Come here today and got 1 hot, 1 Kiel, and a bock. The server Forrest was very kind and generous. Made the top dogs just how I like. Buns nice and toasty and the dogs nice and juicy. read more

the asian guy on the Saturday shift trying to cook while studying at the same time... at least wash your hands between touching your pencils, hair and my food. not focused at work, people waiting while he s sitting in the back. Even worse, he doesnt even flip the sausage so its completely burnt on one side. read more

I think this is my favorite top dog of the three that are around campus. Aren't they all the same, you ask? No. They're not. There are two other top dogs: one on Durant (southside) and Hearst (northside). This top dog doesn't get as crowded as the one on Durant, and the cooks are less demanding and intimidating (if you've been to the one on Durant, you know EXACTLY who/what I'm talking about). Also, since it's not as crowded, I can order my Wienie (...it's a veggie dog for all those sickos out there) and ask that it be cooked with separate tongs and on a clean area of the grill. The cooks are usually okay with these requests, but I do get a raised eyebrows once in a while. There is outdoor and indoor seating, which southside TD doesn't have. The dog itself is really good, and there is unlimited refills on the drinks (unlike Southside TD)! Take advantage of the condiment bar; they have sauerkraut, ketchup, mustard, dijon mustard, onions and mayo (I think). Finally, if you're planning a barbaque and don't want to serve taste-less hotdogs that come in packs of 300 from where ever you like to shop, you can buy dogs (in packs of 6 or so) from top dog and impress all your friends, frenemies, and co-workers...or satisfy your inner hot dog junkie. read more

Crowded. Overrated. And the 2 employees were arguing a bit during the night rush. Haha. Def a college scene but they're just hot dogs! Nothing too special or fancy except your plain hot dogs. They've got veggie options but still just hot dogs. I expected more. Meh. The bf and I prob wouldn't return if we had to. We both expected way more. read more

Came here on Sunday (03/27/16), it was a recommendation of a friend for good-cheap eats in the Berkeley area. This place is super close to UC Berkeley in Downtown, with quick service and easy ordering. $3.50 per hot dog and their Sauerkraut is the best!! We got the Garlic Frankfurter (which was my favorite), the Cooked Bratwurst, and the Top Dog Frankfurter. read more

I was really excited to try this place. I was disappointed though. The dogs are tiny and pretty average. I'm a big guy so I'm surprised the guy taking my order didn't warn me how small they were. I may try this place again if I'm in Berkely again. If I try them again and I'm happy, I'll change my review. read more

A classic for your Berkeley experience. I think I always go here. Vegetarian and vegan friendly. I get the veggie dog. Well, I actually try to get a few veggie dogs whenever I visit Berkeley. I tired giving a homeless person one, and it turned out they were vegetarian. They double and triple confirmed with me that it wasn't real meat. So if you're looking to do your good deed, recommend getting a veggie dog in case the homeless person you meet has dietary restrictions. Kind of a funny anecdote, but it goes to show: helping someone else isn't about me feeling good about it. It's about actually helping someone else and meeting their needs. Shocking. read more

Move over stanley's, Top Dog is the BAW$. This place is amazing. You MUST come here. You have no excuse especially when it's only $3 for a hotdog. REALLY? How is this possible!? This amazing meal for less than $5 with drink. Sent by God himself, I'm sure. I had the hotlink, and boy it was delicious. A nice amount of spice, but be careful 'cause this is the SRZ BUSINESS. Considering moving to Berkeley JUST for this and Ici! read more

Top Dog is a bay area favorite. You can't go wrong with delicious dogs that are cheap and quick. The hot link is a favorite and packs some heat. All of their dog are good though, you can't go wrong. read more

Top Dog - Gotta get that hot link - Fast Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

Excellent spot before and/or after a show at the Greek to get a hot dog... You can eat it while walking up the hill to the concert venue; it will give you energy for the walk and/or the live musical concert. Pork is good for you. These are good quality hot dogs too... Equiv to Nathans, Boars Head, or Hebrew National... Friendly service also, the lady that helped me was really nice. read more

I would love to give Top Dog a higher score, but I was very disappointed last time. Don't get me wrong that their food is not good. It's delicious. I love their Calabrese and Lemon Chicken. Very juicy and flavorful. The downside is that the hot dog looked more like a sausage now than a hot dog. I remembered few years back, the hot dog is the same size as the bun. Few weeks ago, my Calabrese was half the size of my bun. I might as well just make a sandwich with ketchup and mustard than pay $3 for a bite of the juicy goodies. Props for this one to open late in the downtown area where nothing else is open. Props for the spaciousness and tables. read more

