Smokey Dawggs Food Truck in Franklin, TN: The Story Behind a 2026 Sizzle Award Winner
On a recent Tuesday afternoon outside Lowe’s in Cool Springs, with people out running errands and enjoying the day, the big red Smokey Dawggs truck was hard to miss. A small line had already formed, with some customers walking up to order their usual and others scanning the menu, intrigued by combinations that go beyond a standard hot dog.
Owner Jim Hendel stood at the window, greeting people as they approached. In several cases, he didn’t need to ask for a name or order. He already knew both.
That kind of connection is part of what has made Smokey Dawggs a standout in the local food scene. It also helps explain why the Williamson County-based business earned second place in the 2026 Sizzle Awards for Best Food Truck, one of the new categories added to the awards and voted on by the community.
As Jim’s wife, Stella Hendel, kept things moving at the window, we sat down with Jim to talk about the award, how Smokey Dawggs got started, and what has kept customers coming back.
How Smokey Dawggs Started: From Job Loss to a Franklin Food Truck
Smokey Dawggs began during a time of uncertainty, but the idea had been building for years. Jim Hendel had long been drawn to food and cooking, and the thought of one day owning a food truck had been in the back of his mind. After being laid off in 2020, that idea became something he was finally ready to pursue.
At first, the concept looked very different.
“We were thinking about baked potatoes,” Hendel said. “And Stella said, ‘I had this really weird dream… what if we did hot dogs?’”
That suggestion from Stella, who also brought her own culinary influence to the business, shifted everything. Soon after, Hendel came across a hot dog setup for sale, an opportunity that felt like the right next step. “I was like, all right… if this is what I’m supposed to be doing, let’s do it.”
With the pieces falling into place, he moved forward and launched Smokey Dawggs. The early setup involved a tow-behind cart that required unloading grills and cooking equipment at every stop. It worked, but it wasn’t built for long-term daily service. After a brief pause in operations to make the transition, Hendel upgraded to a fully enclosed food truck in 2022.
“We stopped doing day-to-day service until we got this,” he said. “And once we did, we were back at it.”
That investment marked a turning point, allowing Smokey Dawggs to operate more consistently and expand its presence across Franklin and the surrounding area, with Jim and Stella working side by side and other family members pitching in during busy events and festivals.
What Makes Smokey Dawggs Different: Quality and Creativity
At first glance, Smokey Dawggs might seem like a typical hot dog truck. In practice, it’s anything but.
The foundation is straightforward: quarter-pound, all-beef hot dogs cooked on a grill. But Hendel is particular about how that process works. “I refuse to steam anything. I don’t boil anything,” he said. “Everything we do is fresh.”
That approach shows up across the menu. Ingredients are prepped in small batches, and nothing sits for long. If something doesn’t meet his standards, it doesn’t get served.
While beef hot dogs are the centerpiece, the menu offers a range of options, including chicken sausages, bratwursts, and plant-based choices for those looking for a vegan alternative. From there, customers can build their order with classic toppings like chili sauce, grilled or raw onions, bacon bits, coleslaw, and jalapeños, or go further with more indulgent additions such as queso, cilantro lime cheese sauce, guacamole, sour cream, and whipped cream cheese.
Signature items take those combinations even further, with options like whiskey-infused hot dogs, breakfast-style creations, and customer-inspired favorites that have earned a permanent place on the menu.
There’s also a strong Colombian influence, reflecting Stella’s background. That shows up in both the toppings and the sides, including salchipapas—grilled hot dog pieces served over fries—along with fried yuca and patacones. Sweet, savory, and spicy elements are often combined in ways that set the menu apart.
“My wife is Colombian, and my kids grew up on that food,” Hendel said. “We wanted to bring that into what we do.”
Beyond the hot dogs themselves, the menu rounds out with sides like chips, fries, and even a giant pickle, along with tiramisu for dessert.
The result is a menu that appeals to both traditionalists and customers looking for something different.
Signature Hot Dogs Inspired by Customers
One of the most distinctive aspects of Smokey Dawggs is that many of its menu items originated not in a test kitchen but at the order window.
“All of our signature menu items, those are customers,” Hendel said. “They’re all named after people who have supported us from the beginning.”
