Top Dog

A totally useless posthumous review
My heart sank when I saw that the Berkeley Top Dog on Hearst had left this mortal coil. I don’t know how many times I ate there, too many to try to count that is for sure. I started going there when I was 16 and continued up until a couple of years ago (a span of more than 30 years). I unfortunately had not been there in a couple of years because my free time to make the trek was non– existent but I thought about it often. I feel like someone who finds out after it is too late…“if only I had known, I would have gotten over there one more time god I would cherish that. Why didn’t anyone tell me? «.
This Top Dog was extra special to me in that like the one on Durant it had that pure Berkeley vibe that existed in the 70’s and early 80’s. The anarchist and libertarian news clippings and comics that adorned the walls were in my opinion museum pieces that I never got tired of reading even though they had yellowed with time. More recent clippings would go up but the old ones were never removed, capturing an era of war, civil unrest, real protests, an energy crisis, and government overreach (pre Patriot Act). But it was also tucked away on the north side of the campus which is way more mellow and easier to park. It had a really nice eating area something the Durant Top Dog does not have. I had every intention to take my son here so he could get a view of my teenage and young adult years and to get an idea of what Berkeley was like but it not to be.
Oh but of course it is Top Dog and nothing, nowhere comes close to the links they grill up there and although I can get my fix at some of the other Top Dogs the North Side one was a really great and unique spot.
So with that I will leave you with a quote from one of the political comics that was taped to the wall in this establishment that I will never forget:
«If man is fit to be led, then he is unfit to lead»
Oh and now a little hippy dippy music which no doubt played on the radio they always had on
To everything — turn, turn, turn
There is a season — turn, turn, turn
And a time for every purpose under heaven
sniff

WTF? CLOSED!
I have eaten at this location for DECADES!
This is as close to hot dog nirvana as it gets.
Why they closed I have no idea, but do we really need another pizza place in Berkeley?
I love Berkeley, but without a TD, it is rapidly become a place where stop signs, speed bumps, bike lanes and white guilt are all it’s going to be known for.
If there were any reason to protest and riot in the ‘zerk, this closing would be it.

No longer Top Dog. It’s a pizza place.

Top dog is great. However, this location no longer exists. It has now been converted to a pizza joint. Take notice top doggers; now you must trek to Southside campus to get your dog. Keep this in mind, doggers.

I say yes.
Sometimes you just crave that beautiful lemon chicken dog sandwiched between two beautifully toasted bun… sides. And sometimes, you just happen to be on the north side of campus, and it was just meant to be. It’s nice because this Top Dog is less crowded and you can get your hot dog + ketchup + relish + delicious diced onions right away.
Once I had no cash on me, and only my debit card. My total come out a few cents shy of the $ 5 minimum value to use my card. I said to the girl working at the time, «Is $ 4 something enough?»
«It is for me,» she said.
We are now great friends, and I love you north side Top Dog.

Summary based on many visits:
–decent food
–ok service
–good prices
–parking challenging unless you want to pay (I don’t)
I used to come here a lot and stopped by while walking back from LBNL. Same experience as before, so 5 stars. Counter person was patient with newcomers.

Tried the Louisiana Hot links and smoked chicken apple before the Cal vs Nevada game. It’s good because it’s cooked fresh and it’s quick.

loving the top dogs selection! I had their kielbasa and it was pretty good. Definitely worthy of 3 stars! if their kielbasa was only 3 stars, why did i give them 4 stars on my Unilocal review? well, the additional star is courtesy of University of Cal @ Berkeley school of education! The school hosted some sort of gathering in front of Pat Brown’s café and Top Dog cater the event! I scored a free top dog! was it worth the additional star, probably not, but since i am in such a giving mood, why not?

(The figurative) you have got to be joking that this is 4 stars.
Ate there today. Ordered a Chili Cheese Dog.
The hotdog itself — just the meat part — was good.
The cheese was almost non-​existent, but here’s the big WTF!
WTF was that chili? It was the singularly most vile-​tasting chili I’ve ever eaten. Worse than any unsalted non-​fat vegan chili you can imagine.
It was as if one boiled up some chili beans and mixed them up with some horrible chunks of tomatoes and water.
Zero flavor.
Disgusting.
I tell ya, I am no chili snob. I can eat any of the above — no salt, vegan, and no fat. But that stuff was not chili in any sense of the imagination.
Wife and son thought the exact same thing.
And the soda selection… RC what??? It tasted like rubber.
Anyhow, I got far better food at the food truck near the student store.
Yuck!

