Cute old fashioned shop with counter seating, yummy hot dogs and friendly service! I couldn't have asked for anything more during my visit to Dad's Dogs. I'd been craving a chili dog for a while and they did not disappoint! The hot dog was huge and loaded with chili and cheese. I couldn't even finish it and took the rest home for a snack. My son also had the chili dog but he got the combo meal that came with chips and a drink. Bonus for me-Coke products! If you love a good hot dog, this is the place for you! The young man who waited on us was super sweet and friendly and we chatted while he put together our order. We chose to sit outside on their deck because the weather was nice. I'm going to take advantage of all this outdoor seating before the weather turns blistering hot! Bottom line-great location, food and service. Definitely a wiener, I mean winner! HA read more

See all

Friday, November 28, 2025 Approx. 12 PM QUICK SUMMARY: I have been going here since it was called, "Dok Shoon's" back in the 70's, when Teresa & Denise ran the place in the 80's, on & off ever since, and I can say that they still make a good old-fashioned hot dog. PROS: - As stated above, they still make a good old- fashioned hot dogs. Using fresh ingredients, right there in front of the customer. - Actually, the restaurant interior decor hasn't really changed that much over the years. Great nostalgia! CONS: - The hot dogs are not the same as it was in the past. Back then, the buns, hot dogs, tomatoes, onions were all bigger. As a result, the overall flavor was different as well. I understand that it's tough to keep prices as low as possible during an era of inflation, but it's not the same as it used to be. CONCLUSION: The place has been there for what, 50 years? That makes it a historical Stockton institution. (Just look at some of the pictures posted on the restaurant's wall) So, if you want an old-school hot dog, enjoying your meal at a place that has old-school history, this is STILL the place to come to. read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - Dad's classic Hot Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

Oh snap. I dropped in less than a hour before closing on a weekend, probably not the best time. I have been here several times before many years ago though. Good memories of a classic hot dog. But this time was different. The place looks the same. Classic 1980s hot dog counter joint complete with coin twist candy machines. But with modern feels. Not locked in time. They have been around since 1979. Different owners now from the original. They use the same hot dog brand. If it ain't broke. There was one staff person and she was a one person crew. Cashiering, putting the orders together, and cleaning up. She was helpful with a calm, pleasant easy going demeanor. I ordered a kraut dog and hubs a dog with onions, relish, tomatoes, and mustard. The dogs were on the softer side, probably left in the steamer a bit too long. Because of that, they didn't have a snap to it. But the snap is an iconic part of a quality hot dog eating experience. It is so satisfying to hear it and feel that bite. The buns tasted soft steamed as well. I also ordered the fresh squeezed lemonade. It was mild tasting and definitely tasted home made. The sauerkraut was in the perfect middle meaning not crunchy and not overly fermented to have a sour taste. The seasonal fresh lemonade is an awesome down home touch. If you like it extra sweet, just add sugar yourself and adjust. I like it the way it was. Hubs brought on the sugar. $5 for 32 oz. They have 7 flavors beyond the original. I am bumping my rating by a star to four; they just need to work on the hot dog rotation to make sure they do not sell any mushy dogs through closing time. read more

See all

Sadly I ate too fast to get a pic. Ordered a the all beef dog w/mustard only. It was very good and NO casing! Added a jr chili cheese nacho and a large Diet Coke. $19 and some change. The nachos were good BUT it was like they were scraping from the bottom of the bag with all the little bits of chip crumbs instead of whole tortilla chips. I will say the chili was pipping HOT which was nice. I asked for the sour cream and jalapenos on the side and they were on top of my nachos. Not a huge biggie but that's not how I ordered it. The Diet Coke was sadly terrible! So flat and when I was able to grab someone's attention I asked for a refill of Coke Zero and sadly that wasn't any better. Needed a syrup refill on the soda, so flat could have been water. The service was surprisingly none existent. With the exception of greeting me to take my order there was NO asking if I needed anything, a refill or how was my food. No friendly interactions. The hot dog was very good, would get again. The nachos were tasty just felt like I was getting bottom of the barrel chips. The soda was not good! I won't give stars for the service just the food. read more

