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    The Hot Grill

    4.0 (532 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs, American
    Open 9:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Order The Hot Grill Takeout or Delivery

    The Hot Grill Photos

    THE HOT GRILL ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Hot Grill

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    Hotdogs "all the way" and fries with gravy
    Matt D.

    The Hot Grill is my go to hotdog place when you want an NJ authentic Texas weiner aka hotdog "all the way". There's been many great hotdog places throughout the years Libbies, Falls view, the original Johny and Hanges in Paterson. The Hot grill is king. Great hotdogs all the way, fried with gravy, onion rings you name it.

    Two dogs all the way...
    Johnnie W.

    No frills, no bs, just a killer hot dog with famous chili. To me, these are the best chili dogs on Earth. So good, deep fried, hot, and just plain delicious.

    Fries with cheese and gravy
    Brian G.

    My favorite place to bring the family on Friday evenings. Been coming here for a while now. I always get 3 All the Way and fries with Cheese and gravy. The chili is very flavorful but not spicy at all. The gravy is incredible. Nothing beats the Hot Grill's fries with gravy and cheese.

    Yum! French Fries
    Emily P.

    I've been going here since before I could remember as a Clifton local and this place is my literal childhood. No one does it like they do with the fresh Frenchie made of pure potato's. Their signatures have stayed authentic and every bite of those fries bring me back to my roots their service has always been top notch with friendly cashiers and quick service. If you want to dine anywhere in Clifton, come to hot grill!

    Cheese and gravy fries
    Heather L.

    It's been 7 years since I last reviewed my favorite hot dog joint! I always go with a Frenchie one (fries) with gravy and cheese, a kraut & mustard and a chili and cheese dog! Another favorite is an all the way with mustard, chili and chopped onions. Their hot dogs are deep fried and a blend of beef and pork. The chili and gravy are unlike any I've had before, yet I can't quite describe them other than delicious! Lines move fast as u place order at counter and take to your choice of seats. Another fave is their roast beef on soft roll with gravy. We always grab the picnic special which includes package of 12 uncooked hot dogs, 12 buns and a pint of chili during summer months although available year round. You can always add on a pint/quart of chopped onions for additional charge although it used to come as part of the special. Overall, I've been coming here for over 40 years and still my fave place for those cravings! Originally started in the '60's with 20 bar stools, upgraded to accommodate 80 patrons and now 145! Open to midnight S-Thurs, and 2am Fri & Sat! Back in the day this was an all cash joint, but today you can now use a credit card or contactless payments using ur phone.

    Virginia T.

    We were in the area and had been told that the Hot Grill was a must. We ordered a dog with cheese and onions, fries, onion rings and a few burgers. The burgers weren't like your diner burgers but they were super thing, perfectly cooked and very very tasty! The fries were perfect and the onion rings were even better!! Both perfectly cooked and crispy. The dog was great and well we do recommend trying this place if you're in the area. I wouldn't go out of my way to boost but if in the area it's. A must try.

    Plain hot dog
    Kevin F.

    This place doesn't look like much, but it's clear why it's been a local landmark for decades once you dine here. I've never been much of fan of the type of hot dog that's smothered in chili and all kinds of other stuff. I've always just enjoyed them simple with some ketchup. But maybe I just haven't been to the right place until now. This is the right place. The hot dogs here are fried to perfection, with just the right saltiness and flavor. And the chili and onions that they put on these add just the right amount of kick, not overwhelming at all. To top it all off, the prices here are extremely reasonable, particularly in 2024. I'll be back here for sure, especially to try more of the menu items.

    Just regular service no smiles
    Charlie S.

    Had a lunch yesterday after I read many highly rewarded comments from fellow yelpers. I ordered a hotdog with cheese, a hamburger and fries. Also a small soda total of $17 and change including tax and tip. The sausage was salty and burger was plain and nothing special but good meaty taste. Fries were good and hot. But I feel the high scores do not match for these foods, services and interiors. High scores may come from nostalgia which I understand I also love some restaurants with nostalgic. Just do not expect such high scored foods from this place.

    Cherry Slushie
    Emily M.

    When I was in the area I came across this hidden hot dog gem, it's been around since 1961. I ended up getting their "World Famous Tastiest Texas Weiner" which was their fried hot dog with homemade chilli, onions, and mustard !! It was delicious and hit the spot! I also tried their homemade minestrone soup which was a yummy and unexpected treat that went great with the hot dog. The cherry slushie was literally the cherry on top of this quick pit stop! Nice seating area, including booths and friendly service!

