Chicago dog always a winner. Chilly dog had a nice burst of heat. French fries were tasty, coulda been a tad crisper. Dog friendly outside seating. Gave my dog a bowl of water. Boo the building is for sale read more

Beware! We were in Cedar Rapids visiting for the weekend and thought we could get a good Chicago-style dog here. The interior is dirty and bathroom smelled horrible. We sat outside instead...food came and at first they gave us someone else's sandwich with no apology or acknowledgment of the mistake. No biggie...but then my spouse's polish was completely overcooked and my hot dog was cold. I took one bite and tossed the rest. Food was inedible. read more

I enjoyed the decor of this place. My experience was ok. The Chicago hotdog was well executed but the bun was hard. It's all about the poppyseed bun so that was disappointing. The fries were good but were served unseasoned/salted. The gyro was ok. read more

See all

I forgot my original review of this place was so minimal - I can say more ;) Flying Wienie was one of the first restaurants I discovered when I moved to town. I was drawn to it's novelty charm, with the plane on the roof and another in the kitchen and video game tables in the dining room. But I keep coming back because it reminds me of home. As a native Chicagoan, they've really nailed the vibe of every neighborhood hot dog joint I've ever loved. It is a bit divey, but that's part of the appeal for me. I had good intentions of trying more of their menu, but have spent every visit devouring one of the hot dog combos because that's where it's at! I've gotten lucky a few times that John has spontaneously decided it was sample time while I was waiting on my order and got to try a sip o' soup or something else on a whim. Really the only negative is their limited hours, which I assume is probably because they do better during lunch hour due to the industrial neighborhood traffic. If you're craving a hot dog or Chicago street food in general, Flying Wienie is the place to be! read more

The Flying Wienie - Chicago-Style Double Play (fries not pictured) - Hot Dogs Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

This is a no frills hot dog joint. The double play is two dogs, fries and a drink. $11. Hands down the best Chicago dogs in Cedar Rapids. I must admit there are some stiff competitors. Flying weenie isn't trying to impress you. It's just simple food done extremely well. read more

The Flying Wienie - Hot Dogs Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

It's fine! It's a wiener place, not a fancy restaurant. The dogs are fine. No big deal. I wish the buns had been toasted. The fries were really really soggy. The Chicago dog is true to its roots. The building is something to see!! Check out the pics! Some real awesomeness! Three stars for the food, an extra star for the amazing decorations! read more

See all

This is a overpriced hotdog stand. It's dirty. It's old and it's gross. The prices are ridiculous for the small hotdog that you get is dusty dirty bugs, dead bugs I don't recommend this place. read more

this was my first time eating here. This will be my last time eating here. I had told the guy I did not and he ended me with fries and I will never come back. I asked him for my money back he would not give money back very unhappy with this restaurant. read more

Very old and cool Atmosphere. Very cheap got a double dog for 8$. The Hot Dogs were good I think when they have a good bun makes the Hot Dog that much better. Also loved the idea of having old school arcade games still 25 cents to play. They even have some where you can sit down and play. read more

See all

Staff is nice. Food is ok, restaurant is absolutely disgusting. Extremely dirty, dead bugs lying around. Disgusting!

Definitely check out this staple in Cedar Rapids! I was visiting my boyfriend's family in Iowa and he took me to grab some lunch here. I got the Chicago dog and it was soooo good! All the toppings and a soft bun! Must try if you're in town and love hot dogs! read more

See all

Went to Cedar Rapids to pickup my puppies. Stopped at the Flying Wienie for lunch. The Chicago dog was excellent. Also got a Coney dog. It was also excellent. I highly recommend this place read more

The Flying Wienie - Nice place - Hot Dogs Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

See all

The Flying Wienie used to be one of my go to places- quick service, delicious food, never any complaints. However- in my past few visits it's gotten worse and I won't be returning. Today I ordered a simple hotdog & fries. Immediately I noticed the fries were soggy and not cooked all the way. (This has been a common problem recently.) I bit the tips of about 5/6 fries without finishing them, returned them to my basket and brought them to the counter. Apologetically I let them know my fries weren't cooked. At this point I had touched them and bitten parts of my hotdog- which was clear. The lady behind the counter grabbed my french fries with her hands, threw them back in the fryer and asked me to wait a minute. The manager watched and asked what happened. She explained the fries weren't done. After waiting a minute or two I watched as she took fries out of the fryer and placed them into three containers. One for me, two for other guests waiting for their to-go orders. When my fries were returned to me only two of the bitten fries were back in my batch. I let the other guests know and they carried on. This was truly a gross experience. read more

Italian beef was so dry it was like eating chalk. Gyro cheese dog was decent. The whole place needs a deep cleaning.