See all

First time visitor. Stopped by trader joes for the crunchy onion chilli oil. I get curious every time but today was that day. Service was great given the young man was a one man army. Ambiance was classic rock with old school diner sitting. Dogs were tasty. $28 fiesta Dog, chilli cheese Dog and a 335 ml Coke in a glass bottle. read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - Fiesta and chill cheese dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

Sooooo gooood! Stopping here is always a must. Nothing better than a classic hot dog after Trader Joe's shopping ‍ read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - Dads Dog + everything - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

We popped into Dad's Dogs before running a few errands and were instantly hit with the nostalgic vibe--it's got that old-school charm that brings back memories. It had been years since we last visited, so it felt like a bit of a time warp in the best way. We went with the classic Dad's Dog combo (chips and a drink), which rang up to around $13-14. Definitely steep when you think about how you could get something similar at Costco for $1.50, but hey--this isn't Costco. The hot dog itself was solid and hit the spot. Tasty, flavorful, and served up quickly. The service was friendly and efficient. The staff patiently answered our random questions about the different dogs and what goes on each one, which we appreciated. Overall, a great little stop--I'm even considering coming back during lunch hours for a quick bite. Just be prepared to pay a bit more than you might expect for a hot dog. read more

Little disappointed with my latest visit. Ordered 3 hot dogs, to go. When I got them home, the buns were dry and hard. Had to peel the bun off to be able to eat it. Normally never have issues like this. Hoping it's just a one-time issue. Will go back but will be more mindful of their ingredients while they make them read more

We have eaten at Dad's for years and it never disappoints! They have great dogs and even better milkshakes. Treat yourself before heading to Trader Joe's to shop. Never go shopping on an empty stomach. The chili dogs are good, but we like to Dad's Original the best. Try something and you won't be disappointed! The employees are friendly and go out of their way to bring you your food, even when you are sitting outside. Greta ambience for an old fashioned hot dog joint! read more

Second visit, thank you dads hot dogs for feeding me and my family !!! it was clean and calm here, beautiful and wonderful nice informative workers! Thank you!! It was yummy!! read more

See all

Great ambiance, wonderful staff and the food was awesome. Large portions. Loved sitting at the counter. read more

See all

Dad's Hot Dogs sits quietly amidst a busy shopping center providing excellent meals and even greater service. There was a bit of a wait which was understandable as the owner and father was solely attending to all the customers that came in however in return for some patience and kindness I received a great meal for my kids. The gobbled down that hot dog faster than any meal I can remember and enjoyed a well deserved gumball. 10/10 will definitely be back. read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

As long as we have been living close to the area of where this business resides, and we had our first visit to this location a week ago. Very small old fashion kind of a spot. But with fun vibes inside with all of the memorabilia of photos they have from previous customers that visited, their location. I like the fact that this spot also has an outside deck for sitting. Just being able to have that real simple lunch was satisfying. I'm not really a hotdog person so I ordered a corndog and it was just enough with a side of chips and a small drink to fill the appetite. The corn dogs are pretty good here. They have a small menu but I stayed it just enough to satisfy an old fashion craving when it comes to a hotdog or even a Polish dog. Put some sauerkraut on the side as well or even on top. You can spruce it up however you like. Call little spot to catch a bite to eat of dad's hotdogs read more

See all

Had their chili dog the other day was quite good wanted to come in and just get a bowl of chili and cheese with shredded and nacho cheese with Jalapeños but the wait was wasaayyyyyy to long so ended up leaving which is too bad I was in the mood for some Chili. read more

Best hot dogs in Stockton. I grew up on Casper hot dogs and if you know you know. I was so excited to learn about this place. Give it a try. You won't be sorry. read more

