The banner hanging at the entrance says it all, "Best Burgers and Best Diner" in Shelby County…read more And, there's something comforting about entering a new, unfamiliar spot and being greeted like you're a regular. I ordered one of the more popular items (because I asked) the chili dog with onions and mustard - it hit the spot! The bun was steamy soft. The combo included crinkle fries. The fries were the crinkle variety and served piping hot, fried golden crispy and seasoned well. Yes, it's a bit of a well worn hole in the wall as described by some Yelpers, but I discovered that's because its well loved. There was a contestant stream of customer at mid afternoon - old, young and everyone in between, and the employees seemed to know many of them. I will certainly return to try their hamburger!

Tony's Hot Dogs in Birmingham is the kind of place you'd drive past a hundred times if you didn't…read moreknow better. No frills. No gimmicks. Just a tiny, iconic hole in the wall that exists for one reason: to serve hot dogs that mean business. When you walk in, you already know you're not here for the décor. You're here because you're craving a hot dog and you want it done right. I ordered the Chicago dog, which showed up looking like it had zero intention of fitting politely inside its bun. This thing was juicy, oversized, and required a concerning amount of napkins. The pickles were crisp, the peppers had the right bite, the mustard was exactly what it should be. Everything hit. The only thing missing was that neon green relish that looks radioactive but somehow makes a Chicago dog official. I kind of missed it. A little. Then I got adventurous. Mistake number one. I ordered the Beef Sandwich, what I can only describe as a sloppy joe with a pickle on top. It sounded bold. It tasted... fine. Not terrible. Not memorable. Just sort of there. It's like I betrayed the hot dog gods and they let me know. My colleague went with the burger, which Tony's is apparently campaigning as "best of" material with the local news crowd. He said it was decent and a great value. High praise in burger language. Now the onion rings? Absolute perfection. Crispy, golden, and cooked exactly the way onion rings should be cooked. No notes. If I had stuck strictly to the hot dogs, this would've been an easy five-star situation. But I strayed. That's on me. Four stars. Next time, I'm staying loyal to the dogs.

Travis Chicago style is the old standby in Birmingham. Always consistent, always quick, always…read morefriendly, you get the idea. I've seen them in various parts of town so chances are you've seen them around the Birmingham area at least once or twice. Known for their burgers and polish dogs the menu serves up delicious food that's saucy and fresh. They even have some vegan options for you. My go to is the polish dog that comes with a welcomed large polish sausage, onions and peppers drenched in their special sauce. The polish sausage is thick and seasoned with garlic. The hot dog bun and everything in between is a must try!

I grew up in Birmingham Alabama in the seventies and eighties and I remember the Travis food truck…read moreback then and it was all lovely! The burgers were great the Franks are great and though I've never tried the veggie burger my father has even though he has passed away he told me that it was awesome so I've got to try it. Fast food is going to trash but this fast food has not gone to nothing but higher Heights it still exactly how I remembered it. I was just talking with my daughter just now and asked her if she had ever had a Travis, when I was young we called it the TRAVIS BEARBURGER back in those days everything was BEAR FRANKS BEAR BEEF FRANKS. The animal bear is not an ingredient it was a Chicago style that Travis made famous! I can't wait to go and when I do I'll give pictures and a much better review

OMG!!! I drive a distance for these always fresh hot dogs. About 4-5 bits and it's over. I am…read moregreeted with kindness and a smile every time. You must try them and thank me later. It's a small place nice but I always eat in the car and drive.

If you want a chili dog in BHM, there is no other choice. Heck, if you want a chili dog, go to BHM…read morefor this one. My first time at this place, I was debating the condiments for my two dogs. The cook was so cool, he prepped me a third on the house his preferred way. So friendly. So tasty. Ambiance-wise, don't expect much, but it's ideal for a chili dog spot!

Great food! Fast and friendly service!…read more I love coming to this location and I wish so badly that they were opened on the weekends. Oh well..... just got to get by whenever I can during the week. T hey have an environment that's great to enjoy your meal comfortably without feeling rushed.

Just east of Birmingham proper right off Interstate 20 in an aging shopping center sits a nice…read morepurveyor of that great local tradition, the Birmingham hot dog. Despite its name, it is NOT related to any of the other "Gus's" in the area, whatever the ownership configuration may have once been. The Irondale Gus's is, of course, packed at lunchtime but not overcrowded, and it is not heat-lamp fast food. It takes several minutes at the least to get your order, and more if you want, say, a hamburger cooked to order. The Birmingham dog is decked out with mustard, sauerkraut, onions, and a special tomato-based sauce similar to the region's barbecue sauces, albeit with a different spice pantheon (it is Greek in origin). It can be ordered as is, or with a special chili-like topping made of beef and onion gravy on top. I chose to stay with the basic formula and ordered a combo of two, fries, and drink. Several years ago I reviewed a Hoover/Pelham joint called Tony's, and the dogs at Gus's are pretty similar-tasting, with the sauce playing a sweetish counterpart to the sourness of the kraut. It is a little heavier on the onion than I ordinarily like, but I figure it is this restaurant's unique interpretation of the Birmingham dog. The frankfurter itself probably comes from Ziegler's Meats in nearby Tuscaloosa and is Southern-style skinless, making for an easy bite. One thing interesting about Gus's is that one gets a discount if cash is used instead of cards. I availed myself of that feature. This is a convenient place just two stoplights south of the Interstate, and costs no more than a national chain fast-food meal--with much better taste. So on the way to Atlanta from points west or north, this would be a great lunch option. Potato chips are available instead of fries on the combo meals, and the iced tea comes from Red Diamond, a local brand.

