Zach's Shack

Average of four and a half stars? Did we go to the same bar? Lame bar, phoned in food, grumpy employee. A $9.25 hot dog with a couple toppings is highway robbery. Especially when we got hit with the Kirkland bun, Kirkland dog, and far from “caramelized” onions. $10 mozzarella sticks. Cheaper at Quarter World, essentially the same. The $5 bloody marry was pretty good and the only saving grace. Outside was alright looking, nothing either way. The server/bartender (punk outfit, piercings) seemed bothered by our presence. Sorry I came to your bar brother, trust me I won’t come again.

Went after a concert and the food was great! Cute lil outdoor area in the back and got to play ping pong

Dicey spot and I love it. Nice little (but kinda large) patio in the back with ping pong and some other games. The wife enjoyed her cocktail and the tap was cold and fresh. Food was pretty decent. The fry sauce has A LOT of horseradish and that caught us off guard. The dogs were pretty tasty.

Absolutely bangin hotdogs! The food here is fantastic, especially the house made fry sauce. The drinks were reasonably priced and the atmosphere is very Hawthorne District. This place is a go-to spot if you want a quick bite to eat and drink. 10/10 would recommend.

Great little dive off hawthorne. I was craving a hotdog and this placed itched that for me. Great food and atmosphere. Service was kind of cold and not social but the food was quick and delicious.

A Portland institution. Been going here for 20+ years back when it was an actual shack where we'd stop for a late-night snack before a stumble home. The quality is still top notch with a great variety of different dogs on the menu. There's always good music playing and their brick-and-mortar location has a spacious patio out back .

I’m a big fan of hot dogs but usually find it difficult to be able to have them when I’m out to eat because a lot of restaurants don’t have gluten free hot dog buns. Zach’s Shack has them and will be receiving more visits from me because of it!

Not sure if there will ever be a way to justify paying over $7 for a hotdog.. everyone understands rising costs but that’s NOT what’s happening here. You’ll have to spend $20+ in hotdogs here to leave satisfied.

Five stars for late night drunken hot dogs!!! I've been to this place a few times. They have a big back patio. The vibes are usually pretty chill. Back to the hot dogs! I had my first Seattle dog here, which is a little ironic. Then again, I technically had my first Chicago here - had them as a kid in Chicago - but picked off half the toppings. Adults, do not pick off your toppings. Eat the dog the way it I supposed to be or order something different. The Seattle Dog is strange, it might have been a special and not on the regular menu. The flavors work, but I don't know it would be my go to dog. The Chicago Dog is so filling and feels like a meal! I'll be back to try some more. Stop by late night and try one the hotdogs.

In a city of amazing food, this is the only spot I hit multiple times per Portland trip. Best chicago dog outside of IL, great indie rock aesthetics and playlist, awesome staff.

John Popper!!!! So yummy. I love this place. It's chill and cozy, fun in the back, service is always great, food and beer is delicious, I can bring my dog and zach is a cool guy to talk to. 10/10

So we were just in the area and hungry, wanting hot dogs and decided to try Zach's. I wasn't sure what to expect but it kind of just had a dive bar feel with good servers and friendly patrons. I love all the variety of toppings. Plenty of places do basic dogs but I'd been wanting something a little more special. TBH, for the price I want something I can't just do myself better (ie chili dogs). I ordered a few so I could try a few and share. I thought the concept of wings interesting just because they actually put baby carrots on it. There's lots to choose from and I pretty much like any hot dog because, it's still a hot dog. The prices are pretty much what I've seen anywhere else. They were complaining the the actual hot dogs were very low quality. I can't disagree, but I'll still be back to try different toppings. For me it's more about the toppings so if that's your jam too then you'll like it here.

Bartender is always nice, food is great, and they have great drinks. Ping pong, giant connect four, and card games are always available. Best bar in this part of Hawthorne. Back patio is sick

Nice cook, bartender. Delicious dogs, hardly any toppings, even when adding extra. Loved the atmosphere and music. Was expecting more for the money. Very small portion. Won't be back or recommend it for that reason.

Awesome laid back place, great and plentiful dog recipes. Hunter is fun and always welcomes us joyfully!!!

Food was bottom-tier, at best. The hot dog was nothing special- an undercooked, underwhelming boiled Hebrew National. The service was bizarre, for lack of a better word. We waited in the empty "restaurant," at the bar, for approximately 15 minutes before we were noticed. The server was friendly enough, but forgot all of the essentials. The ambiance was horrific. We were two women surrounded by countless drunken men on the patio. We felt so uncomfortable that we decided to move to the front onto the sidewalk. If you want a hotdog, just make one at home and save yourself an overpriced trip to a filthy establishment.

