A hidden gem in the heart of Independence! Up Dog does everything right, from the theming of the restaurant to the food, it's all top notch. The service was fast and friendly and the guys behind the counter were working hard. The Missouri dog was sooo good, checked all the boxes and was the right combo of flavors. The onion rings were also good! We liked that they also carried a local soda company's drinks. We will definitely be back to try their burgers! read more

Up Dog - Missouri Dog and Chili Cheese Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Absolutely the worst run place in Independence. Never have all the stuff to make at least half the menu. Soda fountain is always broke. Don't know how it's still open. Too bad they took a novel concept and ran it into the ditch read more

Cute spot for lunch if you are in town for the Truman Library. It's about a 20-30 minute walk from the library. The center of Independence actually has quite a few options for food, but I think this is one of the most casual and family-friendly with a classic diner feel. The menu has plenty of options to dress up your hot dog or burger. I got the Missouri dog, because why not. What's inside is slices of pickle, bacon, cheddar cheese, drizzled mustard on top - a winning combination for me. I enjoyed it along with a side of tater tots because they didn't have fries at the time. The tots were extra crispy from the fryer, but still good. Service was great and friendly and the restaurant was clean. Ask for the key to the bathroom and they'll kindly give it to you. read more

Up Dog - Missouri Dog and Tater Tots - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

UpDog fills a void in the restaurant landscape - something that is unique, fun, and nostalgic. I haven't been to a dedicated hot dog restaurant in our area, so after a day trip to the Truman Library, we decided to try this novel spot for lunch, and I'm glad we did. I had the Chicago Dog, which was a generous sized, savory, dog. The staff was friendly, and let us know that on our next visit, we should give their burgers a try - so we'll have to come back soon. Great little local spot. read more

There's something pure about a shop that focuses on one thing and executes it to perfection. That is the premise here, and it succeeds. It's a smallish glass-framed storefront, set up like an old fashioned diner. Lots of bright red and chrome. Everything sleek and clean. The menu is an assortment of different hot dogs - each one true to its heritage. Service is quick, and the food is great. Because they don't mess with dozens of other things (burgers, chicken, salad) they have honed the creation of a hot dog to a science. What could be bad?? read more

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This review is for my partner's and my experience Saturday, September 7th. It was not only his first time there, but mine as well!  Everything about that place was a good time! ^_^  The gentlemen responsible for preparing our food,  the individual who rang us up when we were ready to leave,  the ridiculous quality of their food, the well-lit, spacious & adorably themed restaurant lobby & bar-like seating area.  It did help a ton how slow it was the day we chose to check it out of course..  That certainly helped for me personally since I don't do large crowds and all.  But THE FOOD!  O___O     It was so darn good!  The spices used on their tots was bomb! I Always enjoy ketchup or mustard with my tots wherever I go, but did not need it for theirs!  Just the idea of that is bonkers lol. My favorite part as odd as this is for most I'm sure lol,   was their toasted sauerkraut they topped my hotdog with!  Frick'n ridiculous. It's gonna be tough trying another product of theirs knowing I could just get That simple dog with kraut again ! I wish I remembered to get more photos of that entertaining restaurant, but that's fine. I'll make sure to get more photos when I return! Also hoping it's not super busy my 2nd experience there either. Their lobby is a bit restricting so imagining it at full capacity is stressful. Now that I think about it that applies to all places I get food from lol.. I'm a mess. read more

Up Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

"Up Dog" is a small diner. It occupies a corner unit in a building across the street from the Truman Courthouse. They sell hot dogs. I am told they use "Nathan's" brand sausages. And if you want to try "Polly's Pop", they have several flavors. I visited Independence for tourism, and I had two meals on separate days. On my first visit, I had a chili dog ($6.99) and a fountain drink ($3.29). With tax ($0.97), my ticket was $11.25 before gratuity. On my next visit, I ordered a Chicago dog ($7.99) and a fountain drink ($3.29). With tax ($1.06), my ticket was $12.34 before gratuity. On both occasions, they steamed the bun. Interestingly, they steam the sausage before grilling it. Both meals were prepared well. The hot dogs tasted really good. This shop allowed me to sample Polly's Pop. And the young people working the shop were really nice. (They also shared their opinions of things in town I should check out.) It's a good place for a quick bite. read more