Was visiting from out of town and a local mentioned this place. I figured why not? I like hot dogs. Went in and it's a converted gas station. We were greeted right away. The staff was friendly and helpful. They explained different items on the menu. I went for the 2 dog special with FF. Though later some folks said we should've gotten the bacon cheese FFs. Side note, they did look good. You can personalize your dog they have many toppings to choose from. Food came out fast and hot. FF were hand cut and good not too greasy and no salt , they have some for you to add. Overall a nice little place. I would recommend it and would definitely go back. read more

Sometimes nothing beats a good Wienie I know I havnt written anything in quite a while but I've been busy. It's not that we havent been going out, on the contrary we've been going out alot and I'm way far behind on Yelp reviews. If it wasn't for voice to text technology I wouldn't be cranking this one out right now so hats off to whoever came up with that tech This is the second time I've been to the Wienie and both times my impression of the place is the same. I swear on Nova's soon to be grave if she doesn't get her shit together and outta my face that the owner of the Flying Wienie it's at minimum related to the soup Nazi guy from Seinfeld. I get the vibe that you just don't fuck with this guy and given the opportunity and proper motivation that he'd sooner cut off your Wienie then make you one of his. I have not tested this theory but based upon my last visit when apparently I was speaking a language other then English and had to correct him on what I ordered which he said he did not hear. He still got the order wrong but I wasnt about to challenge things. I ordered a Polish with krawt and mustard, fries and a Chicago on the side. What I got, after I reminded him of the Chicago (I never heard that) death glare Was some type of sausage with krawt and yellow mustard with fries and a Chicago dog, also with fries. There is a handwritten sign in the window that says "good help wanted". So if your a total door knob or a weak in the knees gerbil I doubt of your Flying Wienie material. So first things first. I know Chicago dogs and I know Polish. Not because I am from Chicago but because I am there all the time and because of two places I frequent often. Portilo's and Tommys Red hot. Both Chicago staples, both with authentic Chicago dogs and Polish sausages. All others are measured against those two giants of gourmet tubular meat royality. Even to mentioned in the same paragraph as those icons is the equivalent of a Peoples Choice award nomination, only as it applies to gastronomy. The fries. I don't know if they are hand cut and I don't care. They look hand cut and taste like fried should taste. Nice and brown, seasoned just right and they do what fries are meant to do. They compliment the main dish. They are the supporting cast and they do their job well. The Chicago is the real deal. Vienna Beef, (it has to be Vienna Beef) yellow mustard, white onion, neon green sweet pickle relish, tomato, dill pickle spear, and sprinkled with celery salt tucked into a fresh poppy seed bun. You omit any one of those items or change any one of those items and it is not a Chicago dog. If you add ketchup to not only a Chicago dog but to any dog, even those floor scrapping bar s brand dogs you are an afront to all of humanity and should seriously seek out professional help or become close friends with the business end of a 9mm. You are the worst of worst. They nailed it. The Chicago was as good as if I bought it in Chicago. The backbone of any dog is the bun. If the bun is stale and crunchy it ruins the whole experience. Their bun was lightly toasted, soft and chewy. The Polish. This is where I struggle. I saw him write Polish on my order. I saw him put it on the grill and what I was given was a sausage of some type, krawt and yellow mustard, with more fries. I never tasted a Polish sausage like this. Don't get me wrong because it was still good but the color was wrong and the texture and taste was more like a brat then any Polish I've ever had. Maybe they are homemade, maybe they screwed up. I still are it all but was a tad bit disappointed. Judge for yourself by the photo. I'm matriculating (thanks Coach Stram) between 3 and 4 stars. Throw out the mystery disguised as a Polish sausage and they are a solid 4. Add the Polish and they drop a star. Voice to text does not have spell check nor is it tied into Grammerly so don't give me no shit about spelling or grammar errors because #1 I don't care what you think and #2 spelling and punctuation are mere suggestions in my world. I haven't followed the rules my entire life. Writing about Wienies ain't gonna change that. See y'all soon. read more

