It was the perfect place for a birthday celebration with close friends! The hot dogs were delicious as well as the chips. The service was very fast and we had a large group. I will go again! read more

Toasted (or was it griddled?) New England style hot dog buns and a tasty dog. Simple and done well. A bonus plus to the creativity the servers put into the way they call out the ready orders. A laugh riot! read more

The Cardinal Bar - Hot dogs!! - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

Went here a couple of times with friends. Pretty cool dive, hot dogs hit the spot, enjoyed the pinball table, blonde bartender was charmingly icy in a "we'll be nicer when you're a regular" kinda way, and the beer was nice and cold. Did get a weird alt-right kinda vibe from the place that I couldn't quite shake, and wouldn't you know it, I checked their official bar Instagram follows and right there is James O'Keefe. Never let it be said that I can't read a room. I'll personally be steering clear of the place, but I'll give it three stars because it would be a pretty cool hangout for your next Proud Boy meetup or a Welcome Home party when the Feds release you for storming the Capitol. read more

Beer, booze and hotdogs. What else do you need. Thanks for the great service. Xxxxxxx

This bar would be one of the best dive bars in Raleigh if it weren't for the arrogant bartenders. It seems like they always have a remark about something. Sure, the beers are cheap and the hot dogs are delicious, but it is hard to justify dealing with the bartenders just for a hot dog I could go get off of the street of Glenwood. read more

A bar and hot dog joint, you say? My prejudice murmured "must be run-of-the-mill hot dogs, those take it or leave it dogs (you're probably better off leaving it) from the store that they mark up for convenience". But No No No! These reasonably priced dogs are deliiiiicious! We begin with the base dog of $3 with offerings of ketchup, mustard, relish, and sriracha at no charge. Other fixings can be added for additional money (maybe $.25 each i think?). You're vegetarian? They have a tasty veggie dog for you for a dollar more. Numerous friends have commented on the excellence of the non-meat option. Not just a "oh its an ok veggie dog" but a, "This is a great veggie dog!". Either meat or meatless, the dog comes out in a toasted bun as to the likes of grilled cheese (minus the cheese of course. We're talking dogs here.). So. Darn. Delicious! The place is small and comfortable with the inside accommodating two tables of 6, two tables of 4, and a bar of about 10 or so stools. There are a few arcade games in the corner and a giant map of Raleigh on the wall for a trendy fun atmosphere. The outside covered porch has a lot more seating and those stand up heaters. And as an extra bonus, there's an arm chair seat in one of the bathrooms. That may mean nothing to you.. but for some, that's a big deal :) The bar is stocked with liquor galore and a variety of beers. On the two occasions I've been here, the bartenders have been friendly and chilled out. A nice place to relax with a brew and a good eat or to just grab a quick tasty bite and peace out. read more

I don't usually take shots, especially not on a Saturday afternoon, but the large tank of pepperoncini marinated in vodka convinced me otherwise, and I'm so glad I did it. Served with a shooter of Bloody Mary mix, this was a strange, spicy treat in my mouth that paired well with the buttery hot dog bun that I had also ordered. For those who don't want to have straight up vodka, The Cardinal has tons of other great options, including a few select beers on tap and a huge selection of everything else. Order a hot dog (customized the way you want) and it'll instantly become your favorite hot dog in Raleigh, especially with the pickled okra garnish. A perfect place to spend a weekend afternoon, especially when warm and sunny -- you'll have a great skyline view of Raleigh, I promise. read more

The Cardinal Bar - Delicious! - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

Cardinal Bar is quickly becoming one of my favorite bars in Raleigh. I had been several times in the past and had some drinks with friends. They usually have a few beers on tap (which they switch up), and a good selection of cans. This past Tuesday, I went by and had what was supposed to be a quick lunch. I ended up hanging around for a bit and watched some of the soccer game that was on. Just ordered a few hotdogs and a few beers and chilled. Everyone that I have met working there is good people.. The hot dogs are fantastic.. I love how you just fill out a little card and pick out all your toppings. The pickled okra you can order on the side is a nice little touch as well. Bonus points for the mural right there of the old Raleigh bikes ad. Maybe my favorite mural in Raleigh... read more

Great staff, solid beer and shots, incredible hot dogs. 10/10 recommend. Shout out to Sal and Austin, my incredible bartenders! read more

The Cardinal Bar - Austin the bartender going about his business. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