It's a top dog that's for sure. Amazing bread. Amazing mustard and sauerkraut. Amazing top of the line garlic bratwurst? I don't even remember what I had but it was juicy, had plenty of snap to it and delightfully flavorful.... THAT BEING SAID, if I wasn't trying to do a whirlwind tour of Berkeley, I would definitely have not come as let's face it $3 for a hot dog is kinda pricey, especially if you compare it to Costco (not saying quality is a comparison) where you can get a polish and a drink for $1.50. It's a different experience, but to me, a hot dog is still a hot dog. Guy at the counter was giving me some attitude too, but not a huge deal as he was still fast and efficient. read more

I was surprised to see this 2nd larger location on the day that I discovered it. I am happy they expanded and there is actually room for dining. The best thing about this place is their squared off toasted buns. The price doesn't beat a Costco hotdog but I guess nothing ever does beat Costco hot dog prices. The extremist political wall stickers and posters are amusing and also kind of intimidating. It's really in yo face statements make the dining experience seem a little more extreme. What's best are their pun posters. They're punny like their name. I tried the spicy dog and it had much more of a kick than I expected. I love their sauerkraut and multiple mustards as well as their "order whenever you're ready" order style. I don't like having to wait behind indecisive people who cannot make quick orders. I also don't like when I have to make people wait due to my own indecisiveness in choosing a menu item to order so this system is really efficient for both the customer and their business. read more

I got to say for a hot dog place, this is amazing! Service: Usually pretty friend service. No complaints here. And the food comes out pretty quickly. Food: Calabrese - This is my all time favorite hot dog. It just has a little heat to it. Hot Link - This one was good, but too spicy for my taste. Lemon Chicken - This one was a little bland in my opinion. I would opt out of this one. Their buns are always nice and toasty. Yum! Overall: I would definietly recommend this place! read more

My friend and I wanted to get some late night near northwest berkeley. We walked up University Avenue and down Shattuck and couldn't find anything to satisfy our late night cravings. TOP DOG TO THE RESCUE! If only I had enough money for two or three! I only got one and all I wanted was MORE! It's nothing fancy but it's just delicious! The nice, simple, quick and easy atmosphere and service is awesome! CALABRESE (ITALIAN) is my favorite! I've also had SMOKED CHICKEN APPLE and HOT LINK (LOUSIANA STYLE); both were also very satisfying! :) read more

My friends and I found a parking spot in front of Top Dog, so we decided to get some hot dogs! It's a small venue with decent prices, fit for the college town it serves. I ordered a chicken apple sausage and it was surprisingly good! The sausage was savory and sweet, and the casing gave it a good bite. They only have one veggie option, so I wouldn't go there if you are vegetarian, especially when there are other veggie friendly places nearby. Be sure to have cash if your order is less than $10. read more

Absolutely delicious hot dogs that tempt you to eat more than one. This hole in the wall is a place I use to frequent quite a bit when I was going to college out here. Today I grabbed a chicken apple dog and it was great. Plenty of flavor on a nice toasty bun. I will say the staff isn't always the friendliest and always seem to be kinda off in their own world, but I'm there for the food regardless. Place also was a bit messy around the tables, but I didn't stay to eat. Overall delicious dogs get em and get on with the day! read more

Top Dog - Menu - Fast Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

TL;DR: great variety of sausages, flavorful options, bun size a bit large Top Dog is a staple Berkeley location for a lot of different reasons. Some people come from far and wide to try these dogs. Other people aren't so impressed and think it doesn't live up to the hype. I've had Top Dog for a few years now and while the hot dogs may not be to die for, you're still given a wide variety of hot dogs and sausages at a completely reasonable price. I typically get the Top Dog or the Hot Link. TOP DOG - Standard, run-of-the-mill hot dog - Has a nice crunch to the skin - A modestly sized sausage - Bun is way too big for this, just a lot of bread HOT LINK - Spiciness hits me by surprise all of the time - Packs a lot of heat, but similar to the Top Dog - Really flavorful One of my gripes with the restaurant are the buns, as I mentioned before. Sometimes, I feel like the buns are too large for the sausages themselves. I would prefer a smaller bun to match the size of the sausage. Aside from that, Top Dog really can't do wrong. Their staff is always incredibly nice and cool. Their toppings and condiments are A+. The selection of sausages is enough to draw me in. While others may feel that Top Dog doesn't meet the hype, I've grown attached to the two shops in Berkeley. If I'm ever feeling like a quick bite for a small price, I know I can come to Top Dog in either Southside or Downtown. If you're looking for a quality dog, look no further. If you're looking for the best Berkeley has to offer in terms of food, this may not be your stop. read more

