Ball games, barbecues, and birthday parties– you can expect that a central menu feature for all of these events will be one of America’s favorite foods: the hot dog. What about all the other days of the year? Where does one go to enjoy a good old frankfurter sandwich? NEPA is home to many establishments dedicated to the consumption of hot dogs. They keep the prices affordable, the buns warm, and the sauce is almost always... secret.
 Abe’s Hot Dogs
According to owner Bill Obeid, Abe’s Hot Dogs was one of the first dining establishments to take root in the city of Wilkes-Barre, which was once a factory town where people ate and worked right in the city.
“Originally, when my grandfather opened in the ‘20s, this was a commercial area, with tons of factories within three blocks of the restaurant,” Obeid said. “He was swamped with business. They were open late, so when the Crystal Theater was across the street, people would come before and after the movies.”
Although the area has changed drastically and the hot dog industry has become more competitive, business at Abe’s Hot Dogs remains steady.
“People know we’ve been here for 87 years. Because we’ve been in business so long, we’ve built a niche in the community,” he said.
Abe’s Hot Dogs proudly serves Hatfield brand hot dogs and the combination of mustard, onions, and secret sauce is among the most popular orders.
“When some people come into town, the first thing they do is stop in to Abe’s for a hot dog,” Obeid said. “I once heard a man say, ‘I’m here to visit my mother in the hospital, but before I go there I need an Abe’s hot dog.’”
“I always drank chocolate milk with my dogs,” said patron Robert Tluczek. “It’s a tradition from back when my father was a young man and I was a boy in the early ‘50s.”
If you need a second opinion, just ask comedian Bill Cosby, who once said, “You can’t find a better hot dog in the country!”
Coney Island Lunch
The claim to fame for Coney Island Lunch, in Scranton, is its Texas Wiener. Made the same way since 1923, Coney Island takes a Berks all-beef wiener, grills it, serves it on a steamed, local, National Bakery roll, and tops it with Dusseldorf mustard, fresh diced onions, and Coney Island homemade chili sauce.
“It is inexpensive and always tastes the same way–delicious,” said University of Scranton student John Wentrin.
The doors to Coney Island Lunch were first opened by Steve Karampilas, of Greece, who originally set up the shop in the basement of a building in downtown Scranton. Karampilas “fed generations with wieners and hamburgers.”
For a walk down memory lane, visit the Coney Island Lunch photo gallery at www.texas-wiener.com and you will see photo after photo of the changes that this historic restaurant has experienced and the man responsible for it all.
Ranch Wagon
If you grew up in the Back Mountain, it’s a sure bet that you’ve enjoyed at least one of the Ranch Wagon’s famous long dogs. The popular hot dog stand opened in 1955 by Alan Roberts, and has since come under the ownership of Alan Roberts, Jr., and his wife, Barbara.
Voted “Best Hot Dogs” in the Back Mountain by the Dallas Post for 2009 and 2010, Ranch Wagon’s hot dogs are “not just the short skimpy type.”Retaining local flavor, as it were, Ranch Wagon sells hot dogs from century-old Gutheinz Meats, in Scranton.
“No fillers or preservatives,” Roberts said. “Just beef and pork.”
Enjoy a long dog from Ranch Wagon topped with its homemade relish and chili, or try something new like the popular Texas Tommy, topped with cheddar cheese, chili, and crisp bacon.
“Relish Everything” is patron Ben Jackson’s favorite.
“My dad took us to Ranch Wagon after little league games. It was a tradition,” he said.
Can’t stop for lunch? Grab one to go at Ranch Wagon Express in Thomas’ Super Foodtown, in Dallas, and at the Pike’s Creek Raceway Park, in Pike’s Creek.
“We’ve been busy reshaping our original concept by creating new menu items, growing our branch locations, and developing local partnerships,” Roberts explained.
The restaurant often features contests, promotions, and specials, including a recent Facebook® campaign to rename its original “wiener man” logo. The winning entry was “Spurs.”
“Having a presence on the web (www.theranchwagon.com) helps us engage our fans in cyberspace,” Roberts concluded.
It doesn’t matter how you like it– with chili, ketchup and mustard, or just plain, the hot dog is part of the American tradition.
“There’s no bad time to have a hot dog,” said Obeid.
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