Hot dogs: 10 of the best hot dog joints on the Treasure Coast. What's your favorite?

Editor's note: Since this article published, Frank N' Stein closed. Piranha Pat's is expected to replace it in August 2024.

Hot diggity dog! Here are 10 hot dog joints where you can find some of the best frankfurters on the Treasure Coast, including some interesting cultural fusions.

If we've inadvertently omitted your favorite spot, email [email protected].

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Hot dogs can be served with a seemingly endless combination of toppings.
Hot dogs can be served with a seemingly endless combination of toppings.

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY

Sebastian Train Depot

The hot dog, soft-serve ice cream and sandwich shop opened in January 2021 in the first train depot in Florida built by Henry Flagler in 1893. The all-beef hot dogs are named after the original depot destinations running throughout the early 1900s, such as the Indian River Dog and Titusville Dog. It has a walk-up window, outdoor seating and an indoor dining room.

Flat Dog Diner

Flat Dog Diner Doubled Flat Dog
Flat Dog Diner Doubled Flat Dog

Pala Nowak opened his diner in March 2021 near the Vero Beach Regional Airport to bring homemade Polish dishes to the area. His menu features “flat dog” sandwiches, a pork and veal patty that’s about one-third-inch thick. It includes the Original Flat Dog Sandwich served with mozzarella or pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup and mayonnaise, as well as the Flat Dog ala Pala Sandwich with mayonnaise, cheese and a house red cabbage salad.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

One Crafty Weenie

Husband-and-wife team Gary Baldwin and Gisele Lewis were inspired by Fredgie’s World Famous Hot Dogs in Jensen Beach to start their own food truck in December 2019. They use Nathan’s Famous premium, 100% beef hot dogs in their gourmet grilled hot dogs. The most popular item is the “Angry PB&J” with melted peanut butter, raspberry preserve with seeds and jalapenos. All hot dogs are served on Martin’s potato rolls, which are sliced, buttered and grilled.

Sonora Eats

The Mexican restaurant, which is owned and operated by five siblings, all of whom live in Fort Pierce, opened May 2022. They serve traditional dishes, using ingredients straight from Sonora, Mexico, to make hot dogs, tacos, quesadillas and burritos. The most popular menu item has been the Sonora Dogo, a hot dog with a variety of topping choices, including chorizo, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, mushrooms and jalapenos. The restaurant has dine-in, take-out and delivery options.

Tasty Links

Tasty Links in Fort Pierce opened July 2021, serving gourmet hot dogs and ice cream.
Tasty Links in Fort Pierce opened July 2021, serving gourmet hot dogs and ice cream.

Owner Chivon Hunter opened the gourmet hot dog and ice cream restaurant in July 2021, serving affordable eats in a community atmosphere. All hot dogs are a quarter-pound and 100% beef. The most popular menu items have been The Incredible Hulk topped with steak, bacon, chili, cheese and crispy onions; The Iron Man with a classic chili, cheese and onion topping; and The Scooby Doo with Fritos, chili and cheese. Free additional toppings include ketchup, mustard, sweet relish and dill pickles, and premium options include sauerkraut, jalapeno or coleslaw. The restaurant also offers The One Solo Dog, a vegan hot dog made of carrots.

La Perrada del Gordo

The Colombian restaurant started in June 2003 as a rented hot dog cart that mother-and-son team Elizabeth Novoa and Miguel Martinez moved daily from one place to another on Military Trail in West Palm Beach, communicating with customers by telephone to give them each new location. They opened a permanent location in West Palm Beach and later expanded to Boca Raton and Port St. Lucie. The Columbian-style hot dogs include the Perro Hawaiian with its garlic-showy-pink-pineapple-mustard-ketchup sauce, chips, cheese, bacon and a quail egg on top, as well as the Gordo Perro, which is the same but with shredded beef or chicken.

MARTIN COUNTY

Fredgie’s World Famous Hot Dogs

The renowned hot dog trailer, established in 1984, moved near downtown Jensen Beach to the parking lot across the street from Mulligan’s on the riverside in September 2021. Its most popular menu item is Fredgie’s Original, a hot dog with spicy mustard, peanut butter and homemade chili. It also has a Chicago hot dog with sweet relish, diced tomatoes, chopped onions, marconi peppers and celery salt, as well as dogs for dogs.

The Dog Pound

Owner and chef Marcus Collazo uses Nathan’s 100% beef hot dogs for his made-to-order specialty dogs. His specials include the El Cubano, which is topped with everything on a Cuban sandwich, as well as the Ahi Tuna Dog with huge chunks soaked in a citrus-soy marinade; served on a bed of seaweed with spicy kimchi, avocado and dragonfruit; and drizzled with a spicy siracha aioli.

Dune Dog

The popular Jupiter restaurant opened in 1994 and expanded with a second location in Stuart in September 2018. It also has a food truck. Its menu includes a variety of hot dogs: the Naked Dog, a Hebrew National hot dog served on a grilled New England roll; Dot’s Pushcart Dog, a Brooklyn-style version with a spicy tomato and onion sauce; and Leroy Brown’s Junkyard Dog, which is topped with its famous chili, cheese, Dot’s sauce and diced onions.

Frank ‘n Stein

The small hot dog and sausage shop has been serving Martin County for over 40 years. The secret to its success must be the traditional Sabrett frankfurters. Sabrett’s hot dog carts have been a fixture on the streets of New York for decades. The menu features a variety of frankfurters, including the Frank-N-Bun with ketchup, mustard, relish or onions and the Frank-N-Kraut with crisp, hot sauerkraut heaped on top with spicy mustard.

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at [email protected]. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hot dogs: 10 spots with the best hot dogs on the Treasure Coast