Daddy's Hot Dogs

Best hotdogs in San Diego, hands down. Everything is made from scratch to order (no heat lamps here!) and meticulously prepared. But these dogs aren't just Insta-worthy... they're also delicious. And if you're vegan like me, you can still enjoy just about everything, prepared to order on a separate grill, cooked to perfection and piled high with the freshest tasting toppings. And the owner is incredibly kind and remembers you, your family and your favorites. I mean, how awesome is that?

I had an incredible dining experience at Daddy's Hotdogs in Hillcrest! The fact that the owner himself takes charge of cooking adds a personal touch to the food. Their hotdogs are undoubtedly the best I've had in San Diego. I particularly loved the Seattle dog with its delightful combination of sauces and the added bacon gave it that extra flavor kick. If you're a hotdog enthusiast, this place is a must-visit! we own Negociant winery, three doors down, and all the hotdogs are eating is not helping my waistline! although it’s takeout, only, he does have two tables you can stand out outside.

I ate what the guy recommended to me. It was delicious. Good ol kraut and mustard on one, and the other was the Chicago dog. I'm not a fan of hotdogs, but I'd definitely go out of my way to eat here again. Very casual, pretty quick, good prices. There was one guy making dogs, but he kept up, and he was cool. Wiener jokes were made. Not by me of course. I me self am a lady, bruv. I would never. Heh. But yeah, very good snausage. Check it out.

Best hotdogs! I’m from Philly and was seriously craving a hotdog and this place definitely made an impression. The owner is super nice and helpful and the hotdogs were the best I’ve had. The area is so cute and good for some window shopping and people watching. Great experience all around and the ONLY place I’ll go to when the craving strikes. Plus it’s next to a candy store! Win win!!!!! ♥️

Best dogs in town!!! These hot dogs are made fresh to order and they're made precisely!!! Been eating here for years now and I will continue to eat here for many years to come. The "O" is probably my favorite dog but I've tried everything and they're all good!!!

My boyfriend and I live around the corner from this place. We've been eating Daddy's Hot Dogs for about a year now. Not only are the dogs delicious but William is such a nice guy. It's true, there can be a long wait for your dogs. So pop over to the liquor store, grab a drink and watch the world go buy. It can be awesome people watching on a Friday or Saturday night. And HOLY CRAP, the dogs are delicious. Definitely try the "special." William is an amazing chef and comes up the most creative combos. This place is not a fast food joint, it's an experience. It would be a great place to become a regular and a great place to take visitors. Thanks William!

Good Chicago dogs in a run of the mill hot dog place. They have some of the best Chicago dogs in San Diego, and it's a small family owned place so you're supporting the local economy. Honestly it's my go to for hot dogs in all of southern California.

The best in san diego!! Family owned. Delicious hot dogs the Chicago dogs and the O are my favorite, but I have tried a few others all are Delicious because he puts so much time into making them fresh ingredients and 100% beef.

The service was amazing. The kids loved the dog with tomato, mayo and spinach. We ordered 5 dogs and got them pretty quickly. The dogs were delicious. This will be our new go to spot for hotdogs.

Delicious made to order dogs! Daddy is very friendly and helpful. There is no inside, the serving window is on the sidewalk, but there are some standing tables if you want to eat there.

Delicious, affordable and really appreciate that they have veggie dogs! 🙌

Best hot dog I’ve had in years, but the service is worth even more. The owner is exactly the kind of person you wish ran every restaurant in town. There is no seating, and it gets a ding for that, but it’s also part of the charm. Literally, a hold in the wall you can trade bland money for delicious Hot Dogs. I can’t walk past without grabbing at least one.

Great hot dogs, served by a very friendly proprietor who was patient and sweet with our talkative kid. Delicious, fast and fresh!

It's a walk up window so I marked down one star. Other than that, it's a stellar experience. The dogs are split and grilled to pop in your mouth perfection 👌. I had a Chicago dog, a Manhattan dog with sauerkraut and mustard. That one reminded me of my east coast upbringing and a Beast which came with a bed of spinach and mayo topped with a slew of seasoned tomatoes! Prices are very reasonable. Why go anywhere else and pay a premium for a premium hotdog eating experience? Just bring an empty stomach and an open mouth and enjoy

Supreme vibes, great owner, yummy food. Will be back!

