Famous Lunch

Update – 7/24/25: Went back with my family today, and it’s not often I can say that expectations were exceeded the second time around. The guy taking orders memorizes everything and relays it to the kitchen flawlessly. Everyone there—staff and patrons alike—is genuinely friendly. We had three kids with us (not exactly the quietest crew), and no one batted an eye. It’s truly a family joint, and I’m grateful to experience a slice of the Troy my grandmother was born and raised in. The food is amazing—especially the dogs and fries. The hot dogs are just right, and the French fries are hand-cut, served piping hot, and perfectly crisp. To top it all off, everything is affordable, which makes it even easier to come back again and again. Original review: Really really enjoyed this place excellent food and service! Adding it as one of our staple stops when we’re in the area.

Very cool to experience an old school hot dog shop. Hotdogs are pretty small, but not bad for the price to sit down at the diner style eatery while learning about its history. overall, a great experience and good bang for your buck! I recommend stopping by at least once to check it out.

The best mini hot dogs in the area, The zippy sauce does it all. They do have other lunch items but the minis is what I go here for, me personally I think it’s better than the other Hot Dog place in the other side of the River. It can get a little crowded if you’re looking to dine in but the little shelf outside is the best spot

Famous Lunch is a gem--a charming old-school place with wonderful waitstaff and ambience. Reminded me of (the best things about) The Bear! It made me so happy that a place like this still exists. I'm not even a hot-dog person--I had a delicious grilled cheese. (The prices are amazing, too.) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I love this place! I dont come often because I'm not local anymore, but when I come here, I feel like I went 30 years back in time, and it makes my heart happy. They have great food at reasonable prices. They are a cash only facility, and they are busy. I love seeing a small business like this that doesn't have all the newest of everything, but people still love it. It's a salt of the earth kind of place where everyone is welcome.

Looking for real world food ? Set your GPS for Famous Lunch in Troy. It's not fancy. Real people sit at the counter on stools and family gathers in the booths. The place is clean but the atmosphere is historic. The walls are metal, the booths are wood, and the stools spin. The background is stainless and the floor tiles are detailed. They have excellent food. Obviously the hot dogs are great but I liked the Western omlette with cheese. The rest of my family had hot dogs. For five bucks that was a quality sandwich that was loaded. The 4 dogs and a drink special for eight bucks hit the spot for the rest. So....nostogia, good food, and fair prices....I call.Famous Lunch a winner !

Cute diner place with unbeatable price The hotdog 🌭 is classic

The food is average but the price is fantastic. I tried the mini hotdogs with the works. They were more like a chili dog than upstate NY meat sauce hot dog. The burger and fries were good. The rice pudding was homemade so, better than the store bought but not quite as good as Grandma's recipe. It's nice to see a little mom and pop place like this is still open. You can fill up without shelling out a lot of money.

Went here for breakfast on a Saturday morning and there were plenty of tables and seats at the counter. Their breakfast menu is quite extensive for a restaurant known for its hot dogs - everything from omelets to breakfast sandwiches, pancakes and French toast. I ordered a ham and cheese omelet, which came with toast and home fries, and my boyfriend got the hot dog omelet. Both were great and really filling. I'd like to try their pancakes next time. The staff is super friendly, service is quick and it is CASH ONLY!

Classic no-frills quick counter service for burgers and dogs. The mini hotdogs are locally famous as the diner has been around for generations and holds a special place in the heart of Troy.

SIZE DOES MATTER! If you're a wiener lover, you need to come and come quick to famous lunch. Small but large would flavor. So hard to match famous lunche's weiners and sauce. The temperature on these hotdogs are perfect. They do not burn the skin so they snap perfectly when you bite into them and their sauce has just the right amount of zip to make you drool. Just a little can't go wrong when you grab their wieners. The price ain't bad either.

Fast and responsible prices - i had 3 dogs total 2 onions and mustard and one w the works. It was very yummy and delicious and interesting to see the mini dogs culture in troy. I hope to one day come back and try more

Went to FAMOUS LUNCH today, I have returned many many many times over the years. Started going there when I was a teenager several years ago. While my wife and I were there it appeared many local and regulars came in. We had the famous hotdogs with full addition of mustard, onions and what they call zippy sauce All I can say is great, great, great. We also had and order of French fries very good. I highly recommend if you are in Troy, New York and like hotdogs give FAMOUS LUNCH a try.

