Skippy’s

Can you give a hot dog joint 5 stars? Of course you can! When they take the time to put their own twist on a classic American dish and elevate it to a new level, it deserves 5 stars. There are plenty of good hot dogs out there at PB’s, Kermits, Yum Yum, even a massive Costco hot dog. But this is a high quality all beef dog, a fresh baked pretzel bun which is what really sets it apart and they serve fresh cut fries. Most hot dog joints max out at 4 stars if they do everything really well, but Skippy’s has taken it up a notch and created a higher quality, unique hot dog experience.

I’m going to start off by saying I grew up in Chicago. I know hot dogs. This place. Gosh. I’ve only been once and the hot dog and fries I got were amazing. Fresh cut fries seasoned perfectly. The hot dog I ordered was truly Chicago style, right down to the celery salt. It was excellent. And they’re served on pretzel rolls. What more could you ask? I wish they were open longer hours because I selfishly want their hot dogs when I can’t get them. What a treat!

Favorite hot dog place in the triad. The hot dogs and pretzel bun are good but the fries are amazing

Hot dogs are a rare indulgence these days, but when the craving strikes, it is good to know that Skippy’s is there to satisfy it. At first glance, this place doesn’t look like much. It’s small, the menu is limited, and aside from some old-​timey cans and articles on the history of the pretzel bun, it is sparsely appointed. However, what Skippy’s does, it does well. The dogs are all beef and nicely grilled — nothing transformative, but quite tasty. I had mine Reuben style, and the spiciness was a nice complement. The pretzel bun was soft yet strong enough to hold everything together, and an order of fries came out hot, well-​crisped, and addictively delicious (though in need of seasoning).
While gas station hot dogs will undoubtedly run cheaper, prices here leave little complaint given how filling the food proved to be. The dogs were $ 3.50 and a shareable basket of fries cost about the same (side portions are less). Add to that friendly service, and you’re left with food that is worth the wait.
This bears mentioning because there most likely will be a wait. As Skippy’s is both quite compact and popular locally, it fills quickly. Even if you should be able to snag a table, expect a delay before your food reaches you. We aren’t talking Chinese Democracy levels of postponement, but rather long enough to make you question (especially if you are hungry) how long it takes to grill a hot dog.
With a winning concept, reasonable prices, and competent execution, Skippy’s shows that simple can still satisfy. Enjoy it for what it is: a doggone good bite.

Simply the best. Always consistent, always delicious. My only complaint is that they are not open for more days of the week! But I guess that just makes me want it more… well played Skippy’s, well played.

With a handwritten chalk board, limited seating, and a simple menu, Skippys brings world class grilled hot dogs with a variety of toppings to hungry customers. Table space is limited at lunch time so be prepared to hawk over a table until the patrons finish their dog. Fries were a little dull and greasy but the dog is the highlight of the show! I had the Chicago dog and could have been at Wrigley Field apart from the addition of a delicious soft pretzel bun. Pleasant staff turn up the charm and ladle pretty much anything onto the dogs. Great for a cheap and cheerful lunch in Winston

Greet from Bashkalov Babadook from Ukraine.
Skippy is great, love america style hot dogs but why such terrible hours of operatings? so limited except friday. must take off star for that. otherwise great delicious ow you say amerca style food? go john wayne! okay thanks
B. Babadook

Skippy’s is all beef hotdogs on delicious pretzel buns for $ 3.50 — so grab a couple and chow down! Nothing fancy on the inside of this establishment — but, ahem, it’s hot dogs people, and it gets the job done. Chicago Dog is super relish. House cut style fries are a nice treat — particularly if you ask them to pile on the chili and the cheese. At peak lunch time, it seems as if Skippy’s could use a bigger space as it gets crowded and sometimes your only option is to get your dog and go — but maybe the smaller space is how they are able to continue to serve Winston Salem with $ 3.50 hotdogs! Thanks, Skippy’s!

