In 1992, Gary Zemola bought a fully restored vintage food truck that he had seen years earlier in a painting in John Baeder’s 1978 book “Diners.” The truck had been sitting idle at a fire station. Zemola tracked it down, brought it back to life, and began operating Super Duper Weenie from it seasonally around Fairfield, Connecticut. Seven years of building a loyal following led to a permanent brick-and-mortar location on Black Rock Turnpike in 1999. Super Duper Weenie appeared in Season 5, Episode 12 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “All Kinds of Fast Food,” which aired March 16, 2009, and returned for a second DDD appearance — a mark of how strongly the restaurant registered. Guy Fieri asked after the first bite of the New Englander, “Where has that been all my life?” The hot dogs are split and griddled for extra char and crunch. All toppings are made from scratch using local ingredients. The buns are custom-baked. The sweet relish on the New Englander comes from local produce. Everything is made the way it should be and the way most hot dog stands stopped doing it decades ago.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Super Duper Weenie
City: Fairfield, Connecticut
Cuisine: Hot Dogs / Fast Food
DDD Season: 5
DDD Episode: 12
Episode Title: All Kinds of Fast Food
Original Air Date: March 16, 2009
Address: 306 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825
Phone: 203-334-3647
Website: https://www.superduperweenie.com
Status: Open
About Super Duper Weenie
Super Duper Weenie has been celebrated far beyond its DDD appearances: it appeared on PBS in “A Hot Dog Program,” Late Night with David Letterman, and in Jane and Michael Stern’s Roadfood book. The original truck still exists and makes appearances at catered events. Gary Zemola’s son and partner Lorin have grown the business to include a full catering operation built around that same truck. The restaurant sells close to 2,000 hot dogs per week from the Black Rock Turnpike location.
What to Eat at Super Duper Weenie
The New Englander is the signature: a split-and-griddled all-beef frank on a toasted custom-baked bun, loaded with crispy bacon, sauerkraut, spicy brown mustard, house-made sweet relish, and chopped white onions. Guy asked where it had been all his life. That question answers itself on the first bite. The New Yorker is the other flagship, built in the New York tradition with sauerkraut and deli mustard. The Fresh-Cut Fries, hand-cut and fried to order, are the side that completes any order. House-made chili, coleslaw, and other scratch-made toppings are available across the full menu.
Bring Super Duper Weenie energy home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Burger Joint Seasoning for your own griddled dog prep, and find a Fairfield County hotel on Booking.com.
Plan Your Visit
Super Duper Weenie is open Monday through Saturday for lunch and early dinner. Check the website for current hours. Lines form during peak lunch hours and are worth the wait.
Address: 306 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT 06825
Phone: 203-334-3647
Website: https://www.superduperweenie.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the All Kinds of Fast Food episode on Amazon and pick up Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip with Recipes for the inspiration to do your own scratch condiments at home.
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Super Duper Weenie appeared in Season 5, Episode 12 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “All Kinds of Fast Food,” originally aired March 16, 2009. Gary Zemola started the business in 1992 from a restored vintage food truck and opened the permanent location in 1999.