Fred’s Franks

Finally tried their hot dogs after bookmarking them for over a year. It is definitely a great place to try some hot dogs. I went with the crowd favorite «Shnurble». Went for the super size, I was hungry. When it was ready it was really super sized and filled me up pretty much. The folks were very friendly, the lady at the counter also helped with my sandwich, since this was my first time. This will be my go to place when I am yearning for a hot dog.

Great hot dog! This is a food truck, literally. (A pickup truck pulling his ceramic eggs used to cook the hot dogs and sausages.) A nearby small trailer has the chips, drinks, condiments and the ‘staff.’ Great find alongside the lake. The hot dog was yummy too. I’ll be back.

It really is that good!
Great product, always cooked well, always friendly. Try the Giddyup sauce.

Went again last week while going to the park with my son and husband. They were great on asking how cooked we wanted our son hot dog

These are some of the best hot dogs I’ve ever had. Seriously, believe the hype!

Great hot dog/​sausage stand right off the highway! Get the shnurble! Trust me, it’s fantastic.

Cheap admission to see a man exercising at the top of his craft. Forget the Sausage King, Fred (Carl actually) is a sausage Genius.
In an inspired bit of sausage cookery, the tailend of this roadside trailer is outfitted with a pair of Big Green Eggs. Using these kamado style charcoal grill /​smoker hybrids allows for this intense fresh from the campfire effect that is so unexpected; really adding something to the food truck, hotdog cart, game.
And then there’s the Shnurble. Its one thing to select the finest tube form ingredients, locally made Linguicia and Chourico, Pearl Meat Packing’s ¼lb all-​beef, natural-​casing frank, Andouille sausage, etcetera. Its wholly another to pack a lenthways sliced hot dog right next to a butterflied filet of that fine chourico. Lay it on a bed of home made sweet cabbage, a dollop of mayonnaise and top with shake of a house blended Sirachababa sauce. That Pearl beef frank adding a smooth touch of body to the spicy grained chourico.
That is a fine sandwich, and at a little over $ 8 bucks, bravo.

Fred’s Franks is soooo good. After having one of these dogs you won’t want a hot dog from anywhere else. It’s a big dog and the roll they use isn’t a cheap tasteless one like other places. They use fresh, bakery like rolls that make it that much better.
Usually a line, but worth the wait.

Wow! I had my very first visit to Fred’s today, and was totally satisfied. Try the a shnurble a combo of a Pearl beef hot dog with a chunk of chorizo sitting in top of a bed of sweet cabbage mayo and special sauce. The roll was fresh and large enough to handle the whole affair! It was a symphony of flavors. Hurry get here and enjoy!

I was there early afternoon today, and overall, great customer service and delicious hot dogs especially their signature «Shnurble» sandwich. I got a Super Shnurble to share as the «Super» size was the largest available – that is, with three chouricos and one «Monster» beef hot dog. Most people in line had ordered the Jumbo Shnurble (two chouricos + Jumbo hot dog). The hot dog is juicy with grilled char and smoked flavor. The chouricos are tougher in texture, but flavor is a truly a spicy Portuguese sausage. The Shnurble condiments (sweet cabbage, mayo, and «sirachababa» sauce) are added fresh to the roll before meats are added. Delicious combination, and I look forward to coming back again.

Today I found myself driving near Wakefield so I got off the highway at Rt. 129 to see if Fred’s Franks was there. They had just arrived so I went into the side lot and parked. Although I hadn’t been to Fred’s since late Spring, I’ve been following updates about his troubles with the Wakefield police. What a shame. Don’t they have any real work to do?
I walked over to ask if the space they wanted came through and the man said no. He said they may have a location at the other end of the lake on church property. There is a little park at that end also. He explained how he can only be in his present lot for two hours. Two hours! Then he has to pack up and leave. He actually starts the green egg at home so it will be ready when he arrives. Even so, it still took him precious time to set up.
He said once he had a very long line of customers and he went over the two hours. The police showed up gave him a hard time. So, hopefully the space near the church will come through. He said the church is on private land and he’ll have to pay to be there where his current space is on State land. At least the police will stop breathing down his neck. Good luck with the church property space!
Today, I finally tried a mini Shnurble. I usually get Chorizo or a Pearl hotdog. It was soo good! I wish I’d gotten a larger one. I also bought a ²⁄₃ Chorizo and a Bratwurst with peppers & onions to go. They will make a great lunch and dinner for tomorrow.
You know a place is good when you get cravings for their food. So glad I gave in to my craving today!

Its a crying shame the Wakefield fuzz gave this dude a hard time.
Long live the Big Green Egg!

Closed for now. Claims Wakefield Police told him he can’t park there anymore.
Doesn’t the town of Wakefield or the police have anything better to do !!!
I went there once, food was very good. Its a shame… better time would be spent
handling the public school drug issues than scaring away the local hot dog guy
trying to make a few bucks.
Till we meet again !

