On the search for the best hot dog in CT brings us to Glenwood Drive-In in Hamden.
This little plaza here is amazing.
Possibly the best hot dogs in CT.
Some great ice cream in the same building; solid donuts next door (more on these in a later post).
It’s always a surprising joy to come here.
But we are talking about hot dogs now.
Voted #1 Hot Dog in CT by Connecticut Magazine some years ago, it could be great, or it could be just fine with a cult following of people who stuff the ballot box.
We need to find out.
Let’s start with a side dish, to see what this place is offering:
Onion Rings
Really big with a nice thin and crispy batter.
No doughyness in these whatsoever.
And, as you can see, they are stacked super tall.
The problem is that they are under-seasoned.
The dough doesn’t really taste like anything, and they are even under salted.
Only some of it can be fixed with a little salt at the table, but otherwise they are pretty bland.
The Rating: onion rings
6/10
Hot dog
There are lots of options to add here, chili, sautéed onions, and a condiments bar.
First, the bun is grilled, which should seem like a requirement but so many places aren’t doing it.
The dog itself (pictured naked below) is nicely charred and blistered.
The meat itself has an excellent snap to it, and a great flavor.
Even before toppings this dog is excellent.
Probably the best dog in Connecticut.
The toppings are good, though we did not get a chance to try them all.
The spicy relish, however, is wonderful.
An absolute must on any hot dog.
Looking forward to going back time and again to try the rest of the toppings.
The Rating: hot dog
8.5/10
Address: 2538 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06518
Hours: Open everyday 11am to 8pm