An amigo gave me a double recommendation: 1. Top Dog is top dog; 2. Order (then eat) the Bird Dog (turkey sausage with red and green peppers). I ordered over the phone and dude I talked with was super nice. He said that we has about to be bombarded with high school students, but would hold my (insert your euphemism here for h-dog/sausage). I walked over and it was hot and ready - like any dog should be. The dude who took my order took my money and had great interpersonal skills. He made waiting in line fun. I got back to High Trek Adventure's world headquarters and was smitten. I would double recommend Top Dog and the Bird Dog to anyone. read more

The sandwich style sesame bun was new to me but I quickly grew fond of the dog/bun combo. The garlic Frank had a nice snap with the first bite and the size was adequate considering I wanted to save room for a latte after the meal. If I was hungry then I would probably need 2 dogs to fill me up. I found the service to be prompt and friendly and you can definitely get in and out of you're in a rush. I'm sure I'll crave this dog one night when I'm up late as will you. read more

With all the fancy schmanzy joints with tablecloths and $$$$$ prices where's a classy, junk food veggie,thrifty lass suppose to eat in downtown Berkeley? TOP DOG!! Top Dog has veggie burgers and veggie chili. I just had a veggie dog with chili and cheese...yum! They also have many meat choices. I love that you can put a dab or a pile of 2-3 different mustards, ketchup, onions, relish, sauerkraut. They also sell tiny to large drink sizes that are refillable. I love the fact that everyone goes here---from guys in suits, families, students, tourists, city workers and miscellaneous folks like me! May not be open late but they are open on Sundays---most of downtown B eateries are closed or not open at 11 am. Plus the staff is always friendly! (Note to Lise, I think there is a veggie hot link & veggie kielbasa in existence--now if only Top Dog would get them) read more

A VERY casual spot serving an extremely simple menu. Unlike other hotdog joints, Top Dog pays almost no attention to toppings. Instead, they focus almost exclusively on their sausages. Ordering is easy - walk up, tell the griller which sausage you want, wait a few minutes, grab your sausage dog, go over to the extremely bare toppings bar and you're ready! They offer some pretty badass sausages. I got the Calabrese which was delicious. The fennel really comes through. My buddy got the Garlic Frankurter which was also awesome. Each sausage was grilled perfectly - great snap and tender center. Available Toppings @ the bar: - Yellow Mustard - Deli Mustard - Pickle Relish - Diced Onions - Sauerkraut There's nothing fancy about this place and that's what I like most about it. The sausage dogs range from $3.25-3.50 which isn't bad at all considering how big they are. read more

Yay! I'm a fan! All dogs are priced at $3 a pop at prime location?! Wow! I'm a fan of hot dogs, just not a real big fan. I seldom crave for a good dog, it's one of those like when I see it, I'll get it type of deal. BF brought me here since I didn't have much craving for anything, and a dog sounded good. And the "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVEN'T TRIED TOP DOG" look on his face ensured me that the dog should be heavenly delicious. I trust his taste. So we venture off to Berkeley, drove by Durant Ave, saw no parking, and headed to this Center street location to test our parking luck. Yep Center street location was meant to be, we got rock star parking. And there were seats! Two perfectly grilled chicken apple dogs later (one for the bf, and one for me), we were yearning for more! I got myself a Lemon Chicken (low sodium, low fat?) guiltless pleasure?! COUNT ME IN! The bf got a garlic frankfurter. We pretty much devoured the dogs within minutes. They were THAT good. Sausage were juicyly grilled to perfection, sitting on top of the toasted bun. I dressed my dog with some hot sauerkraut, little bit of horseradish, and some jalapeno. No ketchup needed. BF went back to order the 3rd dog (Kielbasa), as I gave him the jealous glare.... WHY DO MEN HAVE MORE STOMACHE SPACE IN GENERAL?! I want a 3rd dog! I just can't fit another bite! DAYAMSIT! I actually managed to take another bite. Kielbasa was GOOD~! Meaty and hearty! On our way back, the only thing in my mind was... which dog should I try next on the next visit.... read more

