Caspers Albany

If there were a model for what a great hot dog shop would be– Casper’s would be it. I love the retro décor– which has remained the same since I have been coming here — since I was a kid.
The simplicity of the menu and the quality and deliciousness of the dogs are unmatchable.
I love the uniforms the staff wears– brightly colored smocks that must not have changed at all in decades.
Its super clean, very cool and delicious food.
I always get the Casper Dog w/​sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, mustard and mayonnaise.
Please go to Casper’s and get a dog.

Good old Casper’s. Been to every one I’m sure. Started going for lunch at the one in Richmond 30 years ago. Go to Albany more often now. It’s funny how most of the employees look the same whether you’re in Hayward or elsewhere. Hmmmmmmm. Anyway never was the best weiner in the world. The Beef Hot Dog Is A Nice addition. What I like best is the sliced onions and fresh tomato they put on the dog. Sometimes you get a weenie that is mushy but the veggies are always good. Tamales are ok (seem suddenly smaller). And watch out for the occasional over steamed bun.
All in all much better than Weiner schnitzel but it ain’t no top dog!

Nothing like a good old fashioned hot dog that snaps when you bite into it! Excellent service… I think it’s a hang out spot for the old timers. I be in and out. I don’t want to get caught up on their «turf» lol

I grew up going to the one in Richmond, then after I moved to El Ceritto I was delighted to see there was one down the street! Basic Casper dog is mustard, onions, tomatoes, and sweet pickle relish. I always opt for a cheese dog with everything but tomatoes. All I can say is ‘mmmmmmmm’ love this place!

I’ll take 4 casper dogs please.
dangerous place to eat if you are hungry.
This has been my hot dog of choice since i was 5.
Now my son is hooked on them too.

It would be churlish and unseemly to give this time warp anything but five stars! The façade achieved its present physical perfection by the mid-1970’s. Who can argue with a brown shingle hut festooned with a generous splash of orange plastic signage depicting a jaunty hotdog? Not me. The interior is similarly classic — a horseshoe counter with lollipop barstools, several barebones tables and a handsome station at which to order and pay.
The ladies who work there all seem to have been there for many decades, even those who aren’t quite old enough to have been. One of the aging owners gently holds court on the east side of the restaurant by day, and the crowd frequently includes the kind of doughy middle class conservative white people not seen in Albany and El Cerrito since the 1980’s. This is not to say that others of all stripes are unwelcome. Far from it! Casper’s has among the most varied clienteles anywhere in town.
The hot dogs are delicious. They are made for Casper’s and have a pleasing piquancy and an unmistakable «snap.» The buns are soft and spongy and generally steamed to a pleasing gumminess. The ladies preparing your dogs will apply a few condiments on order — the trilogy depicted on the vintage signage consisting of onions, tomatoes, and mustard and also relish and ketchup. This Casper’s, like other hot dog stands so denominated, always offers onions two ways — either chopped or as slices. (This is a Bay Area peculiarity perhaps worthy of a masters thesis, but I digress.) Casper’s also has chili available, but this is mostly pinto beans loosely held together by an unexceptional and thin sauce. What else? The polish sausages are very good, I’ve never tried the tamales, the chips are from Frito Lay and Coke supplies the syrup for the fountain drinks. Kids can order a «junior dog,» and wash it down with a small carton of milk. Plenty of parking. In sum, there is nothing at all wrong with this charming anachronism of a hot dog stand and I challenge any right-​thinking person to disagree!

I try to hit a Caspres/​Kaspers everytime I’m in the bay. This shop was as good as they always are. Great service and some great dogs.2 Cheese dogs and a rootbeer, as always. Damn, now I wish I wasnt 2 hours away.

Caspar’s here is the usual-​hut like building, small parking lot, and limited seating.
service is the same: one lady does the dogs. one rings up the sale. (health and safety reasons)
eats: polish dog (3.49)
–all the usual onion, tomato, mustard, etc.
–bland, not as deliz as regular dog.
–maybe the hot links next.
crumbs:
–service great, dog wasn’t doggone great.
just an also ran.

The hot dogs are always are tasty and there is a bit of pop to them. I hate the buns. They are pulled out of a steamer and are soft. When I get a pickle dog with everything on it, they become a mushy mess. I solve this problem in my car. After I roll the dog around in the mustard, I pull it out along with the tomatoes, onions, and pickles, and then I toss the bun. However, surprisingly, the mushy bun does improve and is edible when it’s stale.

The hot dog spot before there were hot dog spots.

This Casper’s Hot Dog location is ok. But I hate that they don’t have beef hot dogs. They only have pork hot dogs. I don’t eat pork hot dogs. But this place is nice and ok.

I am a big fan of Caspers and sometimes will go there for a snack with my son. Sometimes we split or each get a Casper dog but recently I realized they have a a children’s dog that’s much tinier than the regular size. it is perfect when we are not too hungry or I am feeling guilty about eating processed foods like this. It also comes in a cute little bun.

Visited my «old stomping grounds» near my grandparents home. Though they’ve been gone almost a decade now, memories of eating hot dogs with them at the counter are still fresh.
One can buy the dogs and the extra long buns they require at Safeway (and sometimes Costco) in the bay area, but I’ve never been able to perfectly duplicate the experience at home. Today I paid the premium to relive the past and it was worth every dime. Every bite of this plump, perfectly steamed dog brought back another fond memory and another joyful tear.

