Listen, I'm a certified hotdog lover. I love them. They are by far my favorite food. Everything on them, or bare at a baseball game. If you like dogs vegan or not, with options like grilled onions and chili, fresh fries and sides? This is the place. The service was great, and the vibes and ambiance of the place was just so cool, every where you looked there was something to talk about. And the outdoor seating in the warm sun today just made it a whole experience. read more

El Capitan's - Outdoor seating - Hot Dogs Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

See all

I had forgotten just how good!!! I've never had The Seven Seas Grilled Cheese Sandwich before. I ordered it with bacon. It was divine. My partner kept offering me bites of his Smoked German dog upon listening to me moan with joy--it was soooooooo juicy and flavorful! He had to order another one because, after my attacks on his dog, he didn't end up with enough to eat! The coleslaw was very nice as was our server and delightful helpful helpmate, Sean (or Shaun)--whichever--he was extremely accommodating to us with a few special needs. Love the Crow's Nest Taproom. I think it rather charming. Sweet little place and wholly unique. read more

Fun, filling, flavorful, quick friendly service. I got the ADMIRAL and added jalapeños and banana peppers, it was great, split chili cheese fries with my husband, also great, I loved how completely smoothered they were in chili and cheese, I added onions and hot sauce from the condiment bar. A good array of drink options, a lot of condiments as well. I think it's the best place I've eaten in Bellingham, this and Pel'meni's. read more

See all

Ordered the pulled pork, fries and a lemonade. Honestly..phenomenal, all around. Fresh ingredients and great service! This place is definitely worth stopping by when you're in Bellingham! 5 stars! read more

Toasted, pillowy buns. Self-serve condiments. The coldest and freshest beer.... so good. I wish they were open for breakfast.

So I finally got to try this place. Sausages were good but highly disappointed with the "largest" pretzel. It tastes like a frozen one you buy at the grocery store. Needless to say it was alright. The favorite part was the condiment bar. read more

See all

So the teenager and I were doing our usual thing. You know, sheltering in place with Netflix, and we were craving something hot, tasty, affordable, and NOT Top Ramen. I'd heard El Cap's had re-opened with a fancy new contact-free takeout window and was excited to check it out! I ordered online via their website - two loaded dogs and a side of fries - and within minutes I was standing outside their downtown Bham digs with food in hand. I rushed it home (only snuck a couple of fries on the way - really, I promise) and we dug in. My teen ordered the basic dog with a side of tasty sauerkraut (her only complaint was that she wished I'd gotten two sides of it - man I love that kid) and I got a chili dog loaded with cheese and onions. (Hey, it's the Apocalypse, ya gotta live a little!) It was SOOOOOO good. And very filling - in fact, I couldn't even finish it all. The best thing was the price. We've been doing a LOTTA takeout lately (um, hello, #supportlocal) and this was one of the most affordable meals we've found by far. Including tip we were in for under $25. We're definitely adding El Cap's to our lunchtime takeout rotation! read more

See all

I have come here twice and man do I love this place. The owner is so great and friendly to all his customers. I love coming here and getting to chat with him and his see his passion for his business. Keep in mind this is a small establishment, not a ton of space, and the owner is the one who cooks so it could take some time to get your food. It wouldn't take a super long time, but may not be a quick bite! That being said, the menu is awesome with a lot of variety and there are also amazing pretzels. You can get a unique hot dog, or you can get a regular hot dog and help yourself to the hot dog bar with has various toppings so you can customize your meal. Highly recommend this place for hot dogs and pretzels in town! read more

See all

Stopped today. Very friendly young lady that took our order. Helpful and patient with us old people. The owner was enjoyable ti chat with as well. Delicious polish and husband really enjoyed his brat. Their coleslaw is yummy. We truly enjoyed this spot. Can't wait to go back to try a meatball sandwich! read more

I've been having a craving for a great chili dog and have been disappointed through Whatcom county. Stopped in at this place and was given excellent service and a great chili dog. I also had a pretzel which came with a fantastic queso dip. read more

