Cozy Dog Drive In

We love historic eats and locally owned mom and pop joints like this one. Places like these are the backbone of what makes our country great. Cozy Dog Drive In had been on our must try list for a while, and we’re so glad we finally made it. After all, how could we pass up the chance to try “the original hot dog on a stick”? The place was buzzing with activity when we arrived. We lucked out and snagged the last available booth during the lunch rush. We ordered the Cozy Basket, which comes with four Cozy Dogs and a generous family-size serving of fries. Our total was $17.58 – Pro tip: They give you a 3% discount if you pay with cash. What makes this place special is that they still use the original batter recipe developed by the founder back in 1946. The difference between a corn dog and a Cozy Dog? These are made fresh to order! Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, with just a hint of sweetness in the breading—absolutely delicious. The fries were just as tasty. All in all, it was a true All-American meal in a nostalgic, one-of-a-kind setting. Definitely worth the stop!

I love corn dog and I love this place sooooo much! The cozy dog is the best corn dog I have ever had. The restaurant interior is so fun and cute! I also love their cozy dog couple! I enjoyed all food I got and this atmosphere. I already want to come back! You have to go if you are around!!

Came to the cozy dog thinking we were going to get some good food. I believe it is the location only, or where locals come. The hotdogs used for the cozy dog was pork so I could not order one. I could not believe they even served the fries I got. One and Not again. The burger was thinner than a smash burger. You are charged for lettuce and tomato.

Good food! The Cozy dog was crispy and had great flavor. The burger was awesome as well. The burger reminded me of early 90's small time burger places full of flavor with a slight char and grilled taste definitely a must try.

An absolute must stop for the Route 66 fan. Atmosphere is amazing. It’s a corn dog and very enjoyable.

Visited on 6.14.2025. One of the few original operating restaurants on Route 66. The corn dogs were amazing, and there is lots of Route 66 nostalgia in this place. Cozy Dog is definitely worth stopping at if you are in the area.

We love this place we come here at least once a year on our way through. The service is great the kids are so friendly we did the drive-thru tonight and we've done that before. Maybe I just do not remember but those onion rings seems like they were just prepared out of a bag do I remember handmade onion rings in the past? All is well just won't be getting those onion rings again. Definitely coming back.

They made my food in less than five minutes. Everything was hot fresh crispy, delicious juicy, hot dog amazing cheese curds, and a burger was pretty good too. Plus, I think it’s really cool. How proud they are of the history of that place. They invented the corn dog after all well G.I. dog or whatever it was called all of it was a really enjoyable experience and I was outside smoking waiting for my food to get cooked and the guy even brought it out to me while I was sitting out there smoking I thought that was a really nice touch. Well done well done

Review Visit: March 11th, 2014 Possible home of the original Corn Dog? Looking a bit into the history of Cozy Dog, it seems like this place is the original inventor of the Corn Dog, or the Cozy Dog, as they call it here. More can be discovered via the Wikipedia and Website links below. Stopping in here for a bite to eat after spending all day exploring Springfield, my friends and I were treated to a diner-feeling place mixed with restaurant-vibes. The staff was friendly, the interior was fun and the place just seemed cheerful. What we all ordered escapes me, but I do remember picking up some Route 66 brand soda and that was delicious, as was the food we ordered. This is a pretty popular stop along Route 66. I remember there being quite a bit Rt. 66 merchandise for sale on the inside. So if you find yourself in Springfield or cruzing remnants of Route 66, stop by for a delicious bite to eat. I wouldn't mind revisitng the place to try the original Corn Dog, or as they call it, Cozy Dog. It's like eating a piece of history here!

The first stop in our road trip to Springfield was Cozy Dog drive in. We arrived shortly after 11, and a line formed very quickly. The space is reminiscent of a 50's era roadside diner. The was are covered in fascinating Route 66 memorabilia. The restaurant is counter service and self serve seating. Their bathrooms are exceptionally clean. We ordered a Cozy dog and fries. Pro tip: ask for well done fries. Trust me, it's better that way. The cozy dog itself was tasty. The menu boasts many items if you're craving something else. Burgers, sandwiches, soup, chili, are among some of their offerings. Come for the food, stay for the old school experience of a Route 66 classic.