I had never had a Casper’s dog before coming here after 12+ years of living in the bay and then transplanting back. Needless to say the lovely ladies behind the counter were a bit shocked.
I asked for their recommendations and was told that the cheese dog was good, but being there were no peppers or onions, I had to go for the everything. Really, I just made up my own «everything» dog and had them put each extra thing they had on it (but no chili).
Overall I really liked the dog and the toppings. One caveat — a cheesedog is really a CHEESEdog at this Caspers. I think the next time I go in (which might be tonight for dinner) I’m going to ask them to put the cheese and toppings on, wrap it up, and then stick it in the steamer so the cheese gets all melty and gooey.
A fun, home place with friendly staff and a nice alternative for fast dinner out when we get sick of going to Nations.

I like the snap in the hot dog. Most places which they have hot dogs, do not use natural casing. So this is why I’d like to review highly on this place. The original dog is dressed up with tomato, onion, and relish. Nothing too fancy, but it’s a good compliment. I would go here again OR just by the hot dog in the super market.

When is this place EVER open?!
I’m reading the reviews, and I’m thinking how do they review this place when it seems like it’s always closed?! I’ve tried catching this place on the weekends in the evening, and nope by 4pm… closed. Their hours read 8pm.
Maybe I should try breakfast?!
I’m going to give it 1 star because of the raves. Otherwise, I need to camp out in front of their door so that I can give it additional stars when I try their dogs…

I have no idea how I haven’t reviewed this yet.
I grew up literally right behind it (please don’t stalk my parents) and would sweet talk my dad into taking me here for a milkshake and a junior dog after saturday morning swimming lessons and karate class.
Hello, nostalgia.
So, first off, the milkshakes are always just thick enough. Not too thick, but enough so that you get that awesome flavor without it getting too soupy. They do the classics (vanilla, chocolate and strawberry) but they still have that hometown flavor to them.
And of course, the only other thing they do, hot dogs! AMAZING!
I literally grew up on these and there is no other hot dog like them. They make their own hot dogs, (which they sell in packs at Costco, fun fact!) so they have a very distinct flavor. What I like is that it never tastes oily or greasy to me. THAT is what’s important– flavor not the grease.
They also make their own chili in house (it’s terrifying how many places use scary chili) for their chili dogs, and it is awesome. I usually get a chili dog becuase, well because it’s amazing.
Oh, and the staff! Somehow, Casper’s has managed to draft the sweetest people ever and give them the orange apron. Usually, when strangers call me ‘hun’ it makes me want to smack them, but from the staff here, it’s genuine and makes me feel like they’re that one favorite aunt that sends cards for the B-​level holidays like St. Patricks day and Arbor day. Yes, I’m rambling, but you get the picture right?

Before trying Casper’s for the first time the other day I thought this place was a burger diner because of the logo. Looked like a burger to me, but now I understand the curve of the meat in the logo is supposed to make me think «hot dog». There’s no burgers served at Casper’s, which apparently has been in business since the 1930’s. Cool!
Anyway, I had the Casper Dog, held the onions, added kraut. Was good, had a nice bite reminiscent of a Chicago dog. With chips and a Dr. Pepper (they only have Pepsi products or I would’ve opted for Coke), spent about $ 5.50.
The hubby had the Double Dog. Looked kind of gross/​funny to me; had to send the pic I took of it to my gay friend who doesn’t eat hot dogs or sausages because of what they look like. Hubby said it tasted pretty good and was «filling». Haha.
Overall, we liked Casper’s, but Costco definitely has the better hot dog and better deal.

After a disasterous hot dog experience at Wienerschnitzel my husband was not excited to go to Casper’s.
I tried to explain to him that Casper’s is a Bay Area staple. THE place for a good, quality dog made with LOVE. They also inexplicably have some bombass tamales. They aren’t really authentic but they are delicious. The hubby enjoyed his deluxe chili dog and was shocked that he didn’t blow up the bathroom as he initially predicted (I am pleased at this result as well). I went with my standard cheese dog sans onions and relish. Took a beef tamale for lunch the next day.
Mmmmm. I will never commit the sin of straying from hot dog paradise again.

I love a good hotdog. I know, I know — you never would want to watch sausages or law made. Sadly, I enjoy both!
So it was a foggy Sunday in the East Bay and a dear I was craving a hot dog!!! What to do?
Ah, Casper’s Albany. Time has stood still here. Literally. The building is retro-​fabulous, modified A-​frame-​esque, shingled with 70s logo, and matching vynal topped stools surrounding a counter and tables. A bell rings when you enter from the parking lot. The staff lady noted my Blazer had odd windows — it’s a Nissan Pathfinder, but I was truly weary of mentioning I had not bought American. In the end, I am pretty sure the Casper ladies helping me this visit helped me when I was a teenage and a child.
I much enjoyed a classic chili dog and my friend, a hot dog lover from Northern California, had a polish with ALL the toppings. Sodas from the fountain with free refills and chips. No fries here!!!
Please note, Caspers does not skimp on toppings. Ketchup, mustard, relish. That is just the beginning, chopped onions, grated chees, freshly cut tomato – we watched her cut it! Kruat, etc.
Next time I am hankering for a classic dog I am going to try the double dog. Yes, Caspers will put to hot dogs in one bun for you!