The epitome of small town, family run diner that I am happy to support. My husband raves about the hot dogs here so we popped in on a slow Monday afternoon. We were warmly greeted and the second we mentioned I was from Los Angeles I was handed a paper menu to take back home with me along with a calendar. I love this place! The hot dogs are pretty outstanding- meat sauce, mustard and onions and you can easily eat two or three depending on your appetite. Famous Lunch is a gem and you should definitely make time to stop in and support this place!

The absolute best food place in Troy They're so very friendly and helpful. I love to eat there they have a lot of variety of different foods.

This place rocks. Old school. Dogs are great, unique, and awesome. Had six of them (they are small, haha)! Wished I lived closer so I could go often. Def worth the stop if nearby.

Hot dogs were a bit salty but the chili sauce was excellent. The fries were also awesome. Will be back.

Great little lunch spot, great atmosphere and great cost! These dogs are petite and perfectly cooked. We stopped here for lunch on a through drive out to Buffalo. Very friendly staff and quick to rotate through customers so that everyone is helped efficiently. The sauce was a tad too salty other than that the dog, the bun, the mustard, the raw onions spectacular!

Dogs aren't what they use to be. Very greasy and so much smaller than they use to be. Meatsauce not good no moreDirty inside,

Breakfast great, best hotdog for lunch, Scott will get you in & out in no time, Counter and booth seats. Diner style . **Big AL **

Great service, best meat sauce in the area, and you don't find a more comfortable and real spot than Famous. It leaves every other place in the dust

I had read about this place several years ago and decided to take a ride up to Troy New York to look around the city and visit this luncheonette I arrived about 2 PM in the afternoon on a Thursday. They were people sitting at the counter and people sitting in the booth. You can see the hotdogs right from the front window they look delicious. The ball gentleman was friendly and asked what I would like. I said I'll take the lunch special which is 4 for hotdogs and a drink. These hotdogs are about half the size of a regular hotdog. They are known for their delicious meat sauce that they put on top of the hotdogs. So I ordered two with the meat sauce to without. I also had onions and mustard on my hotdogs. I ordered a side order of regular french fries. It was nice to sit at the counter. I watched the man at the grill prepare breakfast and burgers for people. My hot dogs came out quickly and looked delicious. The hotdogs were flavorful and had a nice nap. The meat sauce was delicious but not too overpowering or strong. It blended perfectly with the hotdogs. I enjoyed the french fries as well Regulars came in and would sit in the booth and then call their order out to the same nice man that I gave my order to when I walked in. It was kind of neat that they did it this way saying "so you got what I wanted to eggs over easy with hashbrowns bacon" Definitely come here and get the hotdogs you won't be disappointed. They have been in business since 1930to almost 90 years now. The burgers looked good too expensive for a double cheeseburger. I'll definitely come back here again and get hotdogs and maybe I'll try the cheeseburger as well. Breakfast looked tasty as well

Food is always good and the price you can't beat. Definitely recommend this place if you want a good dog and other foods.

This place is great everything I've eaten here has been great. I've had their hot dogs, hamburgers, breakfast, breakfast sandwiches it's all been good the service is great they're all friendly I highly recommend this place.

Great place for hot dogs. I used to go there all the time when I lived in Troy. Every time I go back to Troy, I always make a stop there.

Two words: Surprisingly Fulfilling. We ordered take out from this place in the heart of Troy. The place is small and rather crowded and there's no social distancing expected, so we ordered the dogs and ate at a park in the nearby Russell Sage campus. I thought all chili dogs are created alike but theirs is definitely so good. The toppings are not the typical chili you'd expect -- it's dryer, less chunky and more diced. You can feel the skin as you bite into it, which adds to the flavor while not overpowering -- the hot dogs really don't need additional condiments. I didn't order anything else but the half dogs, but while each of them may look small, nope, they will fill your stomach just fine. Nothing too healthy here of course, but it's a nice spot for a quick bite.

