Sonny Knight’s parents had operated a hot dog stand in Lesage, West Virginia decades before Sonny himself took up the family tradition. In 1999, he and his wife Sharie — a West Virginia hillbilly and a California city girl, as they always described themselves — built a 12×16 foot shack on the bank of the Ohio River in Lesage and opened for business on September 6th. Three days later they closed so they could get married. Hillbilly Hot Dogs is the result of that love story, the hotdog tradition, and 25 years of compounding absurdity: two converted school buses for dining rooms, a wedding chapel that opened in 2016 and performs ceremonies for under $100, a 10-pound Bubba Burger ranked among America’s fattiest foods, and the Homewrecker — a 15-inch deep-fried weenie with three and a half pounds of toppings — that has been the reigning champion of America’s largest hot dog title. It appeared in Season 3, Episode 6 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives — “Something Different,” aired April 14, 2008 — and has appeared two more times on the show in 2010 and 2020. Sonny Knight passed away in 2021 at age 75. Sharie continues to operate the restaurant.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Hillbilly Hot Dogs
City: Lesage, West Virginia
Cuisine: Hot Dogs / Fast Food
DDD Season: 3
DDD Episode: 6
Episode Title: Something Different
Original Air Date: April 14, 2008
Address: 6951 Ohio River Rd., Lesage, WV 25537
Phone: 304-762-2458
Website: https://www.hillbillyhotdogs.com/
Status: Open
About Hillbilly Hot Dogs
The operation is part roadside restaurant, part museum, part tourist attraction, and part wedding venue. The decor — two school buses converted into dining rooms, dozens of shacks loaded with hillbilly artifacts, offensive and endearing signage in equal measure — matches the food’s commitment to going further than anyone thought necessary. The menu has over 30 hot dog combinations including the Taco Dog, Pizza Dog, and Pineappalachian Dog. The Bubba Burgers start at a 4-ounce Baby Bubba and top out at a 30-pound Triple Wide. The hot dog chili sauce is house-made and hand-mixed from a recipe the kitchen keeps to itself. Yelp named Hillbilly Hot Dogs one of the 10 most outrageous outdoor dining spots in 2025.
Important notes: Hillbilly Hot Dogs is cash only with an ATM on-site.
What to Eat at Hillbilly Hot Dogs
The Hillbilly Dog — deep-fried dog with chili, mustard, and onions — is the classic that most regulars order every time. The Homewrecker is the challenge item: a 15-inch deep-fried sausage and deep-fried one-pound weenie topped with sautéed peppers and onions, two cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, spicy sauce, mustard, ketchup, and creamy slaw. Finish it in 12 minutes and get a t-shirt and bragging rights. The Chili Cheese Fries and Fried Pickle Spears are the sides most people rave about. The Bubba Burger with chili is the burger option worth knowing about.
Guy Fieri’s outdoor cooking approach fits perfectly here — Guy on Fire: 130 Recipes for Adventures in Outdoor Cooking is the natural companion for anyone inspired by Hillbilly Hot Dogs’ commitment to doing simple food on a grand scale.
Plan Your Visit
Hillbilly Hot Dogs is open Monday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Thursday through Sunday 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Cash only. ATM on-site.
Address: 6951 Ohio River Rd., Lesage, WV 25537
Phone: 304-762-2458
Website: https://www.hillbillyhotdogs.com/
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Hillbilly Hot Dogs is everything Triple D was built to find. Stream all three appearances on Amazon and bring that outdoor grilling energy home with Guy on Fire.
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Hillbilly Hot Dogs appeared in Season 3, Episode 6 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Something Different,” originally aired April 14, 2008. It has since appeared on the show two more times in 2010 and 2020. Founder Sonny Knight passed away in 2021.