Trolly Stop — Restaurant in Wrightsville Beach

I’m always reluctant to drive across town from Pine Valley to WB for anything. but I’ll have to start making exceptions to support this location of Trolly Stop. Last week, I threw an impromptu birthday party for my husband in our backyard. What started as a small group quickly grew to around 50 people. I frantically started looking for casual catering options and was getting nowhere. Trolly Stop was my first choice, but the location closest to us was not available, and I was sure this one wouldn’t be either. Each food truck I called assured me it would be impossible to find anything short notice in the middle of the busy season. And then Michelle called me from this Trolly Stop location and saved the day with breezy confidence, “Sure, no problem, we can handle this!” I nearly fell out of my seat. A hot dog cart was my first choice and it was going to happen! Michelle and her team communicated with me throughout the week to customize the options for my guests’ dietary needs. The entire process was so stress free. She was accessible and transparent in her communication-no surprise costs!

Fast forward to party time, Victor was our server. I attribute at least half the success of my event to Victor and the Trolly Stop hot dog cart. My guests were thrilled to be able to casually walk up and order their favorite selections from this beloved local business, and so were their kids. The ease of the whole thing is what made them stick around and enjoy the backyard for several hours. I got so many questions about how we reserved the hot dog cart, how it all worked, and what a cool idea it was. Victor was patient and personable and made excellent suggestions. And at the end of the night, he packed up all of our leftovers and toppings and gave us a lesson in reheating, and his own favorite recipe for leftover dogs.

I will never forget how Trolly Stop saved the day beyond all expectation. And we will definitely be booking them again for more backyard parties. Easy, stress free, everyone can order what they want, no setup or cleanup involved, and they accommodate veggie and gluten free. They have several options for the amount ordered, and it came in extremely reasonable for a group of 50 guests (including kids). It looks cool, it tastes good, and it’s sure to be the chef’s kiss...

Ah, youse won't believe it, folks! The Trolly Shop in Wilmington, NC, is the bee's knees when it comes to hot dogs, I tell ya! I strolled in there lookin' for a taste of the windy city, and boy, did they deliver!

I ordered myself a Chicago style hot dog, and let me tell ya, it was the real McCoy. That hot dog was like a symphony of flavors, each bite hittin' me like a well-aimed tommy gun, one after the other. The juicy frankfurter was like a wiseguy who knew how to keep a secret, tucked in that poppy seed bun like it was in protective custody.

The toppings, oh boy! The neon relish was as bright as a Broadway marquee, and the sport peppers had a kick that could rival a mafia don's temper. But it's that sweet, tangy pickle spear that really sent my taste buds to the moon, like a suitcase filled with cash ready for the getaway car.

And don't even get me started on the celery salt – it was like a pinch of old-school charm sprinkled on top. The tomatoes and onions? They danced together on that hot dog like a couple of flappers at a speakeasy, adding that perfect touch of freshness.

The Trolly Shop is the real McCoy, folks. It's a slice of Chicago in Wilmington, and it's got more flavor than a secret family recipe. So if you find yourself hankerin' for a hot dog that'll make you an offer you can't refuse, you know where to find it – The Trolly Shop! They've got hot dogs that'll knock your fedora off and leave you feelin' like a real wise...

Notes: Cash only, ~$3 per hot dog, parking can be sparse and you'll need quarters (25 cents per 5 minutes) to feed the meters.

Those notes aside, this little shop is adorable and worth the quarters. I moved out of NC and love their North Carolina dog (a take on the classic chili and slaw combo using deli mustard) but can't rightly plug their Chicago dog, having moved to Chicago (it could be delicious, but it's just not a classic Chicago dog). If you're looking for a cheap lunch on the island or just want a really good hot dog, they offer exactly what you're looking for. They offer regular (Trolly) hot dogs, beef dogs, and veggie dogs (if I remember correctly). They then offer a selection of toppings for them, which I must mention the North Carolina and Surfer topping sets as highlights. You then receive your tasty dog as ordered, with an offering of lemonade (should you desire), and outdoor seating (if you're lucky!) or your cozy car running on it's timer. It's just plain old good. It reminds me of discovering hot dog joints run the same way when I moved to Chicago, but with my home-state flair in my favorite place to vacation. Oh! And they're open SUPER LATE! Bonus points from me for that, since now I can grab a late night snack on my vacations (no dieting allowed on...