Best hotdog I’ve ever had! Great fries too. I got a Philly cheese steak that was «ok».
Very small space but they do offer outside seating so… not too bad. It can be very claustrophobic and takes a bit to put your order in.
Overall great place to go if you’re a hot dog fan :)

THE BEST HOTDOGS EVER!!! They make homemade pretzel buns each and everyday, these are so delicious, fries are the best too, chilli, and slaw are all homemade. Hotdogs are grilled perfectly… my mouth is watering now!
I live 30 mins away so I don’t get to Skippy’s often, so it’s a real treat when we go. If you love a good Hotdog please visit this place! I wish they would open another one closer to High Point, NC!!! Straight A’s all the way~ :)

I can’t believe I never wrote a review of this awesome place on Unilocal!My family knows I have a serious love of hot dogs. I will try a hot dog from just about anywhere and I know what a good hot dog is. Skippy’s is a Winston Salem institution. Their hot dogs are served on a home made pretzel bun. Yep, they make them in-​house every day and the bun is a huge part of why Skippy’s is the best. They split each dog down the middle lengthwise and grill it on the flat-​top so it gets a delicious crust on it. They also butter and grill the pretzel bun so it’s warm and toasty. Skippy’s offers a variety of styles and individual toppings. My husband’s favorite is the Ruben, while I just get it plain with Mustard and sometimes relish. Honestly, I’ve had the Chicago style and All the Way styles as well, but I end up loosing the taste of the hot dog and that delicious bun in all the toppings so I usually opt out. When you go, you have to get a side of their hand cut fries along with your dog. These babies are so yummy! They come to your table super hot and crispy. Now, be warned, they don’t season them at all so they need salt added. No matter though, there’s salt shakers on the tables.
The only drawback of Skippy’s is that it’s a small place. Seriously, there’s maybe 8 tables in there. It can get pretty crowded at lunch on a weekday so if you can get there early right when they open at 11am you won’t have a problem. If you get there in the height of lunch, don’t fret because by the time you go through the line, and receive your order, a table will open up and you will have a place to enjoy all the delicious flavors of your dog. Absolutely don’t let a long line of people scare you away.
Now, if you aren’t into hot dogs as much as I am, they do have sandwiches too. I ordered one once a few years ago. It was good and still served on a pretzel roll but it just wasn’t a hot dog. I’ve seen people come in for the first time and go right to the sandwich menu and order from there. I have to give them the benefit of just not understanding that this is a HOT DOG place. I honestly think they keep the sandwiches on the menu for the rare person who just CAN’T eat a hot dog for some reason or another. It’s OK. Skippy’s has something for everyone.
When people come into town, we always take them here at least once and my family from CA always request a stop here when they visit. It’s just good! The prices are super cheap. I think the dogs are $ 3.50 and a side of fries is $ 2 or something. We usually get a basket to share for the whole table. The service is always super friendly too and they even sell T-​shirts so if your visitors want to take home a souvenir of the place where they ate the best hot dog in their life, they can do that too.
Just go. Eat. You’ll be glad you did.

Vegetarians rejoice! Skippy’s has the best vegetarian hot dog I’ve ever eaten (at home or out).
We went for the first time during the weekend when the UNC TV special was running, so Skippy’s was slammed with more customers than usual. Our wait ended up being just over an hour, but was well worth it. They ran out of buns at 2:30PM and had to stop taking orders.
I ordered the veggie dog reuben style + slaw. Skippy’s grills the dog, pretzel bun, and sauerkraut, which makes the swiss cheese melt and the flavors pop. While I can remember not being the biggest fan of grilled meat dogs, grilling the veggie dog is simply the way it must be done. I won’t eat them any other way now. The reuben is topped with a delightfully bright grainy mustard and the slaw is the perfect combination of tang and crunch.
The fries are addictive! Skippy’s offers a hearty portion for two (basket) or single order (side). The fries are hand-​cut each morning and deep-​fried to order. I like the skinny cut and brown crispy goodness. It reminds me of fresh-​cut fries from the State Fair.
Word is to show up early for seating. We got our order to-​go and happily scarfed the delicious lunch in the car.

Skippys is the perfect place for lunch! They have really good hot dogs that come with a pretzel bun. I would recommend getting the Chicago dog and a side of chili cheese fries.