This is a walk-up window review, 'cause it's the spring of 2020 and sit-down dining isn't happening at the moment. We come to Bellingham pretty regularly for beer and food, and we want to try everything we can. El Capitan is clearly worth multiple repeat visits, and I can't imagine how nice it would be to have this spot local to me. They're right in the busier blocks of downtown, and they have a nice corner space on a busy intersection. The menu is tightly focused and it's perfect for pretty much anything from lunchtime until you're ready to wobble home to bed after hitting the town. We checked out some smoky German links, andouille, and pepper sausage. All were perfectly cooked and tasted fresh. They even offer low-carb options, which seems crazy: a hot dog place with a healthful focus in some of the choices. Pretty cool. The Patriot was piled up with bacon and onion; it was tough to get everything in each bite, but the toppings were easily good enough to enjoy on their own. Everything else hit the spot, too, though I am now forgetting the names of the orders. The french fries with nacho cheese sauce were awesome, and thoroughly offset the good intentions we had by ordering a couple things without buns. The fries are crisp on the outside and soft with a little bit of chew on the inside. The nacho sauce is nicely flavorful with a tiny little bit of heat that keeps it from being just melted processed cheese. 4 dogs, an order of fries, and a drink were about $35. This is one of those places that I'll want to hit again and again, and I'll probably come back so often that it'll take me longer to get to all the other places I want to try. read more

Sometimes you are just in the mood for a hot dog. Looked up on Yelp, who might it be in Bellingham? Sure enough, a number of the yelpers are raving over this place, had to try it out to satisfy that yearning! It's a cute corner store with a roped-off area if you would like to sit outside. Inside, some tables, and bar-type seating. I came during the day, and can easily see why this would be a magnet a place for an after-hours munchy attack! On the recommendation of the person taking the order, she said to try the XO. This puppy came with pepper smoked sausage, bacon, grilled onions, specially made BBQ sauce, and cream cheese. They also offer a decent condiment selection to add to this dream on a bun! The first bite, you could feel the snap of the crispy dog as it released its flavor. Then the sauce and cream cheese infused in combing into this amazing, mouth-watering taste of something you missed out on before ever trying this "hot-dog" This satisfied the desire to have that hot dog and will return for some of the other items (long list!!!) they have on their menu. *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!* Please let me know if you like the review and click "Useful" Let me know what else you would like to see by clicking the "Compliment" button, any thoughts you have are always appreciated. Thank you for reading the review. See you on Yelp! read more

El Capitan's - Mouth-watering X.O - Hot Dogs Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Adding to all the Yelp love on here. Great shop - cute, clean, and bright. Hot dogs were the bomb. We tried the Dog and XO. Slaw was delicious too. Service was friendly and kind. Highly recommend! read more

See all

This has very quickly become my new favorite place for lunch. I love the affordability of this spot, a Louisiana Hot Link and French Fries for only $8.50! You can't beat that. Perfect place to stop if you work downtown. They are extremely fast, and usually only have one person manning the register and cooking and they always have amazing customer service! They also have something for everyone (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free etc.). But my favorite aspect is the cleanliness of this location. It's ultimately a glorified hot dog stand, which for a good dog I'm willing to walk the line as far as "health code standards," but this is by far cleanest establishment I have ever been for a dog. Ironically, as I sit here writing this post, the girl who helped me today is talking about how much she loves her job and the people she works for to another customer. How they are genuinely good people and that just speaks volumes to me. As a person who worked in customer service for 6 plus years, I can attest that is not often the case. Support local B'ham, that's what makes us all so great and unique! read more

See all

Really good hit dogs--but Seattle style needs some pep. I added Dijon mustard and it was the right way to go. Good drink options. Friendly but too few staff. read more

