Top notch hotdogs, great prices, awesome owner and gives his tips to the SPCA...love this hotdog…read morestand!

Not to sound cheesy, but Home Run Hot Dogs is a home run! I have mentioned in previous reviews that…read moreI am a big fan of supporting local businesses, and money spent at this gem of a hotdog cart is an excellent way to feed money into the local economy. The owner/chef Robert Evans can be found most Saturdays and Sundays serving up his delicious hotdogs outside the Roanoke, VA Best Buy. Robert uses all-beef hotdogs and steams the buns as they should be. He has all the toppings including chili, Bertman Ball Park Mustard, onions, jalapeños, cheddar, and much more. The hotdogs alone are worth a visit to this food cart, but the prices are the icing on the cake. A double combo features two hotdogs, chips, and a drink for the low price of $6. What adds to this great business is Robert's enthusiasm. He is super friendly and loves to talk with his customers while preparing their food. He's an avid baseball fan and enjoys discussing the great American pastime with his patrons. Take my word for it, Robert's Home Run Hot Dogs cart is a fun time any weekend it's open.

Everyone loves a good hot dog and that's including me. And today, as I was driving along Brandon…read moreAve in Southwest Roanoke, I happened to notice this hot dog joint named "Roanoke Weiner Stand #2 ." As you can expect, I pulled over their parking lot and since it was around lunch time, I got out of my Lexus and went to try them out. A friendly gentleman behind the counter greeted me and took my order. The menu on the wall was not too specific on the kinds of hot dogs they had, so I asked if they had one with sauerkraut. The order taker immediately said no, not that one. So I asked for a hot dog with chili, mustard, and onion, which was on the menu, and asked for another one with ketchup, mustard, and relish. I also ordered some french fries and a fountain drink, which there was a sign that clearly stated: "No Refills." and "$2.07 for a refill." It didn't take long for my two hot dogs and fries to be ready. I took them to a table and ate them. The hot dogs themselves were the short kind which are soft inside, but they were nice and tasty. These as different from the ones sold at a hot dog cart which are long and firm inside. The buns were fresh and soft, and the fries were nice and crispy. The chili, however was disappointing in texture and taste. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the quality of their food. Before leaving I asked the order taker if this restaurant was of the same owner as the Roanoke Weiner Stand in downtown Roanoke, and he told me they were different owners, but basically the food menu was the same. This one was opened in 1984 by Gus Pappas after he took over the family business. Overall, I enjoyed the tasty hot dogs, but not so much the chili. Their fries were nice and crispy and freshly served. The atmosphere of the place was warm and nostalgic. The service was fast and the staff was friendly. I wouldn't mind eating here again when I'm around the area.

Not friendly hotdogs are just ok fries are really good we told it was our first time there and they…read moredidn't talk to us. They weren't friendly at all.

Today, we visited Burger in the Square and arrived just in time to beat the rush. Our waitress,…read moreAlyssa, provided some of the best service we've experienced in a long time. Our drinks were perfect and served promptly. My wife ordered the Mushroom Burger, and I went with the Texas Chili Burger. I was absolutely famished, so I strategically took my burger apart and ate it in stages; it was simply too large to eat normally! The onion rings were excellent, offering a great crunch and fantastic flavor. My wife couldn't even finish her meal because the portion was so generous. The restaurant was clean, the tables were spotless, and the atmosphere was quiet enough for us to plan our next few days without distraction.

This is not easily accessible from the interstate, as it requires a 15 minute drive, but if you're…read morenot in a hurry, this is the place to go for delicious burgers. One meal is about $20.

Chicago Dogs keep me coming back Friendly service…read more Relaxed Atmosphere to chill with a friend over a drink.