The food is simple and delicious. The price is perfect. Service was fast and friendly. If you love Rt. 66 this place is a place for you. Also, they have the best corn dogs around!!! The ambiance is clean and friendly. There is plenty of parking.

This place claims (to have) invented the corn dog - ok - let's say they did - because this place is excellent! And all their Route 66 (yes, this place is on old Route 66), makes the place a neat little place to see! The corn dog has a great tasting coating...that a bit airy in texture. The hot dog itself is a great tasting dog (they use). The fries: these are a smaller extrude fry...gets a great cook on it...and they taste good...make for a nice side dish. I've gone to place for years - and it's always delivering great mom and pop Dairy Queen favorites!

It's always fun to visit a retro restaurant with an interesting history, and this one definitely qualifies. It's a fun place with fun food--a Route 66 classic., founded in 1949 and still family-owned. They claim to have invented the original deep-fried, batter-dipped hotdog on a stick. I had to try it, even though I have never been a fan of corn dogs, and I absolutely loved it. The batter is much less thick than a corn dog and really tasty: it complements rather than overshadows the hot dog, and it is crisp and wonderful. My barbecue sandwich was also really good, as were the fries. Staff were kind and efficient. The line moved quickly, and the food came out amazingly fast. The restaurant is clean and quirky: everyone seems to pose with huge dancing hotdogs. Don't miss it.

I came here because it was recommended by many. Based on my personal experience, the place was super casual, which is fine, but the food was average at best. Corn dogs is what they are famous for, based on my experience: The hotdog itself in the corn dog was super soft, the bread was regular and tasted stale. Corn dog outer layer was really good. The Fries on the other hand was actually good and tasted fresh. Fried mushrooms were not bad, it was super average. Never going back, it was not worth it for me

Been going there since I was a kid. Used to have a Dairy Queen attached so there really was a full deal meal way back when. Southern View always supported the (Waldmires) and still do to this day. Being a historic place on Route 66 they welcome many visitors from other states and other countries. A full menu in addition to their famous Cozy Dogs. Give them a try and visit their little book of memorabilia.

This place is a one of a kind roadside eating establishment. Make it a destination! Friendly staff and cash discounts. Never had a bad meal here. Come one come all just be dressed comfortably. Relaxed roadside diner. Plenty of memorabilia to look at.

unjustified claims of inventing the corn dog (google is a thing guys) with a side of politics? Meh

Whether or not you're a Route 66 enthusiast you should check this place out. Located on "old 66", this place is much more than a mere nostalgia trip (it has plenty of that, almost "slopping over" with charm, as I like to say) ... the food was fine. Their prized invention, the corn dog aka Cozy Dog, was perfect. Tasty, not overcooked, wonderful - made me feel like a kid again (so I had two!). Fries were the "skinny" type that I love! Bought some Route 66 postcards and a Cozy Dog-branded root beer and left only a very little lighter in the wallet, and totally happy. Family friendly, too!

Sooooo good! Great prices and great food. We always get the chili cheese dogs with either the shredded cheese or the homemade white cheese sauce and the OG cozy dogs! They are always pretty quick and great with their service, as well.

Fun little place to stop and get a good corn dog and very good home cut fries. The cheeseburger was also delicious and service was fast and friendly. If ur looking for a old time Diner with memorabilia to take a look at, then stop here! Old Route 66 diners do not disappoint.

classic Route 66 stop filled with history is the food fancy no but it's classic food done good you have to stop at the home of the original Corn Dog

We have never seen worse looking and tasting food than at this place. The French Fries were cooked in oil so dirty they were BLACK! The hot dog was cheap quality and the burger was GRAY! Never again!!!

Chili was bery good on a cold day. The corn dogs were very tasty and had a good flavored hot dog. . Thank you

Found this place in a guide book, as the creator of the corn dog, so had to give it a try. Ordered it with fries and breaded mushrooms. The fries were probably the best part of the meal, followed by the mushrooms. The side of ranch came in a salad dressing pouch and wasn't that good. The corn dog was okay, but nothing special. Had some kind of twang to it. Glad I gave it a try, but no need to return.

Birthplace of the corn dog. Had to have one, even though normally not to my liking. Loved the chili dog (no cheese). Inexpensive.

Cozy dogs , fries, and Pepsi. Fantastic. The whole place is retro . Love it. Best cozy dogs in Springfield.

