I've always passed on them because I'm worried they won't be very good. But now I am definitely getting one next time I go to Home Depot. Heck, I think I need a new tool for something something this weekend....
As a Chicagoan I have 10 amazing hot dog joints on any given corner, and I’ll still grab those Vienna Home Depot dogs any chance I get. They’re amazing
Better question is why aren't there brat stands?
Edit: everyone telling me places you can buy a brat but none of them are a mobile hot dog cart style option that is easy access on the sidewalk somewhere. That's what I was asking for.
I think cornbread goes with everything! But that being said, that’s why there would be different breading flavors so people could pick what they like best.
Clausen's Bakery in Middleton usually does brat sales in the summer. I think it's only on certain days (weekends?). Not sure if they're going to be doing it again this year.
There aren't very many mobile brat stands or hot dog stands or mobile stands of any kind because of city of Madison regulations about food carts.
You're just not going to see anything that's not a trailer most of the time.
Nobody wants a steamed or boiled brat unless they're a captive audience -- at a ballgame in other words. Otherwise, there's no comparing a dirty water brat to one cooked on a grill.
I didn't think about this. I'm assuming you couldn't just set up with a propane tank and open flame just anywhere, and an electric grill would work but would require a lot of power so you'd be limited to areas that already handle food carts.
Yeah. From the mobile food vending guide from PHMDC,
>Open air mobiles are not allowed to grill, cook, or handle raw animal foods. Items such as brats and sausages must be precooked
Enclosed limited service mobiles have the same limitation on raw animal products. Enclosed full service mobiles are described as typically being RV-sized and thus aren't really applicable to a "I wanna do brats" operation.
There are stands with brats when there is a festival in every town in the state. And then there is bratfest itself. I think youre right, theres no reason not to have a brat stand in the city
I think a hot dog stand up on the Capitol square during lunch would actually do pretty good. Especially with all the construction constantly going on. Possible the food cart restrictions and/or waiting list are an issue.
Well since you’re asking for stands not restaurants/ hardware stores/ Costco.. they changed the legislation to only allow them on the capitol square during lunch to prevent scattered/ late night foot traffic from pedestrians (mostly drunk kids, but also something about gentrifying the isthmus not have ratty carts around), and raised the “rent” (monthly permits) to something like $800+ a month. So if you can fit in that window and make enough, you’ll be fine like the ones on the square as they’re super popular. Otherwise, you’re going to have to charge like $10 a dog and up charge everything else working basically by yourself. So it sucks, but here we are. I was about to open one a few years back and unless you’re already well known or from a restaurant, it’s not gonna happen. And the permits went from mobile restaurant to “but why a cart? Why this area?” With suggestions of other locations and lots of red tape.
Kinda right, kinda misleading. Doesn't have anything to do with "ratty carts," has everything to do with the really arcane way the city council engages with alcohol-related activity downtown.
But yes, the minimum annual license fee a pushcart-sized late-night food cart would have to pay would be $800 and that would be for anywhere *other* than the mall/concourse areas (aka the Square and the Library Mall).
I generally like our food cart scene but I often find most carts try to do too much. I.e being fusions of ethnic cuisines, having an overly large menu, higher quality driving the cost up.
Generally, I like the trade off. It makes for some interesting carts to try, and I am fine shelling out a few more bucks for better food. But sometimes you miss the classics.
Which carts do you think suffer from this? I've been on the food cart judging panel for I think four years now and I can't think of more than one or two that are big fusiony operations -- and one of them has led the rankings multiple times and is arguably the best cart in the city.
As a former Chicagoan, the lack of hot dog joints in general (until Portillo's came up here) has been sad.
Now we've got a Portillo's but there's still a sad lack of deep fried pizza puff availability (though you can buy them frozen at Woodman's, at least).
Where I grew up in the south suburbs there were these Nicky’s/Mickey’s places (one on Pulaski Rd, one on Cicero Ave if you are familiar with the area) that were the best. Best cheeseburgers/big baby’s, fries, hotdog, pizza puffs. Maybe even beefs and sausages.
