Berkeley Dog

The prices keep changing and the amenities become less and less. Their website says one thing, but when you get to the actual restaurant, the price is more for the combo and it doesn’t come the chips.
Recommend updating the menu on your website.
But still getting 2 gourmet dogs and a drink for under $ 9 is still a pretty good deal. They do charge extra for the toppings. The only freebies are the chopped onions and the sauerkraut. They have 5 different mustards to choose from.
And the sausages themselves are very tasty. Grilled to order. And the bread is nice, warm and crispy.

I am normally not a «hot dog» person, however I really like this place.
Their dogs are really good and they have every kind you could think of.
They also have sweet potato fries.
The food is reasonably priced.
It is by the mall.
Low key… works for me!

So I came back today craving a hot dog so I’m just updating my review on what I got.
To begin this update, AGAIN, that damn toasted bun that they use is the icing on the cake for these hot dogs! Without it, this place would just be any ordinary hot dog joint, but this bun, it’s like a combination of a french roll + hot dog bun with sesame seeds! It has a nice crunch because they toast it and it has a subtle sweetness. SUPERB!!!
But onto the frank that I ordered today. I went with the Kobe beef today. I’m always lured to the word «Kobe», but alas really it was just a ordinary juicy plump hot dog. I really couldn’t tell the difference in quality and what not. Still, with onions, ketchup, and mustard, man it was tasty :)
Today however, the champion of my stomach went to the Monster Fries! Melted gooey cheese, little bits of bacon (or was it pastrami?), their special ranch sauce and fries. I opted to add grilled onions in it which I would suggest everyone do because that adds a little extra too it. The combo screams heart attack, but man is it worth it! It’s just a orgy in your mouth, really I can’t explain it. It just works! Don’t be alarmed by the gooey cheese. It’s nothing like the lame nacho cheese you find at 7 – 11. The bacon/​pastrami add the meatiness of it, and their special ranch sauce (which was red) just took my tongue to flavor town!
So far the funnel fries, monster fries, and bacon hash dog are must tries if you are coming to Berkeley Dog :)
Until next time! I think the Louisiana-​Hot Link is next on my list.

This would really be 3.5 but I am rounding up to 4.
Went on Sunday night place was empty. I got the Louisiana hot link. The cashier was very friendly but it did take awhile for the food. I tried the pineapple mustard it was good. I just found myself wishing the hot link had more spice and flavor I didn’t think it was hot spicy at all. I would come back to try other things though.

Yum. This place has the best dawgs in town. The hot links are amazing if not deathly hot. The mustard bar is great and the sides are large and a great accompaniment to the hot dogs. I’d love to go there more often but this isn’t really healthy food. It is a guilty pleasure.
Happy Eating.

In Mission Viejo, this is one of the spots I consider DANK. Not many delicious, non-​chain restaurants around the area.
The thing to get here, BACON HASH DOG + Fried Egg! Breakfast in a bun, top it off with your choice of many mustards, ketchup, pickles, onions, and relish.
If you are feeling a good gourmet dog, and want to try something other than Jerry’s head to Berkeley and do the HASH DOG, Trust.

My coworker suggested this place a while back. We came here with our roommate. The boys loved it.
I had a regular frank and funnel cake fries. The mustard selections were great. I tried several before I decided the one I liked. I can’t remember now which one I picked but it was really tasty on the dog. The funnel cake fries hit the spot for me. They weren’t greasy and had just enough powdered sugar on them for my sweet tooth to be satisfied.

I wanted to like the place. I gave an initial review shortly after they opened, and management was kind enough to follow up with me, point out a few things, and asked me to come back. I just was not in the neighborhood at lunch time often enough.
So the other day I was around and figured on trying it out again. The yogurt machines are gone, they hot dog operation seems to be well settled in, and it was empty. At noon. Not a good sign.
The dogs are good, and the bread is excellent, but having come to expect that the dogs would be on the small side, I realized the real problem. Too much bread. I like the bun. But the first and last bite of the dog was all bun. I don’t mind the smaller sausage, but it should fill the bun. With grilled onions and fries, it was plenty to eat, but it got lost in the bread.
So I still can’t really say it was A-​OK, maybe 2 ½ stars. I still prefer Jodi Maroni and Jerry’s for sausages, and it is tough to beat Costco for a basic dog.

It’s not the same, but close enough, I guess.
This is the best gourmet hotdog place you can find in OC, but for people who are Top Dog (Berkeley)-lovers, it’ll remind you of that most wonderful sausage heaven… but it won’t exactly take you there. Supposedly they use the same dogs, but maybe it’s the way they grill it, just seems lackluster.
My personal fav is still the Hot Link — choc full of flavor until your tongue goes numb from the peppers. You might even tear up a bit, but that’s just because it’s so damn good.
The German Frankfurter is also a sure bet, especially for garlic-​lovers who want a more traditional dog. The Lemon Chicken and Smoked Chicken Apple are good options for a lighter fare, but I always find chicken hotdogs too mushy for my liking.
In Berkeley if you’re vegan or a vegetarian, they’ll make your order on a separate grill when requested. Not sure if this place will do the same, but it prob doesn’t hurt to ask =).
So it’s good, even excellent if you compare it to a ballpark or Costco dog, but it doesn’t match the original.