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Loved stopping in for a dog! My kids were more than thrilled about this fun atmosphere and delicious dogs. Friendly and informative service that helped make all the best choices for our first visit. My very picky daughters all gave a 10/10 vote for this one! read more

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Fun, retro place located close to the Truman home and visitor center, on what's referred to as the town square. Basic menu of multiple hotdogs, each prepared according to city style--Chicago dog. Detroit dog, New York dog, and so on. I tried a couple different dogs--the franks were high quality and well prepared. Hot and juicy. Ingredients fresh. Fries also hot and well seasoned. Huge Diet Coke from the fountain hit the spot. Everything prepared fresh. Joint is essentially run by young people. And though currently being hit hard by a staffing shortage, they were fast, efficient, and very nice. Cool 50's retro vibe inside. Can eat in or take it to go. Prices reasonable. Kept me full all day. read more

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What a great name for a hot dog establishment. I also didn't know that Cincinnati had their own hot dogs either but I tried my first ever Missouri dog at this establishment. I do say that the prices are expensive but the people are friendly and it puts you into a 1950s time capsule read more

Up Dog - a dog sitting on the corner of a street - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

I am surprised that I never had written a review for this place since I have been here many times, when it was good. Yes, it was a delicious place at one point to get a really good chili dog, particularly the bacon chili cheese dog was excellent many moons ago; However, times have changed in their seasoning dept. It may be the reason why this place was empty this afternoon when we stopped by too. My husband ordered the Detroit dog and thought it was so-so and not as good as it once was. My bacon chili cheese dog had a hard piece of bacon, like rawhide tough. The seasoning in the chili was an overkill, and the hotdog itself, including the chili was very, very salty. Additionally, the fries weren't the shoestring ones I recall from years back, and now they add a lot of chili salty seasoning, again an overkill. *On a side note here, I don't understand it, but it seems that many restaurants are doing two unhealthy things lately, making things extra spicy and extra salty. I don't understand why the over-compromise? The service is and always has been very polite, good, with an overall hometown charm. I can't say anything remotely critical about the service. The place was clean, and always appears well-maintained. Again, it was empty when we dropped in. I still enjoy the 50s - early 60s nostalgic vibe here, if it weren't for the food + the cost. For what I could have made "chili wise" at home with a lot less salt, I could have saved because the hotdog itself was about $7 and with fries and a drink it cost a total of $29 and change for two chili dogs! The regular drink was a small size everywhere else and they charge $3.29 for that. Sad to say, this was my go to lunch in the square and can't say that anymore. read more

Up Dog - Polly's root beer, which was the best part of my lunch today. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

I'm not a huge hot dog fan, but I go out of my way to go here. The food is amazing. The service is always positive and I like the old nostalgic atmosphere. read more

Had hear a lot of things about this place. I was in the area for lunch and grabbed a seat at the cute diner. The menu was short and simple and the service was great. Both food item I got were tasty and piping hot. The speciality hot dogs were definitely a nice change for your local diners. read more

Up Dog - Up dog lunch - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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The food was okay. The issue was the service and the in store experience. The menu prices were. Ot clear. The main board has prices that were changed. Nut then I was pointed to another board which was what they had that day but with no prices at all. But here was the main issue. We first tried going when they opened. They were supposed to open at 11 but were closed. We called at 11:19 am. Someone answered so we asked when will you open. She said "oh maybe in a few minutes or so" read more

Awesome little hot dog diner with a retro feel and amazing all beef Nathan's hot dogs. Service was above average. Food and flavor was incredible. Only thing we were not a huge fan of was the lemon taste of the chicken tenders. read more

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I had to try the Missouri Dog and I liked it! The bacon adds a nice flavor. A pleasant and clean diner with good food. They have a variety of hot dogs from different regions. You can get a pulled sandwich among others. Sit at the counter or in a booth. The staff is friendly and makes everything as you order. Plus they serve the local Polly Pops craft soda made in Independence. Definitely worth a stop for a quick lunch! read more

Up Dog - Missouri Hot Dog. Bacon, pickle, cheese and mustard. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Hot dogs were great and the onion rings were amazing!! Staff are very nice and accommodating!

