Desi Dog

Desi Dog, you are such a beast.
$ 2 hot dogs plus $ 1 fries with all the fixings? You can not be disappointed. They have a pretty sexy condiment bar too. I don’t know what it is about mayo, sausages, and bacon but it works. I did have to pay the price of buying larger jeans for eating here everyday, but it’s definitely worth it. And a little fat will give your partner something to hold during the cold winters. Nothing worst than getting bruises from spooning.
The best alternative to Top Dog in Berkeley. Oh and did I mention it’s right next to the Bear’s Lair? Split 5 pitchers of the double IPA and you will have a good night ever night.

I like the options (esp grilled onions) but top dog is still better. you get more bang for your buck with desi dog though!

One star because I went there yesterday and I didn’t see it… but 4 stars for all the lovely ladies handing out fliers for their respective UC clubs: D

DESI DOG KICKS TOP DOG’s BUTT.
You may disagree but Desi is the best. Seriously, $ 2 for a really good all around plain hot dog with grilled onions and peppers? Doesn’t get any better than Desi.
ALSO, the dude inside Desi Dog is the nicest guy ever. One thing I hate about Top Dog and why I won’t refuse to give them 5 stars is their customer service is crap and they’re a bunch of irritable S.O.B.‘s.
Recommendations:
— JUMBO POLISH W/​GRILLED ONIONS & SERRANO PEPPERS
— CHILI CHEESE FRIES: again this comes with the onions and peppers and I truly believe these 2 ingredients make a hot dog a Desi Dog.
So much unhealthy goodness.
Good Food, Good Friends, ENJOY!

I have been eating somewhat OK and some junk as well. I’m not sure what category I think Desi Dog is in the middle. First you get this jumbo all beef hot dog (junk) and crusty toasted bun (OK). Then they add the grilled onions and roasted peppers (good). Now is the option to put on salsa (good), mustard/​ketchup (OK), relish (hummm, junk), jalapeño peppers (just tasty), and sauerkraut (sodium). Get the $ 5 combo and it comes with a soda (diet) and french fries (good & bad). Well, guess the Desi Dog is really kinda of a junk food, but not in the fast food group. It is yummy, messy, and satisfying. I guess that is all we can ask of a hot dog.

5 pm until they run out = Happy Hour
$ 2 regular hot dogs (free onions and peppers)
$ 2.50 ¼ lbers (also free onions and peppers)
$ 1 fries
+ salsa condiment bar
= best deal ever.
This place is much better than Top Dog… and bigger too. Size matters folks!

Maybe I’m biased as a hot dog hater. But believe me, I feel like I’m pretty fair when it comes down to pure taste.
Sure, the prices are cheap (college student, that = FIRST priority) and on campus (literally), but the hot dogs taste too salty.
The saving grace would probably be all of the toppings and the free peppers! Mm nom nom free extras.
I think for the price, the fillingness and overall delicious-​factor even a college student can do better.

Taste: 3
Value: 5
Service: 4
I can’t believe this place has 4 stars and is one of the highest ranked places in Berkeley. Sure, it’s cheap (although better when it was $ 1.50) and right on the edge on campus, but in the end, they’re just plain hot dogs with bell pepper and onions. I’d go maybe a few times, but only because it’s cheap and quick.

Desi Dog is a really great deal and I really like the fried onions and peppers taste on their dogs. The $ 4 combo deal with a dog, fries and drink is also one of the better deals in town and I usually make my way here from the law school for lunch just because of the deal.
The owner’s also really friendly, which actually makes going there vere pleasant!

I kind of wish Desi Dog would surround the campus with three stands just like Top Dog does, because that way I wouldn’t have to trudge from Soda Hall to Bancroft for the really, REALLY delicious hot dogs. But then, it’s worth the trudge. Too bad I can’t figure out Desi Dog’s hours, because oftentimes when I went during Friday happy hour, the stand would be gone! A tragedy really, when I only ate there once.
A jumbo dog smothered in serranos and grilled onions, coupled with free all-​you-​can-​pile toppings was worth the $ 2.50 spent (the happy-​hour price has gone up over time). The guy in the stand was also very friendly and cheery, unlike the bored employees I often saw at Top Dog. Desi Dog doesn’t have as much variety as its competitor does (no chicken apple or bratwurst here), but if all you care about is a good breakfast dog or hot link, this is well worth it.

I always go after 5pm because the deal is unbeatable. You have to get it with grilled onions and peppers — it’s amazing. I love the fact that they provide you with pico de gallo (sorry if i am totally off with spelling) and other yummy toppers.
In all honesty, I have to say that with the amount of toppings they offer, this place beats Top Dog. Or course, I love that Top Dog is open late and the buns are crispy, but Desi Dog is CHEAP! I’m a college student. I’m broke. Give me a break…: (

This is one of those food carts that I take for granted. While I always see it at this busy intersection, I hope that it won’t disappear one day. I’m sad to say that I’m not a regular here, but I highly appreciate its existence.
Yes, the hot dogs are good!
The cart got a face lift a couple years ago when they painted it green.