Today, just only two weeks after opening, I discovered a very unique family-owned business by two…read morevery friendly and unique husband and wife partners. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new shops and restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And 7 Stars Lounge in West Downtown Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. 7 Stars Lounge is a very unique business indeed. It's a combination of a Cigar Lounge, Bar, and Cafe. After retiring, Larry the co-owner with his wife Mini decided to open a business that embodied the things that they enjoy most in life. The husband enjoys smoking a good cigar, relaxing in a leather recliner, while watching a large screen TV or talking with friends. So originated the concept of a Cigar Lounge. In their business, this lounge is located in a separate adjacent room with leather recliners, side tables, large screen TVs, and two pool tables. Just outside of this room is a humidifier room where they have a great variety of quality cigars for sale. While other Cigar Lounges make you pay for a membership in order to enjoy the place. Here, as long as you purchase any item from the Cigar store, Bar, or Cafe. You have the right to enjoy the Cigar Lounge for free. The wife's, who is a Chinese native, and co-owner of the business, favorite food is the Chicago Hot Dog. So they decided that the Cafe specialty would center around the genuine Chicago-style Hot Dog, with autentic Vienna Beef Hot Dogs. This hot dog is inserted into a soft poppyseed bun and topped with mustard, Chicago-style relish, chopped onions, half-sliced tomatoes, a pickle spear, and a sport pepper, to give it that extra crunch and flavor. Besides this, they also have other Hot Dogs like the Chili Hot Dog, the Kraut Hot Dog, and the Original Hot Dog. As for me I like a good hot dog, so I welcome this new addition to the culinary lineup in the Star City. The menu also includes some Sandwiches, Breakfast Sandwiches, Bakery items, Salads, and authentic Fried Rice cooked by the wife. She is also planning on cooking freshly made donuts from scratch. The Bar they plan to have will only have beers (draft brews like Stella Artois and Heineken plus bottles and cans) and a selection of wines. The restaurant's space itself is a nice size and furnished with quality wood tables and chairs. They already plan to hold a group party their which will consume a selection of items from their menu. Today, I ordered two Chicago style Hot Dogs and a can of Dr Pepper to drink. And they tasted amazingly delicious. Specially the quality of the Vienna Beef franks, which is known for their signature snap, that you don't find in many other hot dog places. And the fresh and soft poppyseed buns that topped off the favor and texture of the dogs, not including the other wonderful ingredients. I'm not a smoker so one of my concerns going to eat there was if the smoke of the Cigar Lounge would reach the Cafe, and I can assure you it didn't. The door that devides the two is very tight. My other concern was the parking situation. But in front of the business they have several parking spaces for the exclusive use of their customers. I highly recommend this place for those who enjoy the different items I've written about in this review. The owners are so friendly and nice that we should give them our support. I'm looking forward to returning one morning to have breakfast there, and to trying out their homemade donuts and fried rice.

The Roanoke Weiner Stand is a classic family restaurant that has been around since 1916…read more Conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, right next to the Center in the Square, and the Roanoke City Market, this place is full of local history and mystic. After all, hot dogs are deeply embedded in America's food culture. After hearing so much about this local family restaurant and the important role it has played in the lives of the people of Roanoke and its visitors throughout the years, I decided to go visit for myself, explore the restaurant, taste its food, study its interior design and ambiance, and experience for myself a taste of the famous Roanoke Weiner that everyone is talking about. First of all, I was very impressed by the cleanliness of the restaurant and how it managed to mix the old with the new in its contemporary interior design, furnished with new but furniture design from the restaurants of the 60's, and souranded with artworks and photographs relevant to the long successful history of the restaurant and it's founder. Branded as the Hot Dog King and Roanoke's Oldest Restaurant, customers of all ages will have memories of the time when they visited their old location and soon to be new customers as they visit this new location with a historic resilience. All focused on one simple but delicious American cuisine item: the hot dog. When I entered the restaurant for a late lunch it was already full of customers eating there; some arriving and others leaving. Some even mentioning how they have been customers of the place for years. Above the ordering counter was a large menu for one to study while the customers in front ordered their food. When my time came up to order, a young lady greeted me and took my order. I ordered a hot dog. A sloppy Joe, french fries, homemade banana pudding and a small drink of Iced Dr. Pepper. As the lady took the order, a gentleman prepared and brought it to the counter. I went to sit down at a table where I could see the inside of the restaurant and at the same time view through the front window the Historic Market Building. The hot dog was a quality yet simple hot dog served in a fresh and soft bun with mustard, chili, and onions. The French Fries were crinkle cut. The Sloppy Joe Sandwich was served on a Hotdog bun. The hot dog and fries were delicious. The chili was a bit too salty for me as well as the sloppy Joe. I would also have appreciated it in a burger bun. The Banana Pudding could have used more sugar. But the dining experience was very unique and worthwhile. And I discovered a great place to enjoy some time alone or with others.

