Some places in Georgia have been feeding people for so long that they feel like part of the family. Nu-Way Weiners in Macon has been serving its famous red hot dogs since 1916, which means more than a century of chili, slaw, and sweet tea.
I stopped by the Emery Highway spot to see what keeps locals and road-trippers coming back. Here is what I found, from the dogs to the drive-thru to the little details worth knowing before you go.
A Century-Old Hot Dog Stand on Emery Highway
Pull off Emery Highway at number 148 and you will find a modest little building with a very big reputation. Nu-Way Weiners is a fast-food spot in Macon, Georgia, and it has been in the hot dog business since 1916.
That is older than most of the neighborhoods around it.
Google lists it simply as a restaurant, but the description gets closer to the truth: a veteran spot known for chili dogs, with breakfast and burgers on the side. With a 4.4-star rating from more than 1,200 reviews, it clearly has a loyal following.
I went in expecting a quick snack. I came out understanding why people plan trips through Macon around this place.
There are several Nu-Way locations around town, but plenty of regulars say the Emery Highway shop is the one they choose above the rest.
If you are new to Macon, think of it as a living piece of local food history. You can order at the counter, grab a booth inside, or swing through the drive-thru.
Either way, you are eating something that has been part of Middle Georgia life for over a hundred years.
Generations of Family Memories
One reviewer wrote about first coming here in the early 1980s, holding his grandfather’s hand. More than forty years later, he still drives over from Milledgeville just for chili dogs.
Stories like that are everywhere when you read about Nu-Way.
Another visitor mentioned being a fan for 30 years, even though home is more than an hour away. Someone else said they had not eaten a Nu-Way in almost 20 years, then stopped in on a weekend trip and found it tasted just as good as they remembered.
That kind of consistency is rare. Regulars say the food has stayed the same for decades, and that is exactly the point.
You are not coming here for a new trend. You are coming for the flavor your parents or grandparents might have loved.
Even first-timers pick up on it. A couple shared that friends had told them for years to stop when passing through Macon, and when they finally did, they loved it.
There is a slogan regulars like to repeat: “I’d go a long way for a Nu-Way.” After hearing these stories, I believe them.
Those Famous Red Dogs and Their Chili
Let’s be honest, the first thing you notice is the color. These hot dogs are red, and one reviewer joked they were practically neon.
It is part of the charm, and part of what makes a Nu-Way dog instantly recognizable.
Hot dogs come up in reviews more than anything else, with chili dogs close behind. Visitors describe the chili as unlike anything they have tasted before.
One self-described hot dog fan ordered two with chili and slaw and said they were so good it became his new lunch stop whenever he is in town.
Not everyone falls in love on the first bite, though. A longtime fan called Nu-Way an acquired taste, and a few visitors were not convinced, with one saying the chili had a cinnamon-like note they did not care for.
I would call it distinctive, and that is a fair warning for picky eaters.
A small tip from regulars: order it “all the way” for the full experience. And if you prefer a firmer bun, some guests mention the buns can get soft from steaming in the wrapper, while others actually love that effect.
Slaw Dogs, Burgers, and the Rest of the Menu
Coleslaw on a hot dog? If that sounds strange, you have not lived in Middle Georgia long enough.
The slaw dog is a favorite here, and one regular swears the chili cheese slaw dog is the best thing on the menu.
Another tip from that same fan: get it to go, so the flavors steam the bun inside the wrapper. A visitor who usually eats sauerkraut or plain chili dogs said the chili slaw dog all the way was the one to order.
Hamburgers get plenty of love too, showing up in dozens of reviews. The menu is simple at heart, hot dog or hamburger, with chili or without.
Still, there are extras tucked in, like egg salad, grilled cheese, onion rings, fried pies, and malts.
Even people who are not wild about the dogs find something to enjoy. One guest admitted the hot dogs were not their thing but praised the fries and grilled cheese.
A longtime regular said the fries beat most spots around town. That variety makes it easy to bring a group with different tastes.
Sweet Tea, Flaky Ice, and Breakfast at Dawn
Sometimes the small things steal the show. At Nu-Way, that small thing is the ice.
Visitors keep mentioning the flaky, crunchy kind, and one guest said the ice really is special.
Pair it with the sweet tea, which one longtime fan called some of the best in Middle Georgia. On a hot Macon afternoon, that combination might be worth the stop by itself.
Here is something many people miss: Nu-Way serves breakfast. Doors open at 6 AM on weekdays and 6:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, so early risers and commuters can grab a morning meal.
A father and daughter who went back for an early visit said the hot dogs that morning were full of flavor.
One heads-up from a reviewer: a small cup of ice water came with a charge. It is minor, but good to know if you are ordering for a crowd.
Booths, Drive-Thru Lines, and the Lunch Rush
Lunchtime here feels like half of Macon had the same idea. Regulars say the dining room and the drive-thru both get packed around noon.
The good news is that many find service stays fast.
One first-time visitor saw the drive-thru line stacked up, so they went inside instead and ordered to go. Both options seemed efficient.
They also described the dining area as comfortable, the kind of place where you can settle into a booth and enjoy your meal.
Plenty of guests praise courteous staff who work as a team. One reviewer noted the restaurant was very clean and the food was wrapped properly instead of tossed in a bag.
That attention to detail stuck with them.
To be fair, not every visit goes smoothly. Some reviewers reported long waits in the drive-thru, wrong orders, or items running out near closing time, including hamburger patties and onions.
My advice is to come earlier in the day for the best chance at the full menu.
It is casual, quick, and suited to families, road-trippers, and lunch-break locals alike.
Hours, Prices, and the Three-for-Two Deal
Planning helps, especially since Sunday is the one day you will find the doors shut. Monday through Thursday, Nu-Way runs from 6 AM to 9 PM.
Friday and Saturday hours stretch from 6:30 AM to 10 PM.
Prices land in the $10 to $20 range per person, and visitors regularly call them reasonable. You can order single items or combos, which makes it easy to keep things cheap or go big.
Now for the insider secret. Diehard fans watch for a three-for-two hot dog special early in the week.
Reviewers have mentioned it on Mondays and Tuesdays, and some say through Wednesday, so call ahead to confirm before you plan around it.
The number is +1 478-743-7976, and you can check the website at nu-wayweiners.com. The address is 148 Emery Hwy, Macon, GA 31217, just off a main road and easy to reach by car.
My Take on a Macon Classic
Would I go a long way for a Nu-Way? Honestly, yes, at least once.
Few restaurants anywhere can say they have been serving the same simple food since 1916.
It is not perfect. Some visitors hit off days with slow service or missing menu items, and the red dogs with that unique chili will not win over every single person.
But the 4.4-star rating and decades of loyal fans tell a pretty clear story.
Come early, order a chili slaw dog all the way, grab a sweet tea with that famous ice, and take a seat in a booth. If you happen to roll in early in the week, ask about the dog special.
You may leave with a new favorite, or at least a great story about the brightest hot dog you have ever eaten.
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