I made a point of stopping at this location b/c I had a court appearance nearby. Dad's Hot Dogs came up when I googled "Best chili dogs in Stockton." The reputation is earned. The chili cheese dog I had was great! Plenty of chili and cheese, enough to almost cover entire the (large) dog and bun. I'm confident that if I lived in this corner of the Golden State, I'd be a (fatter) regular at this establishment. The reason I have awarded four stars rather than five is b/c of the prices. The hot dog at $8.50 was not the problem. The small bag of Lays chips ($2.25) and the small cup of soda ($2.95 for much less than you would get in a 12 oz. can) was a bit much. I know all eateries are dealing w/ food prices that have been Biden-ed recently, but considering the size of the portions, the $5+ was excessive. Adding to the quality of the meal is the late 60's-early 70's motif of the whole joint. I sat at the counter on a retro stool. Very cool! read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - This eatery has a definite late 60's - early 70's vibe to it. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

I had a lemonade and its def fresh squeezed i watched him make it. Had a jamaican and a chicago dog and both were really really good. Service was real fast we barely sat down and our food was ready. Please really nice and clean inside clean bathroom and countertops, looks like it did 30+ years ago its crazy read more

There's not many places you can go for a good hotdog anymore but Dads is one you can count on. Just about any style you want. Chili cheese or Chicago style or a plain hotdog. Polish dogs are amazing as well. Friendly people with good service. Ambiance includes a table on the sidewalk if wanted. It's right. Next to Traders Joes oh and big menu of milkshakes too... read more

Dad's Hot Dogs is a small non assuming joint located next to Trader Joe's in Lincoln Center. Staff was friendly and the service was quick. I had the Dad's Hot Dog with the works. Freshly cut, dark red, delicious wolf peaches (tomatoes), crunchy cubed white onion, and some mustard on a decent sized dog. The dog itself had good snap and the bun wasn't too big or small. I killed it pretty quick and felt like giving my best Joey Chestnut impersonation and eating at least a couple of more like in seconds but alas I held back since dinner was just around the corner. Quality dog and a good menu. A little pricey for dogs, but I love their snap from the casings. Check it out. read more

I've been eyeing this place for years. I decided to finally come to Dad's Hot Dogs after finishing my shopping at Safeway. As I entered the restaurant, I was introduced to a warm welcoming from the front staff. They were so kind and friendly. Next, I looked at the menu. They had so many choices for hot dogs. I am simple so I ordered the chili cheese hot dog. The chili cheese hot dog was delicious! The chili was piping hot. There was a good amount of cheese. The hot dog itself was huge. After finishing it, I still had chili left to consume. What I liked about this place was that they gave me a plastic fork & knife automatically. That was great because it would've been a mess eating with my hands. Overall, I enjoyed the hot dog! I can't believe it took me this long to come here. I was satisfied with the chili cheese hot dog. I will be coming back to try other options! read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - Chili Cheese Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

Long time establishment should NOT change the hot dogs they are serving. They are now using a soft flavorless hotdog. We like flavor and the pop of the skin. read more

Service was ok as usual. The food was a bit pricy but hey, what food isn't. I was halfway thru my meal and started noticing how dirty some of the stuff was in the place. The more I looked, the more things were very un sanitary. I probably won't come back. If the front looks like this I would hate to see the back read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - The fan on top of the ice machine looked like it had not been cleaned since 1990 - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

See all

Hot dogs are smackin!! Quick and friendly service. Haven't been here in years but went back recently. Good quality!

First time here and stopped by because we were at Sephora next door. I had a friend tell me about this place so decided to try it. The place is nice and clean and does have a bit of a retro feel to it. I ordered the polish dog and my wife had the chili cheese polish dog. They both came out very fast and was fresh. The owners daughter helped bring the food out and she was just adorable. What we ate was delicious and I can't wait to come back and try something else. read more

It was our first time eating at this restaurant, I usually don't give a bad review on a restaurant because we usually come back for a second time to give it a second chance. The prices were very outrageous for a chili dog $$$ and my wife's dad's hotdog which cost $33. The hotdogs were just bland with cheese and chili, with chips and sodas. The $3 Costco hotdogs were better than these meals we had. It's a ONE and DONE deal for us. read more

