Really nice staff! I've been thinking of how to rate this place in terms of ambiance, food and service. Service 5 stars! Ambiance 3 Stars Food 4 Stars. I got a chili cheese dog and the chili cheese Mac with no onions, no beans. The flavors are solid, but I wish there was a little more herbal aroma of 5 spice or cinnamon. Hot dog and bun were good quality. The server and cooks were really nice, friendly, and accommodating. They'd keep me coming back regardless! I love good classic diner service! The location itself is a bit odd and run down, but the prices are really great for 2026, so I get it. I'll be back next time I'm in Toledo! Thank you! read more

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Long time Toledo established business known for their hot dogs and Toledo style chili mac. Stopped in for a chili mac dinner to go. Nothing has changed still the same as it's been for years. Staff were courteous and polite and the service was immediate. Inside the restaurant was very clean and organized. read more

Okay,I'll be honest,as always,so I will admit I'm not a "Hotdog Guy",but I stopped by to get a cony dog and a soda..I wasn't blown away by the soda as most taste the same,but the Cony Dog was really tasty,so I had to order another one while eating the first one,so long story short,right? My point is take yourself on over,but get two to begin with because you're going to get another one anyway. That's it,no more to say because you're gonna love those dogs,enough said,so do it while You're hungry,you'll be happy. Okay,I only gave this place a "Four",only because hotdogs only go so far,come on,it's not a Rib Steak,it's a hotdog,but an exceptional one at that.. read more

Staff was amazing, super friendly. I got the coney dogs and I've had better in Toledo. But they were still good, just not great.

Love hot dogs. These are pretty good. Basic food done well. Severs expect you to know what you want. I get it. A smile goes a long way. Chili Mac is out of this world and very old school. read more

Ideal Hotdog - Chili Cheese Fríes and Chili Dogs - American Near Me - Toledo, Ohio

Best Chili Mac ever. We've tried it all over and nobody else is even close. Been there for decades read more

Great food at the Alexis rd. Restaurant, there chili mac and Chili is best I ever had , I will drive out of my way to eat there . Great service and great food. You can't go wrong stopping in or doing carryout read more

Horrible service! By the waitress and the "manager" we got our food. My hotdogs were cold .. I waited patiently for our waitress to come back.. we waited until the rest of my party finished their food. With no refills I might add. She had like 3 tables in total. She was standing up at the counter talking and watching the cook make another tables meal. When she delivered it. I had to say excuse ma'am. She came over I told her we have been waiting on her to come back and that I needed to let her know 1 we all needed refills. And 2 my hotdogs are cold. She reply's do you want me to microwave them.!? Ummm no!! I want them cooked right. She said do you want them re-made. I said sure but make them to go now since everyone else has been done for a while now. She tells the cook to make them and brings us the bill.. now before this I wasn't going to complain at all about our service.. until she charged me for the first order and my re-make. I asked for a manager. He comes up to the counter I started saying we never received refills and he rudely takes his hands is motioning like hurry up . Then said she is busy what do you expect have patience.. I said I did have over 10 minutes of patience watching her stand up here talking .. but my issue is my hotdogs were cold and she is trying to charge me for the remake (which I never received nor a refund for the initial hotdogs) he argued she didn't charge me. I had to point it out to him on his own bill .. he took off the remake and still charged me for the cold ones . While the entire time arguing with us saying we don't know anything about restaurant work.. we then told him actually we do we are managers at a place less than 1/2 a mile from him. That has not only a restaurant but a bar .. and we as managers would never treat customers they way he is or how he is Allowing his waitress to behave by defending her.,NEVER going back. The store is nasty dirty it was hard to miss the filthy cook station while Mr Manager was looking like a moron. read more

Delicious hot dogs, fresh onion rings, great service! Everyone was so nice!!!! Fast & friendly with great prices!!!