The place is an American classic. Rich in history and a must for anyone that wants an old time diner vibe. The staff made my first visit memorable with some good food and humor. The prices are about half of what I expected and service was prompt. If you haven't had RC Cola in a while give it a try.

Ten years? It's been ten years since I first reviewed Famous Lunch? That means it was one of the first places I reviewed when I moved to the Capital Region. I was still exploring the wide and wonderful world of mini hot dogs with meat sauce, and I hadn't even considered the notion of branching out to try other staples on the menu. Here's the deal. Of all the places making miniature hot dogs with meat sauce in the Capital Region, Famous Lunch is my favorite. That alone should be enough to merit five stars. But Famous Lunch is even better than that. Because while it may be known for the midday meal, breakfast is slamming. Their egg and cheese sandwich is fantastic. And if you ask nicely, they'll put some of that zippy hot dog sauce on your eggs for you. Maybe one of these days I'll get both zippy sauce and bacon, but I don't know if I can handle that amount of pleasure. There are plenty of people who will come in to Famous and polish of a tray of six wieners or more. That's not my speed. I'm happy with just a few bites. I typically max out at "three with the works." Give me a couple bites of mouth filling deliciousness, and I'm a happy man. These franks may be small, but they are juicy, with a nice snap to their casing. The small buns are not just the perfect size, but an ideal density; and all the toppings work well together. Meat sauce, chopped onions, and mustard isn't a combination that's unique to the Troy-Watervliet-Cohoes triangle, but putting them on mini dogs is a distinctly Capital Region phenomenon. Sure, you can catch echoes of the form a little to the east in the Berkshires, but Troy is the epicenter. Come alone, or come with friends. Just don't come with too large of a group, because the biggest booth can barely fit four adults. My favorite place to sit is at the counter near the flattop grill, where I can watch eggs being cooked, buns being toasted, and burgers being grilled. Don't be tempted by the magnificent sear those burgers get on the griddle. The hot dogs are the star. Then the egg sandwich. Personally, I'd recommend skipping the fries and saving room for the rice pudding instead. Or skip dessert entirely, and find a sweet treat elsewhere. You're in Troy dammit, and the food is great here. But it's been great for a long long time. Famous is a testament to that fact. I hope this institution sticks around for generations to come. N.B. when you're done with your meal, nobody is going to bring you a bill. Simply walk up to the register by the door, tell the good fellow what you had, and he'll cash you out. I've seen a lot of first timers just hanging around awkwardly at the end of their meal. They've got a system. It's not a modern system. But it works.

I've never physically been here, but my parents bring home hot dogs when passing through and they are just the best! They are miniature in size, which means you can eat more! The combo of the meat sauce, onions and mustard is amazing. You can't go wrong. Perfect place for a pit stop on a road-trip!

Believe the hype. These dogs are some of the best I've ever eaten. We started with two each and quickly moved to another one. I could have eaten four easily. They are tasty and fresh and the fries are worth the calories. Can't wait to go back

Old school diner. Fantastic little hotdogs, grilled cheese, sandwiches, burgers, very reasonably priced.

Always our quick go to lunch spot after picking my son up from school. We love the service and the old school vibe. The food is amazing too!

I havent lived in Troy for awhile, but I just remembered this place and thought I'd leave my thoughts. As soon as you walk into Famous Lunch, you can smell the chili bubbling on the stove, hear the winters sizzling on the grill and feel the oldschool aesthetic. That's all you gotta do to you know that you're getting yourself into some authentic New York comfort food. The wieners are to die for, and for a great price. 6 dollars gets you 5 teeny weenies with a smattering of chili and onions, and an RC cola. If you dont think that's a great deal you're out of your mind. The chili has such a great flavor, and the snap of the hot dog when you bite into it is a feeling that cant be beat. Its food that makes you feel that warm feeling in your gut, and that's hard to come by nowadays. So if you're visiting Troy, pay Famous Lunch a visit. They'll make you some wieners you cant refuse.

