Food: 4/5 I ordered the Mac & Cheese Hot Dog, and it was…read moreeverything I hoped for, loaded and satisfying. The portions are no joke! It was basically two meals in one. I enjoyed the first half there and happily finished the rest as a snack later that night. I also really appreciate that they offer chicken hot dogs in addition to the usual beef and pork options. They even have vegan choices, so there's something for everyone. The only thing that could have made the hot dog even better is adding another cheese and a little bit more seasoning. The red velvet cake was one of the best I have tried. Service: 5/5 The hospitality and the vibe here is what truly stands out and impressed me. The owner has a down-to-earth personality and made the whole experience genuinely welcoming from the moment I walked in. You can tell they care about their customers and take pride in creating a neighborhood spot where people feel at home. That kind of service keeps people coming back. Ambiance: 5/5 The vibe is casual, welcoming, and full of Oakland pride. It's the kind of place where you can grab some comfort food, enjoy good conversation, and feel like part of the community. And of course, shoutout to Mac Dre. Have to show love to a Bay Area legend while enjoying a great meal. Highly recommend this spot!

I've been here once before and had their hot dog, which I actually really liked. So I decided to…read morecome back and try something different this time--I ordered the garlic pepper wings, fries, and a drink (about $35 total). Unfortunately, that turned out to be a big mistake. When I opened the container, the wings looked like they just had minced garlic thrown on top with the chicken sitting on chopped lettuce with no real seasoning. I gave them a try anyway since I paid so much. But they tasted like old oil--almost a fishy flavor--which was really off-putting. I instantly started feeling sick and ended up throwing the whole meal away. I broke the chicken just to make sure it was all cooked because of the taste and it was fully cooked. Super disappointing, especially since I had a good first experience with the hot dog. If I ever come back, I'll definitely stick to that. But I'm still feeling sick from it.

I was in the area and decided to stop into Top Dog. I got their Bockwurst sausage again!…read more The service was friendly and efficient. After a few minutes, the sausage was hot and ready. You have a good selection of condiments from sweet & spocy mustard, deli mustard, yellow mustard, ketchup, diced onions, relish, and warmed sauerkraut! Yum.

I was reading in the local news, that the iconic hot dog place of like 100 years, Kaspers Hot Dogs,…read morehas closed. Now, I read that this iconic Oakland Top Dog location is closing soon, due to a dispute with the new landlord. I figured I better get over her quick before it closes for good. https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/berkeley-top-dog-closing-oakland-location-21102867.php My Oakland guide, who grew up as a child in this Lakeshore Area, tells me of the old days here right at this location where the Top Dog is. It used to be a restaurant called Edy's and they had the best lime freezes. His mother used to take him here in the 1960's! I can't believe that was over 60 years ago! This Top Dog has been here for a long time, around 21 years. The little alley way that has an entrance to the Top Dog, now goes to Trader Joes, but he tells me that used to be a Lucky grocery store before. The parking structure wasn't there either. My guide is a long time Top Dog fan, from the original Berkeley locations. He even made friends with the girl cook at the north Berkeley location and ended up getting free hot dogs! He says the prices sure have gone up since the 70's ... a Kielbasa was just 70 cents! That's $4.50 now! This location runs like most locations, you just tell the cook what you want and the sausages are already cooked or cooking on the flat top grill. The buns get heated there too and then you have condiments to add. I've been a fan of Top Dog, more the Berkeley location, but it's sad to see this location close. Soon, it will just be the original Berkeley location open at the south campus.

Be open when your sign says open Waiting over 15 minutes…read morestill not ready to serve unless you don't want black customers

This was a favorite spot in Alameda growing up...hadn't been in years and was brought a Chicago Dog…read morefrom here..No bueno...not sure if they still steam their dogs..these seemed boiled? Zero flavor to the actual hot dog and the bun was completely sogged out and fell apart. Only had 1/2

Now don't get me in the middle of the East Bay hot dog rivalry between Casper's and Kasper's. I'm…read morenot that much of a frankfurter connoisseur, even though I have compared Coney dogs in Detroit between two classic purveyors, Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island. I wasn't looking for a Coney dog when I decided to stop by at Kasper's with a 'K'. I'm surprised I had never been here because it's in Oakland's familiar Dimond district. Kasper's is housed in a cool, mid-century vintage standalone building and has a parking lot like most fast food eateries back sometime in the last century. There were two people behind the counter, both obvious veterans who split responsibilities between dressing the dogs and handling the register. The menu was pretty straightforward: nine different dogs and a chili bowl plus soft drinks and fizzes. I was hoping they might have a Chicago dog but no such luck. Instead I went for the $7.39 Quarter Pound Dog with Chili ($1.29), Cheese ($0.99), and Diced Onion (free). So kinda like a Coney but not quite. Still quite tasty and filling as it was an all-beef dog with a massive amount of chili (photo: https://yelp.to/nG4KKo0L6Y). I dared to get a $1.69 bag of chips and a $3.05 Diet Coke, but in hindsight, I should've gone for an Orange Fizz to evoke my Orange Julius-filled childhood. I used to love those. FOOD - 4 stars..,pretty classic beef dog with chili & cheese AMBIANCE - 4 stars...liked the mid-century vibe because it felt real...expect to see a lot of regulars SERVICE - 4 stars...they sure know how to serve the dogs fast TOTAL - 4 stars...Kasper's with a 'K' if you want a tasty big dog cheap and fast RELATED - Exploring Oakland? Here's my collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2ObVcpQ