One of my favorite fast food restaurants in Berkeley. I always order Mango Habanero. The sausage offers an even blend of sweetness and kick of spiciness. There is a satisfying snap when biting into the casing. The toasted sesame bun offers a complimenting crispiness that provides excellent texture and improves upon that delicious mango habanero sausage!! Min $5 to use credit card. read more

I remember when Top Dog first opened on Durant when I was a grad student. The lines: the flavor: the mango habanara. Since I can'y find Chicago HOT DOGS (help from friends!!! please) or Vienna anywhere in the east bay, these have been a wonderful substitute for many years. THUMBS DOWN, Safeway, for not giving space to TOP DOG in your new Safeway on 51st st. M y dream: Top Dog goes fries instead of potato chips! read more

This rating is for Jay who was alone in the store when I came in asking for 54 dogs of different types plus buns, sauerkraut and mustards. Just as he started on the order, the line got longer and longer. There was no one to help him. I was impressed with his organization, his energy, his command of a crazy situation. His personality and funny comments made the whole thing work out well, even worried about how I'd carry it all. This 70 year old CAL alum (dogs were for a CAL reunion) thanks him! read more

This is my absolute go to spot when I come to Berkeley to watch the CAL games. It's quick, cheap and it tastes great. The food is always TOP quality and cooked to order and it never fails to disappoint. The workers always have a smile on their faces and it's always a good experience coming here! Would recommend to anyone stopping by Berkeley! read more

Great sausages on a lightly toasted sesame bun. My favs are the calabrese and the hot link. It's never the cleanest or warmest place but it's alright. Love the kraut, onions, and plethora of mustards read more

Came here on a Saturday night after one of the football games UC Berkeley had against UCLA. There was a rush that just hit the restaurant. It was just me and my friend and I was pretty hungry so we settled for this place. The way the line to order/pick up your food and the condiments/utensils are setup along the wall does not work really well. I would recommend changing that just because people's orders were being called and the people in line finishing up their order along with the ppl getting toppings for their food were all getting clustered and irritated with each other. Food: 8/10 For the price you pay the portion makes sense. The hotdog and bun itself were cooked very well. I also ordered the potato salad which was pretty good nothing special about the flavor tho. Customer service: 6.5/10 I understand there was just a rush but you don't have to rush ppl ordering. The person who took my order was overwhelmed when the line wasn't long anymore but then again there was only 2 workers. You don't get a receipt and There were no gloves being used. read more

Good spot. A quintessential spot in Berkeley. Fast service, recently started taking card so that's a plus. Get their hotlink!

A Berkeley institution. For a reason. Delicious dogs, a great quality product, at a reasonable price.

This is a super cute place in downtown Berkeley. I'm really picky when it comes to hot dogs, and I was really impressed with this one! I ordered the original top dog, and it was really good. They don't use traditional hot dog buns, and the dogs are fresh and really flavorful. They also have a pretty cool selection of meat that you can get. I want to try the polish dog next, but I've heard the German sausage is really great. The customer service just wasn't the greatest. I came with a pretty large group, but the guy working there was really rude. He was the worst part of the whole experience. Other than that, this place was pretty spot-on. read more

Top Dog - the "top dog" - Fast Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

When I look for a good hot dog, I love a good snap, plus the texture of the dog cannot - I mean CANNOT have any grittiness or hard bits. This dog has snap and is smooth! And the guy serving up the dogs was way cool and super honest - accidentally over-rang me (I didn't do the math because I was preoccupied) and refunded me the difference. I ended up tipping him that difference for his honesty. I guess the only thing I felt weird about was serving up my own sauerkraut, but it was actually pretty good so that cancels that part out. Definitely will be back again! Mmmmmmmmm. Hot dogs. read more

Average hot dogs...kinda underwhelming for a place whose wall quotes claim that they're the best in the universe. I got the chicken apple and my boyfriend got the vegetarian hot dog. The chicken apple sausage tastes like the Aidelli's sausages that you can buy from any supermarket. Their vegetarian hot dog tastes like the hot dogs from Trader Joe's. Could probably make this by myself at home. However, the one hung that I really liked was their buns- it was a bit smoky and better than your average buns. Service was fast too. I like that you can put as much condiments as you want. But you can also do this at Costco and their hot dogs are twice as big, half as expensive, and just as good if not better... read more

