Service is awesome, food is awesome, very very affordable, and they offer breakfast all day long! My sister took me here when I was in the I-am-just-looking-for-a-snack kind've mood, and it was fit for a snack or a meal. This place reminded me of Hot Doug's in Chicago, minus the hour long wait. They offer a large variety of different hot dogs and sausages plus burgers. I'm a HUGE sucker for anything with an egg so I had to order the Upsetter which was a spicy italian sausage (you get to pick the kind of meat here anything from a Vienna hot dog, polish sausage, to a vegetarian tofu dog) topped off with bacon, over easy fried egg (you get to pick the style), and cheese. It was SUPER delicious! I also got to take a few bites off of my sister's and our friend's dogs and they all tasted great. I would wait an hour if there was a line at this place to satisfy a snack/meal craving anyday! I honestly believe it tastes better than Hot Doug's down in Chicago too (overrated in my opinion). A helpful tip before coming here is to bring cash with you because that's all they'll accept. read more

This place is a dirty hole in the wall in a crappy neighborhood. I really liked it. I saw it on DDD and figured I had to try the "Italian Combo". Who can say no to a deep fried sausage covered in garlicy roastbeef? It was excellent, if greasy. The fries were clearly handmade and also excellent. The clientele is varied... VERY varied. From your average person to weirdos, freaks, hipsters, youngsters, well-dressed business people, and everything between. The restaurant is small. I sat at the counter but there are maybe 3-4 small tables as well. Parking can be tricky in this area but there were 2 parking lots within walking distance. Tip: They give you a glass. Drinks are obtained (by you, the customer) from a fountain in the rear of the restaurant. I guess they are free because they didn't seem to charge me extra? I left a large (50%) tip to try to cover the fact that I went for refills a few times and because their food is so cheap. Tip: Cash only. read more

This place is gritty as all heck and is roughly the size of a walk-in closet, but I love it anyway. It's cheap and satisfying, and they have vegan and vegetarian options..my only real complaint is that they close so early (M-Sa 8pm, Su 7pm)! I could see myself wandering over here after a show at the Nomad or Acadia and ordering some cheap dogs. It would be like West Bank's answer to Dinkytown's Mesa (except less tool-y). I am a big fan of Chicago Style (vegan) dogs and they do that well here, but I'm dying to try their super appetizingly-named "Steaming Pile" (Fries w/ baked beans, cheese, coleslaw, mock duck, grilled onions, & green peppers). I've never tried their breakfast but they apparently serve it all day. It's worth checking out when you're in the area. Just be aware: cash only! read more

The Wienery - Vegan Chicago Tofu Dog...I promise the tofu dog is in there, it's just buried under the many delicious peppers and pickles. - Hot Dogs Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Great dogs. Good conversation. Had the Vienna sausage with onions and peppers. Onion rings were done perfectly. Best I've ever had.

Did you ever see the movie "Se7en" (one of the greatest films ever before movies when to total shit)? Well, there's a scene where Somerset and Mills go to meet Somerset's FBI contact at a disgusting pizza place and Somerset says, "They had about fifty health violations during the last inspection." THAT is the exact thing I said when I walked into this establishment and sat at the counter. If I knew someone from the health department I'd bet them $500.00 they would not pass a snap inspection. Why didn't I leave? Because I wanted to prove that idiotic Guy Fieri wrong again, and this was the worst one ever. Not that it's a foreign concept, but I am convinced they pay off people to be on that show now. I seriously can't understand for the life of me why people make repeated visits unless it's to cop from the dealer outside playing hacky sack. Also, I just got off a plane and wanted something quick and easy that wasn't wearing a G String. I decided on two stars because the only guy working in the entire place was running around like crazy doing everything and because the hot dogs weren't horrible. Truth be told, they really weren't anything and were not worth the 30 minutes it took me to get them. When I left, I damn near ran to my car based on the neighborhood. Can you blame them for not being open after 3pm? Guy Fieri, you're absolutely the joke everyone else thinks you are. What a nasty and disgusting place. read more

The owner and cook is friendly and a wonderful conversationalist. There's great memorabilia from years past (including model airplanes and paintings) everywhere you look. The dogs themselves are made to order to your specifications with an astounding amount of available toppings as well as your choice of sausage type from polish and spicy Italian to brats, cheese dogs and tofu dogs for our vegan chums. Everything is extremely reasonably priced. The only gripe would be that despite there being so much to look at it isn't terribly well organized and some of the photos and pictures look a little buried and neglected. The place could also use a bit of a tidying just for sanitation. Otherwise we had a charming visit and would go back again on a return trip. read more