Over time, regulars began customizing their orders in ways that stood out. Some combinations were requested so often that Hendel and his team decided to formalize them as menu items. That’s how options like “Tennessee Tim” and “Pete’s Dawgg” came to be. Customers would order the same thing week after week, sometimes even sending friends to request it by name.
“We’d see them every week, and we just said, you know what? Let’s put it on the menu.”
Those items remain among the most popular today. The back-and-forth between customers and the kitchen continues, with Hendel often experimenting based on new ideas or ingredients he comes across. “When I get bored, I start making stuff,” he said. “You never know what might show up.”
Building Relationships in Franklin and Williamson County
For Hendel, the food is only part of the experience. The rest comes from the relationships built over time.
“We try to remember people. Stella’s really good about remembering their orders,” he said. “If we see somebody a second time, we’re like, ‘Hey, we know you.’”
That effort has turned casual customers into regulars, and regulars into something closer to a community.
“We went on vacation for 10 days, and we had customers texting me, ‘You’re never doing that again, you made me go somewhere else to get a hot dog,’” Hendel said. “That’s a compliment.”
It’s also a reflection of what he originally envisioned when starting the business: a place where people return not just for the food, but for the experience. “I wanted something like Cheers,” he said. “Where people come back, and you know them.”
A Business Built for Community
As Smokey Dawggs has grown, the question of expanding into a brick-and-mortar space has come up, but for Hendel, growth doesn’t necessarily mean settling into one location. Operating as a food truck allows for flexibility and keeps overhead manageable, which is essential in an industry where expenses can change quickly.
That mobility also allows Smokey Dawggs to stay connected to the community in a different way, rotating between locations and events and meeting customers where they already are. Rather than relying on foot traffic in one spot, the business has built its following by showing up consistently across Williamson County and beyond.
At the same time, Hendel has found another way to expand his impact: by helping others get started. Over the years, he has shared advice, vendor contacts, and practical insight with newer food truck owners navigating the same challenges he once faced. “We’ve got a couple that we’ve helped out, kind of mentored,” he said. “They’ll ask, ‘How do you do this?’ and I’ll point them in the right direction.”
For Hendel, that balance of serving customers directly while supporting others behind the scenes defines what success looks like for Smokey Dawggs.
What the 2026 Sizzle Award Means for Smokey Dawggs
Leading up to the announcement of the 2026 Sizzle Award winners, Hendel and his team let customers know something was coming, building excitement among regulars. When the results were announced, the response was immediate. “A lot of people were like, ‘Oh, wait, that’s great!’” he said.
While the day-to-day operation hasn’t changed since the awards, the recognition still carries weight.
“We do get to say now we’re an award-winning, world-famous hot dog,” Hendel said. “Now we’re multi-award-winning.”
For a business built on repeat customers and word-of-mouth, that kind of support matters. The Sizzle Award reflects not just popularity, but consistency, and it’s something Hendel takes seriously.
“Good food,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to.”
Where to Find Smokey Dawggs Each Week in Franklin, Spring Hill, and Beyond
Unlike a restaurant with a fixed address, Smokey Dawggs operates on a rotating schedule. The truck can be found at a mix of regular weekly stops, local businesses, farmers markets, and large-scale events throughout Williamson County and nearby areas.
“Where we are depends on the day,” Hendel said. “We’ve got good spots, but we just need people to know where we are.”
That’s why social media plays a key role in the business. Weekly schedules, location updates, and occasional behind-the-scenes videos are posted on Facebook and Instagram, giving customers a reliable way to track the truck.
Regular stops often include areas in Franklin and Spring Hill, with additional appearances at festivals, events, and seasonal gatherings. At larger events like Main Street Festival, Smokey Dawggs is known for drawing long lines, something Hendel still finds surprising.
“People will wait, and that’s always kind of amazing to me,” he said.
For Hendel, that kind of support says everything. Whether it’s a quick weekday stop or a busy weekend event, Smokey Dawggs continues to build its following one customer at a time, serving food that keeps people returning.
Learn More About the 2026 Sizzle Awards
Smokey Dawggs’ recognition is part of a larger celebration of local businesses across Williamson County. Each year, The Sizzle Awards highlight top restaurants, shops, and services based on community voting.
To see the full list of winners and highlights from the event, read The Sizzle Awards 2026 Winners: Williamson County’s Best Businesses Honored at 19th Annual Gala.