Best hot dog in the known universe. Dogs are fantastic and the service was fast and easy read more

Top Dog - Fast Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

Worst customer service I've ever had. The guy at the counter yelled at me for walking up to the counter because he's not ready to take an order yet. Definitely won't be coming back. Whoever the guy is who working the Wednesday lunch shift should be replaced. read more

Cool place! Just tried yesterday. The portion is a good seize. Nice little spot. Only accepts cash. read more

Top Dog - Bratwurst dog! It was very good. Usually can't eat a whole sausage link but this just the right seize! - Fast Food Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love the dogs here but the guy they have working the counter (heavy set guy with ear hoops) was so rude i had to suggest you go the other location on Durant. It was freezing in the place but he kept the door open even after a costumer trying to eat with her family tried to close it. When we ordered he was watching a movie, which surprisingly isn't the issue. The issue I had is that the TV was so loud he couldn't hear our order and made my wife repeat hers loudly several times, then he got the order wrong. When we asked for the correction he got upset like we made the mistake in our order. The lady that ordered after us was told "can you decide what you want" ! We will not go here again if this guy is working. While you don't go here for good service, this guy was purposely rude to everyone that came in. Just to note: the hot dogs were delicious as always. We had the hot link and bratwurst. Love the buns they use too! read more

Went with a couple of friends yesterday after climbing at 10:00pm. Employee who served us was extremely rude, and burnt my second hot dog. One of my friends went to order another order (around 10:20 - 10:30pm), and the employee says "are you [expletive] serious?" My friend, taken a back, thought he was joking, and tried to play it off, but the employee gave him a condensing look. Obviously, friend lost his appetite and left telling him never mind thanks, and left. Really terrible experience. read more

Can confirm that the hotlink is, in fact, SPICY. I've been in a couple of times and the hotdogs are good, the decor is... interesting?, and they toast the bun for you on the griddle. What's not to love? OH! And they offer the real cane sugar sodas on tap, too, which is always a plus. read more

The Wienie is really good. It's really good. Really good. R-E-A-L-L-Y G-O-O-D. The Wienie, in case you don't know, is Top Dog's veggie dog. Now, veggie dogs are notoriously hit or miss. Whereas veggie burgers generally run the gamut from the bland to the amazing, veggie dogs are usually either atrocious/inedible or decent. So it's normally a greater risk ordering a veggie dog than it is ordering a veggie burger; and because the sizes vary, it's almost always safer for your tastebuds, wallet, and appetite to opt for the burger over the dog. And conveniently, Bongo Burger is just a couple of doors down from Top Dog on Center, so normally, I would advise you to play it safe--except you shouldn't. Walk on down to Top Dog, right now, and order a Wienie. If you're lucky, you'll get the worker who seems mean but isn't. She's all business, and although her demands might seem, well, demanding, she's really just trying to be efficient. She'll ask whether you want your Wienie grilled separately from the meat, and although she'll say it will take ten minutes, it's well worth it. It probably won't take a full ten minutes, but even if it does, you'll get to witness her utter expertise as she juggles multiple confused customers' faltering orders. Spending extra time in here will also quickly clue you in to the fact that Top Dog's owner is a libertarian. Not a conservative Republican or any kind of Republican, really, but an honest-to-goodness libertarian. There are actually quite a few of them in Berkeley, which isn't really as surprising at it seems at first. Spend some time reading the posters on the walls; and then, when your Wienie is ready and you've finished loading it with mustard and the excellent relish they have, walk home and spend the seven minutes it takes to decide once and for all that libertarianism is clearly the most naive, unrealistic, and prone-to-nativism political philosophy there is. But it's all right, because Top Dog will still be here the next time you walk down Center Street. And it will still offer RC Cola in its fountain. (Honestly.) And there will still be the signed glossies of not-quite-famous libertarians on the walls. And there will still be signs reminding you that using a water cup for soda is stealing and that taxes are stealing, for that matter. But does Top Dog pay taxes? If the sales tax is figured into the menu price, it does. So is Top Dog stealing from me on behalf of the oppressive government? Maybe, but I don't consider taxes theft, and I don't use water cups for soda, and I won't hold a place's politics against it--at least not a place that serves one of the best veggie dogs I've ever had. 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

