Tubby’s Hot Dog

Very fast and friendly service. Fair prices as well as good product. I had two all beef w/​chili, mustard, and onions. Only downside was no fries had to go with chips. If I’m in the area will definitely be back. Please support local small businesses by enjoying this joint.

What a find! Humbly nestled next to a Family Dollar in a strip location is this low-​key gem. The signage is modest and inside is an old fashioned booth and counter eatery. Not overly done or recently updated but no need for concern as the food is fantastic. And priced very reasonably.
Three lovely, pretty and mature women man (or would it be woman?) the establishment during breakfast while I was here. Although quiet and not extremely welcoming to this out-​of-​towner, they are good hostesses and cooks nonetheless.
My two eggs and bacon perfectly cooked with a little crisp, tasty hash browns (diced not shredded) and wheat toast were like eating at home. Comfort food, expertly prepared, to ease the weary traveler.
Oh, and my coffee was good. Only complaint might be coffee refills or attention as I needed to wait and ask for my check. But it was breakfast-​lunch transition and it seems the hot dog is king here. Once the clock struck 11, breakfast was declared over and orders at the counter were already underway while I waited to pay.
Now don’t take anything above as a complaint… I’ll be back, probably as early as tomorrow!

I thought the food was Delicious, the service was great and I look forward to coming back tomorrow

Nothing special here. The waitress said the hotdogs chilli was fresh made. It tasted like it was from a can. The dogs were not firm they were soft and didn’t snap. If you just want a dog I recommend ⁷⁄₁₁ over Tubbys. The are way over priced for the value.

i was in norfolk dropping off some knives thursday morning and i had not been here in maybe 20 years. thursday was the day for me to try my usual breakfast.
lets call this one: «bacon bonanza» — more bacon than i have ever gotten any breakfast spot.

I’ve eaten breakfast here many times over the years for myself & picked up for coworkers. Service is quick & friendly. It is a throw back to simpler times. Most patrons are long time customers. Food is good & I’m very fond of the pancakes. Good place for a quick breakfast or lunch.

In an area that I rarely travel I noticed a tiny joint in a run down strip that said «Tubby’s Hot Dog» It was just after 9 AM and I made a u-​turn to find out if the place served breakfast. It was raining at the time and I was actually headed some where else to get a meal and was excited at a possible new find, even if it might be a dive.
Once I entered the lot I saw cars directly in front of the restaurant and could tell they were open. The strip had a few businesses in operation including a Dollar General. However, overall many of the store front were empty and not maintained. The parking lot had bits and pieces of trash around which is never a good sign for me. The neighborhood is definitely on the other side of the tracks so to speak. I do want to say that I never felt unsafe, if I did I would never think of giving it an on par review.
A push of the aluminum frame glass door revealed a time warp. The low counter with around ten bar stools reminded me of a place I frequented with my Father when young. The worn blue and white checkerboard tiled floor matched up with the counter bar stools. There are a few booths in the rear. The kitchen runs along the exterior wall with a large cooking station directly in front by the large window. There was nothing about the joint that appeared updated, we are talking about a true retro dive of the likes I have never seen in Hampton Roads.
I was quickly greeted by the vivacious Etta who was running the grill on my first visit. She identified me quickly as a newbie and that was just fine. I liked her immediately and she ended up being a real hoot to converse with. A few regulars at the bar also welcomed me in a friendly manner. Two of the gentlemen had been coming to Tubby’s for over fifteen years. One of them every single day they are open he comes at the same time to drink a cup of coffee and read the newspaper. I learned that the owner is now Tubby’s daughter Shelly who I never met. The restaurant has been in operation for over 44 years. Although the name has always been been the same, breakfast has always been served too!
There is nothing fancy about the menu, it’s about as traditional as you can get. Hot dogs, barbecue, BLT’s and soup on the lunch end. Pancakes, biscuits, eggs, bacon, ham, hash browns and breakfast sandwiches in the morning. They do split it up, both menus do not overlap during their hours which are 6:30 AM to 2:30 PM and closed on Sundays. I put this in the system, but to date it has yet to been updated. I also corrected the fact they now accept credit cards.
For my first time I ordered the basic breakfast of two eggs hash browns and ham. I added a pancake. The prices are so ridiculous cheap, I mean 1980’s cheap. I also ordered a coffee and my waitress Ivy took care of my needs. The coffee was only passable, but drinkable. The banter between Ivy and Etta was awesome. You could tell both women enjoyed their job and loved serving their customers. Regulars flowed in and out with take out orders as Etta and Ivy called them by name… oh yeah this is a locals joint big time no mistaking it.
I found the breakfast to be much better than I would have expected. The hash browns were delicious greasy goodness made with BACON!!! The eggs were cooked perfectly the ham tasty and the pancake made with enough butter inside that no additional was needed on top. As a matter of fact this hotcake ranked right up there as one of the best I’ve ever had. The service and breakfast meals remained consistently good on all three visits.
I checked out the restroom on my first visit. It’s about as clean as you can get for a very old facility. It is also extremely cramped and when I say cramped I mean knees hitting the wall type of cramped if you need to sit down. There was soap, toilet paper and towels, so they pass. As I walked out I almost ran into a big bucket of grease that was in the middle of the floor. I suppose they were getting ready to take it out. Now that would have been a mess.
Final thoughts… the place is what I would consider a dive. It’s old and not completely maintained and it’s in a poor part of town. The parking lot was littered on my first visit, but much cleaner on my other two. As a matter of fact an older man was cleaning the lot on my last time there. The service is above what you would get in many establishments and after just one visit they remembered me. The food is at, or just above par and as I mentioned the pancakes were scrumptious. The best thing overall however are the prices which are really dirt cheap. I’m at a 3.5 and rounding down to a few of the negatives mentioned. I will be back.

Stopped in for lunch today, great dogs and chili the new york hot was ROCKIN loved the old school counter with the low stools place is dated but they cook a mean dog

5 star chili dog. Has everything required to be good: soft fresh bun, homemade chili and an atmosphere that screams «good chili dogs made here». Stop driving by this blue collar joint and pop in sometime. Crunchy ice with the drinks took a four star experience to five. Bring cash.

I inhaled their chili dogs. Definitely hit the spot.