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    The Roast Grill Hot Weiners

    4.2 (186 reviews)
    InexpensiveHot Dogs
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:30 pm

    The Roast Grill Hot Weiners Photos

    THE ROAST GRILL HOT WEINERS ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Rebecca M.

    The Roast Grill was opened in Downtown Raleigh in 1940 by Mary Charles. Today it is operated by Mary's grandson George Poniros and his wife Kathy. It is a small hole in the wall place with 10 bar stools and two two top tables. The cooler is on the other side of the bar stools so it is a small and narrow space. The walls have photos of hot dog eating winners; nostalgia and there are Coke collectibles. Kathy says George has collections everywhere. The menu is simple with hot dogs; soda in bottles; desserts and potato chips were added to the menu recently. The dogs are cooked on the original grill be George and can be topped with slaw; chili; mustard or onions or any combination of those choices. They don't offer ketchup. The restaurant is cash only and the prices include taxes. Tootsie rolls are given with orders too. I'm not a hot dog fan so I just had baklava here made by Kathy. It was a real treat that I'd love more of. I also had a bottle of Coke in a glass. It was a fun experience.

    The Roast Gril
    Gina Marie S.

    This joint is a must-see! George is the real deal churning out grilled hot dogs at the old school grill with Ms. Kathy delivering the goods and drinks. Note: cash only. ATM can be found on the corner at Morgan Street Food Hall. Use the Morgan Street side entrance. Find street parking or I'd suggest downloading in advance the Passport parking app. So, you've parked. You have cash. Now, it's time to eat! Don't ask to see a menu; the menu is hot weiners Be prepared to order yours like this - with mustard because The Roast Grill does not serve ketchup, or sauerkraut. However, there is homemade chili, slaw, and lots of onions. Try one with everything by asking George for it "all the way". For dessert, Kathy offered pound cake made by a fellow parishioner. How could I pass up "church lady" pound cake? Update: the pound cake was delicious! I ordered 2 with mustard then another. 3 hot dogs + 2 Cokes + pound cake + A good deal of hot dog history = $17 - Delicious, kitschy, and affordable Oh, George did expand the menu recently to include bratwurst They serve Coke in glass bottles, which is fantastic. There is an interesting collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia from all round the world. There lots of evidence of loyalty to the NC State Wolf Pack and the NC Hurricanes. As both fly red and black colors, if I cared about sports, I'd pick them for their fashion sense alone. Now that I know the drill, it'll be easier next time. Yes, I'll be back with cash in my wallet. $20 bill will do it.

    Marty B.

    Tasty and satisfying! The sausage was juicy, and the bun was soft. Could use a little more toppings. Overall, a solid hot dog!

    Maryellen S.

    The Roast Grill is an experience! One of those unforgettable, hole in the wall places with just a few things on the menu. A must visit regardless of whether you're a local or visiting from out of town. Two tips: 1) Don't ask for catsup, they don't believe in catsup on hot dogs. 2) Cash only!

    George Poniros serves you the iconic grill roasted wieners which are your signature delicious meal for over 30 years.
    Dale D.

    Best hot roasted wiener in Raleigh, N.C. since 1940. George Poniros cooks and serves you with his masterful style and hilarious banter as he has been doing it this way for over 30 years. This iconic tiny little restaurant often has a line out the door so it is good to arrive early to enjoy these delicious roasted weiners. Order your weiner any way you want with mustard, chili, onions, coleslaw, but beware that you don't ever ask for the cardinal sin of ketchup. Icy cold Coca-Cola in old school little green bottles is the best way to hydrate or you have a choice of beers. Highly recommend that you visit here often.

    Chili only hot dog
    Jackie S.

    Call ahead to make sure they're open. But if they are, go! Yes there are only 13 bar stools and 2 2-top tables however the hot dogs are delicious! You can also get them to go. George isn't too chatty but the staff is very nice. The bins are so soft, the wiener is the perfect size and the chili is just right! CASH ONLY

    Outside
    Marva J.

    A very strong four as it is a one of a kind place and takes you back to a simpler time . I was impressed with the hot dog and chili. The grill he uses is very interesting and they take a lot of pride in their business and great customer service which never goes out of style. Very small place and often crowded but worth the wait which isn't long and it's perfect if you just want a great hotdog and drink . The fact that they serve beer is a plus and adds to the simplicity of having a hotdog and a beer . It's a nice bit of history also.

    Hot Dog All they way

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    11 months ago

    Great hotdogs with home made chili and slaw. I have been going there for more than 20 years!

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    2 years ago

    Great service, delicious hotdogs. Well worth the wait to get in the door, A Raleigh institution!

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    2 years ago

    Roast Grill has excellent hot dogs!! By far, the best in North Carolina. Once you try them, you will be amazed!

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    4 years ago

    One of best Hot Dogs in town. The History of the place is my favorite part. It's tiny inside.

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great dogs and worth the stop. Chili onions mustard slaw - perfect. Bring cash - enjoy.