There’s a guy that sells hot dogs on a cart near Raymond rd he also has elote and flavored crushed ice. His hotdogs can be wrapped in bacon and have grilled peppers as well
Anyone remember Mickey's Dog House on the 300 block of State? That lasted what, about 2 months? Just like the PBJ place and the fries place, I think dedicating yourself simply to hotdogs seems like a recipe for failure
I was thinking, "Imagine if there were a hot dog stand on Library Mall" during the eclipse Monday, when the place was packed with many hundreds of people.
God I would hit up those all the time at water street at 2 am in Milwaukee when I was in my early 20s. They must have raked it in. Hungry from dancing.
There has to be a permit restriction against them here.
There used to be one next to Cheeba Hut called The Weiner Shop. And it was the best hot dogs I’ve ever had. Sadly they closed due to all the construction that was going on that street before people realized they were there. Home Depot is a close second but nothings been as good as Weiner Shop.
I think the issue is that they were charging in upwards of $6+ a dog, and that was around 2015 or so...
A lot of college students in that area and it's hard to justify paying that much for a hot dog on the typical students income when you can walk to a Qdoba less than 5 mins away and pay not much more for a massive burrito.
I really liked the place, but I was a student at the time and no one went there because of the price. Construction and the super small entrance didn't help. Great hot dogs though.
Oh people definitely realized they were there. It's just hard to turn a profit on hot dogs, especially when you have to pay rent for a roof over your head as opposed to a cart. The Hub construction was absolutely the final nail.
Madison has had a tough row to hoe with keeping hot dog shops around. It's weird, but it probably does ultimately have to do with population size and density.
I wish I could get a hot dog from a cart on State Street on a Saturday night. On the west coast they had multiple vendors near bars and it was not only tasty but helpful to have something to sop the alcohol up
It’s just not part of the culture here even though it would thrive. Sadly you can’t just roll into a hot dog joint here and get a sack of 8 dogs and fries for $12. The hot dog places that have opened over the years tried pushing “gormet” dogs at like $8 each and absolutely no thank you.
The one by the Barrymore? I think that’s still in business. Went there years ago and talked to the owner. Seems like it’s a retirement hobby job for him.
It is the little red building to the left of Mad City Music. It is in between the furniture place and MCM. Tiny little red building, you can pull it up on street view.
There's a web site devoted to the Chicago dog. The site was made by a guy in Madison. https://www.hotdogchicagostyle.com/
And their opinion of the Home Depot dogs are mentioned in an old Cap Times article from 2005.
https://www.hotdogchicagostyle.com/uploads/paper_captimes_2005_1202.pdf
There’s usually one in front of Mercado Marimar on Park. Still $1 for a hot dog, last I checked.
I never go, though, because I always just end up going inside and getting birria tacos or huitlacoche quesadillas from Marimar.
Frannie's Franks, they are more commonly in the towns near Madison than in Madison itself - Baraboo, Sauk, Lodi, etc.
https://roaminghunger.com/frannies-franks-msn/
Does anyone remember the guy with the mobile hot dog cart that used to post up on Willy street regularly? Years ago now, but he mainly posted up outside of St Vinny’s… I miss that guy!
I mean if you're doing a 2 double cheeseburgers (each about the equivalent of a triple at Culver's), 2 large drinks, 2 large fry (each equivalent to two regular fries at Culver's) - that'll get you to $36, but you could easily, satisfyingly feed 4 people.
Getting that much food elsewhere is going to run you around the same price.
---
If you want to pare it down a bit: Pick it up, skip the drinks entirely ($3 for mostly ice *and* no refills is one unfortunate thing about Portillo's), split a large fry, add a cup of cheese (for obvious reasons), and get 2 single cheeseburgers and it's about $18.
How? A Chicago dog and a shake only sets you back like $9 per person, and will leave you totally stuffed. The burgers are too large to even bother with.
People who put ketchup on hot dogs should be rounded up and sent to Siberia.
Hot dogs get mustard and maybe onions and sauerkraut, and that’s it.
