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(510) 843-5967
2534 Durant Ave
Berkeley,
CA
94704
37.8679
-122.2581
Neighborhood: Elmwood
Years in business
Established in 1966
Price:
$
Last updated 6.20.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
Cash
Restaurant Special Features:
Family-Friendly Dining, Group Dining, Cheap Eats
Cuisine:
What People Are Saying About Top Dog
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
In Short – Low prices, late-night hours and convenient location make Top Dog a popular destination for students and sausage devotees of all ages. The walls are plastered with libertarian and anti-government quotations, cartoons and clippings, all worth a free chortle. Sausages range from hot links with a serious kick to classic kielbasa to chicken-apple. The chefs cook all sausages to order on the grill, and even the buns are griddled to a golden crisp.
Editor's Tips
- When to Go:
- Top Dog's late hours make it an ideal after-party stop.
- What to Drink:
- Remember RC Cola? Believe it or not, it still exists and it's sold here.
03/13/07
smoked chicken apple hot dogs!
by juju13es
When I visited Berkeley, I had to go to the hyped up hotdog joint... I ordered the smoked chicken apple dog, and it was just delish! And it was cheap too and the wait was relatively short (a huge difference from waiting hours for Pink's)... I'm going back up North this weekend, and this place is going to be the first place I'm visiting!
- Pros: delicious dogs, low prices, low fuss
- Cons: parking?
08/04/02
Berkley's Best
by eremitey
If you are ever in Berkeley, it is a known fact that you have to stop by at Top Dog and try one of their hot dogs. They have a wide range of hot dogs from Chicken Apple, all beef traditional "Top Dog", and even a vegetarian. Trust me just go there and try one.
- Pros: Inexpensive, Open Late, Best hot dogs ever
- Cons: Bad Parking, Small establishment
07/29/02
Bird Dog is to die for
by koreambear
This place got me by during my four years at Cal. What could I have done at 1am while getting writer's block without you Top Dog?
- Pros: scrumptous, dogs are incredible, the tv is very nice
- Cons: crowded, no parking, bums come by
05/19/02
A Berkeley institution. Know the drill.
by jennerbishop_citysearch
Within the tiny confines of the Durant Ave. Top Dog, observe the etiquette for ordering. Don't spend a lot of time perusing and questioning the menu, pick a dog and be ready to request it with authority. When the man behind the counter points at you, you're on. "Bock and a hot" means you'll have a German bockwurst and a Louisiana hot link. The man tending the grill remembers your order, requests the appropriate money from you when he has a minute, and shouts out your order when it's ready. Load up your dog with plenty of spicy mustard and sauerkraut.
- Pros: Cheap and delicious, Bockwurst, Funky, Berkeley vibe
- Cons: Intimidating ordering, Zero seating
05/15/02
Top Is Right
by EricRorer
Must have been late '99, when I took a friend from Los Angeles here. We ordered our dogs, perused the libertarian propeganda, and then I asked the dude behind the counter how long he'd been part of this fine establishment. He shrugged between flipping weiners and said, "Some time back in the early '80s," the exact date clearly too far gone for memory.
"Holy smokes," my friend said. "You must like it."
He looked at her and smiled. "I just love making people happy," he said.
Every time I go back to Top Dog, I still see the same guy, and yes, he's still making people happy.
- Pros: Dogs, Atmosphere, Service