Famous Lunch is an incredible gem that I never would have discovered without Yelp! Located in downtown Troy NY, Famous Lunch is so famous that people came from as far away as Rochester, NY that day for a truly world class dining experience. Their World Famous Hot Dog is just 3 inches long and is served on a little bun with spicy meat sauce, onions and yellow mustard. They're incredibly delicious and cost just 92 cents each! As I approached the entrance I noticed a man in the front window busily preparing dozens of hot dogs on a flat top grill for all to see. Inside, they were also grilling burgers, sausages, peppers & onions. The aroma was incredible and I was suddenly starving as I found my place at the lunch counter. The staff was so "lovable" and treated me the way they probably treat anyone who walks in for the first time and asks to see a menu. I truly enjoy the awkwardness of being the only person in the joint who doesn't know what to order before they sit down. It only added to the ambiance. The impatient waiter suggested the lunch special; 4 world famous hot dogs and a soda for one low price. I asked for a side of fries but they never came and tried to order a club soda, which was a huge mistake! I ultimately washed it all down with a cold can of RC cola. "no Pepsi, no coke, just RC" Love it. Success and world fame hasn't gone to their heads at Famous Lunch. They're really nice people who have been humbly serving great food to loyal customers for generations. I really cant wait to return and try some of their other delicacies such as the zippyburger and the zippyfryes. Glad that I stopped in. Hope to be back soon!

Delicious mini hot dogs, friendly staff, and quick service & good pricing. I will be returning more often!

Famous Lunch has some of the best mini dogs I've ever had. I have them ranked 2nd behind Hot Dog Charlie's. The buns are toasted nicely and the hot dogs are always delicious. They slide right now and they cooked to perfection. The home made meat sauce is fantastic and helps bring everything together. The price is good for the quality. The problem is Famous is located in such a bad neighborhood so it's hard to go there. Overall, Famous has some of the best dogs, but Hot Dog Charlie's is still number 1.

Went here after the farmers market today. Walked into diner setting. Food is sooo affordable and tasty. Got the zippy fries and they are amazing. The hotdog with meat sauce is very tasty. Also had the chicken sandwich. What a bargain for only $4.25. Stop in and try this place. Over 80 years on business!

I would have rated this place 4 stars in the past because it was mediocre food but at an amazing price. However now they greatly increased the price but the quality of food does not reflect that. Their home fries are awful (horrendous), their eggs are okay but bland (tried both scrambled and omelette). Their cheese omelette has the cheese severely overpowering their egg. I honestly wouldn't get any breakfast item from here. Their "famous hot dogs" are good but it's an aquired taste. The chili they use is very strong and tart. I personally don't love them but I can definitely see why someone else might. Their rice dessert (forgot the name) is mediocre as well. Plus their wait times are huge. They have one person cooking in a small stove. Expect to wait 20+ minutes for your food (maybe it's better on the weekdays). As I said, if they reverted back to original pricing, I would've appreciated this as a cheap but mediocre place. But at $7.5 per egg dish (omelette, etc) the quality of food proivsed is just not acceptable.

Had to try this. Saw all the reviews and had to stop in. 4 loaded and a sausage and pepper sandwich. Side of fries naked. The reviews are pretty accurate on this place. The counter help is all business. And I see why. This place can get fairly busy on a weekday lunch. I have no qualms with service people in a lunch setting like this being all business. Now, if it was a sit down type of restaurant, then we may have some issues, but not here. They were nice enough for what I needed. :-) Also, I love the "Towny" feel of the place. It's like everybody knows each other. Except the new guy who just walked in in an NRA hat with all the tattoos. Not uncomfortable, I'm just not a regular I guess. LOL The dogs? Well, you can't possibly go wrong with Hembold's. I live right around the corner from the factory, and that's where I get all my dogs and such for the grill. They were cooked right, buns were fresh, love that zippy sauce. And some complain about the onions? I didn't think they had enough. I like the crunch of raw onion when I bite into a mini dog with meat sauce and mustard. Lesson learned - Next time get extra onions. The sausage and pepper sandwich was good also. Pretty good size too. Bigger than a slider. What I like about it is the flavor it gets from a well seasoned flat top that has onions and peppers cooking on it. Just can't beat that flat top flavor. I think it is on par with the dogs. The fries. This is where you lost a bit. If the fries aren't at least slightly crisp, then I cannot give them good marks. They were limp and soggy. I'm hoping it was just a fluke and they were rushing because it was busy, but, another lesson learned - Try to order them well done next time? Not sure if they will, but I'll try anyway. Maybe it's just me and having grown up on the crisp shoestrings of that place with the arches. Is it just me or what? Soggy fries - unhappiness. And who else has RC in cans on ice? Who???!!!