Worst service and disrespect I've had in my life at this place and I know the owner. The employee was disrespectful to my dad and served us the wrong food.

This place is always great!! One of my favorite spots ever! (Except if the skinny yt guy who is kinda moody is there. Then just don't bother. He's a pill and often somehow burns stuff. )

Great atmosphere and customer service! I loved the hot dogs, drinks, and bartender, It's a great place.

Ambiance was great. Board games were fun but missing pieces. Service was bad, had to wait long to get order taken despite it being empty. Food was actually bad and not tasty AND it was very overpriced... 8$ for a hotdog.

We decided to make a stop here on our way through Portland yesterday. So glad we did. One vegetarian adult, one vegetarian kid, and one meat eating adult. We all thought our hot dogs were delicious! I don't think you could really go wrong. My daughter and I got the tofu pups subbed for regular hot dogs at no charge. The lady that worked there was really nice and doing the very best she could, however, she was all by herself. She was the cashier, the bartender, and the cook! It took a really long time to get everything, but it didn't have anything to do with her. I saw that they were hiring, so hopefully they get someone in there to help her out soon. Otherwise, a fun place and we will definitely stop by again.

Best chili dog I've had yet, easy friendly experience, just yum ( plus it's a cozy bar with outdoor patio and games!)

Went there specifically for the Chicago dog due to reviews. Didn't get the poppy seed bun, the hotdog was small and toppings were skimpy, the bun was half hard and stale, and got charged more than the advertised website price. Service was OK since there was only one other person in the place (that should have been a warning clue), but Bad experience and will never go there again.

This place is divy but it's a classic, and open laaate, and has Chicago Dogs! My dream is to open a restaurant next door to Zach's Shack and call it "Nick's Kobe (kinda like Ruth's Chris)" Get it?

Always delicious. Always fun. Always Zach's. Great veggie options for really terrific hot dogs. I keep coming back to fill up my belly AND my punch cards.

Great low key bar that sells great hot dogs! I had the perfect bar combo, a nice IPA, chili cheese fries and a Chicago Dog!! Will be back soon enough...

I'd rather get cancer again then waste my time at this place. Microwaved food. My god, chemotherapy made food taste better then this disappointing establishment. Fuck this place and all the 5 star ratings.

I don't know whether this is a 1 or a 5 tbh. The dogs against all odds are a double in my eyes. I like the place once a year but I don't understand it. Stay cool.

Mexican guy with dreads is the best (if you don't like ass just say that) and it's a place for punks to get together and have a good time!

Yum! Great dogs & the kid had a great time too! She got a plain dog and I had a James Brown. It was exactly as I hoped...only left me wanting another. Thanks Zach!

A place for punks to moon each other. It's awesome and the food is delicious!! Make sure to tip the Mexican guy with dreads extra for being so devilishly handsome

I emailed the biz directly in an effort to bypass leaving a sh*tty yelp review, but they never responded, so... This place is well and good. I've been visiting Zach's since it was a shack. The other evening I went in with my friend and saw the employees treating the place like their pre-school club house. They were drinking (which is fine), throwing stuff, moshing, mooning each other & one of them kicked over a coffee table on their way out the door. A punk ethos is cool and all, but adults in a professional environment should behave as such. If I witnessed my employees disrespecting my business like that I'd cut off their dreads, turn their music down, wash their clothes & have them take a bath. I imagine this is their first and only "big kid" job. Aside from the young lady working I couldn't imagine these blokes putting together a middle school bird house, let alone doing anything with their lives. They all definitely subscribe to the: "every time a I have a cheap beer fart a Shane MacGowan gets his wings" school of thought. Actually, they're likely all too stupid to be cool enough to fancy The Pogues, but they are a solid research group for a longitudinal cirrhosis study! Gave a 5 star review because f**k Yelp. But also, I'd really enjoy teaching white-boy with dreads there some manners.