The history, the story, the food. What's not to appreciate about Kasper's?! Serving Hot Dogs for 95…read moreyears, this was actually my first time here. I enjoyed it very much. Joann, the manager has been working for 56 years here. She's an awesome person and she makes the food that much more special. I ordered a chili cheese dog. It was a real satisfying meal. There's plenty of seating inside this location and a parking lot. I'll be back for another Kasper's dog soon.

I'm probably reading into this too much, but this tastes like my childhood. You know, all the stuff…read morethat was space engineered in the 50s and 60s and then mass commercialized in the 80s. The all beef dog was delicious, the lemon slushy was very tart and far too sweet, the shredded Velveeta cheese facsimile was oily, salty. The chili could have come out of a can. And I would not change a thing. Thanks for taking me back.

I love this place. Nothing fancy but great high quality hot dogs with fresh tomatoes, onions, etc…read more Service is fast and friendly and always well presented food. Definitely worth many return visits. Patronize small businesses!

Love this place! It's a true locals bar. Affordable beer and great food. They have an N64 in back…read morefor folx to play. Bartenders are great! Love the decor here as it's based af! This is def my favorite spot in downtown Oakland. Close, affordable, welcoming, and the vibes are just right. Leo is an awesome owner and I also recommend checking out his new diner next door! Again, everything is so affordable and very good.

The owner is soooo nice and a good hearted kind man... but since they lost their liquor license I…read morehaven't been back because their food isn't great. Not bad... but not that good. It's not really their fault, a bar without a bar and only bar food isn't a good idea in any context. Also the bartender they had was such a great conversationalist, he was so funny.

This hotdog stand offers Miller All-Beef 1/4-lb hot dogs, as well as tamales, drinks and snacks…read more This hotdog vendor has been at this same location for nearly 20 yrs. It's a good place to grab a quick meal in this commercial-industrial area. YES! A hotdog stand is an outdoor restaurant. This place has a walk up window, prices clearly posted, snacks and drinks displayed, and limited tables and chairs. It's nothing fancy, but this area of West Oakland lacks any fast food places or convenience stores. I usually stop here when I'm in the area. I usually get 1/4-lb All Beef Jumbo Dog w/ mustard and kraut. If I want something different, I might go for a beef tamale in a cup with chili cheese, salsa, peppers, sour cream and raw chopped onions. Also, there's hot links if they're not sold out. It's not gourmet food, but it tastes good when you're on the road. The vendor is really nice, and likes to chat with customers. BTW, this is a busy area for truck traffic. You're near the Port of Oakland and a variety of trucking companies. It's also near major freeway ramps, and everyone's favorite shortcut to the SF Bay Bridge (the West Grand ramp). This hotdog stand is located on the corner of West Grand x Campbell, on the northside of West Grand Ave. Street parking only.

Wow. I was so blown away by Lovely's! The food and drinks are really great! I feel like i'm at an…read moreold dive bar with all the small vintage details. The service is also amazing. I had a whole conversation with the server about my nails (little things like this make the experience more personal). My friends and I got cheese fries, regular fries, a veggie burger, a regular cheeseburger, and a hotdog. Safe to say, everything was devoured and we even went back for seconds. I think my favorite option is getting a vanilla soft serve cone for later. You basically pre-order it, then pick it up whenever you're done with your food so you don't have to rush to finish your meal. I had so much fun here and the environment was super friendly. Feels like real community at Lovely's. p.s. there's street parking or lots available in the area for cheap!

The Westerner Burger was pretty solid. It captures the essence of a typical "western/cowboy" burger…read morewith the BBQ sauce and crispy shallots. I appreciate that they did not put too much BBQ sauce because that always drenches the buns and makes the eating process very messy. The fries were also great - fresh potatoes? Corn fritters were underwhelming for its price point, would've been fine not getting it. While the food was pretty solid, the extremely long wait and the packed seats are what makes my rating go down. Lovely's is a very popular spot, even for a weekday dinner. The vibes are immaculate. It offers both indoor and outdoor seats, very spacious. However, because of the amount of people, the wait in line was a bit more than 30 minutes. Then adds another wait to get the food. On top of all the waiting, seating options become limited and you will most likely be stuck with the outdoor tables, which can be unfortunate on a very cold evening. If you're hungry, don't come here. But if you don't mind the wait, this is definitely a great spot with great company.