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Important update: they now accept credit cards; eat your heart out. The reviews here are epic--some of the best I've read. Inevitably though, hype builds. I paid for the largest dog with the most toppings I could--and it was just a simple hotdog that was kind of expensive. Yes, the toppings are creative. Yes, the environment is 'artsy' and 'cool.' But, it was a normal hotdog, in a normal bun, available at any grocery store for vastly cheaper. I was still hungry after the combo meal. I see nothing special. Yes Brock, it's a dive. But the pop was ice cold. read more

Really awesome place!!! It's good food for a great price The food tasted amazing it was pretty retro and old fashioned type vibe. Great place to hang out with friends too read more

I'm a fan of dives. Any place where you can get tasty, filling food for a few bucks is worthy in my book; and Wienery fits this description. As dives go, Wienery is on the grungier side in terms of decorum. But the dogs and other goodies make up for it. We arrived on a chilly afternoon and no one else was around. The server looked like he was the only guy in the building, but he was friendly and helpful. We took some coffee and pored over the menu. Ultimately we got three different types of wieners, prepared in three separate styles. the upsetter would be a great hangover cure: eggs and bacon together with a beef dog in a bun. The Warsaw dog was good too, but our favorite was the Briny dog. Imagine all of the pickle-y goodness you can get on a weiner, (sauerkraut, gherkins, jalapenos), piled up to the sky. Put that on top of a large brat and you can't really go wrong. Along with the dogs, we ordered chili fries with coleslaw on top. It's messy food, nothing special, but the slaw worked as a counterpoint to the chili in a satisfying way. For a freezing, MN winter, this kind of comfort food was just what we were looking for. Anyways, don't take your girlfriend's parents to this place. Unless they're really chill and non-judgemental. Do take your drunk, cold, and hungry friends, though. They probably could use some hot weiners in them. read more

The Wienery - Drive-in fries and 3 types of dogs, including the wonderful Briny Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Besides the servers being not the nicest, the vegetarian and vegan dogs were terrific! Not even a greeting when we entered and asking for anything seemed like such a burden. My advice is grab your wieners to go, oh wait you can't. They take credit cards now so that's cool. Good food - Bad Service read more

Made it twice over the last couple months for breakfast, soooo worth the trek. On both occasions I went between 10-11 a.m. so service was quick. I had the Upsetter, thick strip of bacon with an over easy egg on a delicious soft Vienna bun, and the Drive-In-Hashbrowns, hashbrowns layered with cheese,then chili and a dab of coleslaw. The chili is all meat so just the way I like it. It's warm and mushy and oh so good! Yes it was a big order but I was very hungry. Don't forget, CASH ONLY. read more

The Wienery - The Upsetter - bacon, egg any style & cheese - Hot Dogs Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Price was great, divey as it gets (which I love), service was meh (went there like 3 afternoon and 1 guy cooking and taking orders). Went there pretty hungry and expected to be blown away by its epicness, but left kind of, "that was okay". I ordered the hairy brain, mexican style (polish with mayonnaise, cheese, sauerkraut, and mexican style means with bacon). I enjoyed the sour, meaty, and richness of it. Bread was good too but fell apart little. I also orderd the Cleveland (brat with slaw). Slaw was thick and saucy...did not really like. Wife got the upsetter (Italian sausage with bacon, fried egg, and cheese). Sounds amazing right. It just seemed ok. I would say the favorite probably was the cheesy chili fries. Fresh cut fries and good chili sauce. So would I come again? Maybe, but doesn't seem like I will have a craving for this food anytime soon. read more

Don't let the small inside fool you - this place is amazing . You sit where you want , someone will come up to you . They give you cups ; you go get your own soda. The menu is very large with lots of different fry options , hot dogs , burgers and breakfast served all day . Nothing is pre cooked . They cook it after you order . They use Vienna hot dogs and steam their buns . I was almost disappointed when my cheese frys where not the nacho cheese kind .The shredded cheese melted on top was amazing because the fry itself was so good . I saw him literally take a whole potato and chop it for the fries . I tried a couple different hot dogs and they were all amazing . The portions are big , including the toppings ! When your done , you go up to the counter to pay . read more