For what it is, it doesn’t get much better than this. Get the full kielbasa with their sriracha sauce and sweet cabbage. You’ll thank me later.

Yummy plump grilled pearl hotdogs, doesn’t get any better than this! Love to grab one before taking my daughter to the adjunct tot lot that overlooks the lake.

This little stand right off the 129 rotary has good dogs and sausages. Their signature shnurble is high quality and you won’t find it anywhere else in the local area. It is not really a late morning business but an early afternoon type of business. I have tried this place a couple of times before, and now that the weather is getting better I plan on trying this place again. I think the best part of this place is how they get that great charcoal flavor without burning one inch of meat.

Not much more I can say about this wonderful slice of heaven parked at the top of the lake here in Wakefield than hasn’t already been rhapsodized about before.
It is one of the most efficient systems I have ever seen and I am a critic when it comes to the efficiency of getting food into my stomach! Friendly and efficient — even more impressive. (The first time I ever came here I was in a quandary over what to order and let several people go ahead of me to keep the line moving. As I waffled, I pictured the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld — «No meat for you!» But I was greeting pleasantly and had all my questions answered.)
They will cook your hot dog (or sausage or whatever you’ve ordered) exactly how you like it — rare in the meat business (pun intended)!
There are other hot dog vendors around Lake Quannapowitt, but don’t be fooled — Fred’s Franks is the real deal!

Northern Hospitality: oxymoron? Not here.
Having born witness to the meatlover’s marvel that is the «Schnurble» on a past visit, we were quick to return to this Wakefield spot when in the area. Ravenous after a hike at nearby Breakheart Reservation we pulled up with fingers crossed that they hadn’t closed for the season. Turning into the small parking lot off Lake Quannapowitt we saw that Fred’s Franks was still open for business. Score! Only after we rushed up to the cart did we realize we were both low on cash. Scrounging in pockets, purses and seat cushions– we realized we only had $ 6 between us. We sheepishly walked over, cash in hand and explained our sad state of affairs. We had enough for a regular dog but the Schnurble rings in at $ 8 so we asked hopefully– any chance they take credit cards?
No such luck. «But what do you have? $ 6? No problem. You’ll pay me the rest next time. Are you guys splitting it? Make it a jumbo.»
This random act of human kindness isn’t something you see often… if ever. No ploy no gimmick– just someone who believes in their business and believes in the goodness that it’ll all even out in the end. I can’t say whether this is common phenomenon but I can say that it made a huge impression and you better believe we’re heading back with that extra $ 3 (and more). Of course, the Schnurble is all the impression you need when it comes to this place: a Pearl hot dog wedged between two cuts of chorizo fresh from the grill on a bun with Sriracha, habanero mustard and sweet cabbage. Arteries be damned.
Open in warm weather and looking at Th/​Fri/​Sat hours as we head into cooler monthes– this is a must visit place if you’re in the area. All around stellar establishment– they offer great food, friendly service and with owners sending out such positive carnivore karma, you can’t go wrong.

It’s not a cart, it’s a system. The Shnurble is not a sandwich, it’s a synthesis. Fred is not a vendor, he’s a visionary — with Speedy sensibilities and a taste for proper franks.
Following my initial hike around Breakhart Reservation, I scoured the nearby on the trusty Unilocal app and saw this beacon of beef on the north side of Lake Quannapowitt. Heeding the warning of many a review, I peeped Fred’s official website (
) and weeped — still closed for the season.
Imagine my gaiety when, upon finishing this week’s woods walk, I checked again and, lo, he’s open for business! Rolling up 2.5 deep, there stood the wagon just along a small parking lot on the north shore of the Q. Smoke billowed, crowds surrounded, meat sizzled.
Finally.
$ 8 put a Shnurble in my hands: a 1/​6lb Pearl hot dog (arguably, the finest in the lands) nestled beside two pieces of chorizo and served on a bed of diced sweet cabbage, Srirachaba sauce (Sriracha, habañero mustard) and a trickle of mayo. It’s not small (proof:
) and while a regular Shnurble is more than enough for any mortal, Carl upped my ante to a ¼lb frank after mistakenly giving my originally intended Shnurble to some shmoe who jumped the wait line. Baller.
A feast that marries perfectly snappy Pearls with excellent Portuguese sausage, an inevitably tangy slaw and a damn fine roll, it’ll flip your vegan friend faster than fried chicken. Fred invested serious dough in to those Big Green Eggs he cooks with, and the end result is worth both the trip and the tag.
Get one before you die. Chances are, it’ll be within ten minutes after the last bite.

Fred’s Franks are the best hotdogs. Grilled outside, location isawesome next to Lake Quanapowitt in Wakefield. Friendly staff, quick service. Customers in line are super friendly and they talk about how obsessed they are for Fred’s.
Cash only. Affordable prices.