Nothing satisfies a mid-day or mid-night dog craving like Top Dog! The quick service, easy access on the way up to campus, on top of the fact that this location takes credit cards (and has lowered its minimum to $5 to boot!) makes it a one-stop shop for doggy heaven. We're not talking dinky, overfloured hot dog buns. We're talking toasted french buns. We're not talking sausages that have been bathing in warm water for hours, or rolling up and down on metal bars under a heat-lamp for hours. No...we're talking sausage to griddle action, made to order. If you like it hot, get a hot link or the calabrese. Keeping it savory and a little more mild? A Top Dog, or Smoked Chicken Apple Sausage will do you well. Get the best of what Berkeley has to offer, at an establishment that is more Berkeley than most. read more

Dinner date for under $10? Top Dog! Ok so I wouldn't suggest coming here on a 1st date unless you know you're about to date a hot dog fanatic, but Husband and I have been together for a decade and a half- no romantic restaurant needed for every date- and we're both hotdog fanatics! My favs- Lemon Chicken & Polish! So hard not to get both! I put on lots of saurkraut- thems the veggies! This location manages to maintain the fringe charm of the original, wihtout the slimy grunge feeling. Besides, it's near Games of Berkeley, also a great place for us to wander on a date and compare favorite games from our childhood & discuss what games we want out daughter to grow up with. read more

Today was my first time eating at Top Dog, and I liked it! I got 2 veggie dogs (the "Wienie"), and they were great! Flavorful, very meat-like, and the bread that it comes in is so filling, crispy, and well-made. It's not at all like the flimsy hot dog buns that we grew up eating (although, I do love flimsy hot dogs too...). At $3 a dog, it's a pretty affordable meal. One dog is quite filling; you'll be satisfied after one. If you're really hungry, though, get 2. I haven't tried any of the meat ones, but my friends did and they all said they were really good. If you're a vegetarian or, like me, you often rather prefer vegetarian things to meaty thing, get the veggie dogs. Although it doesn't have that same satisfying crunch of biting into the casing of a meaty dog, it's just as good and satisfying. This location is closest to BART, takes credit cards ($10 minimum), and there's two round tables with stools, as well as some more seating by the windows. I didn't, however, see a restroom, but there's one next door at the Mexican joint - that one's for customers only, so you may have to get a taco or something to use it. read more

SCENARIO -- I walk in STARVING after a long ass day feening for ANYTHING to eat (even mystery meat in the shape of a penis) to nourish my lifeless body. La dee da... I'm the only customer at the time. Before I even get a chance to look at the menu, I notice the cold, greasy, dried out, overcooked, e. coli and salmonella festering dogs sitting on the grill. There is no one in sight. No other customers. No employees behind the counter... ...A moment later a guy comes dashing into the place, smelling like an ashtray. I didn't see him smoking outside. Don't know where he came from. He could've been playing with his weiner for all I know. He immediately positions himself behind the counter without speaking a word, ready to take my order. OUTCOME -- Disgusted by this potential food poisoning opportunity, and the lovely stench wafting in the air from MR. SLACKER ASTRAY LICKING WORK ETHIC LACKING I'M TOO COOL TO SPEAK I DON'T BELIEVE IN WASHING MY HANDS BEFORE I HANDLE FOOD guy, I walk out without saying a word. read more

Top dog is famous for its unique hot dogs. The ones i like the most are those that are not made of pork because they have a unique taste read more

Top Dog - Fast Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

As much as I love my 1.50 polish sausage and soft drink combo from Costco. Nothing says Berkeley like Top Dog #5! The price is right. Under 3 dollars for a chicken and apple sausage that was oh so tasty. I never knew there was a #5 until a couple weeks ago. This place used to be a smoothie joint when I lived in the area. Nevertheless same good quality as the 2 other ones I had frequented. read more