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This was a semi-fun spot to hit after a morning along the river. Upon arriving I realized the this is the proverbial "hole" in the wall you always hear about. Service matches the decor as we were told about how they were out of many, many items and that for those reasons the restaurant possesses a special "charm". Whatever. Food was just ok. My Chicago dog was missing mustard, pickle, relish and celery salt. Charm remember? Fries were the best thing on the menu. We listened to a lady that came in from a next door establishment and she left and came back with basics to complete her meal. I imagine that this place offers a feeling of inclusion and hipness on a night of drinking and debauchery. At least you may not notice or remember what the food was actually like right? read more

I didn't know what to expect but the Wienery is simple, has an authentic atmosphere and quality food! The Chicago Dogs I got were probably best I've ever had and the guy running the show was incredibly warm and friendly. 5/5! read more

The Wienery's a bit of an odd spot. A single rectangle of space with a few tables, a bar, a small kitchen, and one dude running the place. Pop is pop, not soda, serve yourself, and limited to maybe three choices. "Mexican style" means a hot dog wrapped in bacon. The insulation of the chest freezer falls down every time it's opened. There isn't really a name for it that's more specific than "dive," but you know the kind of place I'm talking about. Solid Chicago dogs, Italian sausage, and the like. Excellent, fresh fries. Cleanliness is a bit hilariously dismal, but I don't expect anything fancy from a divey place like this. Considering foods are cooked to order (hot/cold *holding* temps are normally a huge source of inspection violations, and there's not much here to cause trouble with those), I'm not too concerned. Service was quick, the guy's nice, and the place has plenty to feast your eyes on. Great spot for a quick dog and fries and a walk around the neighborhood. Around $20 for two people including a tip, so I certainly can't complain. read more

An absolute dump. I mean this as a compliment. Frankly I was mildly surprised the chef was wearing a shirt. If he wasn't it wouldn't have been out of place. Loved it. I do not need white linen and elegance while I eat my chili dog. The dogs were really good but stopped short of great. They are a cut below the dogs at Voodoo Dog in Tallahassee ( I'm sure all Minnesota readers enjoy my recommendation of a place 1500 miles away). So why 5 stars? One word: French fries. Crap. Two words: Awesome French fries. Aw, the hell with this counting stuff. Suffice to say, both the plain and the cheese fries are strong candidates for best fries I've ever had. Value is good, vibe is good for hot dog scarfing. Survey says: Go there. read more

Will NEVER go back and regret the time I spent there.... The food was nowhere near decent. I had the hot dog with chili and cheese. There was no flavor what so ever and the bun was ice cold. Hot dog was warm, but not near warm enough to be served. Spouse had the Polish sausage and stated, "not even the cheese he flavor". The fries were good and very hot... Fries are the only thing worth eating. I had seen a segment on DDD for this place and was excited because I had just moved into the area... It was definitely not worth the trip. read more

Before you bother coming here, ask yourself, "Do I want ice in my soda?" If the answer is yes, go fuck off down to yuppieville with your yuppie ice and fine dining sensibilities. This place is a dive. Not a "hey fellow art students let's go be ironic and eat hot dogs" dive, but a dive dive. This is the hole in the wall that you'll crawl into at 2:52pm on a Saturday afternoon after puking your guts out all night and morning thanks to Rick and his shitty beer bongs and shitty tequila. This is the lonely joint you'll walk into on a 94° day, just to realize you just walked into a place that's easily pushing 105°. This is the little shop you'll saunter into after a way too long of a walk around Cedar Riverside, mouth dry as a desert, thirsty for a cold beverage you aren't going to get. You'll prop your hungover ass up on that stool-- you'll grease your heat stroking ass up to the counter-- you'll collapse at that table with your barely chilled cola. You'll do these things because this is the best damn food you'll find for miles. These hot dogs are hot dogs that'd cause riots. Little logs of bliss, that's what they are. But that's not all-- that's just 1/3 the menu, and every other thing on that menu is shear beauty. Did I mention it's cheap as shit? This is one of the last greasy spoons in the greater metro area, and let's hope to god it never goes away. (And bring cash, they don't take cards.) read more