See all

Haven't been for years. Decided to give it a try. I'm a native Chicagoan who has been to dozens of Chicago -style dog and Italian beef joints in my lifetime. Hoping to have a positive experience. Alas, I didn't. Menu isn't well-posted, guy who took order not particularly welcoming, place was nearly empty, but kitchen looked clean enough. Brought food home to eat (so we didn't eat right away). Got loaded hot dogs and single burger with fries. Food was barely average. Fries were undercooked and flacid. Burger was totally bland. Husband said he wouldn't go back after eating hotdogs. Also, they use Styrofoam and packaging was loose and didn't fit the food (put round burger in long hotdog container). I want to support local businesses, especially those who made it through flood, pandemic, and derecho.... But, they gotta give me something to stand behind. read more

Fun atmosphere. Nothing fancy, but cool aeronautic motif. I had the gyro cheese dog. Not dog with gyro meat and cheese sauce. I'm very particular about hot dogs, but this one was very good. Not a huge fan of the hand cut fries.....i like mine crisper. My friend had the ribs. They were good. A little smoky for me but not bad. I'll definately stop in for a hot dog again read more

The Flying Wienie - Hot Dogs Near Me - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

This really seemed like my mind of place, but we had such an unpleasant experience. The guy behind the counter, seemed like the owner or manager, immediately started giving me a hard time for wearing a mask. I tried to be game & friendly & get on with my order but he wouldn't let up, it reminded me of one of those restaurants where the waitresses insult you combined with suffering through the old blowhard at the bar. Then the girl who gave us our food was surly, but whatever. Worst of it was the actual food though! The fries were both burnt and soggy and unsalted, a dark brown pile of mushy sadness. The Chicago dog was room temperature and toppings were sparse. Bun was ok. It may have been ok if the food had been cooked properly & served timely, but we ended up taking a bite each and tossing them out. Really disappointed, and really appalled at the service. read more

Chicago dogs are spot on. Also tried the gyro cheese fries they were pretty good as well.

I love going to try the different hotdogs. I was given a sample to try of the chicken dumpling soup. It was gross. Which I enjoy this place, however the dumplings were made from scratch, I could tell because they were very floury, soggy and undercooked giving a taste like undercooked cookie dough. The lady was very sweet though when I asked her about the soup, she explained to me what the owner made, but I don't think she understood when I said soggy. it's something I would not order. Now not sure if I would go back. read more

Stopped in because of their review (best hot dog in iowa), but I beg to differ. Dogs were cold, bun was chewy and there was so much chili (not good) on the coney it was inedible. Fries were soggy. Very disappointed A&W has them beat big time. If you want a good coney dog, don't stop here. read more

Adorable, small-business-like hot dog chain. No drive-thru, and parking might be a bit of a pain, but the food itself is very delicious and affordable, and it's somewhere I'll be coming back to. PROS: -Amazing staff. After we finished our food, the chef came to ask if it was to our liking. He was very friendly when making the food too. -Hot dogs were perfect. No char marks. No burned bits. Served hot and requires a little bit of time to cool down. Absolutely perfect with no complaints. Everyone at my table was extremely impressed. -Portions are generous. The chili dog was, quite literally, in a vat of chili. My two hog dogs, while not feeling entirely filling, were exactly as ordered - two yummy hot dogs covered in a good amount of the condiments I requested. If you're a picky eater like I am, don't worry - they'll make your hot dog made-to-order with only the condiments you request. Perfect! -Very laid back. Food was served quickly and exactly as requested, but none of the staff seemed stressed or seemed like they disliked their jobs. Everybody seemed comfortable. -Adorable aviation themes! There are airplane designs and decorations everywhere. There are working aviation arcade games and home-made plane decorations. There's even a copy of the aviation rulebook sitting on the counter next to some of the salt and pepper shakers. -Some of the seating is working arcade tables! They also a working aviation-themed game! -Both Coke AND Pepsi. Most places seem to dedicate one way or the other. They have fountain Pepsi and will sell Coke products by the can/bottle. YAY! CONS: -Definitely a small business, but it works. You'll see where some of the paint is getting a bit old, and you can clearly see some of the tables/chairs aren't the most modern. However, the bathroom is entirely clean (no complaints!), and you can view the entire kitchen area, and it looks extremely up-to-date. They clearly spend their time and money where it matters. -Parking lot is a bit small. Depending on how many people are here and what's going on, I'm unsure if there'd be a spot in the lot for you. -They do have some seating, but not a ton. By default, they serve the food in containers "to go", though, so you could always take your food straight out the door. As the food is served straight off the grill, it should survive until you make it home. read more