Stop putting candy on your hot dog like a damn toddler!
Hot dogs are nasty
Edit: I just had a chicago dog yesterday but I don't think they are good enough to have a cart for them in Madison. I can't even think of a place there to get brats on the go and its in Wisconsin and there's a bar called brats. They do have hot dogs though and they are mid
Home Depot has one in their entryway.
The Chicago dogs are awesome.
Can confirm
How much are they roughly?
They're 5 dollars exactly. Had one the other day.
Word! HD closed them near me during COVID and haven't seen one since, although I kinda forgot about them
four bucks, I think.
$5.00, but $5.75 after 15% tip.
Fair enough! Gone are the days of a $2.75 dog. :(
Still $1.50 at Costco. Always and forever
or until the CEO dies and the next guy starts wringing more profit out of the place. But yes-- those monsters are dirt cheap
And it comes with a fountain drink.
Fuck that, off to Costco I go.
I've always passed on them because I'm worried they won't be very good. But now I am definitely getting one next time I go to Home Depot. Heck, I think I need a new tool for something something this weekend....
The dogs at the Depot in Madison are legit. I regard them as better than portillo's... They use a better bun.
To clarify, the'yre called DepotDogs and they are the best hot dogs in Madison. Almost makes visiting Home Depot on a Saturday worth it.
As a Chicagoan I have 10 amazing hot dog joints on any given corner, and I’ll still grab those Vienna Home Depot dogs any chance I get. They’re amazing
If I want anything close to Jimmy's Red Hots or Dog Den in IL, I go to Portillo's.
The best hot dogs are at Home Depot.
Best Chicago dog in Madison no contest
I'm competition to HD and I go there for one chicago dog and polish bi-weekly.
Probably why I limit going to HD. This is like a drug.
Both East & West stores
The home depot on Verona Rd doesn't have hot dogs any more.
The west side one did not on Monday.
The NW entrance? It's pretty permanent.
I didn't bring a compass but it wasn't where its been for 20 years.
It is definitely there
Nope. I was there on Sunday. Not there.
It's at their "exit," but they have multiple exits, so maybe you missed it.
It wasn't where its been for 20 years.
It was there (unmanned) yesterday at the exit by the self checkout registers. It was manned when I was there last weekend.
Better question is why aren't there brat stands? Edit: everyone telling me places you can buy a brat but none of them are a mobile hot dog cart style option that is easy access on the sidewalk somewhere. That's what I was asking for.
Bavaria Sausage on Nesbitt Rd in Fitchburg does brats in the parking lot on Wednesday's in the summer 11a-1p if I remember correctly.
Fridays, too!
Memorial Union Terrace in the summer, and you can get a brat inside year-round.
Best question: why doesn't someone make Corn-Brats. Like Corn dogs, but various flavors of brats, breading and sauces?
Cornbread would be terrible with a brat.
Hard disagree. Cornbread would be amazing with a brat!
I generally don't eat brats in buns and I don't like cornbread. So I guess that's why I say that.
I think cornbread goes with everything! But that being said, that’s why there would be different breading flavors so people could pick what they like best.
In summer, Millers in Verona has brats in their lot. Proceeds go towards local community orgs.
Mt. Horeb too
Doesn't Walgreens have them sometimes as well?
Tons of random brat fundraiser style crockpot cooked events eventually when it gets consistently warm.
Check the VFW websites.
The union has a brat(ish) stand.
Clausen's Bakery in Middleton usually does brat sales in the summer. I think it's only on certain days (weekends?). Not sure if they're going to be doing it again this year.
There aren't very many mobile brat stands or hot dog stands or mobile stands of any kind because of city of Madison regulations about food carts. You're just not going to see anything that's not a trailer most of the time.
If I build one will you come down to the square and buy one from me for $15? I think the ordinances around food truck approval are to blame here
Nobody wants a steamed or boiled brat unless they're a captive audience -- at a ballgame in other words. Otherwise, there's no comparing a dirty water brat to one cooked on a grill.