This joint is legit! I've been meaning to try it for quite a while now and finally found the time this afternoon. I rolled in at 2 pm and the place was full. Granted, there are only a dozen counter stools and a couple tables. I ordered the Chicago and the Drive- In which is a chili dog with coleslaw and cheese. I think Uncle Franky's has a far better Chicago Dog but this one was still good. The chili on the Drive-In was out of this world. I think my favorite part about the place is the hand cut made to order fries. They are hands down the best fries I've ever had. Two dogs, fries and a soda was only 8 bucks. I'm definitely coming here more often. read more

In my back yard I have a 3 foot rock retaining wall (stay with me - I have a point) - and along the top of the wall there is a space...which looks like a rock is missing. I'll be totally candid, it looks odd. Now, go back with me two summers ago and I was mowing my lawn with a bottle of suds. I had to go into the garage and needed a place to put said bottle of suds....low and behold, that "missing rock" space actually was a beer holder....genius. That's what the Weinery feels like to me: looks odd, you don't always need it - but its there when you do, and finally they do what they do without a lot of pomp and circumstance. Regarding the food, lots of nice interesting dog toppings: baked beans, coleslaw, giardiniera....anything you could think of, try any of them and you'll be happy. They also double fry their french fries, which is cool. Don't drive here from Duluth for the best dog of your life...it won't happen...but if you are in the area, and crave a good dog - keep this on your bookmark list. Tip: Grab a dog and fries and head over to the Nomad for a brew - you can bring in food. read more

Went for the first time yesterday and was mad at myself for not going sooner! I finally decided to get my lazy self and walk the extra block or two from the West Bank campus and try the place. The fact that I found out this place was on the Food Network motivated me a little more. Definitely a dive with a 1950s theme. The furniture and set up of the place literally seems to be from the 50s but with some dinginess. Couldn't make up my mind on which dog to order, so I had the cook recommend one. I got the Italian vegetarian dog Picnic style (baked beans, coleslaw, and cheese) with a side of fresh handcut potatoes. Food came out not too long after I placed my order. Great looking presentation and awesome taste. It was a party in my mouth! I could have easily eaten a bowl of the slaw itself. The poppy seed bun was steamed to perfection. My total came to $6.50: dog, fries, and a soft drink. Not bad at all. Right after I left, I was already planning my next visit. As I write this very review, my mouth is watering, and I am craving a bowl of slaw Can't wait to try their other dog styles and other dishes. read more

I saw the ad for this place in The Onion, and I fancy myself a real hot dog aficionado, so it seemed like a match made in heaven. I knew this would be a dive, after all it was on Guy Fieri's show. After passing by on Cedar Ave looking for parking, I knew this was a TOTAL hole in the wall. It is smack dab in the heart of the projects in the West Bank, near U of M. Street parking wasn't a problem. The place has minimal seating, and was jam-packed from the moment I got there. Mostly students from the west side of the campus (University of Minnesota) and a few scummy-looking hipster types. Pretty typical for the neighborhood. PROS: - Delicious hot dogs - Cheap! - Wacky varieties of dogs, and goofy names to go with them - Breakfast all day long - Toys for the kids to play with while waiting CONS: - Dirty menus - Dirty tables - Dirty chairs - Chicago Style hot dog had very little relish and onion, and the sport peppers look like they had been run over with a rolling pin - Warm fountain drinks with no ice. - Bathroom is downstairs, and I had to be escorted through a filthy kitchen and down some VERY steep stairs to get to it. The basement was absolutely horrid and filled with random waste. Yuck. - The sign outside advertises Vienna Beef brand hot dogs, but I noticed on my trip to the restroom that the cooler was full of some generic brand of hot dog - Cash only. There should be a large sign near the entrance that says 'cash only'. This ended up costing me an extra $4.50 (ATM across the street charges $2.50, my bank charges me $2.00), adding to my party's $35.00 tab. This place could be legendary once the health department stops by and has them tidy up. I'm a fan of most dives, so I'd consider eating there again (if I had cash on me), but it wouldn't be a place I'd take my wife. read more

