Today is National Hot Dog Day, a day of celebration for one of the most iconic foods in the U.S. To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of the best dogs from coast to coast.
Since the writer of this article is a Chicago girl, she’s inclined to tell you from the bottom of her pure beef heart that Superdawg is the only way to go. Or maybe Gene & Jude’s. Luckily, both are on this list, as well as other beautiful looking franks from across the nation, including red hots sold at stands and wieners to serve up to family and friends at a backyard barbecue.
To narrow down the restaurant list, we included options from the top five hot dog consuming cities in the country, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council: Los Angeles, Calif.; New York, N.Y.; Dallas, Texas; Chicago, Ill., and Boston, Mass. We sourced our list from recommendations made by Food Network and Food & Wine.
LOS ANGELES
According to Food Network, Dodger Dogs at Dodger Stadium are the pinnacle of the California hot dog experience. These aren’t the only ballpark dog on the list, but they do have their own unique attributes. They’re nearly a foot long at 10 inches, steamed or grilled and served in a steamed bun. Then, fans can top them with ketchup, mustard, onions and relish.
NEW YORK
New York City’s famous Papaya King is so associated with the city has even been part of a “Seinfeld” plot line. While the original location closed, a new one opened up just this month. Food & Wine said it reigns as king of New York’s considerable hot dog offerings because “nobody has quite managed to top the magnificent combination of fresh tropical fruit drinks and hickory smoke-scented dogs,” covered in sweet onion sauce and mustard.
CHICAGO
Chicago was the only top five hot dog consuming city with two separate hot dog joints that landed on the lists. Superdawg Drive-In (Food Network’s pick) is distinguished by its all-beef hot dogs and memorable rooftop statues of hot dogs named after founders Maurie and Flaurie Berman, as well as its classic “salad on a bun” toppings that include a pickle spear, green tomato, onions, bright green relish, mustard and sport peppers, and the cute little boxes with a bed of crinkle-cut fries the dogs come in. Gene & Jude’s (Food & Wine’s pick) offers slimmer dogs – sometimes two in one bun – served with a choice of onions, relish mustard and topped with fries. While ketchup on a hot dog is frowned upon anywhere in the Windy City, Gene & Jude’s is especially strict on the matter.
DALLAS
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Texas Tavern of Roanoke has been serving dogs to hungry customers since the Great Depression. Food & Wine said they’re best ordered “all the way,” meaning they’ll be covered with house chili sauce, onions, and a unique mustard-based relish. In fact, that relish is so popular that the restaurant sells it by the quart.
BOSTON
We started the list with a ballpark dog, and we’ll end it with one too. The Food Network said Fenway Franks at Fenway Park are the way to go for a hot dog in Beantown. Each season, 90,000 of these franks get sold. Kayem Franks of Chelsea, Mass., makes them using beef ground with a spice mix that includes garlic, onions and mustard. Unlike the steamed or grilled options at Dodgers Stadium, these franks are smoked first. Then, they are both boiled and lightly grilled at the game to keep “the juiciness of a boiled wiener with the classic snap of one that comes off the grill,” when they are slid into New England-style split buns.
For those looking for a dependable dog throughout the land, The Washington Post reports they can look no further than the closest Costco. These reasonably priced dogs are a fan-favorite and there’s often a line for them at the food courts of the wholesale retailer.
USA Today said that a 2021 survey of 1,000 Americans from the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council found that the favorite regional style of hot dog is the New York style, closely followed by the Chicago style and then the Michigan Coney dog. Nathan’s Hot Dogs, a Coney Island staple, are also available at many grocery stores. Consumer Reports said Nathan’s Famous Skinless Beef Franks are the winner for anyone looking to cook up hot dogs at home.