My boyfriend and I came here for some late night eats last weekend because I was craving hot dogs like crazy! There's really not tons of places in Portland you can get them, and we live in SE, so I knew we had to finally try Zach's Shack. And before I fully start my review, I am giving them 4 stars based on exactly what they are... a little dive bar/restaurant that serves hot dogs. When I read the negative reviews, it made me feel like people are just expecting too much. It's hot dogs ya'll. It's pretty basic! When we walked in around 9pm, it was empty except for a table in the back and someone at the bar. They only have one person working the counter so if they're busy, be patient! It was too hard to pick one dog, so we both got two. And we got stuffed and could barely finish... I was shocked because so many people claimed these dogs were "too small". They really pile on the toppings, too! We ordered: - Cheese fries (and when these came out, I was like no way we're going to finish these, the portion was huge! But we did because they were just so simple and delicious). - New York Dog (this was definitely my favorite!) - James Brown (also delicious, loved the sour cream) - Zach's Favorite Dog - Their special that day (can't remember what it was, but it had coleslaw and it was amazing!) New York Dog and the special they had were our favorites. We will definitely pass on Zach's Favorite Dog next time, but wanted to try it this time since it was our first visit. The pickle spear and celery salt was just a bit much. All in all, it's a cute little spot with some decent food for your drunchies. We did get a couple drinks as well and I thought the customer service was good.

My friend and I came in last night and Ro and the other staff were so kind and gracious and helpful. Delicious food and a lovely atmosphere

Yelp asked me if I like this place. I have only been there once. The hotdog was great, but, in my opinion, way over priced. It's hard to justify paying that much. A decent dog should not cost much more than $2-$3. A fancy one, maybe $4. Hell, I used to sell (as a fundraiser) a boiled Frank, in a steamed bun, with your choice of mustard, ketchup, and/or relish for a buck, and that simple dog was tasted amazing. They sold like gang busters.

Hotdogs very tasty, but overpriced. Super family friendly and fun chill spot to grab a drink and chips if needed.

Man... That was a sad hot dog. I knew it was gonna be bad by how fast it was out. Maybe took two minutes, cold line of cream cheese and a tiny scoop of chili on a lukewarm hotdog. The bartenders might need someone to refresh them on how to make a drink that is palatable.. Go to Nicks! :)

I've about had it with these irrelevant complaints in the Yelp reviews. Those expecting some kind of bOuGiE gOurMet vEgAn CheeSe(tm) stUffed GlUten-free Dog need not apply. Zach is a G, and the staff are always fun characters. Theres nothing quite like chowing down a Chicago dog, chili dog, and something totally experimental on one plate after a long night of bar hopping down SE Hawth. Finish it off with a generous heap of crinkle fries rinsed down with a sudsy Pabst can. No place quite like it in PDX. Cruise thru.

This is the best hot dog spot in the city. Food, beer, atmosphere- you can't go wrong. Ping pong outside, pac-man inside. The staff is great, the cheese fries are amazing, and the hot dogs... you can get them any way you want. They're not made of real dog, though, so don't go expecting that. Oh, and they even have gluten free buns if that's your thing.

Probably the best hot dogs I have had here in Portland. Great ambiance to the place and the food is killer. If you are looking for loaded hot dogs with a snap every bite this is the place for you.

Who doesn't want a HOT DOG? They have veggie dogs, great sides, and an almost Full Bar...open @ noon...closing 'Round Midnite 7 days

I walked in and there was literally 1 customer there. I sat down and waited, and waited and waited. The other patron shouted into the back "Hey! I'd take another bud when you have a chance!" to no reply... I had a great time so I'm not going to put this dude on blast but initial service was not great. That being said, this place was awesome!!! Great hotdogs!!! I know it's hard to mess up a hotdog but soooo good!!! Great food and drink menu! Reasonable prices, great atmosphere and clearly very cool parton's. Ended up chatting with one person about Seattle for maybe an hour. Then invited to play a modified game of Monopoly, and informed of an amazing new breakfast place that I'll try shortly. Even if not very attentive staff, they are very courteous and great! Food is crazy fast (obviously it's hot dogs) and great deals for a beer and a shot. Music not too loud and a very inviting atmosphere. All in all a great place to grab a bite, have a beer and hang out.

This place is really great. Everything is very fresh and well made. Sometimes you'll go to a restaurant and you'll get a bunch of food at different times and different temperatures. Which means that you're eating at different times with all your friends. Zach's Shack I think did an amazing job at bringing all of the food out at the same time. It was all warm and all delicious.

Really great atmosphere and vibe, but the food does not deliver. For a specialty hot dog place, I would expect a nice bun (that doesn't fall apart) and premium meat. It was basically a Safeway bun with an thin Oscar Myer wiener, and some fries that came from a frozen bag with some cheese melted on top. Almost like a meal you'd make when you're 12 and your mom isn't home. Not to mention we waited a long time to order and get the food bc only one person was working.