I went here four times because: 1) I love sausage 2) I wanted to try many sausages 3) I wanted to make sure my distaste was not just my distaste for the libertarian propaganda plastered all over the walls BUT I feel as if I can safely say that I am not a fan of top dog despite my bias. I had three main problems: 1) The bread-to-meat ratio was much too high 2) The servers always seemed extremely unhappy to be there and were rude to customers 3) The sausages were average at best. They do not compare to Rosemunde's or the ones at Taylor's in Oakland. O-VER-RATE-ED! read more

Top Dog is #1 The veggie dog covered in sauerkraut, the extra hot beaver brand Russian mustard, relish, and a few onions is a good time for my mouth. a really really really good time. I love that Top Dog is around, and I can get a delicious hot dog, and sit in the window seat and watch people walking down the street (while mustard drips down my chin) good times. This is my favorite Top Dog- second fave is on Durrant, and third fave is the one in Big Longs. read more

Fuck how good the hot dogs are, if the service is SHIT and workers are RUDE, why come back? No wonder your TIP Jar is EMPTY. Either shape up your staff or get a new one. Until then, this review stays at ONE star. read more

Man, once you've had a top dog it is so hard to pass by the opportunity to have another. I must warn the address listed on this review is for the one that is not open as late (maybe til 10 on weeknights, 11 or 12 on weekends?) as the one on DURANT AVE--this is where the drunks go, and it's where I recommend you go if you plan on being drunk. My first experience with Top Dog was when I was a little intoxicated and a friend decided I needed the hot dog of my life. I had a Calbreze (a "Cal" for the informed) which was intensely satisfying. I must also mention and compliment the work ethic, attitude, and dependability of the staff at top dog, especially the durant ave location. Despite a seemingly endless line of people waiting to pick up or order their hot dogs, and the quick cash-dealings, this man kept track of who ordered what, who ordered before who, who paid and who didn't--he handled the drunk people like a pro, and kept his responsabilities in check with seemingly little effort and NO PAPER. Even if you aren't a meat eater, I'd recommend sitting outside this joint on a busy drinking night just to watch the staff in action--it's really quite impressive. read more

I passed by Top Dog dozens of times before hearing that it was supposed to be a pretty good hot dog place. I finally gave it a try this past week for an early lunch. They have a few seats inside, but it's a fairly small place. I got a top dog Frankfurter and a Smoked Chicken Apple. I enjoyed the chicken apple, but the frankfurter was fairly dry. Also, significantly smaller than the chicken apple. It's possible that I just got a bad (overcooked) one, but if I come back here again, I'm steering clear of the frankfurter. With that said, I liked the buns(/bread) they use here, and both dogs did have a decent flavor. I don't think I would go out of my way to come here, but at $3.50 a pop, Top Dog is a fairly affordable place to grab a quick snack. read more

Sausages, sauerkraut and mustard: the requirements for an awesome hot dog. -------- Food: Out of four possible stars: three stars. Tog Dog's appeal is not so much in the preparation of the food as it is in the ingredients used. The rolls are not tasteless Wonderbread rolls, and the sausages are not your usual beef franks. Just a sampling of the selection: Calabrese, Kielbasa, Bratwurst and Chicken & Apple. The kicker is the vat of sauerkraut. It is not a hot dog without it. -------- Miscellaneous: Out of one possible star: one star. Center Street Top Dog definitely takes after the more upscale downtown Berkeley atmosphere. There is actually room for more than a few people at a time inside, and with high tables and stools, you can actually sit down and read a newspaper with your dog. read more

Today I took my 8 yr old grandson. It was his first time. We both loved it. He had a hot dog, and I had a brat. I've lived in Berkeley for 40+ years and Top Dog is as good now as it was then. I'm glad they have more than one location. read more

This past Saturday nothing tasted better than the sweet victory and dominating performance by Cal over Stanford in the Big Game to win back the Axe, but Top Dog came close. Top Dog is definitely an institution centered around The Institution and is one of my favorite spots in the Bay Area to grab a dog. Any one of their locations around the Cal campus has some of the best Game Day grub if you aren't going to a tailgate party prior to the game. read more

