A hot dog weekend! Three hot dogs I ate in Carolina Beach, NC.

Where: Island Burgers and Bites

What: a chili cheese dog

With whom: me myself and I

Why: hot dog crawl! Like a bar crawl but for hot dogs.

Grade: A. Best dog I ate all weekend. Started with a hefty all beef dog, with a solid and flavorful bun, and a great mix of chili and cheese, mustard topping it off. Highly recommended. Would love to go back and get another with different toppings.

Where: Hooks Hot Dogs

What: chili cheese dogs

With whom: me myself and I

Why: hot dog crawl! Like a bar crawl but for hot dogs.

Grade: B+. Hooks is a great boardwalk spot, and the dogs – 2 for $5, every day! – are quintessential beach food. The chili is slightly spicy, the cheese held up, the buns were a structurally sound non-event. Bet they’d kill after a night of boozing, which I no longer do, so I had these for lunch.

Where: Pop’s diner

What: a chili cheese dog

With whom: me myself and I

Why: hot dog crawl! Like a bar crawl but for hot dogs.

Grade: B+. An all-beef dog, not quite as hefty as Island Burgers, and a good chili-cheese balance. Unremarkable bun.