The hubby and I had our first Berkeley Dogs a month or so ago. We both had the Berkeley Hash dog with a frankfurter. My husband thought it was great and I thought it was good. I believe this was only a personal preference thing as to the why of differing opinions, as opposed to anything being wrong. I just think that maybe I’m a bit more of a purist and would have liked it without the hash.
We tried some of the mustards, they have numerous. The maui onion mustard blew me away, great taste.
They also have tamales from supposedly a great, well-​known place. I ordered one and thought it was good, but not great.
By the way, gps systems in your car cannot find this place. We had to call to get directions, which were totally different than what our car’s onboard gps computer told us to do. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful and even waited till we got there, even though they were closing in 5 minutes. Way to go the extra mile!

As a hot dog lover, this place offers a nice departure from my usual Saturday Wienerschnitzel visits. It’s a classier dog, complete with fancy bun and a toppings bar with several mustard options. I went with the frankfurter and definitely noticed I was eating a quality sausage and not a typical hot dog.
For those of us with a larger appetite, I would recommend adding a side or another dog to your order. The ‘combo’ only includes the dog and drink, not worthy of being called a ‘combo’ if you asked me.
I tried the monster fries and wasn’t particularly impressed, they are basically animal fries but not as good, it’s the chipotle mayonnaise that ruined it for me.
Bottom line, if you’re in the mood for an elegent hot dog and are willing to pay for it, then Berkely Dog is it!

Decided to try this place on a whim. Looks as if it’s fairly new, since you can clearly see traces of a yogurt shop. They haven’t done too much to try and hide traces of that, but it’s not that big a deal. This place is pretty small, and only has 20 chairs. There is a big HDTV mounted in the corner of the restaurant for your viewing pleasure.
I ordered the pastrami, and my wife ordered the regular frank and monster fries and a large drink to share. Our total came out to around $ 15. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they fired up the «grill» upon hearing our order — I love knowing my food isn’t microwaved or has been sitting under a heat lamp. Upon receiving our meal, I feel the need to announce two things: the cheese they use for chili cheese fries and monster fries is nacho cheese (face-​desk), and you’re definitely not paying for the portion (in other words, bigger eaters will want/​need 2 orders of food). That being said, they grill onions to perfection — they were perfectly caramelized in my sandwich and on the fries. I asked for no peppers on my sandwich, and the onions + pastrami combination was delectable. The bread they use is kind of like a baguette, and fits perfectly.
All in all, great tasting place, but removed a star because I don’t think the prices are completely reasonable. An order of MONSTER fries is $ 4, but they are the size of an order of fries that hot dog on a stick gives you (maybe a medium order of fries at typical fast food joints).

For those who have never had Top Dog or Berkeley Dog: You’re missing out, this IS the premier sausage.
For all the Cal alumni… This place is great… tastes just like the real thing up at Cal. Delicious! Just don’t go up ordering «One top and one hot»…the teenage OC kid behind the counter will have no idea what you’re talking about.
Differences from the original location in Berkeley:
–I don’t have to claw my way through a cramped space to get my fixings
–The people here don’t have a snarky attitude
–This place is really clean and has plenty of seating
–No incoherent libertarian propaganda barraging me from all sides
Really loved all the Cal paraphernalia up on the wall. Its like a little slice of Berkeley right in the middle of conservative Orange County (like seeing a fish out of water). Would definitely come again!

*EDIT* 4 stars solid.
It’s owned by a Cal Alum! c/​o 85~ woowee. now that’s legit!!! (Thanks for the message John!) Okay that means there’s definitely attention to detail if you left cal and went on to open up a joint in socal!
i’m a cal bear alum and i will be honest. i had just returned from a trip back to old stomping grounds (aka: had top dog first thing off the plane). and upon returning home — i was interested to check out this oc branch serving top dog that i heard so much about.
apparently they’ve branched out to brea and will also have one in uci.
the joint here is clean. impeccably so. and they do carry the same dogs from good old top dog.
if you have a craving for top dog, you’ll get it satisfied here for sure. the lemon chicken was just as good as the one i had from top dog.
but if you’re a true blue and gold cal bear. something’s missing. and sadly? regrettably? i think it’s something along the lines of the ghetto feel you get cramming yourself into the top dog durant joint at some odd post drinking hour. seeing the filth of berkeley around you. and the old grill you so fondly recall.
they also have a bunch of weird condiments like mango ketchup, etc. the sauerkraut was also burned in the metal container. but they do have the deli mustard, ketchup and house mustard basics.
loved the décor calling back to bear territory.
would probably come back if i was needed my top dog fix.
would recommend if someone’s needing their hot link fix.
it’s good. but i understand why it’s called berkeley dogs and not top dog.
it’s just missing something to be worthy of the same name.
top dog #1 all the way.