Why do holes in the wall become legendary? Because they serve great products, sometimes virtually unchanged, at extremely fair prices, for DECADES!
That’s right, I’m so old (please don’t fill in the blank) … I’ve visited this Top Dog for decades back to my UC undergrad days, and it has always, ALWAYS been one of the best dogs anywhere. The dogs at this northside location are the same as south side, btw, but more relaxed, no one will bother you.
To me, the perfectly spicy and juicy hot link is king. But they have many other delights including the fennely calabrese, the luxurious brat, the german garlic and many more. I highly recommend you starve yourself before going so you can each try at least two different dogs… one does not do justice to the experience, and at $ 3 a dog, you can splurge. (the dogs will keep for later, but seriously, just go for it!)
I’ve always liked the libertarian flair here, they even have a well-​worn book on the counter of the collected sayings of Mises the great Austrian school economist. But I digress… you can select and apply if not slather several mustards (no stinkin’ catsup here!), fresh diced onion, sauerkraut and pickle relish. The seeded bun is toasted (natch) and has just the right balance of substance, crispness and spongyness to soak up the dietetically abominable but palate lovable sausage, ah, essences.
The grillmistress or grillmeister may be a bit high. So what. No booze and you may not find a nearby seat. So what. Cross the street onto campus and find a bench and then try to defend your dog from the squirrels.
FWIW, the sausages come from Schwarz Sausage in the Mission… sadly, they only sell wholesale. So go to Top Dog. Indulge. Repeat.

Top dog how I loveth thee (for 30 years)! From the crunch of the dog, to those awesome sesame rolls, to the hot russian mustard, the killer sauer kraut. I loveth thee greatly.
Your bird dog also rocks my world. Sitting on the deck on a day like today with the sun out and people walking by… nothing could be finer.
Thanks TD!

The dogs on their own are pretty tasty, the rolls are crunchy and there’s a nice selection of condiments. That, I’ll give a good 4 stars to.
The 5 stars, however, are for the $ 20 bags of bockwurst. 5 POUNDS of bockwurst… really really tasty bockwurst. That, for me, is what is great about this place!
Also, it’s in that little strip of eateries, but isn’t listed on the big sign out front for some reason… maybe because it’s one of the businesses that is visible from the street, as it’s in the front. I didn’t spot it the first time around the block in the car, however. Don’t worry, it’s right there.

One of my friends has a great story about how he was locked in here way back in the day during some of the riots. Can you imagine 7 hours inside Top Dog? At least you have something tasty to eat! Always a reliable frankfurter regular stop walking up Hearst on the way to a show at the Greek Theater.

All the sauerkraut, mustard, unions, and other fine condiments you want are provided for you. I usually get the Kielbasa and load it up with as much spicy mustard and sauerkraut I can fit in/​on the thing.
I really don’t think Top Dog is worth it for the price. Three dollars is just a little too much. I’ve kinda stopped going here after that realization.

Never had the hot dogs here but I am assuming they are as good as the Top Dog’s on Durant. I just came here to buy a bag of ice, because they sell them here for $ 1. It was a pretty good bargain. They aren’t open too late during summer though.

This place is just OK. When I went my first time it was good. when I went back and ordered the LINGUIÇA… I couldn’t even finish it because it was SOOOOOOOOOO freaking DRY! Any drier and it was like eating jerky. The relish and ketchup helped, but man. blehhhhh. If I go back there again, I’ll definitely order something different.

I’ve always felt the staff was really unfriendly even when I’m being extra polite to them. Maybe it’s supposed to be part of the charm or something. I’ve tried the Top Dog-didn’t think it was anything special (tasted like a Costco one to me) and the Chicken Apple Sausage which I love!!! I like how the bread isn’t too toasted but the sausages are always a bit too burnt for my liking. But, what do I know? I like my hot dogs boiled… Also, I really dislike how they only take cash under a certain amount but that isn’t much different from the majority of places here in Berk. Maybe I’m not a proper connoisseur of sausages but I really think this place gets too much hype. I do enjoy the décor and sometimes rude customers who get whipped into shape by the employees though.

This is one of the places my bf went as a student. He took me there to try it out. After walking up the hill and down the hill, we came to this little area on the north side of the UC Berkeley campus. In that tiny plaza, there are several asian fast food places.
The Top Dog here is one of many in the area. This was the only one we came across while walking around the area.
Since we had a light dinner earlier, we decided to share a hot dog. We got the German Sausage on a nice sesame bun. We had ketchup, hot russian mustard, onion, and relish. I have to say the russian mustard was good. It was a bit spicy but it was good. The hot dog was good. Nice snap to the skin when you bite into it.
I would come back if I’m in the area. It was only $ 3 for the hot dog. =)

I don’t get the hype, but it’s just average size, average taste sausage in a bun.
Shop: disgusting and dirty… looks like nobody’s ever wiped anything here in a few years!
And at $ 3, it’s not even that cheap! I can get twice the size @ Costco for half the price.

#810
Omigod this place is freaking amazing. They toast the buns. They have amazing sausages. They have amazing greasy food to hit the spot.
I consistently order the Calabrese. MMMMMMMmmmmmmm!!!
I dream of the days when my company catered with Top Dog. I dream about wonderful wonderful sausages cooked perfectly. *droool*