This place plus like 3 others are the only places I eat at in the immediate downtown area. I've gotten veggie dogs from here and been very pleased. They always have a seer which gives texture to the dog. I've felt comfortable to sit down and eat when I could've taken it to go. The cashier and cook were friendly, the place can be jam packed with students from the high school so keep that in mind. read more

Quick, delicious*, and reasonable. Some typical eccentric Berkeley-style rants on the window, but otherwise a good experience. Bar at window seems to be ergonomically cut to prevent mess. Me likes. *Top dog claims to be the best in the Universe. Perhaps, top in Berkeley, not in Universe. Place on Haight St. SF is better. All time best dog for me was in Vienna. A wiener thrusted into a fresh sour demi-bagette, can't top that. read more

Bought 10 dogs and 2 hot links today from this location. All 12 were burned to a crisp. Just terrible. 7-11 sells juicier dogs. Avoid.

MMMM! Polka Kielbasa, with a mountain of hot sour kraut!!! Linguica. I love me some Top Dog. Of course I'd worry about an establishment that can't make a decent hot dog. I'd eat one every day, if I wasn't worried about having a heart attack at an early age. The people are cool there and the prices are the best. read more

When my friend and I went to see Bloc Party at the Greek, we needed to stop and get some food. My friend having never been to Top Dog (and this being one of the few places that were conveniently on our path from the BART to the Greek), we stopped by to get her a dog. When she said she'd never had a top dog before, I told her that I wished I could have taken her to the "original" one first, because to eat top dog is an experience that transcends the actual ingestinal act. You get to order dogs with jargony lingo, and you get see people berated for taking too long to make their choice (or actually get berated yourself), and you can gawk in awe of how one person can remember so many orders accurately without jotting a single note. These are among the rites of passage in the Berkeley community. If you don't christen yourself at the original Top Dog, you're just cheating yourself. But alas, this top dog, while it has tasty hot dogs, is nowhere near the same as the original. They're relatively polite... they're clean, and spacious and you don't have to eat on the street. I never thought I'd be complaining about a "nice" eating establishment, but I am. So the 3 stars are obviously with respect to the original top dog and top dog experience, but by all means, if you need a good hot dog, come here. read more

I love Top Dog. This location rocks. Top Dog has the best hotdogs in Berkeley. This place rocks. I will come back here when I'm in the area. I love this place. This place is the best. I used to eat Top Dog hot dogs when I was a kid. I would love it if Top Dog opens up more locations. read more

Would recommend for a quick and cheap lunch! Only been here once, but I did feel I got my money's worth with a $3.25 tasty bratwurst dog. I hear the Russian hot mustard is good so that is going on my "to-try" list when I return! Note the $10 minimum charge for credit cards! read more

Went up to Berkeley for the UCLA Cal football for my birthday weekend glad to see my bruins finally get a win on the season and decided to celebrate our victory at Top Dog. I heard about this place years ago and always wanted to go there when I would go to Berkeley but it never panned out. I had great expectations for this spot just based off word of mouth and it did not disappoint. I am not kidding when i say this but this was the best hot dog i have ever eaten in my life. The toasted buns with the dog straight off the grill with the perfect snap was more than i expected and everything i wanted. we also ordered a couple other sausages which were all just as good but the star of our trip was the vegan chili. Yes i said it! Vegan Chili! It had so much flavor and yumminess i can taste it as I'm writing this review. Please do yourself a favor and order a cup of it next time you go, you will not be disappointed. I hope to come here again in 2 years when i go up to see my Bruins hopefully get another win in Memorial Stadium. #GoBruins read more

Top Dog - World Famous Top Dog sign outside of the storefront. - Fast Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

A staple and always solid. $3.50 for a beef, but still a good cheap option. Nothing like a grilled snappy dog. Big plus for the sweet and spicy mustard and other toppings. Need to venture out and try some of the other specialty sausages. read more

Sausage is a wonderful thing for people who like their meats. For the locals who like Top Dog, you might want to try this particular location in downtown Berkeley. I know there are purists who have to have theirs from the hole-in-the-wall on Durant. That location has to keep the grill temp on high because of the heavy volume of orders. That means the sausages come out with a noticeable crust of blackened meat. My doctor friends point out that you're in an entire new level of unhealthiness when you get into heavy charring. Me, I just don't like the taste of burnt meat. The downtown location keeps the grill at a temp that keeps the charring light so you taste all that sausagey goodness. For out-of-towners who need something quick, cheap, and not-so-nutritious, you can't go wrong. The sausages are well-made at the respective factories and the flat-grilling makes them yummy. They say that you don't want to know how sausages are made. Then doubly so for these puppies, because I don't want anything to ruin the experience. Everyone has their favorites. Mine is the linguica. Here's something very few people know about the linguica at Top Dog. It comes from a not-so-laudable pedigree. The recipe was taken from the now deceased "Sausage King." If you haven't followed Bay Area news in the last 10 years or so, the "King" died on death row, sentenced after killing 3 meat inspectors. I pieced this together when I discovered the linguica had the texture of hardening cement when this guy was on trial. The old ones came back after his sentencing but with a little less flavor. I guess it's true, you really don't want to know how your sausages are made. If there's anything good to come out of this tragedy is that someone rescued the recipe. Thank goodness, too, because it's so freakin' delish. The pork is practically fluffy in that sausage casing. Nice spice and pillowed by Top Dog's grilled bun. Now you know the lore, go git one. I suppose, given a choice, I would want a sausage made in conformance with the health codes than one that skirts the rule of law. Imagine, though, the violations in the creation, storage, and preparation of Spain's jamon. Perhaps, some lenience should be given to old-world recipes. I'm hoping there's a version of the linguica I loved still sold in Portugal. read more

