River Dogs of Boulder Creek: The Hot Dog Stand Behind Joe's Bar

River Dogs is behind Joe's Bar. Not next to it, not visible from Highway 9: you walk down the side, past Scarborough's, and there's a hot dog cart, a fire pit, some seating, and a small stage in what the owners describe as an area that "has evolved from a storage unit" into somewhere people sit. The stand's own site gives the address as 123 Forest Street and says they are "unofficially" there, which tells you most of what you need to know about the setup.

Who runs it

Chris, Kim, and Paul have owned River Dogs since 2019, and they live less than a mile from the cart. This is a neighborhood stand run by neighbors, open when the weather cooperates and closed when it does not.

What they serve

Chicago dogs are the house specialty, built on Vienna Beef and served on steamed poppyseed buns, with homemade garlic aioli and Guinness mustard among the toppings. Order the BigFoot if you want all of them. The board runs:

• Vienna Beef hot dog, 100 percent beef, straight from Chicago.
• The Chicago Dog: yellow mustard, atomic relish, onions, a kosher pickle spear, two tomato slices, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. It can be built on any other meat or veggie dog for an upgrade.
• Chili cheese dog, and they will melt the cheese if you ask.
• Polish or hot Polish, a skinless quarter-pound all-beef sausage with some smoke on it.
• Bacon dog, the original dog with a smoky slice of bacon; a slice goes on any dog for a small charge.
• Veggie dogs, made with Field Roast Italian sausages; allow 10 to 15 minutes.
• The Doggie Dog: a Vienna Beef frank, sliced, no bun, for the dog you brought with you.

The sausage side of the board is seasonal, made locally at Ronnie's Meat Market and cooked to order: a jalapeno cucumber pork sausage built on the Hella Hot hot sauce of the same name, the MegaShred (their featured pork sausage, made with MegaShred hot sauce, exclusive to the stand), a bacon cheddar explosion chicken dog, and a hot Italian. Ask at the cart which are on.

Two things are worth knowing before you bring a group. The veggie dogs are a real option and not an afterthought. And there are gluten-free steamed buns, baked by Rotella's, which hold up rather than crumbling.

Your dog is welcome, though not behind the cart, and the stand asks that it be social. There's a fire pit for cold days. No outside food or drink.

Hours, weather, and the stage

There's no roof over any of it, so the schedule bends to the weather. Its posted winter hours run Tuesday through Thursday 11:30 to 3 and Friday through Sunday 11:30 to 5, and it closes for bad weather or special events. Check before you walk down there in January.

The small stage takes acoustic and family-friendly performers, and the owners are open about looking for more of them. They also cater, including job sites, with about a week's notice, and they will arrange orders of $25 or more outside business hours by phone.

River Dogs is also the one restaurant inside Boulder Creek that shows up on DoorDash.

Hours and menu items change, and this one changes with the weather. Check River Dogs' own site or call 831-400-7025 before counting on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do they cater?

Yes. River Dogs caters events and job sites, and asks for at least a week's notice. Call 831-400-7025 or email riverdogsofbc@gmail.com.

Where exactly is it?

123 Forest Street, behind Joe's Bar and Scarborough's Home and Garden, off Highway 9 in downtown Boulder Creek. You reach it on foot from the main block.

Is there anything for vegetarians?

Yes. Veggie dogs made with Field Roast Italian sausages are on the standing menu, and gluten-free buns are available.

Can I get River Dogs delivered?

Yes. It's on DoorDash, and it's the only Boulder Creek restaurant that is. See what food delivery works in Boulder Creek.

Do they close in bad weather?

Yes. The stand has no roof, so it closes for inclement weather and for special events. Call 831-400-7025 if the day looks marginal.

Last reviewed August 5, 2026. Details follow the stand's own site. The schedule posted there's labeled winter hours, so call before a summer visit.

For the rest of the town's kitchens, see where to eat in Boulder Creek and the food and drink listings. Browse the business directory or the rest of our Around Town guides. Something out of date? Tell us.