Sol's Hot Dogs is a long-standing business in Birmingham, Alabama. I had never tried there before…read moreand today was the day to try what cannot be argued a hot dog from a business that has stood the test of time. Service was okay, though when I asked what kind of hot dogs they used, they had no clue. I ordered two hot dogs. The total was over eight dollars and honestly, the hot dogs were not good. The chili was weak and the meat topping looked and tasted like it had been out way too long. The hot dogs were also low quality. The ambiance was decent enough. I can't see myself returning.

Sol's Hog Dogs is a staple. I don't know their historical background BUT they really have been…read morearound forever!! The location in Norwood is what I remember growing up. I had been trying to get my hands on some Sol's since before Easter. Unfortunately, they don't answer their phones. So annoying! The day I visited for lunch, it was packed. I placed my order at the counter and they call out your order when it's ready. This could cause some confusion. What if multiple people ordered the same thing?! I had no issue with my order but there's definitely a more effective way...... My 2 hotdogs (well done) all the way were fantastic!!. Fries were just okay. Skinny and borderline greasy. I still ate them all up! lol Next time I will dine in instead of eating in the car. Highly recommend. You are certain to take in the rich history they have created within the walls of Sol's hotdogs!

My favorite order here is the Hercules combo...a Conecuh sausage dog with beef, onions, peppers and…read moresauce. It also comes with hand cut fries and a drink. There's a $2.00 up charge for juice. The owner, who is usually on the truck, is super friendly and offers a frequent buyer card that gets punched on your visits. The only complaint I have is the cost. I pay around $17-$21 for my food, depending on if I get the juice, and that's kinda pricey for the amount of food. There are cheaper options available though. I'm gonna try the regular hot dogs on my next visit. Give them a try when you're in the mood for a good dog but be prepared to pay a little more for it.

Today, I had to opportunity to try Wicked Wieners Food Trailer in Birmingham, AL. UAB Hospital…read moreoffers different food trucks during the weekday at the Spain Wallace building, so they were scheduled today, which was great to be in close proximity to them. For the trailer to be a smaller size, the menu options were grand to me. They offered not just hotdogs, but Conecuh sausage dogs, wicked nachos or fries (loaded with beef, bacon, cheese, peppers and sauce). The trailer has a protective screen with a magnetic opening that provided bug protection from the food, which I appreciated. The owner was very friendly. You could tell he knew the menu like 2nd nature because the food came of within 5 minutes of me ordering my combo. I ordered a specialty combo, which featured 2 Bamweini hotdogs, fries and a canned drink. The combo was $15 and I was able to add cheese and beef to the fries as well for an upcharge. Altogether, my total as $22, which included tax. To me, the price was a bit steep for lunch, however paying for the convenience was the balancing part. There was an option to upgrade to a juice for $2.00 more but I didn't see any advertised as available as in the past. One pointer was the drink options were only standard sodas, not zero sugar options were available. The food quality definitely had increased from my previous visit. The food was served in a Styrofoam container, able to fit both dogs and fries in the same container. The food came with individual packets of ketchup and a napkin wrapped fork. The dogs were all-beef dogs and grilled to perfection. The buns were Sara Lee buns and able to hold the tops nicely. The toppings were fresh, crisp and you could tell that the chili was made that day, which I appreciated. The fries were homemade hand-cut fries that were dropped fresh when I ordered. The cheese and ground beef I had added to the fries were seasoned as well. The only drawback was as the fries sat in the container, the grease from the fries saturated the bottom of the fries, so I didn't eat the end of them. Overall, the food and service were good and I will return again! -DASC

Friendly staff. Fresh food. I had a good experience coming here to satisfy my hotdog craving.,…read morerecently. I don't recall visiting this location prior to my visit. It's located next to a gas station. I ordered #2 small combo. I do however wish I had requested extra onions and kraut. There was just a little something missing. I did enjoy my food as well as the pleasant customer service I received. Restaurant was clean inside.

The service and price very clean friendly service and good customer service and good qualityread more

Taste does change! I used to love Five Guys. It's still good, but I can't say I love it anymore…read more There is absolutely nothing wrong with it though. The burgers are made fresh. The fries are plentiful. Free flowing peanuts are awesome. Employees are super nice. So very good overall, a solid 4-star. For me, currently Whiskey Foxtrot hits the 5-star.

Good food service and experience at this establishment. When you walk in you see the holiday decor…read moreand you are meet with Hello from the Five Guys team members. The place was clean . Ease with ordering my food. Everything is cooked fresh to order. I had a Lil Cheeseburger with fries. Cooked perfectly. There is parking upfront and the back if the shopping complex where they are located. They also have inside and outdoor seating.