Hot dogs are amazing, and this place certainly serves up a good weiner. (Nyuck nyuck) Good, fast, cheap and delish. read more

I will drive all the way from Napa to eat these dogs. Quick, cheap, yet perfect. I don't like the serve yourself station ( condiment area ) but what are you gonna do. As long as no one dips their fingers in it I'll live. read more

Truly amazing hotdogs. I like getting the doggie bag special with chips and a drink. Undeniably delicious, and with catsup+relish in their toasted rolls, it's unrivaled in the area. read more

Best dogs in the Bay. Never disappointed. I try to go here every time I'm in Berkeley.

This establishment has really good hotdogs for a quick bite. It has some really good relish and spread choice as well. I also feel that pricing in this establishment is very reasonable. Credit card charges have a minimum spend of $5. They have a doggie bag for 5.75$ which contains one hotdog, a choice of chip and soda. It's pretty handy if you're famished and looking for a quick bite. In this visit, I had Kielbasa and Calabrese hotdog. I've not had Calabrese before but it was really tasty albeit strong tasting. Kielbasa is kielbasa. The kielbasa hotdog also fits well with one of their sweet and sour sauces. read more

One of my go-to places for a quick bite for about $3. They have a wide variety of links you can order - two that I frequently order are the chicken apple sausage and the bratwurst. They grill your sausage and your bun and put it in a paper wrap, and it's ready to go. They also have a selection of sauces (ketchup, mustard) and toppings (pickles, saeurkraut) that you can add. Quality is average but well worth it for the price. Place is kind of dirty but I usually take it out to eat. read more

The kielbasa is my favorite. People talk up the lemon chicken, but I think it's a bit overrated. Kielbasa or chicken apple sausage. I am a bit of a purist and was surprised to find that you can get them with chili and cheese...which wasn't ever an option at the location on the Southside. I still love the surly service too. :-) read more

A good place, and void of the usualy "I couldn't care less about you" kind of service we all expect from Top Dog. It took a while to get his attention, but when I did he was cool. read more

The chicken apple sausage was delicious. I love that they toast the buns on the grill. On the side, they have the usual ketchup and mustard condiments and a few more (relish, onions, jalapeño). It was $3 even. read more

Woohoo top dog! Not super different from other top dogs. Get the chicken apple, of course.

I've only ever been to the south campus and downtown Berkeley locations, but I've been there frequently. It always satisfies for a quick meal: inexpensive and filling and tastes good. read more

Hot link was great. Cheap too. $5.25 for a dog/chips/drink. The bread roll is good too. They take credit cards too. Just across the street from uc Berkeley. read more

The mango habanero chicken sausage was delicious. Juicy and flavorful! It had great texture and want too spicy despite the habanero in it. They grilled it well and my bread bun was warm and toasty! It did look small, but 3.50 for something that tastes good is well worth it! read more

I don't normally eat hot dogs, but I can't turn down a Top Dog hot dog. I ate it on a dare after my piercing and I've been a fan ever since. Top Dog kicks Pink's and Nathan's Hot Dog arse anyday! read more

Love me some Top Dog, if you've ever lived in Berkeley, you know about top dog. It's a staple of UC berkeley students as well. The wait here is not as long as the one on durant ave. There's even some place to sit and eat! The italian calabrese is a great spicy hot dog. The original top dog is also wonderful. Many people like the chicken apply sausage but I'm not so much of a fan. Either way $3.25 for a top dog, well worth it. Pro-tip -- you can buy a package of 6 made from scratch buns for $1.75 read more

I love this place. Every time I'm in the area I'll try to make an effort to grab a bite to eat here. I usually stack up on Garlic Frankfurters and RC Cola. It hits the spot. read more

Hot dog was O.K. But the place itself is small and people literally want to sit on your lap while you eat!

