Hot diggity dog: Where to get a hot dog in Charlotte

From longtime spots slinging chili dogs to roadside drive thrus, this is your guide to Charlotte’s hot dog scene.

Two hot dogs with stacked toppings and sauce on a silver tray.

We still dream of these scratch-made sausages from The Good Wurst.

Photo via The Good Wurst Company

The Fourth of July makes me want a hot dog real bad. From neighborhood grill-outs to baseball game brats, summer is hot dog season.

We asked for your favorites and rounded up local spots to grab a dog. We’ll be frank, we know Charlotte has other hot dog spots. If you’re favorite didn’t make our list, let us know.

Clark’s Snack Bar | Open daily | 3001 Central Ave. | Offering favorites similar to those of its predecessor, The Good Wurst, savor scratch-made sausages, smoked meats, and Montreal-style bagels.

Brooks’ Sandwich House | Closed Saturdays + Sundays | 2710 N. Brevard St. | This family-run staple in NoDa serves stacked hot dogs and burgers. Pro tip: Brooks’ is a cash-only restaurant but there is an ATM on site.

A hot dog with mustard, coleslaw, and chili with a busy restaurant in the background.

We’re still remembering the delicious Char Heel from JJ’s Red Hots, which closed in March.

Photo by CLTtoday

Pinky’s Westside Grill | Open daily | Multiple locations | Channel your inner warrior with a Viking Corn Dog or keep it simple with a pimento-topped hot dog.

Crave | Open daily | Multiple locations | Expect an extensive menu featuring a loaded potato or Memphis dogs at the restaurants in Charlotte and Concord + a self-pour beer wall.

South 21 Drive In | Closed Sundays + Mondays | 3101 E. Independence Blvd. | Take a bite of nostalgia at the drive in to get a hot dog with all the fixins.

Stick Street | Open daily | Urban District Market | Known as K-dogs, find the perfect combination of hot dogs and mozzarella coated in a batter and topped with condiments.

Bonus: Gleezy dogs, known as the “Official Hot Dog of Golf, are now available at Harris Teeter stores. The Charlotte-based startup is selling 100% beef with brisket hot dogs in four-packs in the refrigerated meat section.

More from CLTtoday
Dining in Charlotte is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way. From a classic hamburger to fine dining, bookmark this page to keep in the know about all the new restaurants coming to town.
The express lanes are expected to stretch from Brookshire Freeway to the South Carolina line, with construction anticipated to start after 2030.
While the Queen City may not regularly see snow, we’re a short drive from spots to ski, snowboard, and tube this winter.
As snow fell Saturday, Jan. 31 and stayed through the weekend, you shared your snow day photos with us.
The annual Great Backyard Bird Count attracts more than one million people nationwide to help record the bird population.
The SouthPark brain health center is adding a new program designed to help people living with Parkinson’s stay active, steady, and supported.
It’s almost time for the biggest game of the year. We’re helping you plan it out.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that are worth planning ahead for.
The modern Mexican-inspired restaurant promises to deliver fresh flavors to Center City when it opens in early 2026.
The longstanding museum closed its temporary Uptown location in 2025 and will soon open a new two-building destination in South End.