Top Fall River-area restaurants to get your frankfurter fix on National Hot Dog Day

Shoutout to all the Fall River-area frank-ophiles. This is your day.

Today, July 19, is National Hot Dog Day. According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, the holiday falls on the third Wednesday of July, which is designated National Hot Dog Month.

If you're suddenly craving franks to celebrate this food holiday, Greater Fall River has no shortage of tasty options.

Many local joints have built quite a reputation over the years, beckoning folks from across the SouthCoast to grab one (or six) of their hot dogs, each served with their own unique flair.

Downtown Fall River alone is home to a couple of well-known spots, where the competition is fierce and so is the loyalty of their patrons.

So in honor of National Hot Dog Day, here is a roundup of a few local places to hit to get your hot dog fix:

Nick's Hot Dogs 

When it comes to Fall River hot dog joints, Nick's is legendary. Located at 534 S. Main St., it's the city's longest-running hot dog place and many well-known customers — from the Three Stooges to President Bill Clinton, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason — have sat in the antique school chairs they've had since opening in 1920.

So what makes Nick’s Coney Island hot dog so special? It’s the steamed buns, grilled hot dogs, and the signature Coney Island sauce made fresh every day, topped with freshly-chopped onions. They also sell packets of spice mixes for those who want to try to replicate the sauce at home, but the recipe is safely guarded.

"Nick’s Original Coney Island Hot Dog Sauce is unique both in terms of its flavor and consistency. It has a hearty 'gravy-like' quality that distinguishes it from run-of-the-mill chili con carne. It also has a much fuller flavor than traditional chili and features finely minced beef," it reads on Nick's website. They also have a second location at 2069 S. Main St..

JJ's Coney Island Hot Dogs

While everyone has their favorite, there is no right or wrong answer because no two Coney Island hot dog places are alike. The secret's in the sauce. It's what sets each place apart and why their recipes are locked down tight.

At J.J.’s Coney Island, diagonally across the street from Nick’s at 571 S. Main St., the Coney Island sauce has a bit of a Portuguese twist. That doesn't necessarily involve chouriço, but spices that may be familiar to Portuguese cooks.

The Coney Island sauce at J.J.’s and Nick actually garnered some national recognition in 2013 when James Beard Award-winning food writers Jane and Michael Stern featured some of the city’s restaurants in an article in Saveur magazine.

Faneek's Coney Island

Just one bite is all it takes to make anyone a fan of Faneek's, an over-five-decade-old institution located in the South End of the city at 269 Rhode Island Ave. There, the hot dogs are cooked on a flat-top grill and topped with meaty, chili-accented Coney Island sauce. The recipe, created by the original owner, is a closely guarded secret that’s kept “under lock and key.”

Faneek's is also home of The Rolle, a wonton-wrapped deep fried creation filled with various sweet and savory offerings, including hot dog with Coney sauce, mustard and onions. Among their more popular items are the "works" dog, which includes the sauce along with mustard and onion, as well as their dog with ground chouriço topping.

Their dogs were dubbed a "handheld phenomenon" that's made the diners of Fall River "fanatical" by the Phantom Gourmet, which featured the city eatery in 2019.

Roger's Coney Island Hot Dogs

As with most places on this list, this restaurant, located at 1518 N. Main St., offers much more than dogs — with a vast array of breakfast, lunch and dinner options — and has been part of the community for decades. And Roger's does a lot with an ordinary hot dog to make it anything but ordinary. Steamed buns? Check. Secret, freshly made Coney Island sauce? Check. Their menu also includes items such as the cheese dog and the slaw dog, and unique offerings such as the Fiesta Dog and the Buffalo Dog.

County Fare

At this 937 County St., Somerset, spot, the countdown to National Hot Dog Day — their "favorite day" — has been underway for the past week. But every day is a day to celebrate at County Fare. There, you'll find the classic Coney Island, as well as a number of creative topping combos — from the Chouriço Dog to the Pizza Dog, Hawaiian Dog, Mac and Cheese Dog, and Sauerkraut Dog. Among their recent specials was the Candied Squealer, with queso, candied jalapeños and bacon. During the summer, County Fare also offers a cookout kit, which includes 25 hot dogs and all the fixings, to make any backyard barbecue complete.

TNT Coney Island

They've got "dogs for days" at this Somerset shop. And not just your run-of-the-mill frank. TNT, at 1242 Wilbur Ave., goes beyond the Coney sauce, mixing things up with menu highlights such as the Taco Dog, the Texan Dog (topped with Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce, chopped onion, baked beans, and TNT's signature bacon) and their "famous" Boomin Chili Cheese Dog. Not in a hot dog mood? Try their burgers and loaded fries (Taco Fries are a new addition to the menu). They've also got summer party platters for all your cookout needs.

Max's

Get your hot dog steamed or grilled at Max's, 405 State Road, North Dartmouth. They have the combo you didn't know you needed: six steamed hot dogs, a basket of hand-cut fries, and two drinks for only $23.25. Want to celebrate National Hot Dog Day but don't like hot dogs? Don't worry, they have a linguiça dog on the menu too.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Where to celebrate National Hot Dog Day 2023 in Greater Fall River