We had some business in the Troy area, so we finally checked this place out. The nostalgia fix here is great, but the food...not so much. We each tried a "special" (4 dogs + a soda for $5)  Yes, the little dogs were cute as a button and did have a snap to them, but that "zippy sauce" was VERY greasy and not really all that flavorful.  The Hub tried a "zippy cheeseburger" too, and it was literally sopping with grease!  Their hand-cut fries were good, though. Yeah, that pudgy kid that handles everyone's dirty money and then grabs the buns kinda irks me, too. I guess that's how they did it 80 years ago before disposable gloves were invented and, just like the rest of the place, it hasn't move ahead with the times yet. And yes, I have to agree with the others that the staff here is very unfriendly and totally unhelpful.  If I hadn't learned from my fellow Yelpers how to order and pay at this place, I'd probably still be standing there with a blank look on my face and my tongue hanging out for a wiener. The interior was certainly a trip down memory lane, as were the little restrooms, so that part was fun.  But if I had made a special trip all the way here just for the food, I'd probably be kinda disappointed

I'd been hearing about these little wiener treats for a long time from my BF, who had been frequenting Famous Lunch while visiting family in Troy since childhood. When we got there, he disclaimed that I may not be as impressed as the hot dogs would not hold the same sentimental value that they did for him. Turns out he was wrong. These little dogs are wonderful, even without the sentimental attachment. The wieners are flavorful, the chunky chili sauce is thick and not too greasy, and you can eat them loaded without disconnecting your jaw. I also had a slice of the apple pie, which was cold and most likely store-bought, but still tasty. Apparently, the wieners are the ones sold in the Hembolds, but be warned, the sauce is the Zippy's sauce they sell in the restaurant--not the Hembolds sauce they sell in the store. You may need to make two separate stops if you're packing some for home, but having tried the Zippy's and the Hembold's sauces, the multiple trips, totally worth it.

Famous Lunch is as delicious as it is an iconic and historic part of Troy. Good, simple, satisfying, mouth-watering. As others have said, just order the dogs with the works. At least two, three for good measure. I also have a soft spot for places that sell RC Cola, and the other elements from my childhood that exist here. It's a little loud because it's a small-ish space with a great product, so it's going to be a bit crowded. Any discomfort you get from that is social anxiety and I don't know what to tell you. Also laughing at any reviews that include the people outside of the restaurant. Are you kidding me? Great dogs with delicious sauce. Fast and mostly friendly service. Will definitely be going again!

Famous Lunch has been a Downtown Troy institution since the 1920s serving those tiny hot dogs with the zippy sauce. Two bites each, pop, and done! I enjoy getting 6 with the works to go! My old man used stop here during his high school years back in the 1950s when the hot dogs at Famous Lunch were only a nickel. The Hot Dog Charlie's aka "the hairy arm" nearby charged double, a dime for their mini dogs. Recently, I had to pick up my "semi-famous" sister from the train station and the first thing she said was, "I'm starving! Drive me to Famous Lunch." We picked up a dozen tiny hot dogs with the works and some fries, dinner served to go! Delish!

I'll start with the good stuff. You get your money's worth. The breakfast was big and satisfying. I got my order in a short amount of time and it was good for the most part. The bad isn't that bad. The homefries were just plain potatoes, no salt, pepper, any kind of seasoning, no onions, no green peppers, nothing. I had to add everything I could when I got home. Besides that the rest of the food was cooked to order, pretty good. The cook had a mask on! However, the pretty lady next to him TALKING did not. She wore a mask as a decoration, hanging from her neck. She also handled packaging my food(and yours too) without a mask. I took my food home and microwaved it hoping to kill any virus on it. If not for the mask I would have liked this place. Now I can't go back until God knows when this will be over.

