T&L Hot Dogs is a North-Central West Virginia chain of hot dogs joints.



"The Proprietors, Dave and Barbara Henderson along with their children Scott, Mike, Lori, and daughter-in-laws Joyce and Bev, began an adventure that is still going strong after a quarter of a century. Now, Third generation managers/owners and grandchildren Kristin, Corey and Troy are continuing that adventure in their parent’s footsteps. In the early 1990’s the Henderson’s added a new “twist” to their already popular restaurants. The Oldies Diners were created in an effort to re-create the happy and carefree lifestyle of days long gone by. The walls are covered with antique pictures, toys and memorabilia for customers viewing pleasure. You can listen to the sounds of the oldies as they play on the restored 1950’s juke box only 5 cents a play, and enjoy the great hot dogs, famous “fresh cut” fries, and fabulous specialty sandwiches. Don’t leave without looking at the restored antique gas pump with its unique glass dial. Welcome back to the 50s! “Being West Virginia’s #1 selling hot dog, we are grateful for our faithful customers and to the hundreds of employees, who over the years have been the secret to our success. Hot dogs are still our specialty and the original homemade chili sauce (prepared daily in our stores) continues to attract customers from all over the country. We invite you to visit any of our seven locations throughout Harrison, Taylor, Marion and Monongalia Counties. Bring the kids, but don’t be surprised if you’re asked to explain who “Howdy Doody” was!



The Buckhannon location looks like a new build and has a drive-thru with signs plastering all their offerings - sundaes, shakes, cones, mac & cheese, beans & cornbread, and more. 



I think it's only fitting to get a hot dog, though. So I got one with chili, plus a side of potato salad. 



Both of these were good. Sometimes a down and dirty hot dog is just what hits the spot. Nothing fancy. Just a few components, but all of them together make for a tasty bite. The potato salad was full of nice hunks of potato, and the mayo just held it together - rather than the other way around. I was happy with a quick, tasty meal.



Grade: A

Larry's Dawg House is a beloved local restaurant in Athens that serves up both hot dogs and ice cream sundaes.



"What’s better than a delicious hot dog washed down with an ice cream sundae? Absolutely nothing! That’s why, we’ve been serving up hearty combos to the good people of Athens since 1972, and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Whether you prefer a standard dog or want to go all out with a fried one dressed with all the toppings, we’ve got you covered. We know that good flavor and amazing service are what keep you coming back, which is why we’re always doing our very best to make sure you leave us with a smile."



At this point in the day, I had eaten my way through Athens, but I could manage a drink.  I ordered a banana split arctic swirl. I'm not usually a banana split girl, but the freshness of the fruit was calling my name. Can a milkshake be healthy? Maybe kinda if it's made with fruit, right? In that case, this was sweet, a little bit healthy and a lot delicious.

Grade: A

Dog Haus Biergarten is a chain that focuses on hot dogs with a German vibe. 



They just opened a Barboursville location, so I went out of my way one day to check it out. And lots of other folks had the same idea because it was quite busy. The interior is pretty straightforward - lots of high-top seating and basic art. 



All of their dogs, sausages and burgers are served on grilled King's Hawaiian rolls. They have some unique creations - some California-inspired, some Texas-inspired, some Mexican-inspired, etc. 



I went with a to-go order: Old Town - smoked bacon wrapped dog, caramelized onions, chipotle aoili, pickled jalapenos and cotija cheese. I also ordered a cheeseburger slider, mini corn dog and chili cheese tots. 



Let's start with my absolute favorite - this little cheeseburger slider. It has mayo, white American cheese and caramelized onions. It's so simple but perfectly executed.



I wish I would've ordered 5 more of these sliders.



The mini corndog was OK - just a bit too *much* for me - too much breading, too greasy, not my jam. 



The hot dog was good. It's not the traditional hot dog experience, but it's like a whole other flavor experience completely. There's a little sweet, a little funk, a little heat and a good quality dog. 



Finally, the tots. I love that they separated out the chili and cheese for the to-go order so they didn't get all soggy. I self administered too much chili, I think, but I enjoyed the cheese and especially the scallions. 



Grade: A

A local driving range has made a name for itself in the food department.



Bogeys Driving Range, located in Tornado, primarily focuses on golf, first and foremost. You'll see folks with clubs hitting balls far into the field. 



But it's also sort-of a hangout. They have a deck and firepits and food - good food. 



Think BBQ, hot dogs, wings, and nachos. I went for pulled pork nachos - because they're never NOT good.



These were not bad. They don't really have a ton of toppings - the pork, red onion and cheese, plus sides of source cream and BBQ. I wouldn't hate some pickled jalapeno or tomato to add a bit of freshness here. But overall, it's a solid version.