a roanoke star life attraction.as child we used to go buy by bags.my my husband our daily…read moreattraction for any hotdog..there used to be a man hero star forever memory of roanoke..cozy friendly.views.decor.a must visit for roanoke va.

Tucked away inside the historic city market building the Laughing Bull has a variety of menu…read moreoptions and the staff was friendly and the food came out hot and quick. There are tables inside a spacious hall decorated with greenery and interesting architecture. I'm not sure I ordered the best thing on the menu, the Teriyaki chicken panini was lightly sauced teriyaki chicken and Swiss cheese on thick Texas toast type bread. It could have been better honestly, it had a weak flavor and was pretty messy and hard to eat. The French fries were good, maybe a little overly salted but good. I would give it another try.

In a word, OK. In the Market Building food court in downtown Roanoke, Va. comfortable common-area…read moreseating, staff brought the food to us after ordering at the window. Very nice staff, answered our questions, and were quite friendly. Ordered two gourmet burgers and a 'cheese steak' panini. All three came with fries and were visually appealing. The burgers were stacked, had nice veggies but the meat was rather tasteless, a real disappointment. The panini was inedible. The "steak" was strips of very tough and chewy meat that pulled right out of the bread, and the peppers overrode all other tastes. A real disappointment. The staff came and checked on us twice, very attentive. I would try it again, just to try another of their very creative dishes, but I am not running back. Good for a stop if you are downtown.

What attracted my attention to this hot dog moving establishment was its unique hand built gypsy…read morewagon. The owner built it with his two hands and also used his artistic talent to decorate it with lively wooden carvings and paintings, as well as a movable wooden woodpecker. Shawn White sells Nathan's All Beef Hot Dogs, Quarter Pound Dogs, Kiolbassa Traditional Sausage, and Kiolbassa Beef Sausage sandwiches/combos, all at reasonable prices. Since 2018 Shawn has stationed his hot dog trailer in Roanoke and Franklin Counties, at places such as Carilion Hospital, Salem Walmart, Ace Hardware on Brambleton, and others, as well as to private booking events. To find out where he'll be or to book an event, you can call him at (540) 520-2622, email him at dogontimehotdogs@gmail.com or checkout his Facebook page Dog'on Time Food Stand to find his daily location. The other day, as soon as I discovered his contact information, I emailed him to find out where he would be on Wednesday, and he emailed me back writing that he would be at the parking lot of the Cherry Bomb Tattoo parlor in Vinton, Virginia, from 11 until 4. This is located in the same Building as Vinton Computers in Vinton, Virginia. And surely it was worth the trip. For just the trailer itself was a delightful thing worth seeing and admiring, a work of art; very colorful and with many wooden artworks that gave it lots of character. Shawn greeted me behind the small window of the trailer and chatted with me on how he started his business years ago and about his products. There were also posted menus and a price list of all the items being sold there. I had a My Way hot dog. Shawn prepared it for me and wrapped it in an aluminum foil in such a way that my hands remained clean as I was eating the hot dog. It had a Touch of Hot Sauce, Squeeze Cheese, Barbeque Sauce, Mustard, Chili, Onions, and Sweet Relish. It was like an orchestra of flavors playing harmoniously and creating a culinary masterpiece of a flavor. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and high-quality of the hot dog. Another customer arrived after I had finished eating and I thanked Shawn for such an amazing tasting hot dog and I took off in my pearl white Lexus to allow other customers to park in this small parking lot. I highly recommend that you find out where he'll be and go try his amazing hot dogs out. Also you can book him for an event. Shawn deserves the total support of our community.