I ordered the - The CAP'N The X.O. PLUS! A 1/4 lb. pepper & smoke sausage topped with 2 strips of thick-cut bacon, cream cheese, BBQ sauce, PLUS shredded cheddar and Gaucho Marc's style onions (made with chimichurri). There was no bacon and no shredded cheese. I had asked for mustard and there was none. Door Dash order and the food was COLD. read more

This spot is great! Super covid responsible, have some outdoor seats with heaters. We got into town on the late side and there they were with beers and hot dogs making our dreams come true. The dogs and fries hit the spot and small but good draft beer selection. The vegan option is delicious! Love that they have both vegan and meat options for a mixed bunch. read more

El Capitan's - Vegan chipotle dog - The Lucy Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

5 stars for honestly the best service we could have asked for. The man taking our order was very helpful and kind. He checked on us multiple times even when he was really busy. You could tell they care about you enjoying your experience and food. We had to try a Seattle dog and it was very interesting coming from a very Chicago city girl. The cream cheese and onions were good, just different than what I'm used to!! Would definitely recommend the blackberry cider. Very quality meats, will be back when in Bellingham! read more

See all

If you are still looking for a late night hook-up after clubbing, getting a dog here is probably your last, best choice for satisfying your appetite that won't leave you with as much regret in the morning. It's not my favorite place for late night dining, but often it's the ONLY place. The clientele - mostly drunk college students, especially if you visit between midnight and 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights. Even if you haven't been drinking, the smell of alcohol permeates the air. The location - grungy, small, hole-in-the-wall. Standing room only. Not sure I would want to linger even if a chair was provided. At least there is a roof over your head to get you out of the rain and walls to block the wind. The owner has one space heater next to the cash register. The hours - late night dining from 9:30 pm until 2 am, but only on party nights, ie. hump day (Wednesday), pre-weekend (Thursday), Friday and Saturday nights. The food - The buns are fresh & fluffy and the dogs are meaty. I like the Louisiana hot link, but there are other choices if you can't take the heat, like bratwurst and even a veggie dog. You dress your dog yourself. A variety of free condiments are available including mustard, spicy mustard, ketchup, relish, saurkraut, etc. Pretzels are on the menu too if you can't scrape up $5 for a dog. This is the only place I have ever heard of that serves cream cheese with their dogs. It is an intriguing combo, but perhaps best enjoyed after buckets of brewskis. The parking - free and plentiful at this hour, but you may have to dodge blue and red flashing lights to get to and from here as they are out in force. read more

El Capitan's - Hot Dogs Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Amazing pretzel with cheese and open late, would come back here for some drunk munchies. Girls working were super nice. Wonderful ambiance.

My wife and I stopped in at El Capitán's on Cornwall after reading the great Yelp reviews and it does not disappoint. The place, while cozy, had a great pirate theme and the owner was a perfect host. I made my dog and beverage choice and saw that they had a porter made specifically for them by a local brewer. The owner, Marc, was kind enough to answer my questions as well as provide a taste. It was the perfect compliment to the dog. Still, it's all about the dog and I have to say this is one of the best garlic sausages I've ever had. Seattle style (cream cheese and grilled onions) rocks! Great atmosphere, wonderful host, excellent food, and all a block from the Upfront Theater. Found a new home! read more

See all

This late night hotdog joint is an absolute treat! I came here on Halloween after an evening out and had some sort of cream cheese grilled onion dog that was super delicious. The place was decked out for Halloween which was a fun touch. They have lots of different options for toppings and sausages, plus the most amazing condiment bar. They have several varieties of every topping, a wonderful selection. Service here is friendly and fast! The man who took our order was great to talk with, and he gave us two two for one coupons for coming in on Halloween. And they never expire! Not like they would even get the chance to expire though, because we'll definitely be back soon! Hours at this place are late night only, but I like that! Gives a certain charm to the place. It's completely empty when I walk by during the day, but I know how different it will be if I come in for a midnight dog! read more

See all

I love el capitans! The owner is so accommodating and the staff is always kind and quick. We appreciate the coupons and think that el capitals is a staple of Bellingham. Love y'all! read more