An excellent Chicago Dog. Worth a trip to this hole-in-the-wall. Hot dogs are grilled, and the bun is soft, warm, and durable. High-top tables and no chairs on the sidewalk, but who cares when this is not a leisurely meal. $7 bucks; a steal.

We were visiting SD and the restaurant we had a reservation at nearby to Daddy’s Hot Dogs was unexpectedly closed. The owner of Daddy’s saw us outside looking confused and asked us what happened. He tried to call the owners (and their employees) to see if they were available - when they weren’t due to a family matter, he told us he was feeding us and starting making us hot dogs. We had an awesome time sampling 3 hot dogs and learning about his recipes and a little bit about his life. The hot dogs were delicious - and the owner was one of the nicest humans we have ever met. 10/10 recommend this place. Thanks for making our night, “daddy”.

Came here with my best friend on Thursday night and this is definitely the best hot dog in San Diego. I got "the Alexander" and "the BeaST". The owner highly recommended to eat the hot dogs as soon as possible for best results and that's what we did. There's a couple of tables to stand by and if you don't want to stand around you can always sit on the curb as he suggested. After he served the hot dogs, he talked to us for a while and he was extremely funny and charismatic. I highly recommend coming to this place if you want to have a delicious hot dog and a great conversation.

October 7 2025. Pretty good hotdogs. I got the "O" and just a plain beef dog. This store is what mastering the fundamentals means. Sure you got your fancy ass toppings like bacon and jalapenos like on the "O" but being able to bring out the potential of just a regular old beef dog is what sets this place off from somewhere like barrio dogs. The owner is friendly and matches the energy of the customer. His menu isn't the biggest but thats what makes each item pop. Truly a great hole in the wall place, I'll be stopping here now if I'm down for a dog. Being LGBTQ+ friendly is also pretty cool

best hot dogs i’ve ever had. i go almost daily!

So happy I found this spot just a few minutes from where I was staying. I haven’t tried a lot of hot dogs, so I can’t compare, but this was probably my first real American hot dog—and it was seriously delicious. What made it even better was how kind and genuine the owner is. We had a great chat while the place was still quiet. I really enjoyed the food and the whole experience. If you’re in San Diego, definitely don’t miss out on this place!

Great hot dogs and great chat with William the owner.

Best hot dogs in San Diego! Beef AND vegan options too! I’ve tried literally every style and they’re all delicious! Always friendly and quick service. Hours are not consistent but I go whenever I’m in the area and they’re open. GREAT hot dogs!

So I’ve been scavenger hunting for the best hot dog in town for a while. This is the place! “Daddy” brings that east coast hot dog flavor with some wisdom. The Manhattan with cooked sauerkraut and no onions is a jewel. Also tried the “O” as found in the picture and it’s something to come back for. My wife can vouch for me, this is the best hot dog in SD. Yes Daddy!

This place can't be missed. It's truly incredible. They take traditional East Coast and Chicago style dogs and put a twist on them that you'll only find in San Diego. The Seattle Dog has to be one of the most impressive dogs I've had. The texture of the cream cheese and the flavor of the jalapeño relish is wonderful. Beyond that, the Sober Pickle is a great surprise. Chopped cucumber on a hot dog is surprisingly delicious. The owner is incredibly friendly and excels at making recommendations. Two things to note: any drink you'll get is small -- free refills, and there's no actual seating, just two tables. It's a hot dog stand and it makes no apologies about that. It doesn't need to. Definitely, definitely make your way here.

I cannot eat enough of these. The Chicago dog is perfection. Daddy cooks it in such a way that you get every ingredient in each bite, and nothing falls apart or makes a big mess.

Best hot dog place on the block. Quick service and they can tailor anything you want added to your dog. Would definitely come back.

Daniel “Mass Cali” Goren

Came here with my best friend on Thursday night and this is definitely the best hot dog in San Diego. I got "the Alexander" and "the BeaST". The owner highly recommended to eat the hot dogs as soon as possible for best results and that's what we did. There's a couple of tables to stand by and if you don't want to stand around you can always sit on the curb as he suggested. After he served the hot dogs, he talked to us for a while and he was extremely funny and charismatic. I highly recommend coming to this place if you want to have a delicious hot dog and a great conversation.