I’m really happy I decided to walk the extra couple of blocks from the convention center and checked out Skippy’s. The restaurant was buzzing for lunch, so my wife and I staked out a table to sit. The inside isn’t huge, but there are tables outside to accommodate groups.
We ordered a soft pretzel with spicy mustard to start, but I suspect the pretzel was made earlier and just heated for us, it didn’t stay warm after a bite or two.
I ordered two beef hots dogs — topped with onions, chilli, ketchup, and a personal fave of mine — banana peppers. The pretzel buns were softened to perfection — each bite a combination of juicy flavor. Definitely among the best tasting hot dogs I’ve eaten.
We ordered a basket of fries to share, which was great, but over half of the basket had very small fry «ends», almost better eaten with a fork. Combined with the dogs, it made for a messy affair. For the two of us to eat dogs, fries, a pretzel, and two drinks ended up around $ 18, not outrageous.
The staff was polite and our table was bussed almost immediately after we were done. I’ll definitely be checking out Skippy’s for a solid meal when I’m visiting downtown Winston-​Salem.

Ate here today because I was at Old Salem with my son for a field trip. Used to frequent this spot a number of years ago while doing some work in Winston Salem. Still the best hot dog I’ve had in the Triad. Quality all beef dogs wrapped in a pretzel bun. That alone would be delicious, but they have signature dogs that take it to another level.
My favorites are the Chicago and the All-​the-​way dogs. I love the big flavors and textures of the Chicago. A full size pickle spear, slice of tomato, and banana pepper rings bring flavor and crunch. All of this plays well with the rich fattiness of the dog.
The all-​the-​way is a Carolina classic. Chili, slaw, and onions make this dog pure comfort food.
Skippy’s gets five stars because it’s been about 7 years since I last ate here and they’re still as delicious as I remember.

When is a hot dog not just a hot dog? When it comes from Skippy’s. If you have read my other reviews, you know that I try to avoid bread. So I can’t comment on the pretzel bun that my all-​the-​way dog came wrapped in. But judging from the Walking Dead type growls coming from my dining partners, I’d guess that the bun was enjoyed by all.
My all beef dog was grilled and split, then covered with chili, slaw and mustard. I also ordered chili covered fries on the side. The dog was crunchy and flavorful, the toppings blended well with the meat. Size matters, especially when you’re talking about the size of your dog, and I was a little disappointed with this one. My lunch came to around $ 7 with a Diet Coke (can), and a $ 1 tip. I really enjoyed it, but it was a little pricey for what I got. The place was packed at 12:15, but we got a table without a wait. BY 12:45 there were many tables available, so I guess the secret is to wait until then before heading over for lunch.

I intended to go to JS Pulliam Barbeque to try one of their legendary hot dogs, but I was preoccupied and I ended up here instead. This place was on my Winston-​Salem bookmark list, so I said «what the heck.»
PROS:
*** The grilled all beef wiener was delicious. It had great flavor and plenty of SNAP in the casing — no complaints.
*** Clean restaurant with an interesting décor. The tables were quickly bussed, and there was ZERO trash on the floors. The windows were spotless.
*** A decent amount of nearby, METERED, two hour parking. I spent $.75 before I even got to the restaurant, which I realize is inexpensive for in-​town parking.
*** Outdoor seating along the shaded street makes for a pleasant experience.
*** Midtown location — although easily accessible, and not far from business I-​40.
*** Courteous and pleasant employees. The owner smiled and nodded to me, which we Southerners recognize as a way of saying, «thanks!», as I was leaving. The cashier was smiling and upbeat. The runners/​bussers were courteous. I didn’t expect anyone to shout out, «NORM» when I entered, but I was pleasantly surprised.
*** The restaurant was at total occupancy at near 2:00 p.m., well after usual lunch hours. This business seems to have a loyal and devoted clientele, including Winston-Salem’s finest — PD officers.
*** I didn’t order any fries, because this was actually my second lunch, but I noticed that Skippy’s provides a LARGE serving of shoestring fries that looked great and smelled HEAVENLY.
CONS:
* Expensive. I still maintain that a hotdog shouldn’t cost $ 3. A hotdog + Cheerwine = $ 5 + tip + parking, heck, we’re talking $ 8 for one hotdog and soda. That’s airport or ball park territory.
* Great hot dogs don’t need a «gimmick,» like being served on a pretzel roll, but that gimmick seems to be working based on all the customers. Personally, I found that the pretzel roll detracted from the overall taste and experience. Apparently, my opinion is in the minority — c’est la vie.
* The bun had a tough, chewy, crust, which caused the toppings to «abandon ship» at every bite. I ended up with a wax paper full of enough chili, slaw, and onions to make another hot dog, and I think that I may have ruined my favorite Polo shirt. ;o ((I pretreated the shirt and I left is soaking in cold water, so I’m hopeful that I can save it from chili stained, yard mowing only, oblivion. {sniff, sniff:})
* Taste: Chili? Forgettable, as in, I have no clue, I don’t remember it at all. Onions? Ditto. Slaw? Ditto. That’s not good!
* The restaurant is tiny inside, occupancy is limited, and seating is at a premium. It was almost impossible for the employees to deliver food to the tables when people were standing in line to order, and/​or waiting aside for a table. The restaurant needs to be ten feet wider, but I guess it is what it is. I guess that they don’t have «building stretchers» in Winston-​Salem. ;o)
* Speed of Service? I was able to order fairly quickly, being the third person in line. It seemed like it took a good ten to fifteen minutes for the hot dog to be prepared and brought to my table.
* I had to park 150 yards away, AND cross the street… the horror. LOL! Goodness knows I needed the exercise.
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Conclusion
I was expecting this to be a three star or less experience, because I’d read previous reviews by those Unilocalers, whose opinion I trust. As always, when I visit any eatery for the first time, I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised — I wasn’t. PB’s Takeout hotdogs are at least twice as good, and I still have to get by JS Pulliam’s, if I can ever catch them open.
PS: I think that these pretzel buns may shine their brightest in a Chicago style hot dog format. You already have deviated from the Carolina classic hot dog norm, a Chicago dog with pickles, peppers, and tomatoes, just completes the journey. ;o)