Like many young adults in Bellingham, I sometimes find myself inebriated at 1am searching for something to shove in my mouth. El Capitan's has always pulled through with the late night Louisiana Hot Link with ALL the condiments. I'll also say I've found myself mid-day at work and craving El Cap's. I can confirm they sill tastes great. Awesome option for an affordable meal in downtown Bellingham-- no matter the time of day. read more

Awesome place! I like the pirate theme and the fact that they are open late night, even on a holiday like the 4th of July! I was craving a Seattle style hot dog and it was satisfying. They have a condiment bar and even offer beer and pretzels. Great location too downtown, walkable from the night life. read more

El Capitan's - Hot Dogs Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Super delicious, fast, and easy lunch! Sat outside on a beautiful Thursday and it was busy but service was amazing! I also sat near the owner and had a conversation about Bellingham and the area. Such nice people and place! read more

A MUST GO TO. They are open late, and the owner happened to be working the late shift. This place is legitimate. He has everything to make Chicago dogs, and assorted style of dogs. I am just visiting, however when I am in town again, you will see my ugly mug. He does need some patio heaters, other than that, GO. read more

Simply incredible! I'm so happy I've found an amazing hotdog place in Bellingham that not only has great options and a delicious vegetarian dog, but also good beer at a reasonable price! The bun was actually quite good, yes this is important because many "gourmet hot dog" restaurants have terrible bread and it ruins everything. It's no Hawaiian sweet roll, but that's still ok. If you haven't gone here...go now! If you have gone here, go again! read more

I walked up to the window of the new El Capitan location last week on a Wednesday, just to check out the menu. Right away, the owner hurried out of the door and gave me a buy one get one free coupon, or $5.25 off one sausage. So I figured, what do I have to lose? So I ordered the X.O. sausage, presumably due to the whole "pirate theme". The owner went off about all this pirate slang, and was really nice and friendly. He is a Boston native, and was a cool dude. Now, if you're into toppings and condiments, El Capitan's has got you freakin covered. At least three different types of mustard. A few different kind of onions, peppers, and pickles/relish. And so many hot sauces! My god this guy goes all out on the "fixins" at this place. My sausage came with a huge pile of extra stuff on top of it. The X.O. comes with bacon on top, mayo, onions etc etc (that's all I could remember). The bun was a nice big roll, and didn't get too soggy or fall apart too much. Sometimes you get hot dogs with those little cheap buns... Annoying! Another plus side: the owner actually let me keep the BOGO/$5.25 off coupon! The new location has a nice substantial menu. I know they have sausages and pretzels, but I know they have other stuff too. I didn't look extensively at the menu, but you can obviously look at it online. You should definitely go check out the new location! I forgot to mention that they also serve local beers too. Go! Now! I want the guy to get more business. He seems sort of desperate to attack business when I went. read more

We've finally found a great hot dog place in the 'ham! El Capitan's is TERRIFIC...the dogs are top quality, the pretzels are yummy, and the condiment bar very well appointed. When I went in this evening for a take out order, I was waited on by the owner himself...and the service was as top-notch as the food! We tried both the regular all-beef and the Polish...both were clean tasting, well cooked and the seasonings well-balanced. We had the beef dogs with added bacon and the house-grilled onions; (they're both sweet and savory, and textured almost like a jam-YUM!). They were marvelous. Star of the meal, though, were the Polish, which we ordered "Seattle Style" (warm cream cheese and the aforementioned onions). Wow...satisfying in every way, this hotdog goes on the permanent list! After those, (quite a bit after....!) we had a couple of the grilled pretzels, which were large, tasty, done to a turn and offered in either sweet (cinnamon sugar & butter) or savory (butter and salt, although you can also have cheese, mustard, etc.) The condiment bar is well stocked, and the owner gets huge points for offering to-go containers for the condiments as well! Prices are consistent and impressive, considering the repast. The place is small but easy to find, and seating is offered both indoors and out (counter-type service). Street parking available. There's also beer & cider, but that will have to wait for another trip. Considering the treat of having great hot dogs in the 'ham, though, it probably won't be too long at all before we're back! Thanks, Cap! read more