We went here for dinner last night. Had the cozy dog and fries. Also had the chili dog and fries. Both were good. Alot of Route 66 memorabilia in there.

It was fun to go back in time a bit. The food was great. We had cozy dogs and cheeseburgers. The service was fast and everyone was nice.

We wanted a very quick stop to try what is billed as the birthplace of the world's first corn dogs! It's fun, kitschy, and the staff is super friendly. We got the two dog special and four of their house bottles of root beer for about $20. It was definitely a deep fried stop, but tasty. And it's true the "cozy dogs" style of corn dog has a bit of a different flavor- to me, the breading had more of a sausage flavor. In and out in maybe 10 minutes and back on the road. Fun place

Love this place! The cozy dogs are great, but the burgers are awesome! Loving the fries as well.

It's a fun touristy stop! The food is honestly nothing special, but it is good, cheap, and it's a classic Route 66 stop.

First time for us to go while visiting Springfield. Nice nostalgic place. Cozy dog has a nice flavor unlike a corn dog. Fun to look at all the memorabilia throughout the building. Will go back again when in town!

Always a treat!! We have to stop here whenever we're in Springfield. It's an institution! Don't call them corndogs, because they're Cozy Dogs! The fries are always made fresh, and always delicious. They leave the skin on the potatoes, and slice them thin, so they're extra crispy. The staff is always friendly. Hey, it's The Mother Road, so you have to stop if you're in the area! There's also a neat display of Route 66 memorabilia, and a small shop to purchase hats, magnets, shirts. Etc.

It's unique and worth a stop right off the highway. Good corn dogs and old style restaurant.

I'd heard about Cozy Dog and was excited to visit during a recent trip to the area. The inside is nostalgic and will make you smile if you like Route 66 memorabilia. As soon as we walked in, I smelled yummy cheese. Though tempting, I decided not to order the Cheese on a Stick and went with the Cozy Dog, fries, coleslaw, fried mushrooms, and to satisfy my taste for cheese, a side of white cheese sauce. All of the hot food items were made to order. The Cozy Dog was crispy; the fries had bits of peel, were thin and tasty; the mushrooms were lightly battered and juicy and the house made white cheese sauce was good enough to eat with a spoon - so I did for a couple of bites. Staff were friendly and there was plenty of seating when we arrived mid-day on a Friday. The bathrooms were clean and had the vacant/not vacant indicator. That was a nice touch. If I were in the area, I would stop by to try their hamburgers which a lot of people also ordered.

This place is like travelling back in time - loved seeing all the old photos and packaging of this place. The cozy dog was delicious and the cola tasty, neither particularly wow-inducing. Overall the experience is pretty functional and we were in & out very quickly.

Very good place to eat, even if you don't get a corndog. The prices are a fit price for the taste. Not to cheap but also not expensive. It's somewhere in between. My family loves to have dinner there frequently.

So I went on cozy dogs website to look at merchandise items and it says if I want to know more history about cozy dog to call josh, and I was also interested in any signs or vintage signs they may have laying around for sale so I called the store to speak to Josh and I got nothing but attitude from the second he got on the phone. I asked him if he got a minute to talk on the phone? "because i wanted to ask him the few questions" His remarks. "Depends on who is calling". So asked him if he could tell me history of the place? and If he had any vintage signs of the cozy dog for sale. His remarks again " You are calling me at 12:10 at a restaurant I don't have time to talk on the phone ". So why put on your business page to call if you wanted to know more history about the place ? I will not support this business and I will be telling others my experience.​

Great little stop along Route 66! Drive around the side and there's a little drive through window. No big menu like a typical drive through, but they have a paper copy they can give you to review the menu. Service was fantastic and he was super helpful. We just grabbed a few cozy dogs which were prepared pretty quickly. Overall it's not the best corn dog batter, it's pretty simple. Plenty of parking and there's a sign out front to take in some of the history of Cozy Dog and the surrounding area. Would definitely stop by for the indoor experience if I were in the area again.

One of our favorite locations. Cozy dogs always a fav, but if you are in the mood for a cheeseburger, they are awesome too. Love onion rings? This is THE place that knows how to do onion rings right!