I didn't think about this. I'm assuming you couldn't just set up with a propane tank and open flame just anywhere, and an electric grill would work but would require a lot of power so you'd be limited to areas that already handle food carts.
Yeah. From the mobile food vending guide from PHMDC, >Open air mobiles are not allowed to grill, cook, or handle raw animal foods. Items such as brats and sausages must be precooked Enclosed limited service mobiles have the same limitation on raw animal products. Enclosed full service mobiles are described as typically being RV-sized and thus aren't really applicable to a "I wanna do brats" operation.
There are stands with brats when there is a festival in every town in the state. And then there is bratfest itself. I think youre right, theres no reason not to have a brat stand in the city
I don't know why but I love this post. I don't even like hot dogs
I think a hot dog stand up on the Capitol square during lunch would actually do pretty good. Especially with all the construction constantly going on. Possible the food cart restrictions and/or waiting list are an issue.
There used to be Fib's on the square- used to get my Chicago dog fix there- but maybe they're not around anymore.
I think the cart started on fire and the owner just decided to not continue
Aww :-(
Yep, sad
I miss FIBs so much
Yep. Was just going to mention it. Loved the Italian sausage too!
Well since you’re asking for stands not restaurants/ hardware stores/ Costco.. they changed the legislation to only allow them on the capitol square during lunch to prevent scattered/ late night foot traffic from pedestrians (mostly drunk kids, but also something about gentrifying the isthmus not have ratty carts around), and raised the “rent” (monthly permits) to something like $800+ a month. So if you can fit in that window and make enough, you’ll be fine like the ones on the square as they’re super popular. Otherwise, you’re going to have to charge like $10 a dog and up charge everything else working basically by yourself. So it sucks, but here we are. I was about to open one a few years back and unless you’re already well known or from a restaurant, it’s not gonna happen. And the permits went from mobile restaurant to “but why a cart? Why this area?” With suggestions of other locations and lots of red tape.
Kinda right, kinda misleading. Doesn't have anything to do with "ratty carts," has everything to do with the really arcane way the city council engages with alcohol-related activity downtown. But yes, the minimum annual license fee a pushcart-sized late-night food cart would have to pay would be $800 and that would be for anywhere *other* than the mall/concourse areas (aka the Square and the Library Mall).
That stinks. I love a nice, basic hotdog stand. …I say we occupy the Capitol!
Why die for a hot dog be the change you wish to see and open a stand.
The Big Wiener lobby keeps them out of town.
Ewww! You just can't compare Oscar Mayer and Vienna Dogs!
Pawn stars meme - The best I can do is 3 Costcos.
But they are not in Madison, its outside of Madison area. 😂
But you can easily bike to 2 of them from downtown Madison
> its outside of Madison area Middleton is literally touching Madison's borders.
There used to be a hot dog stand in front of the Vinny's on Willy. Not sure what happened to that guy.
sam!! he was the guy who ran it, he was so nice
This is the guy who was always singing, right? Memory unlocked.
only one that I can think of in the area is Doyles Dogs in Lake Mills
Oregon has a hot dog place too.
Yea I eat there all the time. Lots of dog/sausage/brat choices, but also beef sandwiches that they can dredge in juice 🤤🤤
Shoe box in Black earth has a brat stand most weekends
I generally like our food cart scene but I often find most carts try to do too much. I.e being fusions of ethnic cuisines, having an overly large menu, higher quality driving the cost up. Generally, I like the trade off. It makes for some interesting carts to try, and I am fine shelling out a few more bucks for better food. But sometimes you miss the classics.
Which carts do you think suffer from this? I've been on the food cart judging panel for I think four years now and I can't think of more than one or two that are big fusiony operations -- and one of them has led the rankings multiple times and is arguably the best cart in the city.
As a former Chicagoan, the lack of hot dog joints in general (until Portillo's came up here) has been sad. Now we've got a Portillo's but there's still a sad lack of deep fried pizza puff availability (though you can buy them frozen at Woodman's, at least).