See all

Where else in CR can you get a real CHIdawg, with Vienna beef, and Real CHI-style toppings? I need to satisfy that craving now and then. This is your hole-in-the-wall with character. So expect it and go there to enjoy it. Kids enjoy looking around and at maps and aviation decor all over. Minimal seating though, but arent suppose to eat your dog standing outside so it can slop all over anyways? The CHIdawg (or Philly) -lean over. Good prices and combos. Good gyros and chili and Italian sausage and other "off the cart" items. Good hand cut fries to accompany your dog too. Dont worry you can get ketchup for the kids' dogs... there are many varieties and combos to choose from as well. read more

We were traveling and decided to stop in for a meal. I was very impressed with the food, staff and cleanliness of the restaurant. I love chili dogs and I have to say these are the best I've ever had. Will definitely go back. Only drove 5 hours to get there. Worth the drive. read more

I have eaten at the Flying Wienie many times, I usually get the Gyros. The fresh cut fries are greasy and some may consider them not fully cooked but that is a personal preference. The dogs are wonderful and the atmosphere is really neat. I would give it 5 stars if there was more room for dine in sitting. read more

Funky and eclectic atmosphere, friendly staff and fast service. Chili dogs, Chicago dogs and their cheese fries were my 'go-to' items when I ate here. Everything I sampled was tasty and well-cooked. Prices were average and I really did enjoy the food. Yes, 'ate' because I haven't been back since I physically watched (wait...more like stared at in disbelief) an employee lick hot cheese from her bare hand and proceed to serve food. ICK! Note: If you haven't dined here before, everything is cooked pretty much in front of you so you can see exactly what's going on. I always dined outside because inside the T.F..isn't the cleanest. As a staple in CR, I still recommend paying the restaurant a visit. Be sure to keep an eye on the employee prepping your food though. Good for kids, larger groups/parties and more. You really don't have anything to loose...except for (maybe) e-coli in your cheese fries. 3/5 stars because the establishment could really use a deep clean and some employee training about hygiene + food service. read more

The pride of Cedar Rapids! Great greasy food. Yummy chili cheese dogs and gyros. We usually do take out since eating there is a bit... interesting. read more

Everytime we travel to my hometown of Cedar Rapids I have to stop in for Roast beef sandwich and French fries. Soooooo delicious and very big. My husband loves them too, very juicy. Our daughter loves the hot dogs. Fast and friendly little place. 5 star for sure! read more

Unique place with food worth trying. Overall great experience with the staff and food. I had the Italian beef which was loaded with juicy meat. One recommendation would be a little more seasoning which would make it just right. Aside from the Italian beef I have had the gyro which is surprisingly great quality and full of flavor. Looking to eating here in the future again. read more

The foods okay. The spot is neat. The staff a bit rough. Get the Italian beef wet or it lacks flavor.

We drove by this place several times when we were in town for a ball tournament. We waited for just the right time when we needed a fast lunch in between games and thought this Wienie shop would be a good choice! We were right! Fast food, excellent selection, great decor, and fantastic flavors! I went with the authentic "Chicago Dog" and it felt like I was getting one at Wrigley Field, even the price! :) read more