An old fashioned diner on the historic courthouse square in Independence that specializes in Hot Dogs. I ordered the Hawaiian Dog, an interesting combination of flavors on paper but it just didn't work in real life. The pineapple puree, with "pink stuff" dressing and smashed potato chips...on top of a hot dog. Not sure what they were thinking or most importantly; what I was thinking when I ordered it. The Onion Rings were frozen and seasoned with a powder that had a slight sweetness to it. Another big miss. Overall I would go back if I was in the neighborhood, but try a less adventurous dog and stick with fries. Certainly not a destination hot dog joint worthy of a drive across town. read more

Up Dog - Hawaiian Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Okay, I'm typically not the type of person that goes somewhere that serves only hot dogs for my dinner. This place really impressed me! They offered alot of different options of toppings, so even if you're not a huge hot dog fan, you'll definitely find one that you like. I ordered the good ole Chicago Dog, as those are my favorite anywhere usually. The bread was SUPER soft, and they made it just right with all the toppings. My husband got a Detroit dog (beanless chili, cheese, onions) and it was gone before I even took a bite of mine. They offer little 3 inch mini dogs also, so bring in the kids! My little brother enjoyed two mini dogs. Also, the customer service was fantastic, both of the employees were extremely friendly and made sure we had everything we needed while we were there. If I'm ever in the area, I'd definitely be back! read more

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Artisan Hot Dogs!! Every component of the UpDog Dog was amazing. We had the New York Style hotdog with sauerkraut & mustard, adding jalapeños and tomato. OMG. The jalapeños were delicately sliced and grilled, the bun was so fresh and in great ration to the dog. Oh, the hotdog was amazing too. Top all of this off with the Diner Vibe: small, cozy, friendly, lots of windows, CLEAN ... etc. Thank you for a wonderful lunch! We will be back! read more

Its a good hotdog and guy's working are very nice but Detroit dog is completely wrong. Chill they use in Detroit is almost like a sauce. It's a greek recipe that many hotdog places make. At up dog, they use chili out of a can. Not even close in taste. Also sauerkraut tasted awful on my ny dog read more

Wow!! The food was way above my expectations, it was freakin delicious! Not to mention the clean atmosphere, and very friendly staff. Five stars for sure! read more

Up Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Super quaint place. Very neat and clean. Been wanting up eat here do a long time and today we finally did. We had hotdogs with chili, cheese and bacon. The dog snapped when bitten into. The bun was fresh and tasty. The chili had s bite. We also had Tater tots which were crisp and hot as well as onion rings which were very tasty. So glad we finally stopped by! read more

Neat concept that I haven't seen elsewhere. In my opinion, they should use higher grade ingredients to have a better final product and charge a bit more to sustain their profit margin. The buns are to doughy, I think they are the Roma brand. The bun to dog ratio is way to bready. Dogs are good, nice crispy bite, could be bigger and more flavorful. I like that they serve local soda from the fountain. They should have a "build you own" dog option, as wanted a combination of a couple different choices. I know I can ask for that, but I'm not one of those people. Great for lunch or before a movie at the Pharaoh! read more

Up Dog - Chicago - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Hey we loved this place. Great hotdogs and cheese tots. Loved the root beer and the folks were so nice. It's just a simple variety of dogs but all of them are done well and have a great taste. It's a throwback type of place and we will definitely be back next time we roll through Independence read more

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What a great little diner! Friendly staff, retro atmosphere, and delicious food! They have all kinds of different hot dogs piled high with toppings. And their sides are good too. I'd highly recommend their cheese fries! read more