"Believe what you're told, there'd be chaos if everybody thought for themselves". This is only one of many political messages posted around the walls of every Top Dog in Berkeley. At the bottom right corner of each poster is also a little price tag to reflect the oxymoron of a decor filled with leftist messages for sale while the business operates on a fordist model that produces the world's best hot dogs. I used to spend a lot of time at the original location on Durant Ave. but tonight I had to check this place out for the first time. In the past, my usuals were bird dog (turkey), bockwurst (pork & veal), hot link (beef & 4 peppers), linguica (smoked pork), and bratwurst (pork). Nowadays I don't eat hot dogs as often anymore but these are still my favorites of all time. Tonight I ordered the lemon chicken and it was another case of oxymoron because it was 100% flavor and low fat, low sodium, and no preservatives. I thought to myself, "What a twisted way of taking the best of a socially conscious hot dog and make use of capitalism as a distributive mechanism for the masses?!" I think the owner of Tog Dog is onto something, don't you think? With a total of twelve different types of hot dogs to choose from, each are just $3. With tons of juicy flavors supported by a hint of garlic and palpable lemon, my hot dog was served on a warm French roll fresh off the griddle, leaving enough room to hold lots of ketchup and spicy brown muster while I piled on the warm sauerkraut. Yum! My lemon chicken was truly awesome and there's no other hot dogs like it, period. For 75 cents more, you can upgrade your order into a three bean chili dog so that might be something worthwhile to consider. Service was friendly and everybody was welcomed and treated with respect. I would love to be back and to have a chance to visit their other locations. Love this place! read more

Luridly written libertarian and anarchist manafestos cover the walls (including so-far-right-they're-actually-sent-from-an-address-somewhere-in-the-Atlantic-ocean dispatches from the Mieses Instutute [you can usually tell what kind of day I've been having by how much I agree with their message]), you only have one veggie option (and to get it, you've got to ask for "The Weanie" [Slightly humiliating? Yes. Hilarious? Also, yes.), and nothing is at all goddamned healthy (Does sauerkraut or pickle relish count as a vegetable? They do now!). Top Dog seemingly exists as an outpost of some Crazy-Ass Mirror-Universe Bizarro Berkeley, and I kind of love it. Don't come in expecting a loaded Chicago-Style dog, or an artesinal link topped with truffles, torchon of foie gras and doughnut-peach bacon marmalade (although that kind of sounds amazing). Instead, with your order, you'll get a sausage, a Toasted Sesame Bun, and a Wrapper. Thats it. Luckily, the sausages are pretty incredible. I adore the Habenero-Mango (3.50, which, despite the name, toes the line between sweet and zippy), love the Linguicia (3.50, spicy, with a fantastic, smoky flavor) and can't get enough of the Bockwurst and Calabrese (both 3.25, and, at least to my taste buds, pretty authentic). Add some things from the condiment bar (watch out for the spicy mustard, which is actually incredibly potent), and you've got yourself a meal. Whatever you do, don't forget to take a napkin or two, as the fat dripping from these beautiful monstrosities both signals a deliciously messy experience and a shortened life-span. Overall: 4.5 Stars. Superior drunk food, solid sober food. Extras: Sausages are cooked to order...so it takes some time. Credit Cards accepted (over 10$). Open pretty damn late...which means that the lines after midnight are ridiculous. read more

Now we're back on track. When visitors ask "what is there to eat in the city of Berkeley?" some of the locals will say "Top Dog, dog!" Matt knew that this top-flight popular hangout for college students is a "must eat." Since Berkeley is a city with many opportunities, Matt wanted to explore other options to dine. And with Berkeley being hit or miss for choosing "yours truly" to eat, dining at Top Dog came at an ideal time. There are 12 different varieties of dogs to choose from. (No, Matt is not Kobayashi or Joey Chestnut and didn't eat all of them at one time!). He bought the Lemon-Chicken and the Calabrese dog. Each cooked wiener is $3.00 each and placed in a toasty warm-bun. The Lemon-Chicken was very lean and tangy with the lemon-flavor. The spicy Calabrese dog is Pork wiener with paprika and fennel. Just by describing this dog, you can easily tell that it was spicy and flavorful. The condiment section was well-stocked and colorful at the midday. Matt loaded up the freshest and necessary topping to make the 2 hot-dogs very hearty. Coming to Top-Dog for lunch was very settled, unlike the weekend, where you'll wait an eternity to get your dog. Also, if you're a visitor to the city of Berkeley like Matt, you can't leave without having a "Top Dog". read more