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    Cloos' Coney Island - Bacon Cheeseburger

    Cloos' Coney Island

    4.1(232 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    A friend suggested that I try Cloos', and what great advice that turned out to be. Cloos' brings…read morethe feel of Northern short-order stands, grills, and diners to the NC State area. I had lunch there on Thursday--and liked it so much that I went back again on Friday. Two days in a row. One word of caution: this is a true short-order grill. Everything is freshly made to order, and they are often very busy. You will not get your food as quickly as you would at a fast-food place like McDonald's or Wendy's. If you are in a big hurry, head west on Western Boulevard to McDonald's, Bojangles, Wendy's, or Cook Out--all places I patronize--but they are not the same type of venue. Cloos' Coney Island is a hot dog and classic American comfort food restaurant that has been operating in Raleigh since 1988, with strong ties to the NC State student community and local residents. According to their own signage and social pages, they proudly market themselves as "An Original Detroit Hot Dog Stand, Est. 1988." The restaurant is decorated like a classic diner or luncheonette. White tile gives a clean, bright feel, paired with black checkerboard accents. The décor is reminiscent of original White Castle, White Diamond, and Waffle House locations. There's even a Sopranos-themed pinball machine. Seating includes a lunch counter with round revolving stools and 1950s-style dinette tables and chairs. On Thursday, I ordered a Coney Dog and French fries. With the exception of the Chicago Dog, their hot dogs are 90 percent beef, with the remainder pork products. The Coney Dog is their specialty, served on a steamed bun with chili, mustard, and onions--try it; you'll love it. The fries are excellent--thin, string-style fries like McDonald's used to make years ago. My friend had the Chicago Dog, a Vienna all-beef frank customized with Carolina flair, adding slaw atop their Coney Dog toppings. They have a soda fountain with Coke products, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and both sweet and unsweet tea. As a fun detail, there's a Coca-Cola CLASSIC sign near the fountain--perfectly fitting for a place established in the late '80s. Because they offer both tea and lemonade, they list Arnold Palmers (sweet or unsweet) on the menu. They also offer bottled water and a selection of domestic and premium bottled beers. On Friday, I went alone, sat at the counter, and ordered the Philly Cheesesteak--listed on their menu as one of their signature items, and now I know why. I chose steak with green peppers and onions and added mushrooms for a small extra charge. I don't care for mustard (a Midwest thing) or mayonnaise (a Southern thing) on my cheesesteaks. When I worked in Philadelphia and ate at Pat's and the street carts, I always had ketchup on the bun. At Cloos', I dipped both my cheesesteak and fries into genuine Heinz ketchup from glass bottles--outstanding. I liked the fries so much the day before that I ordered another small order. Growing up in New Jersey, a root beer with a cheesesteak just felt right--even though I rarely drink soda. Some pairings are simply meant to be. The staff are great--nice, patient, and constantly engaging with customers. There's an ongoing conversation about everything, and you can tell they genuinely enjoy their work, their coworkers, and their customers. If you're expecting service with a deep Southern accent, this might not be the place--but the warmth and authenticity more than make up for it. Needless to say, I plan to go back. Two five-star experiences, back-to-back.

    This spot has been open since 1988, and I've been coming, off and on, since the early 90's. This…read morearea, close to part of the NC State campus is home to several venerable hot dog "stands" - Roast Grill (opened in 1940), Char-Grill (opened in 1959), and Snoopy's (opened in 1978). Went to all 4 on this trip! Like the other 3, this spot is showing its age and the service tends to be a bit out of the "fast food" range, but they still put out some solid burgers, hot dogs, and FFs. My favorites are the Chicago Dog, the Carolina Cheeseburger, the Kraut Dog, and their Fries! I also like that you can get a beer.

    Photos
    Cloos' Coney Island - Inside - Behind the counter

    Inside - Behind the counter

    Cloos' Coney Island - Cheese fries

    Cheese fries

    Cloos' Coney Island - Great staff!

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    Great staff!

    Jim's Ole Time

    Jim's Ole Time

    4.5(25 reviews)
    5.7 mi
    $

    Great taste, but too messy. Loved the flavors, but the toppings kept falling off. Still, one of the…read morebetter hot dogs I've had!

    if one is as into seeking great hot dogs as I am, one goes where ever the trail leads - even to the…read morefront of a Lowe's Home Improvements store in Cary, and this trip was definitely worthwhile.. There Jim Rivers has been setting up his steel hot dog stand for nearly 14 years now, and is there almost everyday beginning at 11:30 - he misses some days because he also sets up at the North Carolina State Fair each year. He steams his weiners - Red Hots (neon red Southern weiner)for $1,50, Nathans All Beef for $2.00, Jalapeno (with the pepper already in the weiner) for $2.50, and a Sausage dog, also for $2.50. His toppings(whatever you want at no additional charge) include mustard, ketchup (ugh!), chili, onions, slaw, mayo (double ugh!), cheese, sauerraut, red onion (foo foo), and relish (we get visitors from the far north). The Red Hot is your basic Southern Chili dog with a weiner of questionable parentage, chile, onions and/or slaw, on a nice, soft bun. This is a very good hot dog. The chili is not home made since the All Knowing, All Seeing Wake County government has decided that only brick and mortar restaurants can prepare such items in their duly and regularly inspected kitchens - this apparently is true even if the rating is not particularly good. Jim uses Patterson's Grand Slam All Beef Chili, which is available in 5 pound tubs or #10 cans. This is very good commercially prepared chili, right up there with Matinee brand used by Allen & Son in Chapel Hill. The Nathan's All Beef hot dog with chili, mustard, and Jim's slaw is an outstanding slaw dog - one of the best I've tried, and I've tried more than a few. The quality of the weiner reals comes thru, and is very well showcased by the soft bun, tasty chili, and not too sweet mayo based slaw. On my next visit, I'll try the Jalapeno dog and the Sausage dog instead of the All Beef - well, probably in addition too it. Jim is friendly and personable, the service is quick, the pricing reasonable - there is no seating available, but sitting in an airconditioned auto munching several dogs ain't at all bad.

    Photos
    Jim's Ole Time - Jim's Truck and Trailer in the lot. Nice advertising.

    Jim's Truck and Trailer in the lot. Nice advertising.

    Jim's Ole Time - Red dog with mustard , chili and onion.

    Red dog with mustard , chili and onion.

    Jim's Ole Time

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    The Roast Grill Hot Weiners - hotdog - Updated May 2026

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