    Three all the way

    I finally made it here. It wasn't a waste of time but it wasn't spectacular either. I got three all the way. The dogs had a good snap and were deep fried, likely Thuman's. The mustard was nice and bold, the chili sauce was kind of neutral and needed the mustard to shine. The onions were gross and reminded me of reconstituted dried onions. The onions had such a powerful taste that it threw everything else off and left a bad after taste. Next time I'll try just chili and mustard. Overall, it's cheap and tasty but I wouldn't make a trip to Clifton just to eat there.

    Chris C.

    Still a treat to eat at Hot Grill! Never disaappointsss. Great staff, too! Easy to park and perfect menu.

    Double Texas Weiner
    Zach G.

    My first time here ever. I asked about dem Texas Weiners... they said it was buy one get one FREE. I already felt lucky, I asked the customer next to me in line what I should get, they seemed passionate about my Double Texas Weiner decision. Let's just say... it was so good, the chili was perfect. There's two things I learned in life 1. Everybody loves ice cream. 2. Everybody loves a good big ol' Texas Weiner. The morale was high as far as ambiance... It was amazing and I will be back for the Double Weiner.

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    8 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Good NJ hot dogs. Many other good items on their store menu. French fries were also good. Plenty of indoor seating.

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Did no get what I ordered and grub hub delivery and never notified- food was cold and lousy - it all went in the trash - so sad

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    2 years ago

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    10 months ago

    Always a pleasure to visit The Hot Grill when in NJ! Best sauce for your burger or hotdog.

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    3 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Been coming here for more than 50 years. Never disappointed! "2 all the way 2, 1 frenchy 1 with gravy"

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    11 months ago

    It was ok. No johnny and hanges but was ok. Didn't send any condiments ketchup salt pepper for , nothing so it was pretty dry.

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    2 years ago

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    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - The Hot Grill

    Do they still have the half off prices on weekday afternoons?

    I was at Hot Grill on Monday May 14th and was told they no longer had that special. I'm sure it will be back though. It comes and goes

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    Rutt's Hut - Bacon cheese and chilli cheese rippers

    Rutt's Hut

    3.9(1.5k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $

    A Ripper: otherwise known as a "Deep-Fried Hotdog". Three plain and simple words, but when…read morecombined, they are nearly pornographic. At least they are for me. Rutt's Hut has been on my punch list for a long time. Actually NJ fried Hot Dogs have been both from Rutt's and from Hiram's over in Ft. Lee. I got to Hiram's and today was my luck day to get a shot at a Ripper. Rutt's is a bit off the beaten path and is down a meandering pothole filled road in a very industrial feeling part of town surrounded by wooded areas. It seems like it would be a better place for a serial killer body dump than a Hot Dog vendor but it's been there since 1928 so it must be doing something right. There is a large, private, and free parking lot which is a huge bonus in my playbook. The building looks like it is in disrepair. There are 2 areas to eat here. A door to the left seems to be a pub/bar with sit down service and then there is the right side that I went to which is a stand up, indoor counter where you can get in and out very quickly. This is a cash only spot so come prepared. Get to an open counter worker, give them your order, and pay when they hand over the goods. I was a little intimidated when I walked in because it was clear that everyone else in the place understood the ordering routine and knew the menu (there are quite a few other items you could order other than Rippers). I stood in a corner like a potted plant for about 10 minutes and watched what others did when they walked in before I figured out the process. It's pretty simple but I did not want to screw up Rutt's world order by doing something stupid. The 3 Rippers I ordered were good (but not best in class for me). The one I liked the most was the chili cheese dressed Ripper because the chili was actually quite tasty. On the counter are large containers of brown mustard and almost-fluorescent yellow relish. People seem to love the stuff. It was a bit like sweetened sauerkraut for me and the color of it makes me think it is either radioactive or seasoned with antifreeze. I would be happy going here again but I can't say that my Rippers were anything special. I might ask for them to be a little overdone next time to add a bit of texture. What I did like about Rutt's was the history, the dilapidated building, the simplicity of the menu, the naming of their dogs as "Rippers", and the fact that it felt like I was eating among real NJ natives that knew exactly what they were there for. Experiencing local culture doesn't get much better than that.

    Best in the world…read more Best in the world Spectacular hot dogs and a vibe that hasn't changed in 4,000 years.