We have been coming here for years. It is Nice to have a hot-dog focused restaurant. My complaint is the customer service. I have given her a pass but, she is consistently rude. She is the one with straight brown hair and works the evenings. Does not greet us, does not say please or thank you or bye. Only answers a question if asked. Absolutely no customer service or small talk or even a smile on her face. Ever! Really makes us feel unwelcomed and she is rude. We love supporting local small business but we will not be going there if we see her there. She needs to stop being so miserable ill-mannered and lacking friendly attitude. read more

What!! A real giant polish. Usually I can eat a jumbo polish in 3 bites. Not this one. I'm on my seventh bite and one more to go. Sat at the counter with my Godson. He loved spinning in the chair. It was funny but then too much. Once he stopped, he ate his dog in satisfaction. I added the jamaican relish which was like a mango salsa. Very good read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - Giant polish with jamaican relish - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

The cheese dog! It never disappoints. Get one. Love the village vibe here. Enjoy dining in and sitting at the big windows. There's lots of foot traffic and people watching. read more

Absolutely amazing it's a must go family dinner. Food is awesome you won't be disappointed

Best dogs in Cali. My go to is the chili dog. Great flavors. Good chili. Nice snap to dog. Yum

Still the best hot dog I've found. The dogs have that perfect snap, great flavor, and a perfect steamed bun. The new owner is very chill and I wish I still lived in the area so that I could go hang out more. I can't wait for the next time I'm in town. read more

The food is GREAT! Customer service is GREAT! I have to deduct one star because their prices are THROUGH THE ROOF! Because their hot dogs are so expensive, I only go there for special occasions. This year my birthday was on Mother's Day and I decided to treat myself. Unfortunately, when I arrived they had run out of Cajun dogs. I was so disappointed. I hope they plan better for holidays in the future. read more

This place is so overpriced for literally snack bar style food. Service is also slow.

Good hotdogs. Restaurant seems to be working on their service though. We had a not so savory experience at first but it was rectified. Dad's dog is a classic. Also recommend the Frito pie. read more

Came in the first time and the first thing I noticed was how hot and stuffy it was inside . I ordered What was recommended which was the Dad Hot dog which was pretty basic,For the price it wasn't worth getting .I was better off going to Costco to get it from there instead since this tasted awful .I ordered a water which taste like sink water .The customer service was great just the explains eating here wasn't . read more

The service was horrible!!! I was in there in line for about 5-10 minutes and no one greeted us! Two other customers walked out because they had the same happened to them! The employee was just washing dishes didn't acknowledge any customers or even say I'll be right with you... I waited another five minutes, and when she was done with the dishes, she walked past us, went straight to the back didn't say a single word! I told my nine-year-old daughter let's go. She asked why we were leaving and I just told her you don't give your money to places with horrible customer service like that!! so I took her to another local mom-and-pop restaurant.. I asked her if she noticed a difference in the service we got she said yes!!! Will I go back to dads hot dogs.... YES! I will give it another try... read more

Love this place great food family owned young owners that work very hard! They are fairly new owners so just give them a chance

Now this lil mom n pop diner has some of the best tasting hot dogs in Stockton. The beef franks are so delicious and juicy with flavor it doesn't matter what u put on it u can't go wrong. I always get a chili cheese dog with mustard and onions and Nikki always makes it just like the do in the bay, not too much chili but enough to make u full . I'm here at least twice a week for their amazing food and friendly staff. read more

Dad's Hot Dogs - My order by Nikki and Ricky - Hot Dogs Near Me - Stockton, California

See all

Good customer service ... The price of 16.95 for a chilli dog a soda and a bag of chips is ridiculous. Out of your minds ... And it was horrible . The chilli tasted burnt and like it had been in the pot for three days . It was grainy and nasty burnt flavour. The chesse was only bright spot . The hot dog was greyish so I know it had been in the steamer for way way way to long .... Honestly I'm surprised I'm not sick today . Biggest disappointment of 2024 so far , the inside reminded me of a old hotdog place in Oakland so I had high hopes . read more

Always satisfied with the food from here. The chili is delicious especially when it's covering a hot dog.