Local Flavor: Grab a quick bite at Mama’s Hot Dogs
Mama’s Hot Dogs is a great place to grab a quick bite.
It’s a little restaurant for people with big appetites.
The family-owned eatery, which touts itself as “The Home of the Giant Hot Dog,” is located in a concrete-block building at 886 Canton Road (Route 91) in Springfield Township just south of the Ellet line of Akron. Look for the mustard-and-ketchup mural painted on the outside wall.
This is a mom-and-pop shop — or mama and papa, if you prefer. The “Mama” in the restaurant’s name is Karen Hubbard, who runs the business with her husband, Darnell.
My wife, Susie, and I decided to check it out after our friend Glenn recommended the food.
Hot dog! This might be the smallest restaurant we’ve ever visited. Most of the business is takeout, but Mama’s has limited seating inside: a table for four and a wooden bar with four high-back chairs.
The 680-square-foot building, which opened in 1959 as Glenn’s TV and Appliance (no relation to our friend), has served many uses. Over the past 60 years or so, its occupants have included — take a deep breath — Louie’s Pizza Shop, Napoli Pizza, Vaccaro’s Pizza, Summit Sewing Machine, Golden Years Antique & Coin Shop, Mattress Distributors, Adorni’s Pasta Place, R Sandwich Shop, Judy’s Sandwich Shop, La Posadita, La Chiquita Grill, Sue’s Diner, Norma Jean’s Diner, Smitty’s Subs and Hayuya Restaurant.
Mama’s Hot Dogs arrived a couple of years ago. It’s a bright, clean, air-conditioned restaurant with a counter that separates the kitchen from the dining area. Classic rock plays in the background.
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We were the only ones dining indoors on a recent weeknight, but takeout orders kept the staff busy the whole time we were there. The workers couldn’t have been friendlier. Linda, a great ambassador for the shop, explained the menu and took our order while Kyia and Michael prepared our food and chatted with us.
“The staff is very nice,” Susie said as we took our seats. “They’re very welcoming.”
When Darnell found out it was our first visit, he invited us outside and took a picture of us in front of the mural. Everyone made us feel special.
What’s on the menu?
Obviously, the restaurant specializes in hot dogs, but it also serves burgers, sandwiches and other food.
The all-beef hot dogs cost $3 while coney dogs are $3.50. There’s a mac ’n’ cheese hot dog for $4. The kids’ meal ($5) is an octopus-shaped hot dog served on a bed of mac ’n cheese.
A combo meal consists of two hot dogs, fries and a canned beverage for $10. Add a buck to make them coney dogs.
The giant hot dog ($8.35), nearly a foot long, is a half-pound of Angus beef. If you add coney sauce, it costs $9.35.
“You’ll be full for the entire day,” Kyia said.
Also featured on the menu are a quarter-pound cheeseburger ($6), double cheeseburger ($9.35) and triple cheeseburger ($13.35).
For 50 cents more, customers can add cheese sauce, ranch, sauerkraut, marinara, extra cheese, spicy slaw or regular slaw to your dogs or burgers.
Mix and match. The choice is yours.
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For those who prefer to go meatless, Mama’s offers a vegan dog ($3.50) and Impossible burger ($6.50).
Other sandwiches include bratwurst, Italian sausage, steak Philly, chicken Philly and grilled cheese. Side dishes are mac ’n’ cheese, spicy coleslaw, regular coleslaw, potato salad, fries, loaded fries, mozzarella sticks and chips. The menu also includes tomato soup and New York-style cheesecake.
Food is served in Styrofoam containers with plastic utensils.
Let’s get started
For starters, I ordered a side of spicy coleslaw ($3.25), a homemade mixture of shredded cabbage, jalapenos, carrots, pepper and honey mustard.
“I can smell the jalapeno,” Susie said.
It was crunchy, cold and definitely spicy. My tongue tingled, my lips burned and my sinuses cleared. Yeah, it was pretty great. I washed the slaw down with a can of A&W root beer.
I also cooled my palate with a side of homemade mac ’n’ cheese ($3.50), a creamy, hot, comforting blend of cheeses and elbow macaroni. Really tasty.
My wife ordered a side of loaded fries ($5.50), a generous portion of crispy potatoes, coney sauce and nacho cheese.
“Those look yummy,” she said. “Feel free to grab some if you want.”
You don’t have to tell me twice, Susie.
I don’t usually go for loaded fries, but these were a savory, greasy delight. I kept going back to them.
The staff humored us by answering all our questions about the food, including our big debate about what gave the loaded fries a little kick. Susie and Kyia thought it could be the cheese. I thought it was the potatoes. Michael said he added a little seasoned salt to the fries.
We enjoyed talking with them. “They’re fun,” Susie said.
Coney dog and steak Philly
I had considered ordering a giant hot dog, but I suspected it would make me too full to try any sides, so I opted for a coney dog ($3.50). Boy, did it hit the spot.
The homemade meat sauce, which offers a hint of cinnamon, was slathered across a plump, juicy dog on a soft, fresh bun. It was so good that I blanked out and forgot to take notes, but I believe I ate the whole thing in five delicious bites. My only regret is that I didn’t order two.
Susie ordered a steak Philly sandwich ($7.25), which features shredded sirloin with mozzarella cheese, onions and mushrooms, although she opted not to have the last two ingredients.
“The steak Philly is juicy and very cheesy,” she said. “Quite a bit of meat fell out as I was eating it.”
Between the sandwich and fries, she filled up quickly, so I just had to help her finish those fries.
“Not that you were complaining!” she said.
We were too full to try the cheesecake. Guess that will just have to wait until next time.
This restaurant is a little gem. Our total bill, including tax, came to $25.69.
Mama’s Hot Dogs offers a loyalty card that is punched every time a customer purchases a sandwich. After 10 punches, the restaurant awards a free hot dog.
Get ready, Susie. Eight more punches to go!
Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com.
Details
Place: Mama’s Hot Dogs
Address: 886 Canton Road, Springfield Township
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday
Phone: 330-784-3354
Takeout: Yes
Indoor dining: Yes
Gluten-free options: Yes
Alcohol: No
More info: https://www.mamashotdogsakron.com/ or Facebook
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Mama's Hot Dogs is little restaurant for people with big appetites