Came into The Cardinal Bar while visiting a friend in Raleigh because I'd heard they had good hot dogs. I didn't realize it held the private club status so I was a bit anxious walking in. I stood at the bar and the bartender approached. I said that this was my first visit and, in the most enthusiastic way, the bartender said "Welcome to the f*ckin Cardinal Bar!" What a perfect way to be welcomed; all my worries were washed away. I ordered a beer and sipped it while I filled out the membership paperwork. I'm now a proud member of The Cardinal Bar. I completed the slip of paper for hot dog orders and took a seat on the heated deck because the inside was packed. The deck has a great view of downtown. The hot dog was delicious too. Tasty chili, good slaw, and a fantastic, toasted split top bun. Just wonderful. Get you to The Cardinal Bar for a good time. read more

They have VEGGIE DOGS! Thank you! Definitely found my go to hot dog spot. You pay for what you get and have a simple variety of toppings. Cute local bar with a decent view as well. Loving the vibe of the patio. read more

The Cardinal Bar - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

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5 star Hot Dog , if you want fancy go to Second Empire! This place is just solid, no frills , place to chill by yourself or hang out with good friends. Cold beer & hot dogs with a great juke box and front porch with a view, what else could you possibly want. It's a great spot! read more

The Cardinal Bar - I Cardinal Hotdogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

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I only give this two stars instead of 1 because there were people there clearly enjoying their food. Sadly I didn't get to try any because I stood at the door for a while waiting for someone to tell me to be seated or to be offered a menu. I take it this is a locals spot where people just know what to do and where to go but the newbies kinda get lost in the shuffle. I should add it wasn't busy, and coming from a restaurant family I know busy and you can always make eye contact to let someone know you're coming to help. But none of that. And looking at other reviews I've see now customer service is not their strong point. read more

A neighborhood bar that exclusively served spirits and hot dogs. I'm in! The execution of this establishment could've been sketchy at best. In actuality, Cardinal Bar is such a nice place to hang out, people watch, or read a book while drinking a beer or cocktail. The hot dogs are SO GOOD. They're fresh and the coleslaw doesn't make me feel like I'm eating something healthy. I'm a fan! read more

Seriously, what's not to love. Hot dogs, booze, and patios, also known as the Holy Trinity. The folks behind the bar are awesome! Hot dogs are great, no-frills booze - A+ in my book. A nice place to avoid the college kids that are known to plague Glenwood Ave! Definitely a spot that is great year-round! read more

I like that this place keeps it simple- just hot dogs and a bar. Nothing fancy but a fun place to hang out and the dogs are delicious and cheap! I had several veggie dogs- seriously the best veg dogs I've ever had and were cooked perfectly on a toasty bun. My friends had the beef dogs and loved them- they went back for seconds! You can customize your dogs with simple toppings- chili/slaw/relish/cheese/condiments. Nice porch to hang out on and very chill vibe all around. The place is small so I could see it getting packed on a busy weekend. I'll definitely be back! read more

The Cardinal Bar - Veggie dogs with slaw, mustard, relish and potato chips! - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

Best veggie dogs downtown Raleigh....... and dope staff You could definitely bring a nice date here read more

Loved our first trip there! It's in a good spot in a quiet neighborhood and is a hidden gem. The view from the front porch is really pretty and you have the option of sitting inside or outside. Whether or not you want a hot dog definitely come for the good ambience and drinks. But if you're smart you'll order a dog at some point! Just goes to prove if you do simple food with high-quality ingredients the result is delicious. read more

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As a self proclaimed hot dog connoisseur I have to say The Cardinal Bar serves up some of the best dogs in Raleigh. The toppings, the bun...perfection! I especially love their slaw. Its different than most other's I've tried anywhere. The atmosphere in general is great. They have some nice covered outdoor seating too. The vibe is chill and the bartenders are friendly and serve up great drinks! read more

I gave it a 5 only because 6 isn't an option. The hot dogs.. daaaaaaaammmmnnn. Just fantastic. We roll in from Holly Springs often to have hot dogs, VooDoo chips and whatever they got marinating in tanks on the bar. This time was banana peppers in Vodka so naturally I had a Bloody Mary with that as the booze! Spicy but tasty. It's small but easy and they have a great patio area. It's a millennial bar and I'm 40 but I don't care cause the service is good and unpretentious. While it's a bar ( and I'm sure some of you will call me " parent of the year" for this) and not really for kids, we took our 13 and 7 year old in there anyway for 40 min to have a hot dog and watch the end of a game and they loved the atmosphere. read more

