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Top Dog makes an impression on people. Maybe it’s that students can come here at 2AM and treat themselves to a “gourmet sausage” (don’t make the mistake of calling them “hot dog”s). Maybe it’s the logo. For Lauren, the “bird dog” (turkey, bell peppers and cilantro) topped with russian mustard and sauerkraut is what makes Top Dog a required stop on every trip to Berkeley.

My favorite Top Dog story is actually set in Skagway, Alaska. I was on an Alaskan cruise with the family and was wearing my Top Dog T-shirt on a rock climbing excursion. A few climbs in, one of the guides called me over and said “I have a proposition for you. What do you think of this shirt?” And he points to his guide shirt. Turns out the guy grew up in Oakland, loved Top Dog when he was in high school, and really wanted my Top Dog shirt. So we swapped T-shirts (he was stoked), and now I always get asked if I’m a mountain guide when I wear the result of my barter.

Today I was finally able to acquire a replacement T-shirt to accompany my bird dog 🙂

P.S. For those that were wondering, Top Dog is the “other” required stop on our Eat Berkeley trips alongside Crépes A-Go-Go and Chez Panisse.

Top Dog (Berkeley Southside)
2534 Durant
Berkeley, California 94704
510-843-5967

M-Th: 10:00AM-2:00AM
Fri: 10:00AM-3:00AM
Sat: 11:00AM-3:00AM
Sun: 11:00AM-2:00AM