There is only one thing you can say, One of the best. LOL Everything I had was amazing I had the patriot hotdog which came out fast it was delicious and juicy the toppings were done very well and everything was super fresh. I also had one of the pretzels which was sweet and moist on the inside and crispy on the outside absolutely phenomenal. You can't be disappointed?! read more

Friendly service + delicious dogs + pirate theme = El Capitán's I had walked by this joint a few times without really paying attention. Looked cool, but for some reason I didn't check it out. I'm glad that I finally did. There are many hotdog options and toppings including vegetarian/vegan. I had a spicy vegan dog with peppers and sauerkraut. Mmmm good There are other menu items including beer and cider on tap. The service was great. I'm generally pretty cheap, but this is a place that you get what you pay for. I might even say you get more. read more

Dude. What I got was NASTY. Delivery from Uber Eats and it was pretty late, so maybe it's decent if you go in to the restaurant? I got a bratwurst, fries, and coleslaw. The brat was undercooked with a soggy bun, and the fries were flaccid. The cheese sauce was congealed. The thimble-sized coleslaw was tasty, but...thimble-sized. Meh. read more

Delicious food great service. loved the drinks and vibes

As someone with a gluten free, dairy free diet, it's hard to find places that serve what I can eat. Paired with a late night outing downtown, there's virtually no options. I'm super thankful for El Capitan's; not only is it friendly to vegan, vegetarians, and gluten free peoples, but it's also delicious. The other weekend I was downtown clubbing, and I made my friends leave early with me to go eat because all I could think about was a hot dog with a gf bun from El Capitan's (this wasn't the first time this happened). The employees are very warm and welcoming and I always look forward to interacting with them. The music is great too! read more

When it's like midnight and you're barhopping, hearing "we're going to El Capitan's next!" is honestly better than hearing you're getting a raise or promotion. Maybe not, but in that exact situation, that's the level of excitement I was at. I don't remember exactly WHAT hot dog I had... But I know that it was SO GOOD and something with cream cheese. And the line was quick! When we showed up the line was fairly long so I anticipated it being Cap Hill style and taking 45 minutes plus to even order. Definitely plan on returning whenever I'm up in Bham! read more

If you enjoy reaching full enlightenment and experiencing euphoria similar to taking your bra off after a long day, then this is your new favorite restaurant!! I've been eating here for years and have never ever been disappointed. These guys introduced "Seattle Style" (cream cheese added) and bacon into my life, as hotdog toppings; I have no desire to live a life without these toppings, ever again. My all time favorite links are the Louisiana Hot Link and the Vegan Dog (sounds gross, totally isn't). Polish is always a safe bet for the less adventurous. You will not regret eating here, even if you're not a "hotdog person". Hands down my favorite place to eat in Bellingham (p.s. the dogs taste 200% better if you happen to be drunk or high, but definitely isnt a requirement!) read more

El Capitan's - Vegan dog, Seattle-style, sauerkraut, dill relish, spicy mustard, yellow mustard, ketchup, jalapenos - Hot Dogs Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

This Lil hot dog joint is the hidden gem of Bellingham! It's truly the best place to get your all your needs met. Every time I come here I always leave with the best quality food and service. Thanks guys for always being consistent and kind. Cheers! A very happy whispeymama read more

We came in for free water. We were enjoying our water then we were told to get the f*** out of their store because we hadn't ordered yet. I understand she had work to get done but it was definitely out of pocket to tell us to get the f out. read more

I have always loved the dogs you get at El Capitan's, going back to Western and the old shop on Railroad Ave at 2 am! The new location is great and the dogs are still amazing! We ordered a big order for our office yesterday and they forgot one hot dog - we let them know and they had it delivered right away! That was great customer service, didn't expect it, really appreciated though. Try them out, I highly recommend the X.O.! read more