Had a really bad experience at Cardinal last week. It was a weeknight and the place was semi busy but not busy enough that we couldn't order right away. It had been awhile since I've been here so I didn't exactly remember how to order / what they had on the menu. I don't care what kind of establishment you are but when I'm a paying customer asking a question, I deserve to be treated with respect. Whenever we asked the rude female bartender a question, she was obviously annoyed with answering. We finally ordered our hot dogs and asked what was on the beer list ... guess you're not aloud to ask what beer they sell? You get yelled at if you ask that apparently. We couldn't really see the bottles in the other side of the bar, she angrily pointed at, "the beer list." We asked if they had bud light to keep it simple and the. she yelled the names of the beers up there as quick as she could. I mean serious attitude. We were so uncomfortable we ate and left ASAP. I don't really care about your rude signs or whatever kind of schtick you're trying to pull. Be nice to people. Especially paying customers. read more

This is the real deal. If you love hotdogs this is the Mecca. It's all about the love and this place has the love. Gotta try it at least once, get a chili and slaw dog. Once you do, you will know. Enlightenment will follow. read more

This has been my favorite bar in Raleigh for a couple years but they've been slipping lately. Bartenders could be more friendly. Also do not get a pepperoncini shot if you see them pour the liqour in the pepper jar WHILE you are there. The vodka needs time to marinate in the peppers, otherwise you're getting a straight shot of military special vodka. 4 stars cuz they're still my favorite bar and the service industry bar is set pretty dang low right now. read more

Hot dogs were good and it definitely gives dive bar feel. Was super sused out upon pulling up because a bar regular outside smoking cigarettes was staring daggers into my car. Was immediately more uncomfortable after seeing the "Maskless entry only" sign. Got a really weird vide from the staff and bar as a whole. They forgot my chips but made me uncomfortable enough to not want to ask. Won't be going back but the food was solid. If you're black or gay, don't go. read more

Incredible hole in the wall atmosphere. All they have is hotdogs but they have enough toppings to make it interesting. I ate two and had to order a third, that's how good they were. Hotdogs were made to order but were fast and absolutely delicious. The bun was a toasted split top roll and was arguably the best part. Only one option for chips which is Zapp's Voodoo, which in my option, are the best anyway. I hope to come back here many times. read more

Great little neighborhood pub serving grilled hot dogs on a split bun that's warm and toasty! Beer selection is all craft and a bit obscure but we found something we all liked. I had a dog with chili, beer onions and mustard which was on point! Highly recommend as an alternative to the Roast Grill! Soon to be famous! read more

The Cardinal Bar - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

Let me tell you a little about the bartender's, Jobie, dog, Rox. I met him a few days after they got him, he's a mini Rottweiler, adorable (and still is). But as with all puppies, they're gonna do puppy things, after he got his balls chopped off, one would assume they'd calm down a bit? Not this little man, he was bitter and revolted for some time. He's finally out of this phase and has accepted not having balls anymore and has blossomed into a fine young man. My coworker has nicknamed him "Out the Gate" because of the way he barrels out of the building he lives in like a little bowling ball to go for a walk. Anyway, this place is great. read more

I'm not sure what all the hype is about this place. The drink was above average, the hot dog was okay, and chips from a bag. You get what you pay for here! read more

Oh my Ghee. Laid-back, meat and veggie dogs, infused vodka w pineapple and pepperocini. Take a slip, customize your dog (try the voodoo chips) have a great drink by laid-back, friendly bartenders (thanks Doug and Austin) sit on the porch! Dog friendly! Go check it out! read more

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Such a chill spot to spend a casual Saturday. Hot dogs are very delicious. 100% beef and the chili is very tasty. Get the FREE pickled okra with ya dog. Won't be disappointed. read more