Hot Dog, Chips and a Drink Doggy Bag= $5.00 Where else can you go and get a pretty decent meal for $5 bucks? The inside embodies the Berkeley character. Political cartoons and clipped news paper decorated throughout the small interior's walls and counter tops. My favorite is the full-page article about our government; illustrated as if it were a twisted science project.. The cooks are nice, and the atmosphere is very easy and casual. They aren't afraid to speak their mind, and they strike me as nothing but down-to-earth. There are a huge variety of dogs you can choose to put on a grilled bun. Self-serve toppings include relish, onions, and sauerkraut. Ketchup, yellow mustard, and deli mustard also included. The result is at least as good as any dog you'll get at a ballpark. I recommend the regular "top dog." It's prepared perfectly and can be eaten alone, it's that good! ..... I'm salivating right now thinking about it. read more

Stopped by here after grabbing a drink at Purple Kow. The Top Dog Frankfurter was pretty good. The toasted roll they used for the bun really elevated the hot dog experience. The hot dog was smaller than expected for $3.50, however. Maybe I'm just too used to the Costco hot dog & soda for $1.50. My husband ordered the linguica and it wasn't that great. It was too salty for my taste and I wasn't a fan of the crumbly meat texture. I like how they offer different types of mustards and have plenty of ketchup and other condiments available. I didn't like how the chopped onions looked like they have been sitting out for a while. Fresh, chopped onions shouldn't look wet and translucent. They definitely weren't grilled onions either because the onions were still white, just oddly translucent. They were also left uncovered and flies were buzzing around so I didn't trust them and was missing fresh onions on my hot dog. Overall, I wouldn't mind trying their other sausages whenever I'm in the area. read more

Do I have anything new to add about this Berkeley Institution? Hell, probably not, but the need to review them still beckons me. Where else can you get a hot dog this delicious for just $3 on your way to UC Berkeley or Downtown Berkeley BART? Or just about anywhere else? Nowhere! Sure, $3 might not be too exciting for just any hot dog, but how about a massive bratwurst!? Or a chicken or turkey dog? (Go Super Bird Dog!) They even have a vegetarian bratwurst. For a quick lunch near campus, there's no better place to go than top dog. For a meal barely more expensive than the sandwich you'd make at home, you get delicious, good quality meat, quick service, and lots of toppings. It's not a bad place to do some class reading, either. read more

Ohhh yummy yummy i love their veggie wienie. I could eat 20 a day. I would get fatter and fatter but enjoy every bite ooo ahhh yummwah love's it! read more

My childhood dream came true! As a kid, I would leaf through Archies and imagine sharing a hot dog with Jughead. I share many of his traits, I am lazy, laid-back, can sleep through exam preps and end up getting good scores, and love love food so much so that I earned "garfield' as a nickname. I would talk to my parents about American food, and they would discourage me by saying- 'ohh, but it has meat in it, and is probably bland!'. I loved the burgers I ate in McD's after liberalization in India. Moved here after marriage and continued to enjoy my burgers. Hotdogs remained on my list. Was walking out of school and decided why not step in and try the veggie. The 'top dog' made me go mmmmm! It was my first but will not be my last! read more

When I was in Aruba, I was suckered in to eating a frikandel and it was amazing. Granted it was real (mystery) meat and there's something about mayo that adds that little extra kick. I went in to Top Dog hoping for some kind of substitute, some kind of in between so I don't have to find a dutch food stand somewhere. But I guess I got the wrong thing. I ordered a veggie dog and loaded it up with sauerkraut and hot Russian mustard, a jalapeno, and a drop of ketchup (there was no mayo in sight). I took a bite and it made my nose burn and my eyes water a bit, (great mustard!!!), but the sausage itself was disappointing. Granted it was a veggie dog with wheat gluten and stuff but I've had some pretty good veggie dogs that didn't have such a strange texture. This one resembled...chopped up eraser. It was coarse and not exactly firm, chewy but crumbly. In the end, I ate it for the condiments. I was disappointed in my choice. I'm still looking for a frikandel. If I go back to Top Dog, I hope I am no longer a veggie and will think about ordering something with meat in it. Because the veggie sucked. And they were so proud of it, too. All these signs on the walls saying, "Finally, our new and tasty veggie dog $3." If they start having frikandels, I'll totally eat it, mystery meat or no. read more