"What's a Cozy Dog" "It's a hot dog, on a stick, dipped in batter and fried" "So it's a corn dog" "Only better" "I'll take 2 chili cheese dogs, order of mushrooms and a large drink" "Shredded or liquid cheese?" "Shredded of course" I suppose Cozy Dog Drive In sounds a little better then the Corn Dog Drive In. Regardless, this place has history. They've place has been dipping wieners since 1949. The joint is covered photos and just has that old time feel to it. By all accounts this meal should be fantastic. I've been on the road for almost 8 hours, having to pick up Pebbles outside of Chicago, drive him home to downstate Illinois before returning to Des Moines. "I hear that Portillo's is opening up a place in Springfield" he says randomly to break the silence. Having ridden with me numerous times, Pebbles knows the dangers of silence when I drive and has been with me more then once when I start to dose off behind the wheel. My meds have since been adjusted to prevent such things from happening but he still hasn't gotten used to the fact that riding with me no longer ensures a near death experience. He suggests Cozy Dog and I accept being that a dog sounds really good right now. He orders the same as me except he goes for onion rings instead of mushrooms. They bring our food to the table pretty quickly and I pop a mushroom in my mouth. Delicious, juicy and not so hot that it burns the shit outta my mouth. The dogs are where I have the problem and just to be clear, I don't blame them, it's my issue even though that issue makes everything taste so much better. I like the buns to be toasted or tossed in the microwave for a few seconds to soften them up. Cozy did neither which in my mind greatly changes the taste. The chili was more like coney sauce and overall the dogs where nothing spectacular. BUT This place is worth it for nothing else then the nostalgic feel of it all.

This is a great place to stop on a road trip, and I did just that. I got a cozy dog and fries with a Cozy root beer. Everything was tasty and they give you a lot of fries. The people who work here are friendly and the souvenirs they sell are also reasonably priced. But they don't encourage you to wear a mask, and they don't clean the tables between every use. I'm not even sure they had hand sanitizer for folks to use.

A lot of different ways I can rate this classic Route 66 place, so where do I start? First, its main purpose, to make sure people get good food: the food was alright. The large cheese fries tasted like greasy heaven. The corn, oh my bad...cozy dogs were good too. But the batter tasted kind of odd. Not in a bad way, but it was sweeter than the average corn dog batter - best way to explain I guess. The cheese sauce also tasted different than what I usually get at other places, like not a lot of flavor. But overall I walked out full, happy - all for a reasonable price. Now for the Route 66 part: they pay more than a tribute to the Mother Road. Old signs everywhere, brochures and books for people to check out, and even a store - though there was no attendant present. But that's okay, you definitely get the "66" experience while here. I was doing a video for my travel YouTube channel and the manager was totally cool with me taking video all over (as long as I didn't distract anyone, of course). One other thing: while I'm not for restaurants/businesses stating their political views (this goes for both sides of the aisle), I did love how they had a lot of anti-Gov. Pritzker signs everywhere (hey, I'm just not a fan of his!).

I wonderful Route 66 stopping point. So much history in this little diner. My son and I enjoyed the family Cozy dogs and fries basket.

Crowded and loud about 1 on a Saturday, hectic joint. Neat stuff on display but old faded and dusty. Tiny parking lot. Pepsi products always score points! Fries were like thin 'fair' fries, plenty of them and hot. Corn dog was pretty light and cooked well. Regular chili/coney dog was decent but little a light on the toppings, good chili flavor and texture, the dogs themselves are very good. Cheap lunch but not the best joint to visit.

Charming drive in. Full of memorabilia about the restaurant & the owners. I enjoyed the cozy dog while the rest of my family had burgers or hot dogs. Friendly staff. Definitely some place to stop for the history & Route 66 experience. The food is exactly what'd you'd expect. I don't know if I'd go again, but I'm very glad we visited for a good, quick lunch.

We had not been to Cozy Dog for several years. DH loves corn dogs and we were looking for a quick lunch, so we stopped here. We both wanted corn dogs and fries so we ordered the Cozy Basket (4 corn dogs and a BUNCH of fries) -- this "deal" is a little cheaper than ordering individually. Food came out quickly and was hot. This is a long-time Springfield staple -- definitely worth the trip!!