The Cardinal Bar - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

First, this place is open 365 days noon to 2 am!!!!!! I also confirmed with the staff that it's really open in holidays! Now we know where to go when you don't want to cook in holidays! When we came here today (around 12:30 on in Sunday), there was no customer inside! We ordered food at the bar and then sat at our table. It's a small bar with only a few tables, playing country music in the background. Pretty relaxing! The hot dog was really good! I had the one with ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, and jalopeno. I am not a hot dog fan, but I like it! First, it's juicy but not greasy! A lot if hot dogs are just too oily and greasy for me. But the hot dog here is just right! Second, it's not salty! I don't like those hot dogs that are overly salty and there's no other flavor inside! These are definitely not like that! Third, the buns are slightly GRILLED outside! It adds a little crispiness and crunchiness to the hot dog! No one likes saggy hot dogs. But the juice from the toppings and hot dog usually mess up the bun. This is such a clever idea to grill the buns a little to make them crispy! Love it! The pickled okra is also very good! In fact, we also like the chips here! It's a New Orleans style kettle chips, really interesting! Another thing that makes me decide to come back is the restroom is really clean! Usually I try hard to avoid using restrooms in bars or small restaurants, ad they are usually gross. I had to use restroom today after drinking a lot of water and I was surprised to find that the restroom here is in fact neat and clean with a very fresh smell! There's even a very fluffy bench inside! I mean the sink still has some dust and residual soap inside due to its flat design, but it's pretty clean comparing to most bars and restaurants! That makes me feel much more comfortable about the meal I just had! Oh, they also have private parking area and plenty street parking. So parking is no issue here! My husband has already decided to come here with his friends later! I will also come back even though I'm not a hot dog person. Such great local business needs support! read more

The Cardinal Bar - Husband is very happy with his HOT DOGS! - Hot Dogs Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Colin and Patrick are the sweetest bartenders! Highly recommend the peppercini shot if you're hungover. Didn't try the hot dogs and really regret it; they smelled so good! (Apparently the secret is the bun, which is really a lobster roll with mayo on it when it's toasted) One in a good little block of bars! read more

One of my favorite spots in Raleigh, almost reluctant to share that. It also happens to be my 9 year old son's absolute favorite place in Raleigh, so this isn't exclusively late night. Love the hot dogs - buns get some mayonnaise and a toast on the griddle, don't forget to opt in for the pickled okra on your order sheet - give it to me if you don't want it. Life is simple when your choice for chips is exclusive to the best possible chips, Voodoo by Zapp's. Great to eat in, or on the porch - you can sit in a place that feels real and look out over Kane's plastic Smoky Hollow monstrosity. read more

I love a small, homey place. I love how simple the menu is! The dawgs were soo good!! Highly recommend this somewhat hidden gem!

I felt uncomfortable the whole time with all the edgy signs and not knowing about the private membership area. The pickled okra was nice to try, but the hot dogs themselves were pretty underwhelming in comparison to all the glowing reviews. It came out piping hot and the bun was crisp, but there was barely any flavor aside from a strange aftertaste, maybe from whatever they smeared the bun with. I guess I can't really blame them because one of the signs said to lower your expectations, they're not a restaurant. read more

The Saturday day crew are the best. They tell dry-humored hotdog jokes to customers. KILLER wieners and they have a pinball machine - very important. read more

Fun, attentive staff. Ari was our bartender and she was very sweet and welcoming. The dogs were bomb. I got two veggie dogs and Chris 2 reg 1 veggie. The buns were buttery and fantastic and they definitely don't skimp on the toppings. Happy to see they're open year round and their deck is heated. Bring your pup on the deck, too! Looking forward to going back! read more

Terrible service. Hot dogs are wayyyyyy overrated. Was pretty excited for this place too. Wanted two hotdogs, wrote it on the slip "1 w/chili, 1 w/bacon&cheese." Really not that hard to understand, but was told "we don't do that around here." And I was supposed to know that beforehand with the abundance of instruction in there I guess(sarcasm). If you want a decent hotdog, literally anything is better. read more

Just checked this out for the first time at the recommendation from our hair stylist. Love the laid back vibe and the pepperoncini vodka shot with a side of Bloody Mary mix. Bartender Chris, a former Marine, took great care of us. The hot dogs are an added bonus. We'll be repeat customers for sure. read more

This has been on our bucket list for quite some time. We finally found ourselves within striking distance on a Friday night and decided to go for it. The Cardinal is slightly off the beaten path, but so worth the few extra steps (your Fitbit will thank you)! The patio is spacious with both tables and bar style seating that gives a unique view of downtown. The downside - they apparently don't serve lite beer? I enjoy a craft brew as much as the next person, but sometimes I just want a bud lite. Call me crazy?! We had just come from eating dinner but lots of people were enjoying hotdogs and they looked delicious. We will for sure come back as this is close to home and the patio is legit, but would love it even more if this basic B could get a Mich Ultra! read more

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