Let me lead off with a brief rant. You paid 2 dollars for a hot dog, 5 dollars for a full breakfast, a coffee press full of java, and you STILL want seats that are in one piece?! Let's be real... The atmosphere of this place is what puts it over the top. 3 Tables, a bar, a piano, the exposed kitchen, knick knack central behind the bar, and a piano hanging out for no reason. There was a pot casually boiling over in the kitchen. There are all types of folks here. It's a cool place. The Wienery is a great place for a breakfast before 11:30, or a lunch after 12:30. For some reason all the hipsters show up in that hour... (It takes a while to groom those 'staches) Usually this place is known for hot dogs and burgers and rightfully so. However! If you are a breakfast lover, and you got bamboozled into going out with lunch minded people, and you love coffee, than you have found your place. The breakfast is great. The land-phil is all you need to get through a day. Veggies, eggs, hashbrowns..... The hashbrowns....oh my .... they are inexplicably creamy. Its as though they milked some sort of potato cow and these hash browns came out. Last but certainly not least, for a hotdog/ burger joint, The Wienery is outlandishly vegetarian friendly. They have great meat alternatives they look like they are actually trying. Nice job fellas. p.s. Bring Cash! read more

This is a super-tiny, old-school, barely-up-to-code joint serving burgers, fries and hot dogs. Vegans will find some dishes of interest here, however. They offer vegan hot dogs (which made be made a dozen different ways, with different toppings), a mock duck philly (without cheese if you're vegan), and a home-made blackbean burger. The fries are also famous here. The first time I came I had the mock duck philly ($5) without cheese. It wasn't great. For one thing, I could still taste the can that the mock duck had been sitting in (this is a common problem with mock duck; better to switch to seitan bought at a co-op, or made yourself). Also, a philly without cheese is not a philly; that said, there's a great vegan cheese available (at Whole Foods and at Galactic Pizza and Z Pizza), Daiya, which would work well enough. Or, for that matter, an herbed, nut-based "cheese," like the "rinotta" offered at Pizza Luce, would be excellent. Lastly, the bun it came on was one of those ungodly soft, spongy and white pieces of bread that so many Minnesotans love, but I love to hate. Give me a whole-wheat, flaky sub roll over fake white bread any day. The hand-cut fries ($1.75 for one potato's worth) were okay, but not great. Somehow I found them bland and boring. It was great that they keep the potato skin on, though. For great golden marvels, check out McCoy's Public House in St. Louis Park, or The Loop in Minneapolis. The next time I came I had the home-made blackbean burger ($3). I got some grilled peppers and onions added to it ($0.50). This was pretty tasty and a great value at under $4. For one thing, the blackbean patty had a spicy kick to it. Secondly, the bun was whole-wheat, and not white. Third, the tomatoes and lettuce were fresh and not cafeteria-grade. The burger just worked and had heft and taste to it for an amazingly low price; my only gripe, and it's a minor one, was that the patty didn't hold together and fell apart the more bites I took. The service is extremely friendly and casual. If The Wienery had more vegan options (namely things like tofu scramble, vegan cheeses, and vegan sausages from Field Roast) I'd be back there more often. As it stands, this is a great spot to get a quick, cheap and tasty vegan burger. read more

"I could use a big wiener." "That's what she said." ... and that comment was enough to lead us to The Wienery! Small. A little dirty. Tight place. But the wieners... totally delicious. The 'dog with fried onions and green peppers and the Italian sausage 'dog with chili and cheese were definite winners. Slap a couple of potatoes with it to share. All of that for $8.25. Yep, $8.25. That's it. And waters - help yourself at the counter. I'll definitely be back for round two (that's what she said). read more

This place is great. No pretension here. Reading some people's reviews really irks me...I don't get it...they want to go to a "dive", but when they get there, they just complain about how it is too "divey"...seriously? You are paying $2.75 for a great hotdog...I mean, the guy in the back is individually cutting up the toppings for your dog and kettle making handcut fries for $2.75 a dog! And people complain about how it is old and the chairs are ripped. If they redid the place and decked out like your lame Ikea furnished apartment, then what would be the point...they would have to charge more for the same hotdog - just so you don't complain about the decor. Give me a break. Great dogs. Nice people. Good price. If you want to sanitize your world, bring some wetnaps. read more

