WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – It can be hard to believe we’re already to Memorial Day, as 2026 has seemingly flown by. However, the return of the unofficial start to summer, also brings the latest installment of the Hot Dog Road Trip. By far the most popular food articles I have ever wrote are my reviews on hot dogs.
Before we get started, let’s go over my ground rules for the Road Trip. First, no major chain restaurants are included, you won’t see places like Sonic or Cook Out here. Secondly, the hot dogs have to come West Virginia-style (Carolina Dog or Slaw Dog). That consists of a hot dog with beanless chili sauce, creamy coleslaw, mustard and raw white onions. By having a set topping requirement, it also allows for more critique opportunities instead of simply judging a sausage and bun. I rate hot dogs on a basis of 1 to 5, with 1 being “take this weenie off the menu,” to 5 being the real top dog, like the Saint Bernard on those Big Dog t-shirts from the 1990s.
Something else to note, I want to hear from you about your favorite hot dog in the area. Please keep in mind, I have tried many locations before and you can find my tasting notes and reviews in the previous Hot Dog Road Trips. I would highly recommend looking over the earlier installments and if you still don’t see your favorite spot listed, shoot me an email! Here is the travelogue of my previous frankfurter adventures…