Even though traffic on the Alexis Road corridor is DOWN 30%, Ideal Hotdog's business is actually UP 30% over last summer, according the owner. Why is business up? I figure it must be because the chili is so damned good. But then again, this is not a change. The chili has always been awesome. CHILI: You can get the chili "spicy," (which is actually not that hot; after all, this is not Texas style chili), or you can get it mild. You can get the chili on a hotdog, with mustard and onions (add shredded cheese, if you desire). OR, obviously, you can get it in a bowl or cup. OR, you can get it over fries. OR you can even get it over spaghetti. I'm told that those in the know call this odd chili/spaghetti mixture "chili mac." CHILI MAC: I've said it before and I'll say it now...This is the best Chili Mac in the Glass City, and, it's some of the best I've ever tasted, period. I usually get mine "four way," which is chili, noodles, shredded cheese on top, and onions. If you like beans in your chili, order it "five way." (You can also skip the onions, but add beans...this is also known as "four way." Hate veggies and/or legumes? Order it "three way" to get only spaghetti, chili and cheese. ATMOSPHERE: Let's move on to the next category. HOTDOGS: Excellent chili dogs. BUT, here's a word of warning for Coney Island aficionados/snobs: These chili dogs are not true coneys. The hotdogs do not have casings, and the chili is not creamy. Personally, I prefer Ideal's. SERVICE: Always good. And, if George, the owner, is not behind the counter, he's out in the dining room making sure that his customers are getting what they want. COST: This place is very, very, very inexpensive. This place ranks up there with the Brownstone Tavern as a North Toledo institution. Although business is up over last summer, it's still only "fair." George is a really good guy, so c'mon in and show him some love! read more

Ideal Hotdog - a sign for a hot dog breakfast anytime - American Near Me - Toledo, Ohio

Incompetent staff. Can't get a simple order correct. Waited 2 years to return only to find nothing had changed.

The absolute best chili Mac you can find anywhere. It's a little gem is locals know about. Breakfast all day read more

Ideal Hotdog - Chili Mac - American Near Me - Toledo, Ohio

Love the food but they always close before their said time. Just like today. Called and they closed 30 minutes early on Alexis Rd. Grrr.

Great chili mac is all I can say about this place...servers were awesome too.

Of course they have great chili Mac and hot dogs, but I love their super Burger too!!! Not to mention where else can you get an egg sandwich read more

When the weather cools off, it's time for some Chili-Mac. I've been coming to this place since I was a kid. They used to have a condom machine in the restroom. When I was about eight, I bought one and brought it to the table (thinking I had discovered some kind of new candy). The horrified waitress traded me my condom for a little teddy bear pin while my parents sat there and died a little inside. Fast-forward to yesterday and very little has changed, although the condom machine is no longer. The prices are dirt cheap and they have daily specials. Remember buying gas in the 80's or 90's when you could just clear out all the change in your car? It's like that but for food. The Chili-Mac is incredible. Don't bother ordering it anywhere else around here. The omelettes and home fries are killer as well. Order anything else at your own risk. I'm not saying it's bad, just that in the past 20+ years I haven't really had cause to order anything else. read more

On my recent stop into T-town, I had to get chili cheese fries from Ideal. . . . . still killer! However, the chili seemed very salty. Oh well, I still love you Ideal chili cheese fries!!!! I'll shout it from the mountain tops. . . which I can do now that I'm back in CO. Here is the thing about this place . . .it's a dump. . . and I love it! It looks as though it has not received a thorough cleaning in forever. It definitely has never been remodeled. . . .because it doesn't need to be!! This is a typical greasy spoon in Toledo. Greasy, calorie laden, gluten infused. If you are a prissy, prima donna, germaphobe don't consider coming to Ideal. Turn away, and don't look back. There are plenty of other places for your ilk elsewhere. The service was just fine and the place was busy with all the old folks, just like I remember. I think with my son and I there, and considering the rest of the patron's, the average age in the place was brought down to about 71. Ideal rocks!!!! Just gotta be careful not to break a hip. read more

We recently moved back to Toledo and a few weeks ago we ate here for the first time in years. Of course, I got the chili mac and it was as good as I remember. This place is a true Toledo classic. read more

In town on business wanted a dog the reviews are right on target. Great food fast and reasonable.

Great chili Mac served hot or mild. Their chili dogs are also great. They definitely compete with the other hot dog places around town.

This used to be a great restaurant. But not anymore. Smaller portions, no hot buns, food was just warm. Won't be back.