    Photos
    Rutt's Hut
    Rutt's Hut - Before putting the special relish

    Before putting the special relish

    Rutt's Hut - Ripper (left) and Weller (right)

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    Ripper (left) and Weller (right)

    Cruz-Missile Hot Dogs & Pinchos

    Cruz-Missile Hot Dogs & Pinchos

    4.9(27 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    You all know I can be tough on hot dog joints because I'm kind of a snob. I know what I like so I…read moretry to be open-minded about new places I'm trying. No worries here, Cruz-Missle Hot Dogs was fantastic. Came here with two work buddies and we were a little early so we had the place to ourselves (though a few people came in while we were there for to-go lunches). I love Thumann's dogs so I had the Cruz-Missile specialty dog with a Thumann's. Came with hot chili, spicy cooked onions, spicy mustard and pickled jalapeños. I also had a Snap-O-Razzo brand dog with chili, mustard, and kraut. We also shared fries, onion rings and the owner let us try his mozzarella sticks. I thought the Cruz-Missile would be a bit sloppy, but it was the perfect amount of toppings and as good as the toppings were, they didn't overwhelm the flavor of the dog. This was my first time tasting the Snap-O-Razzo dog and it was a home run. The flavor of the dog just popped and it's really delicious-unlike any other hot dog I've ever tasted. The fries, rings and mozzarella sticks were also delicious. Owner actually brought us out a second round of onion rings because the first ones weren't his hand battered rings and he wanted us to taste the real thing. Owner is a former police officer and the decor around the place is very first-responder friendly. We spoke with him at length about opening the place, why he uses the dogs and ingredients he uses, and some of the issues he's had. It was a great experience. I've eaten a LOT of dogs in a LOT of places in Jersey and while I'm not gonna put them at the top of my personal Top Hot Dogs list, in my opinion...it's in my top five...another trip is needed to perhaps move it up slightly.

    Cruz-Missile Hot Dogs & Pinchos in Passaic, NJ. It's National Hot Dog Day! & Come grab a Cruz…read moreMissile Hot Dog the famous @snaporazzo hot dog only served at Cruz-Missile Hot Dogs & Pinchos! You will love that first bite-you can literally hear the snap! Thumanns also makes a delish hotdog and there so many variations! The 100% sirloin beef smash burgers are so juicy and well seasoned. The Cuban sandwich should NOT be missed-filled with roasted pork, fresh ham, pickled onions with cheese on fresh Portuguese bread. Insta: @thehungrysw

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    Cruz-Missile Hot Dogs & Pinchos
    Cruz-Missile Hot Dogs & Pinchos
    Cruz-Missile Hot Dogs & Pinchos - Store sign

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    Store sign

    Jim Dandy's of Rutherford - Grilled Chicken Wrap

    Jim Dandy's of Rutherford

    3.9(169 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$

    Jim Dandy's 102 Park Ave…read more Rutherford, NJ 07070 Mango Habanero Wings Smoked Brisket Full Rack of Ribs Bird In Hand Smoked Pork I randomly found out across this barbecue restaurant as I walked along the main strip. Having no knowledge of this location, my curiosity led me inside. Jose, the manager, told me the chef prepares a homemade barbecue sauce, which has been a family secret recipe for over 30 years. Jose also brought to my attention a really great deal offered on Tuesdays: full rack of ribs for the cost of a half rack! He gave me a free sample of the secret sauce. That spoon size taste went a long way as I was immediately hooked by its flavor and tanginess. With the exception of the wings, I tried the sauce on all of their killer meats! The tender, juicy brisket melted in my mouth. The pork ribs fell right off the bone. My personal favorite was the bird in hand. This half chicken made me feel like I was in dining at Medieval Times in Lyndhurst! The only thing missing was a tournament with gladiators grappling in a colosseum! Between the tasty meats, strictly confidential house made barbecue sauce, and the excellent service from the manager and the servers, I was very content and my crave for barbecue has been happily fulfilled! #jimdandys #killermeats #barbecue #MangoHabanero #smokedbrisket #rackofribs #pulledpork #barbecuechicken

    Not after this last ribeye I got for an elderly lady. I tried it as well. So tough it went in the…read moretrash

    Photos
    Jim Dandy's of Rutherford
    Jim Dandy's of Rutherford - Full rack with sweet potato fries

    Full rack with sweet potato fries

    Jim Dandy's of Rutherford

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    The Hot Grill - hotdog - Updated May 2026

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