Sherri G.
Yelp
I'd heard about the deep-fried hot dogs and homemade onion rings at Rutt's Hut for years, so while in North Jersey, we made sure to stop by and give them a try. My dad grew up in Bayonne, and when I mentioned Rutt's Hut, he recalled driving to Clifton as a teenager just to get their hot dogs. As we pulled up, he remarked that the place looked exactly the same as it did 70 years ago--a true piece of classic Americana.
Rutt's Hut is an iconic hot dog joint, with a sit-down restaurant on one side and a separate takeout area with standing counters. A local advised us to skip the restaurant, as it's supposedly old and rundown (just hearsay, though), so we opted for takeout. I was surprised to see they offer a full menu with various items, but the very nice gentleman serving us agreed that we should definitely have what we came for: a ripper with cheese and the famous onion rings.
The deep-fried hot dog, or "ripper," was unlike any other hot dog I've had. I'm not usually a big hot dog fan, but this one won me over. It's crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and I finally understand why people say it "explodes" in your mouth. The onion rings, served in a double-lined paper bag to soak up the excess oil, were equally impressive. They had a light batter that allowed both the breading and the onions to get perfectly crispy--definitely worth the calories and a must-try!
We also shared a homemade root beer, which was really good and caffeine-free. All in all, it was an experience I'm glad we didn't miss!