Micah Tamoria

October 7 2025. Pretty good hotdogs. I got the "O" and just a plain beef dog. This store is what mastering the fundamentals means. Sure you got your fancy ass toppings like bacon and jalapenos like on the "O" but being able to bring out the potential of just a regular old beef dog is what sets this place off from somewhere like barrio dogs. The owner is friendly and matches the energy of the customer. His menu isn't the biggest but thats what makes each item pop. Truly a great hole in the wall place, I'll be stopping here now if I'm down for a dog. Being LGBTQ+ friendly is also pretty cool

Cecilia Chen

So happy I found this spot just a few minutes from where I was staying. I haven’t tried a lot of hot dogs, so I can’t compare, but this was probably my first real American hot dog—and it was seriously delicious. What made it even better was how kind and genuine the owner is. We had a great chat while the place was still quiet. I really enjoyed the food and the whole experience. If you’re in San Diego, definitely don’t miss out on this place!

Felipe Leite

Great hot dogs and great chat with William the owner.

Preston Locklear

Best hot dogs in San Diego! Beef AND vegan options too! I’ve tried literally every style and they’re all delicious! Always friendly and quick service. Hours are not consistent but I go whenever I’m in the area and they’re open. GREAT hot dogs!

Anton Von Draco

So I’ve been scavenger hunting for the best hot dog in town for a while. This is the place! “Daddy” brings that east coast hot dog flavor with some wisdom. The Manhattan with cooked sauerkraut and no onions is a jewel. Also tried the “O” as found in the picture and it’s something to come back for. My wife can vouch for me, this is the best hot dog in SD. Yes Daddy!

Edward Arriola

This place can't be missed. It's truly incredible. They take traditional East Coast and Chicago style dogs and put a twist on them that you'll only find in San Diego. The Seattle Dog has to be one of the most impressive dogs I've had. The texture of the cream cheese and the flavor of the jalapeño relish is wonderful. Beyond that, the Sober Pickle is a great surprise. Chopped cucumber on a hot dog is surprisingly delicious. The owner is incredibly friendly and excels at making recommendations. Two things to note: any drink you'll get is small -- free refills, and there's no actual seating, just two tables. It's a hot dog stand and it makes no apologies about that. It doesn't need to. Definitely, definitely make your way here.

Natalie Knuth

I cannot eat enough of these. The Chicago dog is perfection. Daddy cooks it in such a way that you get every ingredient in each bite, and nothing falls apart or makes a big mess.

christian montes

Came for the food, what I got was an amazing experience filled with advice, laughter, and food. The owner enriched our experience and made us feel like his own kids. We will be coming back and I will continue to cherish this experience for a lifetime. Until next time Daddy!

Gabriel Carb

Best hot dog place on the block. Quick service and they can tailor anything you want added to your dog. Would definitely come back.

Tom Lien

Look at that beautiful Chicago dawg! (and I'm a native Chicagoan). Amazing service and the dogs are delicious! Simple, fresh ingredients and menu make this a place you must do a quick stop at.

This hotdog was so good, it was just the right consistency. Them chili and coleslaw hotdog was perfect. I’ve been to some fancy hotdog places but this place has it better. And affordable.

Listen to what your mommy says go to the bathroom before you leave the house! The dogs are awesome! The service is awesome!

......the chicago dog here is one of the best i've ever had, rivaling the ones i've had in the windy city..........the dogs are crisp, juicy, and muy bueno as are the toppings...and what better way to eat a hot dog than standing right outside the window at one of the tall tables with a cold soda pop.......and yes, i had 2......just so good !..........

The owner is so nice and Generous Best hotdog in San Diego… university Avenue. Made our hotdog with love, literally tiny man inexpensive great experience my son loves it here

Great hot dog place. The Manhattan dog was definitely it for me. I'll come back now and then.

★★★★★ Great prices for the San Diego area! The owner clearly takes pride in his craft and health standards, even sharing details about the high-quality ingredients he uses. Quick and friendly service. Would recommend, rain or shine!

Amazing hot dogs!! I love hot dogs and all the different toppings were game changing. The owner was super nice too. Will def come back!!