Best damn hot dog you'll ever get! Check out his Facebook page to find his daily location. Ask for…read morethem "my way" as it's the only way!

There is no better place to go on a hot Summer day than to a shack that sells comfort American…read morehometown food like burgers, fries, and hot dogs, together with refreshing desserts like Hawaiian Ice and Ice Cream. After being awarded the Triad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Hang 10 Hawaiian Ice & Cream in Roanoke, Virginia, is the perfect example. Located in Roanoke's Historic Wasena neighborhood, near the Green Goat Restaurant, in a quiet place off the Roanoke River Greenway, Hang 10 Hawaiian Ice & Cream is one of the Star City's greatest hidden gems. At first it was not easy to reach. I set my Lexus GPS to their address 805 Winona Ave SW, Roanoke, VA and it had me going in circles without really reaching my desired destination. Then I tried with my Samsung cellphone and finally I was able to reach the place. It has plenty of parking spaces off a wide street that leads to the neat shack. Just in front of the building it has a green grass area with bluish green picnic benches with red and blue patio umbrellas. The building itself is kind of a neat shack with aluminum panels as the outside wall with a light blue and red name sign hanging from one of those construction iron poles. But once inside, one finds a clean, colorful place with beach motifs like surfboards and a floatie in the shape of a pineapple that as you know is the symbol of hospitality, warmth, welcome, and friendship. The seating area is full of light blue color picnic benches, and there is a long yellow counter behind which is the open kitchen area where all the food and drinks are prepared. Two young gentlemen greeted me and gave me a friendly welcome. They briefly talked to me about the place and showed me where the menus were, which were enlarged and posted all over the place. Since I had already eaten dinner and had come for ice-cream, I ordered a scoop of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice-cream in a cup. As I ate my ice-cream, other customers came by, and I tried to photograph some of the interesting ice-cream creations they ordered. I invite you to look at my photographs accompanying this review for a better sense of the place and its very unique products they sell. From their Autentic Hawaiian Shaved Ice, to their Frozen Lemonade, to their Hershey's Ice Cream and Shakes, to their Soft Serve and Dole Whip, and more. All these not counting food items like their burgers, hot dogs, and hand-cut fries. In conclusion I highly recommend this "one of a kind" Eatery. It has a wonderful selection of comfort and refreshing food, desserts, and drinks, a friendly and welcoming environment, and excellent customer service.

I love that this place has been open 99 years and still serving up original recipes at affordable…read moreprices. Open 24/7 (except Xmas) and serves breakfast until 10:30 am. The ambiance is original diner style (10 bar seats) at a countertop with an open kitchen! Very charming little place with such a cool nostalgic vibe. The staff and is friendly and the food comes out lightening quick! Husband got the chilli (normally not into bean chili) said it was delicious. Burgers are thin but delicious and you can really taste the quality of the beef. Although boiled, the hotdog was def top 5 tasting dogs in quality to y, the flavor was very unique. $16 for 2 double burgers, chilli, hot dog and 2 drinks