I really enjoyed my first visit to Skippys. I have been meaning to go there because I love a good hotdog and I wish I would have gone sooner. The hot dogs are a good size and are cooked on the griddle which is the way I prefer them cooked. The pretzel buns are soft yet sturdy and really hold up to the hot dogs and toppings. I like that all hot dogs are 3.25 and you can get whatever toppings you would like on them. I tried the Chicago style hot dog. It was a little spicy and tangy and a good change from the usual hot dog toppings. I can’t compare it to a real Chicago dog but for North Carolina I thought it was really good. On my other hot dog I got chili, onions, and ketchup. Their hot dog chili is delicious. It has a thick consistency and complements the hotdogs well. Their French fries are hand-​cut which is another reason to skip the chain places. A small fry is only 1.75 and it is a full basket of them. Next time I would get one to share because I couldn’t finish a whole small by myself. The service was really good as well. The staff was very friendly and helpful. You may have to wait for a table when they are very busy. I would definitely go here for a great hot dog lunch.

Let me start off by saying that this place has great hot dogs. Let me continue by saying that I have been here a couple of times when they have been extremely slow and have had bad service. This is why I am generous by giving them 4 stars. (Another time that I wish Unilocal had half stars). Let’s focus on the food though.
Their hot dogs are 100% beef, and are both tasty and filling. I believe that they also have veggie dogs, but I have never tried those. Every hot dog comes on a pretzel bun, which are unique and tasty. They have a Carolina dog with chili, slaw, onions, and mustard. My go to is usually the Chicago Dog, which has tomatoes, a spear pickle, onions, chili, and banana peppers.
I think the best part about Skippy’s is probably the price. You can get a hot dog for $ 3. This isn’t one of those street vendors hot dogs that you have to have three just to fill you up. One hot dog could be a meal to itself, although I would recommend getting the fries.
Overall, this is place with great food that has a unique take on hot dogs. Some hot dog purist may be offended by this place, but just take it for what it is. I would recommend going at a less popular time of day than noon, because they are slow as it is and there is nowhere near enough seating for everyone. Calling ahead is a good idea.

I am a big fan of Skippy’s. I must admit I am a hot dog lover (is that awkward?) to begin with so it wouldn’t take much to please my taste buds in that area. The staff was great and we went at an off hour so we were able to grab a seat and eat our hot dogs without a problem. I got a hot dog with chili and yellow mustard, it did not disappoint. That pretzel bun was awesome! The fries were also hot, crispy, and delicious.
I definitely recommend this for lunch! But, beware it can get crazy in there during a week day lunch hour so don’t expect to find seating and a nice relaxing lunch during that time of day.