MizzDR

★★★★★ Great prices for the San Diego area! The owner clearly takes pride in his craft and health standards, even sharing details about the high-quality ingredients he uses. Quick and friendly service. Would recommend, rain or shine!

Gio

Great hot dog place. The Manhattan dog was definitely it for me. I'll come back now and then.

Itzell Pullins

This hotdog was so good, it was just the right consistency. Them chili and coleslaw hotdog was perfect. I’ve been to some fancy hotdog places but this place has it better. And affordable.

Kara Vining

Amazing hot dogs!! I love hot dogs and all the different toppings were game changing. The owner was super nice too. Will def come back!!

Dan Mccready

......the chicago dog here is one of the best i've ever had, rivaling the ones i've had in the windy city..........the dogs are crisp, juicy, and muy bueno as are the toppings...and what better way to eat a hot dog than standing right outside the window at one of the tall tables with a cold soda pop.......and yes, i had 2......just so good !..........

Tanijah Hill

The owner is so nice and Generous Best hotdog in San Diego… university Avenue. Made our hotdog with love, literally tiny man inexpensive great experience my son loves it here

Joseph Wilson

Great hot dogs, served by a very friendly proprietor who was patient and sweet with our talkative kid. Delicious, fast and fresh!

They have a good selection of hot dogs at a reasonable price. Employee was very nice & let me try a sauce before I ordered. Got the san diego inspired dog. Very tasty!

Very straightforward foodie place. Good dogs, prepared in a traditional way, great and fast. Don't expect frills, or flashy gimmicks you get a good hot dog for a reasonable price. You want variety go to 711. You want a good dog stop by here as you walk around the area.

John R (Johnny Reviews)

Very straightforward foodie place. Good dogs, prepared in a traditional way, great and fast. Don't expect frills, or flashy gimmicks you get a good hot dog for a reasonable price. You want variety go to 711. You want a good dog stop by here as you walk around the area.

They were ok but not being able to decide what WE wanted on our hotdogs and the rudeness of the owner made it so we have no desire to go back.

I was expecting a delicious dog for my 10 bucks, but the skin was so tough, couldn’t even chew it… by the time I got it off, there was only a tiny bit of edible meat left . Won’t go again. Maybe this is something people from wherever eat their dogs, but not for me!🤪

If you’re looking to support local LGBTQ+ businesses in Hillcrest, as I was—go elsewhere! This is ironically owned by a cis-straight man with a sour attitude and horrible customer service that serves sub-par hot dogs at best. The hot dogs from the pop-up carts outside of the gay clubs actually taste delicious and are cheaper 100% worth the money, plus I’ve never ever gotten an attitude buying a hot dog from a cart vendor in Hillcrest like I did at Daddy’s.

The owner’s bedside manner was less to be desired. He shoved a napkin holder into my face and one cooked hotdog into my face. I did not eat it yet since i wanted to wait for him to bring out my husband’s hot dog too so we could eat it together as a couple. The owner seemed pissed off at me too that i didn’t eat it right away and demanded I do so while it’s hot. Rather than throw the hot dog in his face, i crammed it into my mouth and took one more bite to give him what he wanted. He demanded that we get napkins too. Rude, off putting, ghetto. Go to Duff’s dogs— they won’t shove a napkin box into your face. They won’t demand you eat the hot dog right away and they will courteously thank you for your business. Go to Duff’s dogs instead of that small puny hole in the wall— terrible service : ( !

Rogeline Amo

The owner’s bedside manner was less to be desired. He shoved a napkin holder into my face and one cooked hotdog into my face. I did not eat it yet since i wanted to wait for him to bring out my husband’s hot dog too so we could eat it together as a couple. The owner seemed pissed off at me too that i didn’t eat it right away and demanded I do so while it’s hot. Rather than throw the hot dog in his face, i crammed it into my mouth and took one more bite to give him what he wanted. He demanded that we get napkins too. Rude, off putting, ghetto. Go to Duff’s dogs— they won’t shove a napkin box into your face. They won’t demand you eat the hot dog right away and they will courteously thank you for your business. Go to Duff’s dogs instead of that small puny hole in the wall— terrible service : ( !