On my first visit to Desi Dog, I was in a hurry, in the area, and I’d seen the Unilocal reviews weren’t bad, so I thought I’d give it a try. I wasn’t disappointed! The hot dogs were great, but the options — the *options*! Delicious grilled onions, peppers, bacon, mushrooms — whatever you like!
On my second visit, the proprietor (an extraordinarily nice individual) convinced me to try the breakfast dog, despite the fact that it was embarrassingly late for anything resembling breakfast. Boy, am I glad I did. I’ve literally been dreaming of the breakfast dog since. Delicious bun with (I think!) butter, melted cheddar cheese, dog of your choice, fried egg with runny yolk dripping down and soaking into the bun, grilled onions, and *bacon*! I was in heaven!
Desi Dog purports to be the «Home of the Breakfast Dog». I certainly can’t attest to the veracity of that statement, but given how delicious it was, it may as well be true!

Okay… wait until after 5:30 then it’s HAPPY HOUR! it’s like 2.50 for a hot dog…
but one time I went there and got a turkey dog… those beautiful people gave me two dogs in one bun… they are so naughty in a GOOD way!
grilled onions and peppers… on the HOUSE! all kinds sauce, all kinds FRIES! all kinds chips and drinks!
It’s right on Sproul… it’s so limpia and sabroso wtf amazing! if you go there, say hi to the ugly alien weird creature lady painted on the truck for me

Read about Desi Dog on Unilocal & when I missed out going to Top Dog on a recent trip to Berkeley found myself walking right past Desi Dog at lunch time
Had a regular dog w/​onions & peppers & really enjoyed it! I think the hot dog itself is not quite as good as Top Dog, but everything else is actually better. Of course it comes minus the entertaining political satire wallpaper so…
Has anyone else noticed their trailer says «Available for catering?!?» That would be cool!

You know it’s a good day when you can walk out of Bear’s Lair, buzzed, and stumble onto Desi Dog for their 2 for $ 3 special.
You walk back into Bear’s Lair happily with your recent purchase. That’s before you realized (all too late) that your friends are staring at you with lust in their eyes. Obviously it’s too late to take control of the situation, so you let one of the dogs get massacred by your crowd while you secretly have another one all to yourself.

some people would say desi dog is better than top dog …
I am not quite sureee… even though desi dog does have a wider selection of condiments. andddddddd i loveeeeeee their bacon hot dogs with cheeese or whatnot… most of all. go here for their
HAPPY HOUR MENU. half off of the menu ;) then go run down the stairs to bear’s lair and grab some pitchers of beer… especially on fridays… BEAT THE CLOCK!!!

It’s inevitable, you know I’m going to compare this place to Top Dog. Yet, I’ll review this food cart nonetheless.
I love it! I love their Happy Hour especially. What can I say? When I don’t feel like spending much for dinner, nothing gets better than a hot dog from a local joint whether it be Top Dog or Desi Dog. I love the grilled onions that they put on the hot dog but sometimes I don’t even see the serrano peppers. I love peppers, even though they aren’t too hot, can I get some more please? My favorites are the jumbo dog and the hot link. Add some fresh-​cut, fresh-​fried fries (at least when I go there around 6 or 7) for only a $ 1 during Happy Hour. They taste fantastic and they’re cheaper than Top Dog. The only thing that Top Dog beats them in is variety.

I passed this stand many times shuttling students back & forth to their appointments in my office & said to myself each time «I HAVE to try that place» simply because my name is Desi. Finally fate smiled on me & put me on campus during lunch time. The cute girl with the name tag Desi painted on the stand was so cute I had to get a picture with her… 2 cute Desi’s! I was so excited to try this food & I had good reason for it.
Such good food. I couldnt even finish it all either because the portions were so hearty. Oh & the cherry on top, I got free fries because my name is Desi!

How come NO ONE reviewed this place yet??? What the MADNESS! Is Top Dog that great that you have to shun this place? Do I dare say it? Desi Dog is WAY better than Top Dog. *GASP* Hell yeah, you heard me! Top Dog is weak sauce. Two Top Dogs equal the size of a Desi Dog aka the size of what a hot dog should be.
Plus, you can’t beat Desi Dog’s specials. You can get a hot dog, polish, or turkey dog for $ 1.50! Hell yeah, and you can add fries for another buck too. I don’t remember the exact time, but I think it’s 5pm to 8pm when they have «happy hour.» It comes pretty darn close to the value of a Costco dog! But they add grilled onions and peppers for free, if you like.
They are quick and friendly and if you ever do need to wait a bit for your order they always have bumping music. Classic oldies/​rock that you can’t help but want to sing to or dance to. Ah, if it wasn’t for this place I would never get my fix for cheap good old dogs.
Oh, for people who don’t know it’s on Bancroft cross street Telegraph across from American Apparel.