to the Math Wiz (with cucumber slaw and a sriracha lime mayo). The truck's all-time favorite is the Doug E. Fresh, says Merullo, a dog smothered with bacon, sautéed onions, cheddar, homemade BBQ sauce, and a good dose of PS561's own cilantro cream sauce. The Principal Ron is our personal pick, however, with goat cheese, bacon, and that tangy BBQ sauce making a perfect pairing of salty, sweet, and savory. Of course, the daily specials are always worth a try. The best way to catch one of these dogs is to follow the PS561 Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts for regular updates. The schedule changes weekly, and the truck takes a different route each week.