They were a staple after every game of rugby I ever played. After each game, whether the sun had been shining or we had been spending 80 minutes in the freezing rain; banging our brittle bones against rock hard soil, you could rely on a cheap Kwik Save bun wrapped around a hot dog straight from a tin – usually thinner than a strand of spaghetti.
Nowadays though Hot Dogs are completely different. Gone are those soggy thin strands of hoof and snout, replaced by gloriously butch oblongs of quality ingredients usually encased in a buttery brioche bun and topped with half the contents of aisle 4 of Lidl. Here’s a run-down of some of our favourites…
Currywurst @ Albert’s Schloss
A German restaurant without Bratwurst would be like an Italian restaurant without Spaghetti. Or a Chinese one without a group of pissed up English blokes swearing loudly while dropping sweet and sour chicken all over their new JD Sports tops. Albert’s Schloss is bloody brilliant, and their food is one of the main draws of this place. They offer a selection of German sausages including the classic Bratwurst (smoked beef and pork), Kaiserwurst (pork and cheese) or Currywurst (Lamb, Pork and cumin) served either in a bun or with a side salad if you’re on Atkins. Last time I was in I had the Bratwurst served Wiener style – a classic and always best.
Albert’s Schloss, 27 Peter St, Manchester M2 5QR
0161 833 4040
www.albertsschloss.co.uk/
Enter the Dragon @ Dogs n Dough
If you’re going to dedicate the name of your business to what you sell, you’d best be bloody good at it. If you fail at selling hot dogs and pizzas it’s going to be pretty annoying to then change your name to Bread n Tap Water. Well Dogs n Dough are alright because they seemingly spent a long time getting hold of the best quality sausages and working out a great menu before they opened. Their 100% Beef Franks are massive – recently proven with their 4 Bite challenge, which is still yet to be beaten. I’d recommend their ‘Enter the Dragon’, a hotdog smothered in Salt & Pepper Chicken, Char Sui Crackers, Spring Onions and Sriracha.
Dogs ‘n’ Dough, 17 Bow Ln, Manchester M2 4FW
0161 834 3996
www.dogsndough.com
FREE Music Hot Dogs @ Mash Tun
This brand-new ‘Urban Beer House’ just off King Street are proud as punch when they tell you that they offer over 1000 different combinations of Sausage & Mash – and fair play to them – that’s mightily impressive. They take their sausages VERY seriously here, serving up some fantastic dogs on their bar menu (available after 5pm) but most importantly – when they’ve got live music on you can get them FREE when you buy a pint!
Mash Tun, 55 King St, Manchester M2 4LQ
0161 696 9700
mashtunmcr.co.uk
Pedro’s World Famous Hotdog Pizza @ Crazy Pedro’s
Whinge, whinge, whinge. “Oooh, but it’s not a hot dog!” Well, I don’t care – this pizza is every much a hot dog as anything else on this list, and in fact, some could argue that it’s MORE. What is better than taking two of America’s greatest sports foods – dogs and pizza – and combining them to create a meal worth more than the sum of its parts? Nothing. The good people at Pedro’s basically throw lashings of ‘beer soaked franks’, cheese, crispy onions, mustard and ketchup onto a huge 16 inch base and the results are absolutely specular.
Crazy Pedro’s,
55-57 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BQ
Short St, Manchester M1 1JG
crazypedros.co.uk
50p New Yorkers @ Bunny Jackson’s
Even though they stopped doing that HUGE 4ft hot dog, you can still enjoy some fantastic (smaller) ones at the brilliant Bunny Jacksons on First Street. As soon as the 10p wings finish at 10pm they fire up their hot dog roller and serve up some proper New York style beauties for only 50p! Perfect alongside a few bevvies, or just to soak it all up so you don’t fall off your chair, the dogs are available right until into the early hours.
Bunny Jacksons, 1 Jack Rosenthal Street, Manchester M15 4RA
www.bunnyjacksons.co.uk/
The Traditional from Grandad’s Sausages
Creators of some of the finest sausages known to man, Grandad’s are a family run business that have been bashing out the bangers for well over 50 years now. It’s clear they know what they’re doing, and if you see these guys at any events this summer – head on over for some amazingly sexy sausage action. You can’t go wrong with their ‘Traditional’ offering, which simply comes topped with some chutney and onions – really letting the quality of the sausage do the talking. Check their Instagram for where they’ll be heading over the next few months.
Notorious D.O.G. @ V-REV
Clearly one of my most favourite places in Manchester, considering it ends up on pretty much everything I write – V Rev provides cracking junk food that is 100% vegan as well as managing not to taste like chalk. They’ve got a choice of three vegan hot dogs, and while you’re eating them you can sit safe in the knowledge that no animals had to suffer for the purpose of you chewing for 15 minutes and putting a few more pounds on your hips. I’m a fan of their ‘Notorious D.O.G’ a jumbo seitan dog topped with cheese sauce, smashed avo, jalapeños and chipotle mayo.
V Rev Vegan Diner, 20-26 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HN
0161 839 3883
www.vrevmcr.co.uk
The Snoop Dog @ Dog Bowl
Probably the perfect food for bowling, Hot Dogs are back on the menu at Dog Bowl and my word are these buggers tasty. Between throwing a big round ball of plastic at some pins you can tuck into an array of dogs each topped with a combination of meat, cheese, vegetables and sauce – sometimes all together. Personal favourite of mine must be the Snoop Dog – the mac & cheese with bacon beauty that is a majestically messy beaut. Not forgetting the brilliant Philly Cheese one topped with enough steak, cheese and onion to keep even Will Smith & that other guy happy for days.
Dog Bowl, Whitworth St W, Manchester M1 5WW
0161 228 2888
https://blackdogballroom.co.uk/dog-bowl/
The Lone Star @ Solita
Solita is a place that unashamedly serves food that will either make you full up, explode, or obese – and we love them for it. They’ve managed to combine two of the greatest foodstuffs known to man with their fantastic Pizza Dog – a mash up of pepperoni, mozzarella and pizza sauce all over a massive, juicy dog. But favourite goes to the ‘Lone Star’ – a huge slice of Americana with slow-cooked brisket chilli, jalapeños and lashings of American mustard. Perfection.
Solita NQ, Turner St, Manchester M4 1DW
0161 839 2200
www.solita.co.uk/menus/