Came here at 1230 for lunch because of DDD. I love what they are doing with such a small space. However.....there is a point where 'dive' ends, and shithole begins. You can be a dive and still have intergrity. The furniture doesn't need to be perfect and the decor need not be pretty, but for gods sake clean the place! The windows had grime buildup, the condiment bottles had crust on them and most were empty. The floor in the kitchen looked as if it hadn't been swept in days. The area behind the counter was dirty, cluttered and had more crusty condiment bottles along with several half to nearly empty syrup carafes. The food was tasty. I had the drive in dog with fries. The beverages are serve yourself. Ice is not an option. The fries were rustic and tasty. You could tell they were literally 'hand cut'. You can tell that someone cares about the food. Its a shame because little care is paid to anything else. The menus are shabby and tattered. I will probably not be back simply because I have a hard time believing that an owner that pays such little attention to the hygeine in his dining room has much higher standards in the kitchen. Sorry wienery!! PS there is no bathroom!! Wtf? read more

An award for top hole-in-the-wall is displayed here, and I suppose that's an appropriate category. The place is small enough to miss without carefully watching street address or using GPS. Once inside, you may be seated either at counter and stools, or small tables and chairs. An ethnically diverse neighborhood makes for interesting people watching for a suburbanite like me. If you get tired of that, you can look around at clutter, some of which looks way older than the late '80s, when I'm told the Wienery opened. Now, for the food: 1. The "Warsaw" Beef Vienna (loaded w/ kraut dipped from a can that's heated on a grill) was all right, but so wet from kraut that the bun was pretty much a useless soggy mop for the juice; 2. The Smoked Bratwurst (Johnsonville) was deep-fried in soybean oil, and had a nice flavor, even the bites without spicy mustard. 3. In proper hole-in-the-wall fashion, two of the five soda fountain spigots had note cards posted to let you know they were empty. You could have water, diet coke, or mellow yellow. Regular coke and another variety were out. The Wienery has a world-weary vibe going on, which I sometimes like. But, if I lived here, I don't think the quality of the food would be enough to keep me coming back. read more

I love hotdogs and I have typically enjoyed it here. Sure, it's the filthiest spot in Minneapolis. And yes we know it's the size of a sardine can and not air conditioned on humid nasty days in summer. But I have always put up with that for cheap awesome hot dogs made to order! The last time I was in there the one man team seemed stressed and not able to cope with his job. He actually told people to leave because he wouldn't be able to take their order and cook it with how backed up he was. This location can only fit 20 people tops and there was about 6 people in the joint counting myself and my partner. He was cursing and frantically running around yelling for people's orders and shouting to himself while throwing menus at people. His energy made me the most uncomfortable I have ever felt at a dining establishment. If you want to save money by not hiring enough staff to clean or cook at least hire people who work well in "stressful" situations and can manage being the only person working. You get more than one star for having good hot dogs. read more

I don't even really know what to think about this place. A very drunk friend suggested we stop here in the middle of the night during the West Bank zombie pub crawl. Despite passing the Wienery maybe a gagillion times, I had no idea it existed. Yelp describes the ambience as dive-y, but that's an understatement. This place is a complete and utter super-dive. The place was packed and it probably didn't help matters for us that my friend ordered by slamming down a fistful of dollar bills and demanding whatever it could buy him. He was eventually given a couple of hot dogs and some monstrosity made up of every breakfast food imaginable. Here's where my beef (huh? huh?) with the place begins. I took a bite of a hot dog and the wiener was frozen. Not just cold, but rock solid frozen. I don't know if you've ever bitten into a warm bun with a frozen hot dog, but it's quite possibly the most offensive thing you could ever put in your mouth. It's worse than biting into just about anything else that's not supposed to be frozen but is. If you don't believe me, go try it for yourself. I didn't know what to do other than stare in total shock at a friend who had simultaneously taken a bite of the other half of the hot dog and was struggling with the same feelings of violation I was. Despite the trauma we suffered, the kicker was when the waitress didn't give a flying rat's ass about it. I would expect even the slightest hint of sympathy about a frozen wiener, especially for a place with wiener in its name. At the very least, my boyfriend had a hilarious conversation with a taxi dispatcher who was certain we were at a winery and didn't know how to correctly pronounce it. In short, maybe our experience can be chalked up to us being loud and drunk and covered in blood, but this place was frightening!!!! read more