Up Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

I've noticed this restaurant on several occasions when passing through downtown independence. Today, I had some spare time and thought I'd grab quick lunch. Looks can be deceiving him. From the outside this looks like a fun little restaurant with a 50s theme however once you get inside you realize it's all decoration. Ordered a chili dog chili fries and a soda. The cheese for my fries was warmed up in a soda cup in the microwave under the counter. The chili was been-less and forgettable. The whole time I was eating all I could think was Sonic would a better better option. read more

What's up dog? Great joke to play on friends! Loved the food and will be coming back for more up dog! read more

Up Dog - The UHSUH dog! Great quality! - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

This place is great. Plenty of choices and variety in their hot dog selection, a great fifties diner motif and the fries are crispy and hot. The food was tasty and I will definitely hit this place again when I'm in town. And it's open. The area rolls up the roads at 8 on most nights so come early. read more

I love the idea of all of the restaurants on the Independence Square, and I'm hoping for success for all of them. I don't think Up Dog is the answer, but it's OK for what it is. So, obviously you are going here for hot dogs. But make no mistake, you're not getting a really excellent hot dog. There's no snap to the casing, no great flavor. This place is all about the toppings. And I will give them credit - they are creative and tasty. I got the Rio Dog, which included fresh jalapenos so fiery that I left a couple of pieces - odd for me. My dining companion got the Top Dog and was very happy. I upgraded my combo to include onion rings, and this was Up Dog's big misstep. Nearly all of them were charred. It's the only way to describe how well done they were cooked. I didn't request a replacement because I hadn't planned to eat all of them, and this was forced portion control. But... really? It's not like a steak or maybe some veggies cooked too long or too little, where it's possible you can't tell by looking at them. The majority of these onion rings were black. And yet, they served them to me anyway. A little mind-boggling. I'm guessing that was not the normal experience, and my guest's fries were fine. People came in slowly, but steadily, and service kept up with the flow. I'm wishing good things for Up Dog, but I'm not sure it would be my first choice if I found myself hungry near the Square. read more

First things first: I hate hot dogs. Always have. I've seen the trend of former hot dog restaurants popping up so I thought if give this one a try. I was impressed. The first thing you notice about Up Dog is how well the restaurant is put together. The whole place makes you feel like you just walked into a true 1950's diner. The next cool thing was the menu. It's above the counter with huge pictures of the different hot dogs. I wanted all of them. The guy working the grill suggested the Top Dog and cheese fries. It was like no hot dog I've ever had before. The sauces, the bun, the dog - all perfect. And the cheese fries were out of this world - they must put crack in them cause I've been Jonesing for them ever since. I can now say I love hot dogs and mean it. If you're ever in the area looking for a great, quick meal I suggest giving this place a try. read more

What a friendly, polite, considerate, fun-loving group of employees! Singing to the customers as they bussed the tables was a hoot. Dogs were good too. read more

Yuck! Save your time and money. I tried a $2 dog. It was toddler sized. The bun was to spongy and rubbery. The hot dog was lost in the 3" bun and was also rubbery and gross. I was also shocked on the time of wait it took to prepare this tiny snack sized dog, considering it tasted like the dog was cooked several days prior. read more

Up Dog - $2 naked dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Yummy!!! Love the style of this little joint. 50s style cafe. The menu jumps out of you & your mouth begins to water. So many delicious hot dogs to choose from. Cream cheese on a hot dog?! Or ham & pineapple with a secret sauce?! I went classic since my brain was swimming with the crazy varieties of hot dogs. So I went with a classic sauerkraut dog with regular fries. I was very pleased - even the hot dog bun was moist an warm an melted in my mouth. The fries were seasoned perfectly at that. I'll definitely get a little wild next time an try the top dog & cheese fries! My mom ordered the Chicago dog an cheese fries. She complimented at both items she ordered an we both got a good laugh due to the peppers she bit into! lol. We definitely will go back. Also- what a lovely area! Independence square has some nice little places. Just a tip.. Yogurtini is next to Up Dog! ;) You're welcome. read more