I am giving this place a 4 star review because their LEMON CHICKEN HOTDOG/SAUSAGE IS SOOOOO GOOD! THE ONLY PROBLEM IS: they have permanently removed this item from the menu at ALL LOCATIONS. I am so sad but the lemon chicken is really worth the 4 star review. If you are still interested in trying out this place even though there is no more lemon chicken, I would recommend the hot link, mango habanero, and smoked chicken apple. The hot dogs seem more like sausages because it's not soft and I really enjoy the crispy casings after they grill it. Remember to add A LOT of onions to it to make it even more enjoyable. ***I should really start a petition to get the lemon chicken back if there is enough people interested/still in love with that sausage! read more

I heart you, Top Dog. When it comes to the classic American hot dogs and buns, you will forever be my top choice/top dog. My favorite is the smoked chicken apple sausage; ahh, tasty, smokey flavor with little apple bits (or perhaps, I imagined it, b/c I'm so head over heels for this place). I think the bun at Top Dog is probably my favorite hot dog bun...ever. It's not your filmsy hot dog buns that turn out mushy after you dress your dog with condiments. Nope, this bun can withstand any amount of mustard, ketchup, relish, etc.., plus, it's got sesame seeds sprinkled all over and it's toasted. Anyway, for $3, Top Dog is the best. And no, don't compare Top Dog to Costco hot dog/polish sausage... sure it's cheaper at Costco and you get a drink, but you get what you paid for. So, no, there is no comparison. End of story. Or maybe I'm a little biased, because this place is such a Berkeley establishment and well-received among Cal students. P.S. There's another location on Durant (across from the Asian Ghetto), but this place is closer to BART and it has actual seating. The Durant location is often swarmed with undergrads, especially in the wee hours after a night out. read more

Finally! After five years in Berkeley I visited this famous student stop. For a couple bucks I walked out with two tasty dogs, topped with sauerkraut and mustard. The dogs were satisfying, and for the price were a good deal. If you're looking for a good, quick bite this place will fit the bill. read more

One of the best hot dog places in Berkeley! Super yummy. I remember coming here during my high school days. We would risk coming to class late because of this! But it was so worth it! Super yummy every time! There is always people in here and it can get of crazy - but that's a good thing. Recommend if you are in the mood for something light but filling. Super yummy! Oh and you can bet that customer service here is good! read more

The purists are going to hate me... frank/sausage/weiner/dog/brat/link - What ever you call the grilled delights, you are sure to find one that you like at Top Dog. I've been to Top Dog on several occasions and can safely say that they've mastered the art of grilling a frank/sausage/weiner/dog/brat/link. On one occasion I had the standard fare (a hot dog) and it was pretty darn good. On another occasion I ordered the spicy link (in an inebriated state of being) and all I can recall, was sitting in the passenger seat on the way home saying - "it's good.. but it's so spicy." Translation: It must have been pretty spicy if was complaining about the heat - especially after a night of "imbibification" rituals. read more

Lol dude, it's hot dogs. They're delicious, fast, and cheap. I love that they toast the bread though and I've never had a bad experience with Top Dog (sober or drunk). Cash only though or $5 minimum I believe. I always get the chicken apple. read more

The bratwurst I had from Top Dog reminded me of the chicken schnitzel I used to get in the cafeteria at middle school. I had pretty high expectations for Top Dog, but was very disappointed in the end. I might go back and try some of the other options...but I don't think I'll be going out of my way to do it. read more

I usually love top dog because it's affordable, simple, and quite delicious. However, the one here on North Side seems to lack in the customer service department. A friend from Irvine came to visit and since she was in great hunger, I decided to take her top dog - a must have before leaving Berkeley. My friend felt shy about ordering the Mango Habenero because it was hard for her to pronounce so I ended up ordering for her. When he asked "What would you like" to my friend, she told him that I already said her order. He gave her this mean, stoic look and said "okay...". He did not once smile at us and took him a while to realize that we were ready to pay him. He had a whole atmosphere of "I hate my life" expression on his face. Seriously, if you don't want to work there, don't. Also, for future customers, if you want a sincere customer service with good hot dogs, go to the one on Durant. read more