"There is a Norwegian author in whose resume you find both masterpieces like the novel Mysteries and also a short obituary for Hitler; a man among whose admirers you see the brilliant Thomas Mann, but also some high-ranking Nazi officers. Have you ever thought how one can be simultaneously praised by the anti-Nazi and excellent writer Arthur Koestler and also the Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbles, himself? Anyways, in the 1880s, that Norwegian writer, Knut Hamsun, gave a series of lectures at Dania Hall, half a block down the street. Dania Hall, an iconic work of the Norwegian American architect, Carl Struck whose other buildings you've probably seen throughout the town, got destroyed in an unintentional fire on Feb 28, 2000. On the wall here at the Wienery you could see the Dania Hall's farewell poster. In the building's memorial gathering that took place in spring of 2000 at the Cedar Cultural Center, two doors away from where we're standing now, several hundred people gathered and shared their memories..." This paragraph is the transcript of the beginning of one of my imaginary history lessons at the Wienery that I hope I can one day give to a group of high school students. Why my imaginary classes take place at the Wienery? Because in there you will find a full school year's worth of objects that you can use to illustrate your lessons about not only the history of the Twin Cities, but also the world's history. For example, another of my imaginary lessons starts with the different accounts of Rep. Wellstone's death and ends with discussing the concept of conspiracy theory. How can a lesson about Wellstone's death (or murder, if you don't believe the official accounts), the progressive political, social, and economic ideas he represented, and the US domestic and foreign politics in the 1990s start from inside the Wienery? You should go and see for yourself! The Wienery is something way more than a hot dog establishment. It is an unintended museum--an organic museum of some sorts! Every time I lunch at the Wienery, I took note about different objects I am seeing inside the small diner. On my way back to my office, I usually google things I saw in there and come up with new lesson plans for my imaginary class. I now have many of those lesson plans. But if one day I run out of them, I will take a close look at the Wienery's jail bracelets collection and I am sure there are myriad of history lessons awaiting there. As a side note, everything, including the fries, is cooked to order. And with all due respect, I think the young guy makes better fries than that prepared by the owner! I usually get a Maxwell Street Hot Dog with a one potato order of fries. read more

The Wienery - Hot Dogs Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

The Wienery is delicious. The care they put into making the toppings for their hot dogs is evident. The fries are excellent and the chili is assuredly not hormel as a previous reviewer claimed. Not sure what that was about. The cole slaw is simple but exquisite. Really, all the toppings are great. You can't go wrong with any of the hot dogs. The burgers are also really good and the one breakfast plate I ever ordered was tasty as well (I always mean to order the breakfast or burgers more but I just can't resist the hot dogs). The Drive-In Fries alone are worth a trip. The workers are friendly and the food usually comes fairly quickly. There is sometimes only one person working but often there is a cook and a server. Either way, I've always felt welcome. That said, there are a few problems. First of all, the decor is not great. Everything in the place is dilapidated, which I don't really mind but I'm sure some people won't like. The drink cups are really old, beat-up plastic cups that don't get very clean. The bathroom is in the basement which may be inconvenient for some people. Also, once in awhile, some things will be a bit over- or under-cooked. I point out the negatives not to denigrate the restaurant but just to show that they aren't quite perfect, despite what eating one of their Tasmanian Devil hot dogs may lead you to believe. read more

I got the brat but had to have black beans added as an extra to the chili. I don't understand these hot dog places who serve up ground beef in sauce and call it chili. I haven't been here since it first opened, which was around three owners ago. I was disappointed when I saw that the brat was being deep-fried. It did taste okay but I don't like that way of cooking. The fries are good. The staff is friendly. If I do go back again I won't bother with the chili, but then, Vienna Beef is not my favorite neither. Overall it's fine. It's a comfortable place with nothing trendy about it. I'll say though, those of you who think it's excellent, you need to get out more. read more

so far this is the only time Yelp has let me down. Who is eating at this place?!? We ordered a Veg brat with peppers and 2 beef hot dogs, 1 root-beer float, cheese fries and coleslaw. -They didn't have enough coleslaw (they had to save it for hot dogs) -They didn't have ice cream -the root-beer fountain was broken so they didn't have root-beer soda -Someone next to us ordered a tofu dog ... they didn't have those either Then: Our fries were COLD who in the F* serves ice cold fries. Their "cheese" fries are cold fries with shredded cheese on them. F-that!!!! Their fountain soda was flat, all flavors were completely flat. And for all that we paid $14 bucks. I'm not one to bitch but this was beyond ridiculous. And as for atmosphere there is 'dive' but this was disgusting. i cant believe they haven't been shut down by the health department. I'm never going back .... ever!!!!!!!!! read more