I waited forever almost 30 minutes for 2 hot dog and friesI could make better in half the time, too much mustered. The people that worked there are immature brats, not professional, talking about their Manager probably taking a dump in the bathroom, the other guy making the hot dogs was getting mad because there were too many people he couldn't handle and the other worker with blond hair had to calm him down! Which is sad don't work at a food place than. One of the worker didn't know if the seasoning was for the fries and made someone that was on break at the counter to smell it, that's not sanitary!! The other couple that order after us waited longer than us with kids and we left and they were still waiting. The people need to stop talking about immature things, be Professional, and get things down fast without saying rude things out loud!!! 0 zero stars here if i could! read more

I had the pulled pork hot dog and it was the bomb! It was our first time there and will for sure be back!

It's a pretty great alternative to big chain fast food places. The Chicago Dog is legit delicious. The onion rings and tots are good. Polly's Pop is on tap. I don't recommend the pulled pork dog, but that's a bit of an aberration. read more

Up Dog looks like a real throw back to the corner diner of the 1950s -- Black and white tile floor, booths and counter stools upholstered in fire engine red vinyl and lots of sparkling shiny chrome. The music is strictly old time Rock n Roll. And the Menu? You'd better want A Hot Dog because at Up Dog that's what's on the menu. There are Chicago Dogs, New York Dogs, Kansas City Dogs, Cincinnati Dogs... well I'm sure you get the picture. Each has a concoction of ingredients and some sound good to me such as the Cincinnati Dogs (two three inch hot dogs on 3" buns smothered in lots of beanless chili and grated cheddar cheese); the Detroit Dog (chili, onion and mustard) and the New York (sauerkraut and mustard). Others are a bit more exotic and include some ingredients I never thought to put on a hot dog, such as potato chips, bacon, queso fresco, sautéed onions, tomatoes, mayonnaise, sour cream, red pepper sauce and avocado sauce. The Top Dog gives you all of those ingredients except the chips and adds mustard. I did not have the courage to order a Top Dog today but might order it on a day when the weather is cooler. For $2.50 more you can get crispy french fries and a drink with your dog. They also offer onion rings, cheese fries and chili cheese fries, chili spaghetti and corn dogs. There is a whole list of UPgrades so you could take the time to dress your own dog with exactly the ingredients you wanted to have for modest up charges of a quarter to a dollar. If you want to you can even order a second frank to fill the bun beyond bursting. Our group of four had fun at Up Dog and by strange coincidence all of us ended up with the Cincinnati Dog Combos without consulting beforehand. Two of us got the onion rings instead of fries. The sides were generous. I would like to go back to try a few of the other menu items. Who knows, I may really love potato chips and mayo on a hot dog. I'm willing to give it a try anyway. read more

Did you step in some Updawg? What's Updawg? Not much. What's up with you? We loved this place the first time we tried it a couple years ago. But alas, as poor management wont to do, complacency takes its toll and quality and/or service suffers until a great place becomes another empty building. The 2 visible staff were friendly and well intentioned, however uninformed every soda selection on the fountain had an issue. No one 86'd the mini corn dogs, our 3 orders took 25 minutes from order to table (not an estimate, our check showed the time we ordered the food) and the Rio was missing the cream cheese. The staff were really apologetic and jumped on our issues as soon as they were aware. The fries were still amazing and the dogs weren't bad. It's just a shame to have this experience after we drove 30 minutes out of our way for some Updawg. read more

Love the locatiin. The place feels like an old dinner with all the windows providing a view of the street. Open space decorated with red# white color scheme. Booths and bar stools line the windows for excellent people watching. The food is very tasty. Classic, Chucago, Cincinnati and my favorite The Hawaiian. Very reasonable prices with combo optiins. Kids menu also. The staff are friendly and helpfull. Staff actually appear to enjoy working on a Saturday afternoon. read more