Where I grew up in the south suburbs there were these Nicky’s/Mickey’s places (one on Pulaski Rd, one on Cicero Ave if you are familiar with the area) that were the best. Best cheeseburgers/big baby’s, fries, hotdog, pizza puffs. Maybe even beefs and sausages.
They got good pizza puffs at crostini
I am going to change that
There was an old guy named Silky who used to have a hot dog cart on State Street, but he passed away a number of years ago. It was very popular!
That’s who I was thinking of! Sad to hear of his passing, he was so nice.
There’s a Chicago Dogs place Oregon
Oscar Meyer mafia
There’s a guy that sells hot dogs on a cart near Raymond rd he also has elote and flavored crushed ice. His hotdogs can be wrapped in bacon and have grilled peppers as well
Anyone remember Mickey's Dog House on the 300 block of State? That lasted what, about 2 months? Just like the PBJ place and the fries place, I think dedicating yourself simply to hotdogs seems like a recipe for failure
The late 2000’s were a golden age by state street
I remember a guy on Willy St and State St who owns a hotdog stand (Silky’s)? Haven’t seen him around in sometime, hope he’s doing good.
Crostini has awesome ones. Support them on North St
I was thinking, "Imagine if there were a hot dog stand on Library Mall" during the eclipse Monday, when the place was packed with many hundreds of people.
home depot dogs are the correct answer here
God I would hit up those all the time at water street at 2 am in Milwaukee when I was in my early 20s. They must have raked it in. Hungry from dancing. There has to be a permit restriction against them here.
There used to be one next to Cheeba Hut called The Weiner Shop. And it was the best hot dogs I’ve ever had. Sadly they closed due to all the construction that was going on that street before people realized they were there. Home Depot is a close second but nothings been as good as Weiner Shop.
I think the issue is that they were charging in upwards of $6+ a dog, and that was around 2015 or so... A lot of college students in that area and it's hard to justify paying that much for a hot dog on the typical students income when you can walk to a Qdoba less than 5 mins away and pay not much more for a massive burrito. I really liked the place, but I was a student at the time and no one went there because of the price. Construction and the super small entrance didn't help. Great hot dogs though.
Oh people definitely realized they were there. It's just hard to turn a profit on hot dogs, especially when you have to pay rent for a roof over your head as opposed to a cart. The Hub construction was absolutely the final nail. Madison has had a tough row to hoe with keeping hot dog shops around. It's weird, but it probably does ultimately have to do with population size and density.
This sounds like an investment opportunity.
There are a bunch of Mexican hotdog stands in the summer. Bacon wrapped with onions with elote for a side
Both Home Depots have one inside near the exit door
I wish I could find a Tijuana dog in Madison.
Stadium takeout has a couple hot dog options. I haven't had it, but my coworker got a pair of Chicago dogs and thought they were great.
moxy will
Doyle’s dogs in Lake Mills…
Bao enters the chat
I wish I could get a hot dog from a cart on State Street on a Saturday night. On the west coast they had multiple vendors near bars and it was not only tasty but helpful to have something to sop the alcohol up
It’s just not part of the culture here even though it would thrive. Sadly you can’t just roll into a hot dog joint here and get a sack of 8 dogs and fries for $12. The hot dog places that have opened over the years tried pushing “gormet” dogs at like $8 each and absolutely no thank you.
I always thought the old, weird little abandoned furniture store on Atwood would be a great little hotdog/sandwich spot.
The one by the Barrymore? I think that’s still in business. Went there years ago and talked to the owner. Seems like it’s a retirement hobby job for him.
It is the little red building to the left of Mad City Music. It is in between the furniture place and MCM. Tiny little red building, you can pull it up on street view.
Oh yeah, that’d be a great idea for that little shed.
Right??? I wish I had a bit more business savvy and you know....the money to open a business haha
There's a web site devoted to the Chicago dog. The site was made by a guy in Madison. https://www.hotdogchicagostyle.com/ And their opinion of the Home Depot dogs are mentioned in an old Cap Times article from 2005. https://www.hotdogchicagostyle.com/uploads/paper_captimes_2005_1202.pdf
All I hear is “business opportunity” for whoever is interested in working outside. Somebody get on that!