The little hot dogs really do it for me. I've been coming here since I was a little kid, and eat about a dozen with everything and wash it all down with chocolate milk. Best deal is the 4 hot dogs and a soda for $3.70, does it get better than that?

I love everything about this place. The hot dogs are the best in the area. Even though they use the same actual dogs as Gus's (Helmbold's) I think the zippy sauce and mustard they use makes the difference. It's like a time warp when you walk in this place. It seems like nothing has changed since they originally opened. It's the only place I know where the counter fills up quicker than the booths. You may get confused and think you are at the VFW hall because its usually lined with older working class guys talking about their problems. They also serve breakfast which is pretty good. But don't come here expecting anything out of the ordinary. Its just a simple breakfast menu. eggs, omelets, meat, pancakes, and toast. But there is a HOT DOG OMELET that I was tempted to get.

Hot dogs are pretty friggin good. Chicken breast sandwich is good. Rice pudding is real good (don't get cream in it.) Usually like 2-6 ass cracks hanging off their stool at anytime. Two dum dum kids that work there are free comedy.

This place came in hella clutch. I was hungover and broke and they hooked it up with the best breakfast biscuit I've had in town. They do not play! 10/10

Excellent food, prices and atmosphere that brings you back in time. Zippy sauce is excellent. Also love the homemade rice pudding!

This place is great! for what it is. If you're looking for a divy retro hole in the wall with good food (and yes I am!), then this is the place for you! Famous for their tiny hot dogs with zippy sauce (and onions and mustard), you should stop by for a quick lunch. Grab a stool at the counter, catch the eye of a server, and exclaim "FOUR AND A COKE" with pride. Literally. If you just say a number, they know you mean dogs. because yes, you need multiples of these little delights. everything is cheap, and everything can have zippy sauce. They even have pies and fries. This really is a dive full of locals, you'll end up sitting between some suits on jury duty, and a rough looking construction worker. Last time I was there, everyone at the counter ordered chocolate milk. I'm not sure what that's all about, but I'm a little jealous.

have eaten here before when doing a job at RPI. I wanted something fast cheap and filling and there you go. Fast Cheap and Filling. Tiny hotdogs just means you can eat more of them

If you're looking for a greasy burger - this. is. the. place. For years I said I would visit and I finally made the time to go tonight and man, I wish I went sooner! It was established in 1932 and much hasn't changed inside. Cash only with an ATM in the back. Great double cheeseburger (with fried onions), hot dog with meat sauce, and french fries! I will definitely be back again! Loved this place - it's everything I hoped it would be (a favorite local restaurant with a low cost menu) and more!

Came here based on Yelp reviews. Ordered 4 zippy hot dogs for a family of four. I did not realize they were mini hot dogs (half of a regular hot dog) and we had a good laugh. We ordered another 4. The first one was ok (no WOW factor) but when we ate the second one, the chili became too strong and too salty. You really could not taste the hot dog itself. We also ordered a large fries which we left pretty much untouched as it was VERY greasy. Definitely will NOT go back again........

The best hot diggity dogs & sauce in the capital district. Their french fries are are always delicious. Wait staff are polite young men. We love famous lunch.

Went Saturday to get some dogs because it was on the way. They used to be really good. Not so much anymore. There were 3 teenagers there running the place amd had zero sense of urgency. Half of the dogs were ice cold because they ran out of dogs on the flat top. The meat sauce was incredibley salty. So much so, that I had to get an extra soda to wash it all down. I mentioned it to the kid behind the counter and he couldn't have given a damn. He told me he doesn't have the recipe and that sauce is what they game him. And $5 for 4 little hot dogs and a cheap soda is a little high. Imho, go across the bridge to Gus's and don't stop at Hot Dog Charlie's either.

A place to be. When you walk-in you feel like you're in a movie. Throwback alert!!!! The food is great and make sure you add the works and the special sauce. How can't you love this place. This is probably troys biggest gem

Best hot dogs EVER! The raw onions, mustard and meat sauce combo is the way to go. Friendly and fast service.