The Massachusetts Restaurant That's Been Making Hot Dogs For Over 100 Years

Back in 1918, Catherine and George Tsagarelis opened a humble hot dog stand. Catherine scooped up her secret chili sauce on the hot dogs, which cost a cool nickel apiece. Over 100 years later, George's Coney Island is still slinging glizzies to the hungry folks of Worcester (pronounced "wuh-stah" if you are a local), Massachusetts. The hot dog joint on Southbridge Street has decades of patrons' names carved into the wooden booths and a vintage jukebox serving up the finest oldies to accompany your lunch. But the retro-cool ambience isn't what keeps folks flocking through the doors: it's all about the 'dogs, baby.

George's Coney Island doesn't have an extensive menu. You've got hot dogs, hamburgers, and grilled cheese sandwiches, although the last two are a rare order and will elicit a special call-out from the line cook. Visitors come here for the hot dogs, served atop pillowy-soft New England hot dog buns and piled high with toppings. Regulars generally know exactly how to order under George's somewhat esoteric system. Ordering "up" means you want your hot dog with chili sauce, mustard, and onions; "MRO" is shorthand for "mustard, relish, and onions," and, of course, you have "the works," which means ketchup, mustard, chili sauce, relish, and onions. A slice of American cheese is an additional 40 cents if you want some extra gooey deliciousness. Side choices are mac and cheese, some of the best baked beans in the greater Boston metro area, or bags of local Wachusett potato chips.

George's didn't invent the Coney hot dog, which actually hails from Detroit. Meanwhile, several hundred miles away in New Castle, Pennsylvania, the so-called "hot dog capital of the world," another pair of enterprising Greek gourmands brought Coney dogs to town in 1923 amidst great fanfare. Coneys appear frequently on the list of regional American hot dogs you should try, and it seems like everyone has their own rather closely guarded spin on the formula. Today, the grandchildren of Catherine and George Tsagarelis are keeping their unique family recipe alive beneath the glow of an iconic sign that has become a local landmark.

Since 1940, George's has been graced by a neon sign featuring a hand holding a hot dog with an abundance of fluorescent dripping toppings. Over time, parts of the sign burnt out. In 2025, however, George's invested in a new sign, opting to replace the neon tubing instead of switching to LED like so many modern signs, as part of a commitment to the spot's past and future. 

Reviews of George's Coney Island often note that dining in the restaurant feels like taking a step back in time. Indeed, this is an eatery that's proud of where it came from. You could call the interior a bit shabby, with its worn fixtures and decidedly working-class vibe, but Worcester locals who have been flocking to George's for over a century to grab a quick, cheap, delicious meal think it feels just like home.