Great place to get a fried glizzy aka corndog. Nothing to crazy but if a good corndogs what youre looking for look no further lol

I've never been to Illinois, let alone this resturaunt. However, I found a tshirt for this fine establishment at a goodwill in Arizona. It is now my favorite shirt.

Corn dogs were crispy and made to order. Went when the place opened so it was very calm and relaxed atmosphere but I'm sure it gets packed during lunch and dinner time. Food came really quickly and I liked the corn dog so much I then ordered a chili cheese dog which was delicious too

This place has a great history for corn dogs. Seems to have a loyal following but I found it just a pricey hot dog stand. First place in springfield that charges for a glass of water

Cozy Dog Drive In is great considering the extremely cheap food pricing. It has been featured on the Food Network and Travel Channel, sitting on the historic Route 66. We were visiting Springfield from Chicago and went to Cozy Dog Drive In for lunch and were impressed throughout the entire experience. We went after 1 p.m. on a Monday and the drive-thru had a line, but they kept the line moving quickly. You order at the window and pull to the side of the building to have your food dropped off to you. The customer service was great and the food was also good, keeping in mind how cheap everything is. I definitely recommend Cozy Dog Drive In if you are in Springfield and are looking for a counter service meal that isn't a fast food chain.

Kitschy and a great Value! After reading a brochure about Route 66 and Springfield, IL, Cozy Dog was a must stop. On a family Route 66 road trip to L.A, I'm so glad we had lunch there, because my kids had never experienced a corn dog before. One kiddo almost polished off two of them, and my other kiddo wasn't into the concept of a boiled hot dog wrapped in batter...he would have preferred a grilled hot dog ;-) Regardless, I also had a Cozy Dog, and they were very good. My favorite? No, but then again, I haven't had one in years! The batter almost had a bit of sweetness to it--not the typical saltier version I'm used to. They were rich but still so delicious paired with mustard. The fries were hand cut, plentiful, fresh, and they didn't make me feel that I-ate-too-many-fries sick after I ate them. For those who like the fake cheese sauce, they have it, along with a white cheese sauce they make on the spot. As far as the value, you can get two corn dogs and medium fries for $5-ish. Fountain drink machine for refills. They offer daily deals, and even family value meals. Great location. There's a Walgreens next store, and my non-meat eating hubby ended up at Subway across the street. An official stop along Route 66, and totally worth it. The milestone marker machine in the parking lot played "Get Your Kicks On Route 66." The people watching is off the charts, there is a mini gift shop and lots of fun Route 66 decorations. There is also a cool hand-painted map outside on the restaurant with Route 66 stops. Such a great family stop!

This is a fine example of what good promotion will do for an average product. My mistake was to enter the Cozy Dog with unrealistic expectations. The hype for this place made it sound like it is the home of the world's best corn dog (also rumored to be the inventor of the darn thing). If indeed if the Cozy Dog is the home of the world's best corn dog then it was sorely lost on me. I could not tell the difference between what I received and what can be purchased out of a neighborhood grocer's freezer. Perhaps the failing is mine in that I lack the capacity to differentiate between corn dogs. Somehow I was expecting a dog that would hit it out of the park for me. Instead, what I got was a corn dog. That was it...just a corn dog. For those of you who rave about this place I would appreciate some schooling on exactly what I should be looking for, because whatever it is I did not find it here. When I entered the place was full of kids (with discerning palates no doubt). The dining area was messy and I could not find a table that had been cleaned. How hard can it be to send someone out from behind the counter to wipe down a table or two? For my tastes I would not go out of my way to visit the Cozy Dog Drive In.

We passed through here on a road trip and I'm so glad we did! This was the best corn dog I've ever had. Once you order, they dip the hot dog in the batter and fry it. The corn dog was delicious and slightly crispy. The french fries were fantastic as well. There is so much to see in this kitschy little roadside diner. Plan enough time to enjoy all the hot dog and Route 66 memorabilia.

Police ce blocked off 6 th street at Stevenson and down by whatever overpass by southern view us, late picking up. They lectured, threw my food out and ticket. Could have called me. Weird typical Illinois passive aggressive. No I'm sorry or we didn't know, just no expression, cold. Then brought out and yelled " HERES YOUR FOOD

Love there Route 66 nostalgic food & love this family. It brings back memories of when life was good & less fast paced. A highlight in Springfield & my pleasure to visit from MS.!