We have not been there in quite a few years as it wasn't a "favorite" just another restaurant and kinda small & grungy. Thought we would try it again, and now there really is a reason we won't be back. We got there at approx 1:30 on a weekday, no customers eating, only 1 at the counter. The place looked far worse than last time. Disgustingly dirty but we stayed because I wanted to try the Italian Beef sandwich that supposedly got good reviews and my husband wanted a hot dog. We ordered food at counter, it was ready quick, then we walked into the seating area. Should have left then. It was DISGUSTING! Absolutely every table was dirty. One table even and half an eaten hot dog sitting directly on the table! Tables aside, nothing looked like it had been clean in a very long time. We both lost most of our appetite. We each tried our sandwich/hotdog and they were just ok. The fries were awful. Ended up throwing most of it out and left. Spare yourself from feeling dirty the minute you arrive & definitely when you leave & and go somewhere else. read more

It's a beautiful day in Cedar Rapids, all sunny and warm outside, a day that just begs for eating a hot dog, fries, and a Dr Pepper outside in the sun. Unfortunately, the Flying Wienie does not have enough tables outside to accommodate the droves of Cedar Rapidians who are craving meat on a bun. If they had more tables I think I'd give them that 5th star. The service is always great, the restaurant is appropriately scummy for such an establishment, and the food is delicious. Oh! And no more hard buns. Now, just put some more tables outside (or chairs around some of the chair-less tables) and we'd be all set! read more

Hadn't been here for years. But I decided it was time to take the kids to enjoy it. Time had obviously made me forget why I hadn't been here in such a long time. What was it? Oh yeah, it was filthy and overpriced! There is limited seating inside and when we arrived there were three empty tables. We picked the one that looked the cleanest and proceeded to be grossed out by the lack of cleaning that is done. From greasy looking walls and surfaces to dirty tables (not just the last group's crumbs but that stuff that's been stuck on a while) it certainly lives up to it's rating as a dive. The food for three of use was almost $30. That was three lunch specials. Nothing else. The gyro was ok, not the best I've ever had. The fries however, are worth coming back for. I love me those fries. They remind me of Mary Kay's fries from the Hill at UNI back in the late 80's. If I could go back in time, that's where I would go! My kids, 14 yr old twins, not impressed. They like the gyro well enough but prefer the ones they had at the Vernon Inn. The one that the table top pac-man game was great and was mad I would pony up the cash for a game. But I was afraid it was more for eating on instead of playing. If the Wienie can hold on another 8 years or so, I might forget again and be back. Then again, they might dust by then. read more

Great favorite lunch spot. Love the people and best dogs around. Almost always in and out in 10 min fOr orders to go.

I love this place. The decorations are awesome, and there's an airplane on top of the building! The food is how you would expect it. Don't come here for fine cuisine, come here for a hot dog! They also have a sit down pacman. Great staff. Fast service. Eclectic atmosphere. Loved it! read more

Let me start off by saying that I really enjoy the food here. I think the man, who I assume is the owner is kind of a prick but maybe that is what he is going for. I have been helped by a couple other people there and they all seemed pretty nice. I usually get the Gyro or a couple Chicago Dogs. -- 4 Stars Last time I was there there was a girl behind the counter who coughed and yawned every few seconds. I wasn't the only one who noticed. A man standing next to me asked if I thought she was coughing on the food. I said that I hoped she wasn't. When he left he said, "wish me luck." I didn't get sick and I still at my meal but it was unappetizing to see. - 2 Stars I will continue being a customer despite the owner and his coughing employee mainly because I like the food. I wish you all luck. read more

Love The Flying Wienie! A chili cheese dog and their handcut fries... delicious! The Italian Beef is good as well. Be warned that you could be waiting for some time as there are a lot of people that love this place and they make all the food to order... a small price to pay for a delicious lunch if you ask me. Downsides, often not a lot of places to sit, outside or inside and because there are not a lot of staff, sometimes the place, especially the tables, is a bit dirty. read more

There's not much I can add. You won't find much healthy food here. It's good and greasy. I like the dogs. The gyros are pretty decent too. The only reason I have deducted stars is the pricing and the cleanliness. The food areas are all clean but if you look up you'll see a lot of dusty, dirty things overhead. The plane and other items really need dusted. The other concern is that the prices are a little high. It was like $8.25 for a gyro with fries. The fries are heavenly but I didn't get many of them. I felt a little shortchanged on the gyro meat, too. (I go to the gyro place on the other side of the river for a better value.) If you go to Farmer's Market, look for the KMRY radio station booth. You can often buy half priced certificates (the pay $5 and get $10 type). That makes this a better value. All in all, it's okay in my book. read more