When it comes to hot dogs, these Tampa Bay spots should be all up in your grill

It’s that time of the year; the heat is blazing, but it’s not going to stop you from firing up the grill and tossing on some hot dogs. But when you are in the mood to enjoy a weenie without the sweat, there are hot dog joints around town that are ready and willing to serve. From meat lovers to vegan eats, Tampa Bay is loaded, and here are some places to visit to get your fix.

Cass St. Deli Now officially open in North Hyde Park, Cass St. has been pulling at Tampa Bay’s heartstrings for a while now with Wagyu beef hot dogs served with mustard. Want to go a little further? Get your dog topped with house-made sauerkraut, onion and relish for $3. 1331 W. Cass St., Tampa. cassstdeli.com.

Chicago Paulie’s An OG slinger of dogs, this spot has been a staple in Tampa Bay since a decade, and for good reason. Not only does Paulie’s serve up authentic Chicago dogs, but you can also grab seven other styled wieners. Into no-frills franks? You can grab the Classic Dog for just $2.59. 1301 N. Howard Ave., Tampa. chicagopaulies.com.

Coney Island Sandwich Shop This diner is a gem in the ‘Burg. Don’t leave without getting a chili dog. Since they are only $2.50 each, treat yourself to two. Although smacking chili isn’t ideal in this heat, you’ll welcome the sweat running down your forehead for this dog. 250 Dr. MLK Jr. St. N., St. Petersburg.

Dixie Dharma A transplant from Orlando, this vegan-eats comfort food joint is serving up some of the most decadent dogs in town. Their Hillbilly Dawgs made up of two vegan dogs nestled in a pretzel bun, topped with blackened onions, scallions, and za’atar and drenched in house-made Indian-spiced chili cheese sauce were recently named on PETA’s Top Vegan Hot Dogs list. 1910 N. Ola Ave., Tampa. dixiedharma.com.

Lucky’s Hot Dog Carts Head to Lucky’s Facebook page to see where the carts are stationed to grab your classic New York hot dog. It isn’t hard to find with a bright red and yellow umbrella. facebook.com/luckyshotdogcart.

Mel’s Hot Dogs Take a trip to Temple Terrace for one of the largest selections of dogs in Tampa Bay. The family-owned and operated joint has been around since 1973. Grab the obligatory Chicago dog, but also test out other selections like the Bacon Cheddar Dog with Mel’s famous all-beef natural casing hot dog served on a poppy seed bun with melted cheddar cheese and two slices of bacon. Make sure to buy the basket to include a large order of Mel’s crispy golden brown French fries, and a medium drink. 4136 E. Busch Blvd., Tampa. melshotdogs.com.

Nah Dogs You can find this vegan hot dog cart bouncing around Tampa Bay. Track them down to grab their signature franks. Nah Dogs also ranked on PETA’s list for its “animal-friendly fare for a fair price.” facebook.com/nahdogsstpete. 

Other notable spots for prime dogs are served up from carts outside of Home Depot, the 50 cent dogs at IKEA after a long day of window shopping, and Portillo’s for their fire Chicago-style franks.

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This article appears in Jun 20-27, 2019.