Off the Beaten Path

Leo's is a humble, roadside cart in Willimantic, and a rising star in the Connecticut hot dog game.

While some hot dog spots in Connecticut are institutions with decades of great food under their belts, others are just starting out. Today’s stop was a humble, roadside cart in Willimantic run by two women, Sabrina and Alexandra, who have named their cart “Leo’s” after Alexandra’s late father.

Though neither has previous experience running a restaurant or a food cart, they were determined in the aftermath of the pandemic to take their destiny into their own hands and start a small business. Like me, they love hot dogs.

Though neither has previous experience running a food cart, Sabrina and Alexandra are masters of their current menu.

Having only opened in April, the offerings at Leo’s are limited, but they are masters at their current menu. Like most hot dog joints throughout CT, Leo’s has their own signature hot dog that takes inspiration from the roots and traditions of their founders.

In a nod to Puerto Rican-style hot dogs, their specialty chili cheese dog includes papitas – thin, crispy fried potato sticks – atop and beneath the layers of meat sauce and cheese. The added crunch is a surprising addition and puts a creative twist on a classic.

Papitas provide a thoughtful, authentic twist on a classic— this was an awesome chili dog.

If you get the chance to check out Leo’s make sure you leave time to stop and chat—Alexandra and Sabrina bring awesome energy to great food. With inventive toppings and a thoughtful approach, Leo’s was a top-notch recommendation. It is, without a doubt, a rising star in the Connecticut Hot Dog game. 11/10 - An extra point for the papitas!