Charleston Area Hot Dog Joints - Skeenies
Update! See Rick Lee's photos of Skeenie's and his review below: Skeenie's is found about two miles out Sissonville Drive. It has been there as long as I can remember and it has always had a sign that advertises "West Virginia Style Hot Dogs." Someone told me once that Skeenies had locations in Florida and they were very successful in the early 70's due to all the homesick West Virginians who had rode the Hillbilly Highway to the Sunshine State. They also had a Kanawha City location for several years but it was never as good as the original.
Skeenie's is a classic road side hotdog joint/dairy bar with a walk-up window and no inside seating. "Everything" means chili, slaw, chopped onions, mustard and ketchup. They steam their buns and wrap the dogs in wax paper so they are plenty gooey by the time you get them home. They used to offer a foot-long dog but it was missing from the menu when I made my last visit.
Skeenie's chili is disctinctive, but their slaw is average. Skeenie's dogs are in my top ten list, but probably not top five.
Update - Rick Lee visited Skeenie's today and has this to say:
"I just got back from Skeenies up Sissonville Road. Boy howdy, I smell like onions now. I usually get a dog with no onions, but in order to be fair I just ordered two dogs with everything. There's not much to say about Skeenie's hot dogs. They really are the quintessential West Virginia hot dogs. Just exactly what you'd expect and nothing more or less. The fries were awful. Frozen krinkle-cut fries which were soggy and nasty by the time I had finished my two dogs. The service was totally excellent. Very friendly and quick. "
5 comments:
I don't have to travel anywhere tomorrow (unusual) so I think I'll go to Skeenies for lunch. I'm going to eventually work my way through your list.
I can say that I have literately grown up on Skeenies. My grand parents took me there for the first time when I was about 3 years old and now at 36 I can say I have ate hundreds if not over a thousand of Skeenies Hot dogs. I was in the Marines for 8 years and have lived the last 9 in Florida and I have made Skeenies my first stop and must eat as soon as I get back in town. I tell you that they are by far the best Hot Dogs I have ever eaten and have to be a dog with everything. It's the only way to get the 100% full effect out of the best Hot Dogs in the world. I've eaten them from everyplace from Mexico and Southern Cali, to Oki Japan and Tampa Florida and I'll make a special trip from any where just to get one from Skeenies. One who am I kidding, I can't go there and eat anything less than 4. They are the best hands down.
Skeenie's hotdogs are the greatest! They have been around for so long.....
my dad took mom there on their honeymoon.
On fridays my parents would take
us there for hotdogs and chocolate milk.
If I remember correctly,
eight hotdogs for $1.00. Daddy would roll down his car window and the girl would bring out our food on one of those trays that hooked onto the window.
Now those are some great memories....thanks Skeenies!
I am so happy to know Skeeny's Hot Dogs are still around. We would stop there, on our way back north to Cleveland, and pick up four hot dogs. Three with the works and one with just mustard (mine) But that was way back in 1960. I will have to make a stop there the next time we go thru Charleston.
I grew up around that area and it was a great treat for us to go to and grab hot dogs I'm down in Florida now I'd really love to get the recipe for the chili Orchard be able to order their chili sauce missing it so much
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