Although the sausages are pretty good, I think paying almost 3 bux for a hot dog is ridiculous, unless it's enough to fill you up. Therefore, when you end up having to get two dogs, plus something to drink, it puts you at about $6. $6 is a tad too much to pay for a meal that consists solely of bread and sausage. read more

When I go to the Bank of America across the street it is so hard for me not to go over and get a beef frank. I want one right now. This location is one of the larger ones (there's room for more than 3 people to stand) and they have stools facing the window so you can people-watch as you eat. read more

I'm not really a hotdog eating person. I'll eat it if it's there, but not something I have to have. Top dog is different- when I'm in the area, I have to have one! They have a good amount of different dogs; beef, chicken, vegetarian, etc.. All good and unique on its own. My favorite- the top dog- an all beef dog, no fuss, just grilled, and inserted in a yummy bun. I like to top it off with some mayo, their Russian and spicy mustard, some warm sauerkraut, jalapeños, and a little bit of ketchup; it's $3 well spent. Ambiance is very college friendly. Minimal seating, but it's Quick, grab, and go food. Seriously... Top dog.:) read more

Love this freakin' place!!! The bf and I always have to grab a dog or two whenever we make it to the Cal Football games. He' s the one that introduced me to this establishment and since then I have been hooked. The chicken apple sausage and the hot link dogs are the one's I always get. Oh! what's awesome is that you could purchase a dozen of their dogs (any flavor) and they give you free buns to go with them. read more

Summary based on many visits: --classic TD menu --ok service, so not like Southside and even somewhat better than Northside --parking challenging, but not impossible --consider avoiding weekdays at lunch when BHS students abound read more

First glance of the bun made me a little worried. It looked like it was going to be tough. I was glad it was not! The size helps hold the condiments, too. Their sauerkraut is warm, which is different from other places. I like it! I'm giving this place 4 stars because they carry varieties of hot dogs. I got the all beef and it has that snap that I was looking for. It's cheap, too. So this is definitely not a gourmet hot dog, but it's the simplicity that makes this place special. read more

I dig it! Had the bratwurst and the garlic dog and the sausages are really, really strongly flavored! Toppings are all the same (you add) and there's like two tables outside but you can sit on the curb or in front of the student union or really anywhere in the city and look normal (considering the number of college students/hobos--hey, what's the difference in terms of appearance, right?). But they're very, very fast and it just feels like a niche, hole-in-the-wall college shop. Great. read more

I came here on national hot dog day. This location is larger and cleaner than the original. It is also very convenient because it is on the way from UC Berkeley campus to the Bart station. My hot dog was delicious and now I understand why everyone raves about Top Dog. Definitely a must visit spot on Berkeley. Also, perfect place for people on a budget. read more

Terribly disgusting. I showed up for a dog and while they were cooking it I saw two cockroaches on the floor where they cook the dogs. The cashier spent most of his time watching his phone. No good I can't believe this is the best hot dogs around here read more

Good hot dog, but rude, creepy service. We're from out of town, up to visit UC Berkeley. My son & I love hot dogs so we gave this place a try. Neither of us will be back. Every question we asked was met with an impatient response from both the people behind the counter...Couldn't wait to leave. Too bad. read more

As hot dog places go, pretty awesome. They have a very wide selection, and almost all of them are great. I used to eat at the one on north side seriously four times a week, since it was right next to Soda Hall. This is the least ranty of the locations, and the most accessible to tourists- perhaps not a coincindence? However remember- it just serves hot dogs. Which is great if you are young and getting lots of exercise, but all that fat and meat does catch up with you. Just a warning there. Top Dog is also a "only in Berkeley" type of thing, because it's run by Libertarians. This means there are ranty diatribes all over the walls about how the government is trying to oppress you by making you pay for roads and the fire department. And how global warming is a myth being used to silence Freedom Lovers. So that is a bit obnoxious. I'm not sure but I think the dude working the counter is "leasing" the entire business while he's there, in keeping with the Libertarian principles of the place. Whatever the reason, he has a bit of flexibility; you can cut deals with him for buying dogs in quantity." read more

Who can't pass up the chance to have a hot dog, any kind of hot dog, for three bucks? You can have your choice of bratwurst, hot links, or polish and it would still be the same price. Better yet, you really don't have to wait long for them to be prepared. The cook has all the different varieties laid out in front of him. You just tell him what you want and he rolls it right on out onto the stove. And everything is cooked perfectly. There is no burnt sides, over cooked outsides and under cook insides, or cooked insides but tough as leather outsides. They are just the right temp to eat and juice. And to top it all off, free condiments. I find nothing more frustration than to have to pay extra to have sauerkraut or relish on your dog. read more

Things are OK here. Mediocre at best, in my opinion. $3+ for a hot dog depending on the variety you pick. Soda is a $1.50. I understand they have to pay rent, but it's fairly expensive for what it is. And one hot dog isn't enough for me (I'm an average sized person) -so I got two. $7.50 for two [small] hot dogs and a soda? Steep. As for the quality of the food ... it's OK. I've taste way better, for what it is worth. The bread to sausage ratio is too high, and the bread is nothing special at that. I'd only come here if I was really in a scrape for food. I don't personally understand the hype and rave reviews this place has. read more