Dick's Hot Dog Stand — Restaurant in Wilson

Dick’s Hotdogs – A North Carolina Legend You’ve Got to Taste to Believe

If you’ve never had a Dick’s hotdog, are you even living? Tucked in the heart of Wilson, NC, Dick’s Hotdogs isn’t just a local gem—it’s a North Carolina treasure. The moment you walk through the doors, you’re hit with a wave of nostalgia, the smell of sizzling goodness, and a vibe that lets you know this place isn’t trying to be trendy—it’s just authentically delicious.

Let’s talk about the dogs: grilled to perfection with a snap that sings when you take that first bite. Whether you go classic with mustard, chili, and onions or pile it high with slaw and a secret combo of your own, every bite is a reminder that you’re tasting something special. The buns are always fresh and lightly toasted, cradling that hotdog like it’s a work of art—because it is.

Whenever I’m in Wilson, this is one of the first places I make it my priority to stop by. It’s that serious. And on the rare occasion I get there too late and they’ve already closed for the day… I’m not ashamed to admit—I almost cry. That’s how deep the love runs. You don’t just “miss out on a meal,” you miss out on a moment of joy.

But it’s not just the food. It’s the people. It’s the energy. It’s the decades of memories made over a red tray of hotdogs and crinkle-cut fries. From the friendly staff who treat you like family to the loyal locals who’ve been coming for generations, Dick’s Hotdogs is more than a restaurant—it’s a rite of passage.

This isn’t fast food. This is soul food in a bun. And if you think you’ve had a good hotdog before, think again. Drive the distance, take the detour, make the trip—whatever you do, just get yourself to Dick’s. One bite, and you’ll understand why folks say:

“It ain’t a real North Carolina hotdog unless it’s...

Hotdogs, burgers, and sandwiches since 1921. Small old fashioned sandwich shop with tons of interesting old photos of local ball teams and famous folks like Clint Eastwood, Bob Costas, and others. Super nice staff took the time to explain that they only accepted cash and that they did have an ATM outside. Said they were best known for the homemade chili and everyone typically got hot dogs or hamburgers but that for her the hamburgers were her particular favorite. I agree. We did the famous hot dog as is with mustard, onions, and the famous chili as well as one also topped with slaw and pickles. The chili was good, the texture of the dog's were fine, not as crisp as some but not mushy. I felt the hotdog with slaw was the best combination of flavors as the traditional one was in need of something more. Did a single cheeseburger with mustard, chili, and slaw. It was good, liked it better than the hotdogs and only thing I would change is I think the burger meat itself could use a little salt. We didn't order the fries but were given a few complementary as a taste. Next time I would do a double cheeseburger and the fries. We were there at 1 pm on a Friday and it took a decent amount of time to get our food which was a bit of a surprise however there were several other tables that had arrived just prior to us which could explain some of the wait. We weren't in a hurry but it would not have been convenient if we were on a short...

(SEE EDIT BELOW! October 2020) Original review: Everything was terrific. Being an implant from upsate NY, it's hard to find a local hotdog that's not red! Finally, a real standard hotdog joint with very reasonably priced food. Fresh, never frozen, hand made burgers. Fresh soft rolls. I'm actually very impressed that the waitress forewarned us that it was cash only. One minor issue is some of what I consider to he standard toppings (slaw) they charge a quarter for. Not too much of an issue and it's clearly stated on the menu... but when our server asked what additional condiments we wanted, some of the "extras" like slaw, pickle, etc were mentioned to us like.. "pile it on" and being the glutton I am, this added up after 4 hotdogs and a cheeseburger. Not that I would've changed anything, I just wish we were aware of all the additions up front since we didn't know it was cash only we just made it out by the skin of our teeth! Can't wait to go back though!

Edit: After a second visit I can't say the hot dogs were all that impressive. In fact not that good at all. A bit luke warm and a texture like they just then put them on the grill. Everything else was "OK", hamburgers very well done. Meat sauce topping was not a sauce at all, it's just very finely ground meat. Rest rooms not impressive at all! Now, knowing the area much more than I did at the time of my original post there are several other choice I'd make on my day...