But that's not all. There's potato salad. Who gets a side of potato salad with nachos? Me, that's who. I actually enjoyed having the cool, creamy side with the warm and crunchy nachos. It was pretty mild flavored with red potatoes and chives.



Also, I've heard how good their hot dog is, so I had to try it, too. Toasted bun, hefty wiener, piecey slaw. I prefer mine to be a bit more of a paste so it doesn't feel like I'm eating a salad on top of my hot dog. Flavor is there, though. 



Grade: B

Gulla's Lunch in Bellaire, Ohio, is known for its hot dogs.



The "Gulla Dog" is made with their specialty chili sauce, onions and mustard. 



They kind of have taken on a life of their own. It's known along the likes of DiCarlo's pizza and Drover's wings (though since those two are from my hometown, I'm a bit more biased toward them). 



While traveling through the area, I put in an order for a Gulla dog, an eggroll and fries with gravy. The hot dog is interesting in that the chili sauce is a little sweet, a little tang, but no meat. It was all very soft in texture, but I enjoyed the flavor. 



I thought it was interesting to see egg rolls available - and they were decent. Nothing too crazy there. Deep-fried so it has a nice crunch, but lots of filled inside.



The fries have "comfort food" written all over them. It can certainly get heavy and soggy, but if you get a few nice, crisp bites, they are dang good. 

Grade: B

West Virginia has a love affair with hot dogs; they can be found in just about every nook and cranny of the state.



Hot Johnson's is a new takeout window in Ripley that serves up hot dogs - as well as pulled pork, cheeseburgers, fried bologna and wraps. 



They're located literally as just a window on the side of what appears to be an industrial building. They're cash only - but the sign says PayPal, Venmo and Cash App work, too. 



I ordered two hot dogs - one with chili, slaw, mustard and onions. Another with ketchup and onions. I liked the chili - mild, but not too oily. And the slaw was finely chopped, which I always appreciate. A little heavy on the mustard for my taste, but still two decent hot dogs. 

Grade: A

There are quite a few Sam's Hot Dog Stand locations in southern West Virginia that serve up steamed buns, all-beef hot dogs, chili and slaw to make the iconic West Virginia hot dog. The most recent Sam's location that I discovered is in Point Pleasant. It's located in a small strip with a few other businesses. I actually didn't go inside, but rather went through the drive through. It was odd, though, that there wasn't a menu posted outside to order from. 



I knew what I wanted anyway - the traditional WV slawdog. The bun was less steamed and more hard. Maybe stale? Maybe a previous toast? Either way, I like the steamed bun, and this one had a bit more slaw than I'd love. Overall, though, still a good version of a slawdog. Flavorful chili, good slaw consistency, not bad.

Grade: B

Like I mentioned before, there are a handful of T&L Hot Dogs locations in the North Central WV area. And, I can't leave a list unfinished. So, I made my way to the location on Old Bridgeport /hill.



This space has a real diner feel with neon lights, checkerboard decor and vinyl booth seating. 



First, I went for a cookies & cream milkshake. It was really thick, but also pretty good once it loosened up a bit. 



I went for a hot dog, as one should, and it was pretty consistent with the other T&L versions I've had. The bun is soft, the chili was a bit dry, and the slaw has a more loose consistency - I tend to like a more cohesive, almost paste-like slaw. BUT, overall, a decent hot dog for lunch.



Grade: B

T&L is probably North Central West Virginia's favorite hot dog. With 7 locations in the area, T&L is often a go-to for hot dog enthusiasts. Their locations, including this one on Main Street in Bridgeport, have a retro theme with things like juke boxes, fun decor and neon lighting. 



This T&L may look like a house from the street, but they're even outfitted with a drive-through in the back parking lot area. In the time of COVID-19, this is perfect. I pulled up to take a look at the menu.



Of course, I had to try a traditional West Virginia slaw dog with chili, slaw, mustard and onions. These are slim dogs, so you could easily put away two or three if you're hungry. But, I added a side instead: fresh cut fries.



I'm not the biggest fry - or potato - fan really, but occasionally, I'll get a craving. These were nice and salty, but a little limp for my liking. Nonetheless, a cheap and easy lunch. 

Grade: B

This, my friends, is the very last Sam's Hot Dog location in West Virginia that I hadn't tried. Welcome to Lewisburg.



Honestly, I'm not sure why I felt it necessary to try all of these locations. It's a West Virginia-based chain, so I get excited about those. But a hot dog is a hot dog is a hot dog. Sometimes.



These hot dogs are not unlike the others - all beef, can get them with chili, or, if you want to be a super plain jane like me on this day - just ketchup. It may have been the sweet taste of victory from completing my challenge - or just a decent hot dog. But this one was good.

Grade: B