It’s hard to believe that there was a time where Joey’s Hot Dogs didn’t exist at the Innsbrook Shoppes, because at this point it has to be on its way to being considered an institution. In a part of the Greater Richmond Area where the knock has always been that chain restaurants reign supreme, Owner Joey Mirabile has been offering up some serious hot dogs and sausages since 2007.
Hailing from a line of hot dog slingers that dates back to the 1930s, it’s clear that the Mirabile family stands on business. Joey’s father, Tony Mirabile, owned and operated Tony’s Hot Dogs in Norfolk, VA, which became synonymous with hot dogs in the Hampton Roads area for decades. If memory serves me correctly, Joey’s brother then took over Tony’s Hot Dogs, and now Joey’s operates his outlet in Richmond, VA. The lifeblood of that original business still flows through the veins of Joey’s Hot Dogs, serving the same hot dogs and the same chili recipe that his father before him served all those years. Suffice it to say, the man knows what he’s doing!
Joey’s Hot Dogs occupies a small place on the corner of the Innsbrook Shoppes at 4028 Cox Road. When you walk in you immediately get a sense of the space (or lack thereof). An array of tables fill the left side of the restaurant, the floors a checkboard pattern, and a diligently waiting line of people stand near the door awaiting their turn to order food from behind the counter—a counter reminiscent of the old ’50s diners complete with a row of bar stools. Lining the back wall of the dining room are picture frames of halfway famous people who have found their way into Joey’s over the years. The space is cramped, but you politely make way for people as they amble past the crowd and into the back of the line.
As a side note: I’ve noticed I’ve seen less of Joey on the grill recently and more of what I have to believe is his son who I’ve seen in the store for years but has seemingly taken on a bigger role in the restaurant in Joey’s absences. I guess at the fact that it’s his son because he serves up the dogs in the same charming, warm, welcoming way that Joey does, so he’s either a very well-trained long-term employee or he seems to live by Joey’s dogma that’s painted all around the restaurant: Fast, Friendly Service.
Joey’s Hot Dogs is one of those places where everybody is a regular, and regulars always have their order. Mine is always the same: two bratwursts plain and a Joey Dog with chili and cheese. And I apply the mustard to each of the items at the table. I like a lot of mustard on my dogs, and I feel we wouldn’t be on the same page for just how much mustard if I ask for it at the counter.
I always end up taking a seat in the same place, a table tucked away right beside the soda machine. A choice made out of necessity because the restaurant being as small as it is and as well visited as it is, there are typically not a whole lot of choices available. I do not mind at all, because I always get a kick out of the framed picture next to the table of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, which I am convinced is led by Ricky Bobby from Talladega Nights. You let me know in the comments if you think I’ve uncovered Will Ferrell’s deepest secret.
One of the strengths of Joey’s Hot Dogs is that Joey has taken efforts to source the food from the best places he can find. I recall one time coming in and overhearing that Joey was not around, because he was traveling to meet with a supplier. That’s the standard he sets for his business. It’s not good enough to just order some slop from a wholesale supplier and call it a day. The dogs need to howl!
I’m partial to the bratwurst. They have a really consistently savory, nutty flavor that comes out nicely on the grill. The casing is snappy. It feels authentic. And of course, it pairs nicely with the excessive amount of mustard I bathe it in. For my money, it is far and away the best brat I’ve ever had. I’m jealously hoping that this review might lead me to discovering the secrets of their sourcing on these brats.
While I do find myself ordering the bratwursts, I feel it’s a little bit sacrilegious to enter the halls of Joey’s Hot Dogs and not order a Joey Dog, so I always throw that on to the back of my order. I love their hot dog. I just love their brats a little bit more. The bun is painted in a thin layer of cheese sauce. The dog itself is really snappy. There’s a significant bite to it. According to their website, it is an exclusive dog by Usinger’s in Milwaukee.
But the star of the dish, for me, is the chili sauce. They scoop a deep ladle of chili and pour it on top of the dog. At first it looks like it’s going to be too runny to be any good, but by some magic it pours across the dog and transforms into a beautiful thin line of broken-down ground beef. It’s the perfect consistency for a hot dog, and it’s on the back of this recipe that Norfolk dogs’ names were made.
I’ve found in my own experimentation in the kitchen that just a little bit of water while mixing up the ingredients is enough to get that really fine consistency of chili that the Mirabile family has been able to achieve. The chili is mild in taste. It plays its part well as a subservient to the hot dog wiener itself.
Combined together and you get a medley of ingredients that play well together. I am not a fan of raw onions, but that as well as sauerkraut and ketchup are additional ingredients that can be added to any of the hot dogs or sausages. So, there is a significant optionality available to you to find the order that’s right for you. And no, I don’t think ketchup belongs on a hot dog. I don’t know Joey’s opinion on the matter but he offers it, so get it if you must.
I try as much as possible to throw my business at authentic people who are doing the work to make good food for their guests. In my approximation, Joey’s Hot Dog is doing exactly that. Their commitment to their sourcing and the level to which they make you feel welcome when you walk in the door are significant influences why I find myself coming back. And it’s also one of the reasons why their name is often thrown around as one of the best hot dogs in Richmond. It would be premature of me to declare them the best without giving everyone else a fair shot first, but the Mirabile family have hot dogs in their genes. And that’s enough for me.