It looks unassuming, but the hotdog with all the toppings hit's the spot. I recommend getting it…read morewith the rainbow peppers.

Got one of these hotdogs @ El Cerrito Farmers market & it was really good, big in size & very…read morefilling. A little pricey for $9. He also has polish and hotlinks

So been living in Oakland for going on 15 years now. I'm not what you would call a "bar" person. I…read moretend to enjoy my cocktails, wine, and beer in the cozy confines of my own home. That said I'm occasionally inspired to go check out the local watering holes for a good pour, some food if possible, and just to be in the presence of the human pulsation. Walking into Tallboy on a Thursday afternoon was a bit like Nirvana for me. There is a comforting vibe of neighborhood and after work people shedding responsibility and "toe the lineness" and transitioning to pondering true meaning and the other side of the elliptical bend over nicely crafted cocktails and HOTDOGS! I am a hotdog fiend, and Tallboy has a very creative range on the menu that does not disappoint. From a basic onions/mustard, an Elote Dog, an a Coney Islandesque (it has chili) version. Some folk go to bar and line up shots (or craft cocktails). At Tallboy you can do that AND line up their hotdogs which I intend on doing in the very near future. The pleasantries don't stop at the food (there are other delicious snack items on their menu to choose from too). Tallboy has a fully stocked bar, and the menu has a list of really unique and delicious signature craft cocktails. I'm not a Mezcal drinker, but I ended up dubiously ordering their Guava Martini which to my smokey surprise is made with Mezcal. I stayed with the smokey fruitiness of this Guava Martini as it was my mistake that I did not read in the description it is made with Mezcal, and ended up chasing it with their Tamarindo Cocktail which also has Mezcal. To those who really enjoy Mezcal the Tallboy Guava Martini and the Tamarindo Cocktail do not disappoint. Both have that deep Smokey Mezcal essence, but cut with the fruit sweetness. I personally think the Tamarindo balances well with the Mezcal. The Guava Martini the Mezcal comes through stronger, but both are just the tonic to release any existential pinging going on in your head. If you really want to kick in the hyperdrive pair either of these with an Elote Dog. I had their Deli Dog which sufficed. I think the Deli Dog would pair better with their standard Martini, but hey let's us not bring that snobbiness into Tallboy. Tallboy has an element of cloak and dagger or secret treehouse club about it. What I mean here is there is no signage on the outside (please keep it that way!). When you walk past all you see is this quaint beigeish/yellow brick façade of an establishment which begs you to press your face to the glass and scan what in the blazes is going on in here! Before you know it you are caught in the Tallboy tractor beam, and you find yourself sitting at the bar with some kind of craft drank and hotdog pondering the space and the very nice old fashioned wainscoting painted a shade of green circa 1930 (my description of winning in life). The cadre of bartenders are all really pleasant folk, very attentive (checking in with you to see if you need another round, hotdog, or snack), have tight shaker skills, and they know their craft and the menu. Tallboy also has SLUSHIES, and I did not do a deep dive on them, but I'm positive they may/do put spirits in them; or not. Also I noticed other patrons with a beautiful enticing thing that looked like an ice cream sundae milkshake hybrid (it had what looked like whipped cream on top) in on old timey soda fountain ice cream goblet. This could be a craft cocktail they make with the slushie, but major props for serving it in that goblet. I will investigate on my next visit which I intend to be very soon. Tallboy is the kind of bar establishment I could easily adopt as my after work living room for a couple of hours everyday.

Had an amazing experience at Tallboy!…read more Sat at the bar on a sunny weekend and immediately loved the vibes. Bartenders were friendly and seemed to know a lot of the regulars. Can't quite describe it but it didn't feel like an SF bar, felt more open and like a community watering whole. On to the food and drinks. I'm vegetarian so was so excited to try the dogs - which are vegan. And I may be biased but you cannot tell that you're missing out on anything with all the flavor packed combos. The bun was fluffy and soft and you have multiple fun themed options to choose from. My partner and I ended up getting the deli dog and truffle meltdown. Deli was perfect - classic mix of spice and crunch with the spicy brown mustard and giardiniera peppers. And the truffle meltdown was so savory and decadent - totally different flavor profiles from each dog! We were only going to grab one drink but the menu was so inventive we ended up getting two. I ordered the banana hammock (which comes with a fire show) and espresso martini slushee which was is up there with the frozen Irish coffees I've had in New Orleans. Man writing this has my mouth watering... definitely coming back for more dogs, drinks, and vibes!