I went here a long time ago and have been wanting to return for like 6 years, so I finally made the plunge and walked in this tiny establishment. Like everyone says, yes it's dirty and cramped, to that I say who cares! I mean how many places like this still exist? At least it doesn't smell, the employees are quick and nice enough, and you can pretend that you are in some weird old crime movie set in olden times in a different city. Seriously, you are not in Riverside anymore once you go in, it's a mind trip. They added a lot more types of dogs than the last time I visited, which is awesome since I primarily eat vegetarian. And they have two types of veggie dogs! I can't promise anyone who is strictly veggie that they make these dogs in a separate pan just as I can't promise anyone that the pan has ever been washed . (I'm sure it has, don't worry people!) I ended up getting the Italian Veggie dog topped Chicago style and it was super good! I'm not a huge hot dog fan, unless I'm pretending to be Sonic the Hedgehog (I hope I'm not the only one that remembers this, but he ate Chili dogs in the old TV show to get his energy!), but these are good dogs with good toppings. I love the bright green relish, it makes you question why other foods aren't this color, did it come from another planet? Will something start growing in my stomach? Among other things. I haven't had any other toppings, as these are my go-to's, and I haven't ever had breakfast, but I'm sure everything is great. The place gives off a sense of "hangover cure breakfast." I will be back to try more things now that I have broken the spell and I hope you do to. If you look at the online menu, be aware that the prices are $0.50 cheaper than what is on the actual menu! read more

As Diners Drive in and Dives said, this is the place the show was meant to showcase. Best in the Midwest. We love everything about it! The homemade chili and slaw can't be beat. We always get the Drive in burger and Drive in fry's. We took it as a compliment when the owner Pat said we were barbarians for finishing it all off! read more

I can't tell you how many times I passed by The Wienery and was surprised it existed, and continues to exist, especially in the Cedar/Riverside neighborhood. It seems a little out of place among all the halal groceries and gyro shacks. I finally stopped in, half hoping to find a certain dog well known in Los Angeles area (the bacon wrapped hot dog). It was not to be, but I don't regret my visit in the least. (EDIT - they now have it. They call it "mexican style"). "Hole in the wall" certainly describes the place. The counter was full on my visit, so I grabbed a dirty table. Ordered a dog, grabbed an X-Men comic book from the stack, and chatted social capital with my compatriot. The weather was nice, the door was open and "All Things Considered" was on the stereo. It was very mellow, comfortable. The dude was really friendly, the fries are indeed righteous. The dog didn't impress me. IMHO both the dog and the bun needed some contact with the griddle. I just can't get behind steamed dogs, and the warmed bun was nice but threatening to fall apart (especially under the load of toppings). A little toast would have helped, I think. I need to get back and try a few of their other offerings (they were out of bratwursts, sausages, everything but the regular dogs). I wouldn't go out of my way to go to the Wienery. In the neighborhood, Acadia Cafe would still be my first choice for food. But the Wienery remains on my list of places worth a visit. The laid back atmosphere suited me real well. read more

This place is fantastic and very dive-y. They'll make you pretty much anything you want, cooked to order from step one. As in, if you order a hot dog with onions on it, they don't chop the onions until after you've placed your order. Fries are also cooked as ordered, in single potato sizes (ie. one potato's worth of fries). Its the only place in town I can get anything close to a coney dog or an ultradog (google "yesterdog," folks). And they made my friend a coney omlette (with hot dog, chili, and cheese). Fantastic. And also possible the cheapest meal in the twin cities. $10 for both of us to eat and be stuffed. You might have to fight for a seat or a stool, since there are about as many seats here as at Al's diner, which is approximately the number you can count on your hands. But totally worth it in every way. Also, the James Brown on the one speaker sitting on the piano was also totally awesome. read more

Well holy cow, my 200th review. No better place than the Wienery I guess.... As the reviews say....it's a dive. If you can't handle that, don't go here. The floor is going to be unswept, the ketchup bottle is going to be sticky, the cook/cashier is going to look as grimy as the fryer is....expect it. The food? Definitely decent. Hot dogs can't be improved very much, so those were just hot dogs, but I also grabbed a burger and it was a good, home-cooking like burger. I wouldn't say it's worth an extra stop if you aren't in the area, but if you are, it's a decent place to stop in at. read more