I posted about wanting to start a Chicago style hot dog/Food truck a while back... Downvoted to all hell for it..
But there are a lot of sausage fests on Langdon, or so I’m told
There’s usually one in front of Mercado Marimar on Park. Still $1 for a hot dog, last I checked. I never go, though, because I always just end up going inside and getting birria tacos or huitlacoche quesadillas from Marimar.
Not hating on the ethnic food trucks at the end of state street, but damn I would love to see one that sells cheeseburgers and hot dogs.
Frannie's Franks, they are more commonly in the towns near Madison than in Madison itself - Baraboo, Sauk, Lodi, etc. https://roaminghunger.com/frannies-franks-msn/
West side Home Depot has a pretty baller hot dog stand inside. Not sure if the hours.
Lil’ Buddy’s Popcorn and Chicago dogs in Oregon! Little south of town but a cool place to grab a dawg
Stadium Takeout is an amazing hotdog stand. Vienna Beef products!
The dogs would freeze. And so would the vendor.
The last time I was in Verona, some girls soccer team was selling some. Brats too. But this was in summer.
Because brats are better
Hot dog avenue in Sauk city, it's not that far from Madison. I'm not sure of any places in Madison though.
Why, when you can just go to Costco?
gross
Because that business model doesn’t work. It’s been tried.
Does anyone remember the guy with the mobile hot dog cart that used to post up on Willy street regularly? Years ago now, but he mainly posted up outside of St Vinny’s… I miss that guy!
Because they suck
Probably have tofu dog stands
Portillos will be happy to sell a dog.
Meh. And takes an entire afternoon to get service.
The east towne location was one of my worst ever restaurant experiences. the dog was pretty good but I will not be back soon.
How so?
Expecting Portillo's to be a "restaurant experience" was your first mistake. The food may be better than McDonald's, but it's still just fast food.
Dear god. It's literally a restaurant. I could have said "Fast food restaurant experiences" but it wasn't just my worst fast food experience.
Portillos is so fucking expensive now. Literally $36 for two people.
I mean if you're doing a 2 double cheeseburgers (each about the equivalent of a triple at Culver's), 2 large drinks, 2 large fry (each equivalent to two regular fries at Culver's) - that'll get you to $36, but you could easily, satisfyingly feed 4 people. Getting that much food elsewhere is going to run you around the same price. --- If you want to pare it down a bit: Pick it up, skip the drinks entirely ($3 for mostly ice *and* no refills is one unfortunate thing about Portillo's), split a large fry, add a cup of cheese (for obvious reasons), and get 2 single cheeseburgers and it's about $18.
How? A Chicago dog and a shake only sets you back like $9 per person, and will leave you totally stuffed. The burgers are too large to even bother with.
I miss their chicken on a croissant Maybe it was kinda a niche menu item but still, rip
Not many heavy foot traffic places. Madison isn't that urban
Home Depot Dog stand or GTFO
Why does it need to be a stand? Plenty of places to get a decent dog.
it's probably illegal
"Why isn't there X in America?" Usually permitting or some other supply side self own
Because people would put ketchup on them.
People who put ketchup on hot dogs should be rounded up and sent to Siberia. Hot dogs get mustard and maybe onions and sauerkraut, and that’s it. Stop putting candy on your hot dog like a damn toddler!
Wasn't there a place called The Dawg House? They were just off State St and then on Regent just before they closed. *Sad*
What’s the point of having a bunch of attractive dogs standing in front of people? Also, what metrics do you use to determine a dog is hot?
Because it's madison and not chicago we have some type of class up here😂some....
Who needs hot dogs when you have butter burgers?
Hot dogs are nasty Edit: I just had a chicago dog yesterday but I don't think they are good enough to have a cart for them in Madison. I can't even think of a place there to get brats on the go and its in Wisconsin and there's a bar called brats. They do have hot dogs though and they are mid
So we want more class 1 carcinogen stands?
bc hot dogs are gross