Cleveland’s Happy Dog Offers Your Choice of 50 Toppings

At Happy Dog, everything is on the table, and you’ll never run out of toppings. This neighborhood bar has operated under Sean Watterson’s leadership since 2009, and the popular Cleveland spot has more than 50 mix-and-match toppings on the menu — from house-made sloppy joe to a sunny-side-up fried egg to bourbon pork-n-beans. 

“If you try out a combination of flavors and don’t like what you ordered, it’s not the end of the world,” Watterson says. “You can get another hot dog under $10 and try out something else.”

Can’t make up your mind? Don’t worry. You can choose one of the predetermined options, like the “Killer” Kilbane Dog. It’s smothered in a neon green “alien” relish, house-made crunchy peanut butter and sriracha. 

“Never in a million years would I have even considered that combination,” Watterson says with a laugh. “But if you think it through, it’s like a Thai peanut sauce that’s offset by the sweet and sour of the relish.”

Happy Dog encourages first-timers to experiment with different combinations. And, yes, technically you can get a hot dog with all 50 toppings, but we suggest you think twice before going whole hog.

“We don’t charge extra and it’ll take time for our chefs to put it together,” Watterson says.  “But they’ll make you pay by loading it up with our hottest hot sauce.”

If you want a plain, old run-of-the-mill hot dog, you can have that, too. Or, test out some of the toppings that are also available on the tots and fries until you find a combination you like. 

“We’ll always have bacon, chili and onions — the stuff you expect to put on a hot dog at a hot-dog place,” Watterson says. “But we’ll also never get rid of Froot Loops or SpaghettiOs because people have come to know us for that.” 5801 Detroit Ave., Cleveland 44102, 216/651-9474, happydogcleveland.com

For more Ohio food-and-drink inspiration, sign up for our Ohio Magazine newsletters.

Ohio Magazine is available in a beautifully designed print issue that is published 7 times a year, along with Spring-Summer and Fall-Winter editions of LongWeekends magazine. Subscribe to Ohio Magazine and stay connected to beauty, adventure and fun across our state.