Today was only the second time since Covid that we go to Zach's and our first time "in person". This place is and has been an institution in our family. We even had a birthday there for our son about 10 years ago. Sadly the food was not great today. The chili was dark dark brown and tasted charred and there was very little of it on our chili cheese fries which frankly I consider to be the best in town usually. Since I always eat the New York- well it was not great. We are used to the single staff member and we are used to the wait. I simply would have preferred if he had just said "I'm out of chili" rather than scrape the pot. We did have fun in the back and we did play ping pong which was great. We will come back hopefully on a better night. It was just a bummer to visit with our boy back from college and to get to enjoy "old times" and have the chili be frankly awful. Sorry Zach. I do hope we get to see you again. We've been fans since you went from food cart to the current location.

Chicago dog was better than any I've had in Chicago. Chill ambiance with a nice outdoor space out back. Good place to grab a beer and a dog.

I can't believe after coming home from a long day my g/f ordered the most basic hotdogs the size was literally the smallest that's available from a grocery store , thoroughly disappointed , will definitely put the word out if anyone asks for a good dog. 1st and last time ever ordering from there

If you want a crappy .50cent hot dog for 6+$ definitely go here. Also, The fries looked and tasted reheated. Next time I'll just hit 7/11 when I've got a hankering for shitty reheated junk food.

I've frequented this business since 2008 because their dogs are so good, but I'm done with their service. 1) There is only 1 person ever on staff, so the food takes a long time to come out. 2) They don't answer their phone. 3) They haven't updated their Facebook page since 2017. 4) They haven't updated their website. 5) They're charging more for their food in store than the prices on the website. I'm writing this here since Yelp seems to be the only page they pay attention to. I'll find a different dog place to go to.

Booo. bad customer service. Chi style isn't authentic. Don't accept cash??? Lmao tighten up. kooks.

Zach's the coolest dude on SE Hawthorne, straight the hell up I'm from Chicago and wildly opinionated about anybody representing the city outside the 312, so I went in skeptically hopeful about Zach's Chicago dog... If there's one recommendation I have for prospective customers, it's to fast for a week prior to your visit so you can cut to the fuckin chase and order the entire menu- it's ALL awesome! Also, Zach might be my long-lost uncle my family didn't know was missing... he's a solid guy who can rip an acoustic guitar like it owes him money and has a dog cooler than you.

My friends brought me here today for a hotdog and we ordered a hotdog when we got our hotdog it looks like you could've bought this from Walmart and maybe more the fries are actually pretty good for the price of five dollars I just thought I could buy better hotdog. I had a hair in my hot dog and my coworker told me to take it out and eat it. He told me not to eat the hair. Beautiful place tho

On Sunday Feb.16,2020 Several folks at tables, one guy behind counter, ordered simple plain hot dog, noticed three folks at table near me that were waiting on order, my dog came after 20 minutes, had my beer and dog, finally the three people at table just got up and left as they hadn't received their order yet! People started piling in to restaurant, I can only imagine how overwhelmed the ONE guy behind the counter was going to survive the rest of the day! Not sure I'll ever go back unless I can be assured that they will have at least two people to handle Business. Would have been better had they not opened at all.

The hot dogs and prefrozen fries were okay...but not at all what I expected. For the food and quality you get, the price of a hot dog there should not exceed more than $2 honestly, not $6 something. The food here is only adequate when one has had a few drinks probably, otherwise, I would not make this the first choice for a simple meal in the area. The staff was very nice and the place is cozy!

I lived in the neighborhood for a long time, so always a "must visit" stop, when I'm back in town. But for first timers. Hotdogs are excellent, booze is too. Best Chicago Dog in Portland. Best outside of Illinois, so far in my research. Staff: Ernie is rad, and the type of guy you want fixin' up your Chicago Dogs, for sure.

Punk ROCK HOT DOGS. This unassuming establishment has some bomb hot dogs. My brother was living in Portland and recommend this joint. I was NOT disappointed. I had to do the classic chili dog and he cheese fries. I felt so welcome here and of course the beer helped!

I can't speak to the staff and their temperament because I had mine delivered but I will say the dogs are so flavorful!!! I guess you could make your own at home for much less but eh, who cares! :-)

We ended up finding this place when looking for a trivia night. We went to the 8pm trivia on Thursday. Free to enter and I believe if you win you get free hot dogs (clearly we didn't win!). The trivia lasted about 2 hours and the place was packed for it. I recommend going early to get a seat and your drinks ahead of time. They have a full menu of all different types of hot dogs including vegan and gluten free options (on the pricey end $4 or more for a hot dog)... Happy hour is from 3-5pm (not sure why it's so early?) Staff was friendly. Street parking only.