Top Dogs in Marion County
April 15, 2016
West Virginia is a place known for trains, coal, mountains and pepperoni rolls. One delectable item that is sometimes forgotten is HOT DOGS!
In West Virginia, hot dogs aren’t just barbecue food. They are a religion. And in Fairmont, they’re the best!
Nowhere in the country can you get a better hot dog than in Fairmont, WV.
Fairmont has a special little hot dog stand that seems to have been around as long as most of the town. At the end of the “Million Dollar Bridge” is a small little shop called Yann’s Hot Dogs. Russell, the owner of Yann’s Hot Dogs, has been serving up these delicious dogs and slinging hot chili sauce since the 1960’s.
Don’t let this small restaurant fool you. It has one of the area’s spiciest chili sauces that is out of this world. The chili sauce is cooked for hours to get it as close to perfection as anything can get. And of course, as a West Virginian favorite, you will need a couple chocolate milks to soothe the burn from of all the spice.
The walls are covered with autographed pictures and funky signs that HEAVILY suggest that asking for ketchup is a huge no-no in this place. Russ believes in creating hot dogs the way that they were meant to be eaten: sauce, a few raw onions and a squirt of mustard. Nothing more, nothing less!
If you want some of the best homecut fries you have ever had, 
Wright Dawgs is the place to go! They slice ‘em, dip ‘em and spice ‘em with seasonings that bring out the flavor of the fresh-cut fries. (They even have sweet potato fries… Yum!)
Their dogs are customizable with any topping you want. From a plain dog to nacho dogs, they’ll do it! Their buns are soft and steamy, and they have a large menu to choose from. They also have “deep fried dawgs” to simulate a grilled flavor and texture, pepperoni rolls, fresh chicken wings and much more.
One of the other popular items on the menu is the “Frankie Steak Sandwich,” made popular by Frankie and Gary Monell at Frankie’s Supper Club in Wisconsin. It’s one of a kind, and has to be one of the best steak sandwiches money can buy!
Still not convinced? Marion County held its first (hopefully annual) Hot Dog Contest last summer. Hot dogs were judged in three categories –
Best of show (judged hot and fresh)
This is traveling trophy that will have to be defended each year
Best Sporting Dog (judged cold)
Best Working Dog (judged reheated)
Wright Dawgs won two out of three categories – Best in Show and Best Sporting Dog! We’re not the only ones who think these are some pretty great dogs!
Wright Dawgs does accept credit/debit cards. (Most hot dog shacks in Fairmont are cash or checks only.)
Can’t decide if you are feeling hot and spicy or mild and meek – no problem because this Mannington hometown favorite has both sauces and even one in between. Top it the way you like but be sure to order their fresh cut fries.
Or skip the wiener all together and go for the deluxe fries – their fresh cut French fries topped with sauce and cheese. . . be on the safe side and get the extra napkins!
Other favorites include pepperoni rolls, nachos, or large baked potato smothered in nacho cheese and chili.
Be sure to save room for dessert!
One of Fairmont’s nostalgic places to stop for some great hot dogs!
The hot dogs are amazing. The sauce is simple, yet flavorful. They have 3 styles of sauce: regular, mild and hot. And their signature slaw is tangy and sweet.
In addition to dogs, they have pepperoni buns from Country Club Bakery.
The atmosphere is full of WV history, from old photographs to the older diner decor. The staff is friendly and quick. They are always busy, but your wait is never long.
Simply put, this is an amazing local place.
Their hot dogs are where its ATT
Back in the day, ATT’s was as a popular lunchtime spot for the students (East Fairmont High school, which was probably one of the last schools to have an open campus allowing students to leave for lunch.)
ATT’s has a nice selection of standard lunch fare on their menu, including customizable hot dogs, hamburgers, pulled pork barbeque sandwiches, pepperoni rolls and french fries.
They also have some great daily specials that you can’t pass up, including potato salad and mac ‘n cheese. Their delicious hot dogs are their main draw, but also their prices! A hot dog with everything is only a little more than a dollar. Definitely a great bang for your buck!
ATT’s also accepts credit/debit cards, which makes swinging by for lunch even easier!
A must stop when in the Fairview area, in addition to their delicious 
hot dogs, Hometown Hot Dogs also serves Colasessano’s pepperoni buns and pizza, nachos and salads. Check out their assorted seasoned fries (if you’re brave, try the Fire Fries).
Named the Best “Working Dog” (re-heated hot dog) in Marion County in 2015.
Don’t let the name fool you — Custard Stand Food is about way more than custard.
The restaurant serves up ice cream as well as chili dogs.
The original owners of The Custard Stand franchise, Dee and Angie Cowger, use a secret century-old recipe that was created by Angie’s grandfather as the chili for the hot dogs.
The family proudly promotes the values of homemade taste, quality and consistency. For years, they have been the chili of choice for the WV Power, a Pittsburgh Pirates minor league baseball team in Charleston, WV and is proudly served at West Virginia University and Glenville (WV) State College at football, basketball and baseball games.
The owners of the Custard Stand were invited to pitch a business proposition to the “Sharks” of Shark Tank for the “Made in America” episode. Although they didn’t get “bite” they were looking for, their sauce was still a huge hit!
Their sauce is so popular that it is now available at Kroger, Walmart, Sam’s Club, IGA, along with smaller chains and independent grocery stores, in more than 15 states!
Debra Smith
Luckily, you can find The Custard Stand at Rainbow Plaza in Mannington.
Oh and that custard, it comes in 36 flavors!
What’s your favorite way to top your dog?