Terrible service. The guy working didn't even greet us as we walked up. On top of that he was on his phone while we ordered.. He looked like a straight trucker. He needs to put a hairnet on his beard. I don't think he paid much attention to us because my boyfriend and I were discussing the minimum of $10 charge for cards, which is not allowed with the credit card companies btw. Expect to get a call from visa soon topdog. I think he assumed we weren't gunna order anything because of that so he paid us no attention. After being forced to order three hotdogs between two people because of the $10 dollar minimum and the fact that they don't have fries, I mean what hotdog spot don't got fries?! I ordered a hot link, my boyfriend ordered the garlic frankfurter and we split a linguisa. My hotlink was BURNT and I coulda sworn their hotdogs were bigger the last time we came in. On the bright side the hotlink had a good kick to it look past the burnt part and the bread was perfectly toasted. I think that's the only positive part of my experience tonight read more

For what it is, it's purty darn tasty. It's hot dogs, hot dogs, hot dogs. My fave is the hot link, my guy likes the garlic kielbasa. The dogs themselves are tasty and appropriately greasy, the buns are toasted and firm, and you have your choice of toppings self-serve. Never have tried their chili. If you need a quick tummy-filler and are heading down Center, it's a fine spot to stop. read more

RIP Northside Top Dog. I just don't like the Center location. It doesn't have the libertarian feel of Northside or the wheel-of-fortune ambience of Southside. It's just, like, Beside. Don't get me wrong, I love the Schwartz sausages, the toasted buns, the sauerkraut, the onions, the spicey mustard... writing this is making my mouth water. Dammit. I'm just having a snuffly handkerchief moment in recognition of the passing of Northside Top Dog. Figures the year I found out where to get all the Schwarz sausages (in the Mission in SF!) they'd close a very personally nostalgic place. Many all-nighters assuaged by the Dog. Sigh. It's always hard to say goodbye to a good friend. read more

Top Dog it is! I can see why it's all the rage. I had the Calabrese and the Italian sausage was spicy and tasty. The grill-toasted bread was warm and crusty...a perfect complement to Top Dog! I'll be back for more! :) read more

Great hot dogs, excellent sesame hotdog buns, the hot Russian mustard is to die for, parking is a bit difficult and requires some patience, the two women behind the counter both have personality of a flea, the condiments section can benefit from a good wipe down, and there is a minimum $10.00 for credit card transaction. read more

Top Dog - Fast Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

the top dog here doesn't have all the political literature on the walls that the durant location has. there's also some seating here. the menu here is the usual litter of dogs. sampling: bockwurst(3) german style sausage made of pork and veal -fresh taste. russian hot mustard crowded out any flavoring bockwurst had. -4 types of mustard, relish, sauerkrauft, onions, ketchup available for toppings -ready within minutes. dogs pregrilled. leftovers: -dogs made by schwarz meats. -this locale near bart station. -people often get bratwurst and bockwurst mixed up -fast, friendly, efficient service. read more

The Lemon Chicken & Smoked Chicken Apple were both high quality, cholesterol inducing, scrumptious sausage dogs. At only $3 a link, It's easy to see why Top Dog is a staple here in Berkeley! The Lemon Chicken sausage is made with low salt, low fat chicken with slices of fresh lemon and garlic. The Smoked Chicken Apple sausage is made of low salt chicken with juicy bits of apple. The size of the link is on a smaller scale, but that just gives you an opportunity to try more flavors! PS Beware of the pressurized ketchup jug.. it will explode upon multiple pumps. You have been forewarned! The deli mustard is a must. Parking: There's a paid lot across the street. But, obviously, the bart and/or walking is most efficient and cost-effective. Walk it out, you lazy dog. read more