Ideal Hotdog has been a Toledo institution for years. I have enjoyed the food which has never changed since the owner died. This posting is concerning our waitress and a very unprofessional attitude. Five of us stopped for lunch and placed our order in a timely manner. Two received their meal right away and when I asked her about our order she informed me that it was my omelet that was holding (15 minutes) everything up. I'm a retired chef and culinary educator and told her it shouldn't take that long. The way she responded was totally unprofessional in front of other customers. Being a little embarrassed I dropped the matter. When we finally got our food the other two were finished with theirs. When George was alive her conduct would not have been allowed. You never argue with a customer in front of another guest. She was extremely unprofessional. We will go back because we enjoy the food but when one goes out to eat your looking for a total dining experience. read more

I can't believe I have lived in Toledo for 53 years and have never, before now, tried Ideal Hotdog. My brother has been telling me for years that it is the best, and I finally tried it recently. Wow! Absolutely delicious. I had the mild Chili Mac with cheese, onion, and beans. I also came back and had it the next day :) Great stuff ! read more

Was referred by a good friend regarding their chili mac. First of all the waitress was very friendly and attentive. The portions are very big. ( my son would love that). But, the meat sauce tasted like it had been in the warmer all day. I couldn't Eat it. Cannot refer this to anyone. All I could think was if I came across a homeless person in my way home I would give them my take out box. Took it home and Even my son would not eat it. read more

Wow! My family has been telling me about Ideal for some time, but I hasn't tried it until today. Have to say I'm impressed! Food was delicious! Great prices! I'll definitely be returning to and recommending this place! read more

Food is wonderful!!! If you want chili dogs, ask for light onions. No joke. Those onions will kill you. Heed my warning

Old school chilli dogs diner style! Love it!

The hotdogs were just OK and the staff wasn't the friendliest. Good value you though.

me and my aunt and her girlfriend came to this location for a family breakfast and we sat down at about 11:00 am put our orders in within a few minutes we placed our order. About 20 minutes goes by, other tables have finished eating and new customers come in. Another 10 minutes and the new customers had gotten their food and we still have not received what we ordered. At this point its a little ridiculous. So we made a comment that we had not received our meals yet to which we get a snarky reply from a waitress "they got hotdogs" as if thats an excuse as to why our food had not even began to cook. Okay weird. Shortly after we notice they begin to cook our food. It has now been 45 minutes. And i work in the food industry i completely get it, but seriously 45 minutes and then nobody really was even concerned. Definitely will not be coming back. Needs better service, sorry. read more

This is a Toledo classic right here. I've been going there on an occasional basis for most of my life. The chili-mac is where it's at. The chili dogs are just fantastic as well. Breakfast food, also delicious. They have a steady of daily specials and the prices can't be beat. The only thing holding this back from a fifth star is the aging look. I don't think they've changed a thing in 25 years good or bad. read more

This place is very good it has very good chill mac and also good chill dogs so this is my review for ideal hot dog hope you like my review thanks for reading read more

Honestly I don't even give it a one star for service. The food may be good regardless of how dirty the kitchen is... but the cook is absolutely horrible. I've never been in a restraunt where the cook has been such an asshole. He took our order over the phone and was absolutely disgusting!!!! I am furious. He raised his voice and when we told him we wanted a chili dog he raised his voice again and said "I wish you would have told me before I wrote hot dog" like he couldn't just write chili. I'm just shocked and he should absolutely be fired or reconsider his "career." If you act like an absolute asshole you have NO business being in customer service. I pay my hard earned money to eat out and I am just shocked. THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD PLACES TO EAT IN TOLEDO AND THE SERVICE ALONE I WILL NEVER GO BACK. I usually take these things with a grain of salt but I'm just so disgusted. There is a reason they don't get business. read more

I've been going here for all of my life (I'm currently 19) and I have to say that this place is absolutely amazing. Whenever I walk in I know I'm going to have an amazing meal. I ALWAYS get the mild chili cheese fries and two hot dogs with cheese. What I can say is that this place is NOT stingy, they give you a great amount of food for what you're paying for. Anyways, I know this is a somewhat long review, but let me tell you this: Ideal Hotdog is the best thing in Toledo. read more

I've been going to Ideal for many years. I have to say that their CHILI MAC (hot and mild are both awesome) is truly the BEST in town and is a must try! I've had their hot dogs and onion rings which are also very good. The staff is friendly and the prices are very reasonable considering the amount of food you get. read more

Best Chili Mac since The Origianl Chili Parlor in downtown Toledo closed years and years ago!

We DREAM of chili Mac with"the works". Chili dogs and breakfast too!! Remembering the heap of potatoes on the grill at breakfast time. Been a fan since George was on Front street and we railroaders stopped for breakfast. It's Been 3 years since our last Toledo visit but we'll be back. Joe & Judy. read more