Now a days it's very hard to find a restaurant that's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and…read morethat's only closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. A family-owned restaurant that has been serving locals, travelers, and late-night crowds from its classic 10-stool lunch counter since 1930, and continues to be strictly cash-only. A restaurant that not only has survived, but strived for 96 years, owned by the same local family, and is currently owned by fourth-generation owner Matt Bullington. Who has said that the key to its longevity has been sticking to what has made them successful since they opened. A restaurant that has never been remodeled and whose menu has never been expanded, but that in this lies its real charm. A restaurant that despite economic hardship, tries never to raise prices and remain affordable. A restaurant that many people go to it because of their food, others because of their prices, and others like me this morning, because of the experience to sit at its counter and appreciate its character and charm while enjoying a classic breakfast of three fried eggs over easy with bacon and white toast basted with butter. That restaurant was and continues to be the iconic Texas Tavern, located in the heart of Downtown Roanoke. This morning I drove my pearl white Lexus up to it and parked in front of the sidewalk at the parallel parking with a one-hour limit. There is so much history behind this place that the excitement of the moment made the breakfast experience more momentous. Once inside, a young gentleman who has been working there for over two years now greeted me and immediately made me feel at home. He took my order and almost at the same time started making my toast and frying my eggs. In no time at all I had my order in front of me. I noticed and made him aware that one egg was missing. He made it right by frying me another egg over easy and I didn't mind because of his positive attitude and very unique personality. He also asked me how I'd like my coffee and prepared it just as requested with two creams and three sugars. Every one of the three eggs were perfectly fried over easy and I sprinkled a salt and pepper mixture over them. The bread of the toast was so fresh and tasty braised in butter. I invite you to view my photographs accompanying this review to get a better sense of the place and the high-quality of their food. I'm looking forward to returning one day at lunch time to taste some of their menu items of which they are known for. Starting with their Cheesy Western, the tavern legendary trademark burger served with a fried egg, cheese, pickles, and a sweet-and-tangy homemade cabbage relish. Or maybe a bowl of their secret-recipe chili served with onions. Or their trademark hot dog served Coney Island-style with chili, relish, mustard, and unions. All comfort food that make you feel good and bring a sense of nostalgia, warmth, and satisfaction. I highly recommend this small, historic, eatery for a one-of-a-kind, memorable, dining experience. One that you'll cherish and hold dear forever.

We drifted off the beaten path to check out this place out traveling between Atlanta and Lexington,…read moreVA. It's a fair bit away from the Interstate, but I can tell you that it's worth the trek. When we got here for lunch, there was a line out the door and the smokers out back hard at work told us this was the place to be. We got served pretty quickly and found a table. The place is neat and clean with a decent amount of seating both inside and out. The missus had a brisket sandwich and I got the pulled pork with slaw, pinto beans and mac&cheese for the sides. The servings are HUGE and that smoke ring isn't just for looks. The meat was done perfectly with the smoky flavor and not dried out. I also tried one of their homemade sausages. Absolutely fantastic! Snappy casing with a filling that included creamy cheese hunks and a level of spicy that was just right. We pride ourselves in having high standards when it comes to BBQ, and this joint didn't disappoint! We've been to numerous BBQ joints including the famous award-winning Big Bob Gibsons in Northern Alabama and this place comes in well over that. We visited with the owner (Kelly) and had a great experience. The staff we interfaced with were both friendly and engaging. I would give this place 6 stars if I could. Highly recommended!

Yes--the main upgrade is adding the restaurant's no-frills character from your photo, sharpening…read morethe texture description, and giving the collards a more memorable moment. Here's the elite version: One look at Mama Jean's handwritten chalkboard menu told me this was a place that lets the food do the talking--and the fried ribs backed it up. The fried-rib special was the undeniable star. Topped with Buffalo sauce, hot honey, Gorgonzola cream sauce, Gorgonzola crumbles and green onion, these ribs were an absolute revelation. They were fried hard--the right way--giving the outside a satisfying bite while the meat remained tender inside. Sweet, spicy, tangy, creamy and savory, it was a bold combination that somehow worked beautifully from every angle. The pulled-pork sandwich refused to be overshadowed. The pork was moist, tender, well-seasoned and piled ridiculously high on a soft bun. This was a serious portion of properly cooked pork--not a sandwich relying on sauce to carry it. Then came the collard greens, which unexpectedly became the star of the sides. I expected them to play backup, but they had enough presence to stand beside the barbecue. The mac and cheese was good, but those collards were the side I kept returning to. Mama Jean's is not a barbecue spot you want to miss if you're anywhere near Roanoke. The setting is casual, the portions are generous and the flavors are unapologetically big. If the fried ribs are written on that chalkboard, don't overthink it--order them before they're gone. Top-notch barbecue