I tried their #9 Smoked Chicken Apple sausage this time. This is tasty and goes well with the slightly sweet Maui Onion mustard. I like the toasted french roll bun used for the sausages. I added grilled bell peppers for .45 and that provided a fresh taste and a little bit of crunch to the sausage. Next time I would add grilled onions instead of the bell pepper. I think their grilled onions taste good and bring a little sweetness.
My combo included a large drink and came out to $ 6.35. The people there are nice and the setting is pleasant. The cook asked me how I liked the sausage. I plan to come back here, I want to try more of the items. They offer french fries, sweet potato fries, tamales and many other sausages. There are 9 different types of gourmet mustard from which to choose. That’s great. Berkeley Dog is next to It’s a Grind.

Cool place!
I am from NorCal, but the first time I heard about this chain was when they opened in Mission. I went there a couple of days ago and it was quite good. A little hard to find and I got the feeling that they turn the place into a frozen yogurt shop night, but the decoration was not why I went.
My friend and I split the Juicy Habanero and the Bacon hash hot dogs. We also got their monster fries. Everything we ate was good. And I cant wait to go back to try some others. The only thing that would make this place better is if they got some exotic meats.

Berkeley Dog is just not the same as Top Dog in Berkeley. =(
For $ 3.85 a dog, it’s a tad expensive and the buns aren’t quite as toasty.
Nothing beats a good ol’ lemon pepper chicken on Durant.

A place that sells Top Dog in southern California? NO way! After finding this spot hidden near Saddleback Lanes (bowling alley) I strolled in with a gleeful smile and an empty stomach. I couldn’t wait to have top dog.
I ordered two frankfurters after being hit with a number of questions I wasn’t expecting regarding my dogs. Did I want extra onions, fries, bell peppers on top? Now that’s odd, Top Dogs usually don’t require much else, and usually you serve condiments yourself. The dogs also took a while to get. Meanwhile I gazed at the senior citizens who had came in to buy yogurt. Note: the other half of this place sells yogurts by the ounce. It was fun to watch them gaze at, perhaps, a new concept of purchasing yogurt by the ounce.
The buns were not the same buns from Top Dog. The dogs, being prepared the way they were-​overcooked and burnt-​lost their zeal a few minutes after the cashier kept on talking to me while I had food in my mouth. That was the worst part, along with the undercooked grilled onions. The dog just didn’t have the same kick Top Dog’s in Berkeley do. Sorry to disappoint, but that’s how it was. If you’re going to use Top Dog, do it right, I say. Berkeley Dog has a high benchmark to meet and I don’t expect them to meet it, but they really fail to perfect the Top Dog experience.

Really good. Nice toasted bread. Had the frankfurter which had a nice bite to it and also had the bockwurst which was excellent plus had a calabrese. Had them all with grilled onion. Good Sauerkraut on the side available.
Place needs more seating though.
Friendly owner checks up to see how things are running. Keep up the good work. Don’t try to change and ruin a place like this.

Berkeley Dog — Officially supplied and endorsed by Top Dog of Berkeley
Note: Berkeley Dog is located inside of the MYOGURT shop
Grand Opening Special (Announced two days ago — 05÷06÷10)
Be sure to mention Unilocal*: $ 1 off any sausage, reg. price — $ 3.75
I happened to be in the Mission Viejo area and pulled up my iPhone Unilocal*app… Low and behold, Berkeley Dog, featuring Top Dog tubesteaks!.. ‘In Orange County. (raised eyebrow)
‘Having lived a good part of my life up in the Bay Area and attending the Academy of Art, SF — Blondie’s Pizza, Zachary’s Chicago Pizza, and Top Dog Hot Dogs are all very familiar and popular local eateries.
I just had to stop in for a visit and support the one week young shop!
(Funny thing is, I was considering a first time visit to Jerry’s Wood Fired Dogs in Ladera Ranch just moments before.) ‘Gonna have to Unilocal*Jerry’s some other day.
I ordered the:
Frankfurter ($ 3.75) — Very good; nice snap; flavourful
Hot Link ($ 3.75) — Very good; spicy; nice kick
I also had grilled onions and bell peppers with the each dog, yum. (+$ 0.50 per dog)
Both dogs were tasty. I believe along with a good quality dog, the bun is key as well. The toasted, sesame seed, hoagie style bun makes all the difference. The hot dogs are a perfect size for a small meal or if you’re really hungry, two will do the trick. I did not put any condiments on either dog, I wanted to taste the full unadulterated flavor each had to offer. (‘With the exception of the grilled bell peppers and onions.)
Unfortunately, no linguica. (sigh) Ah, linguica… An all pork, wine vinegar cured, and smoked, Portugese sausage. Tasty, tasty, tasty… ‘Also a loved Hawaiian Islands staple.
I had the pleasure of meeting John, the owner of MYOGURT and Berkeley Dog. John’s a Cal alum and local from Hawaii as well. We talked story for a while about the SF Bay Area and Hawaii. ‘Will be making my way back here to try John’s other Berkeley Dog menu items… ‘Now if I can possibly talk him into carrying lingucia as well. 8)
It’s nice to have a piece of the SF Bay Area in South OC.
— Aloha
Food: 5
Ambiance: 3
Service: 4
Value: 4