Think hot dogs are boring? Well, then you probably haven't tried a Sonoran dog
or a Cleveland Polish boy. America is full of regional hot dog specialties.
Here are the country's most iconic hot dogs, ranked from worst to best.
Being creative is usually a plus when it comes to thinking up possible ingredients to add to
a hot dog. However, the Philadelphia Dog simply went too far. Unless you're
a local who grew up eating this strange creation, you're sure to be grossed out.
The Philadelphia dog looks normal enough. It comes in a standard bun and is topped with
spicy mustard and either coleslaw or onions. But underneath the hot dog, you'll find a fish cake.
This combination is even worse than you could imagine. The texture of the fish
cake doesn't go well with the hot dog, and it adds an unpleasantly fishy taste.
You'll probably give up trying to eat the Philadelphia Dog after a couple of bites.
When it comes to popularity, not many hot dogs can compete with
those found in New York City. Their hot dogs are known around the world.
When you're in the Big Apple, a hot dog cart is never far away.
Unfortunately, New York City is hiding the ugly truth:
their hot dogs are overrated. While that may be sacrilegious to a native New Yorker,
outsiders are sure to be underwhelmed if they travel to NYC to eat one.
Truth be told, there's just nothing special about these hot dogs. They come in a normal bun
and feature mustard along with either sauerkraut or steamed onions. Yawn.
“(eating)”
When you're in Atlanta, Georgia, the most well-known regional hot dog is the Georgia
Dog, which comes with coleslaw and Vidalia onions. Most locals eat it without mustard,
ketchup, or any other condiments. They do sometimes have chili.
While not as boring as a New York City hot dog, there's only so much excitement you can
derive from that combination. Sure, Vidalia onions are great, and coleslaw in the South
can be extra sweet and extra tangy — but these hot dogs still aren't memorable.
If you go to Atlanta, you should take advantage of all the delicious
Southern comfort foods in the city and skip hot dogs altogether.
While not nearly as strange as a Philadelphia Dog, a Seattle Dog features its own unique topping:
cream cheese. Theoretically, that might not sound horrible. However, after a few bites,
you'll agree that hot dogs and cream cheese are not a natural flavor pairing.
Other characteristics of a Seattle Dog include the hot dogs being split in half and grilled,
and the bun being toasted. Beyond the cream cheese,
other popular toppings include jalapeno peppers, grilled onions, and sriracha. Sadly, no matter
what is added to the Seattle Dog, nothing can mask the unhappy marriage of hot dog and cream cheese.
People in the state of Michigan, and in the city of Detroit specifically,
are very proud of their wieners. In fact, Michiganders believe that their state is
the true birthplace of Coney Island hot dogs, while just about everyone
else assumes that they're from New York City, the home of Coney Island.
In reality, though, a Michigan Coney Island Dog isn't much to
brag about. It traditionally features diced white onions, yellow mustard,
and a chili made with extra meat and no beans or veggies. In other words,
this thing is a run-of-the-mill chili dog. You could even make the argument that a Chili
Cheese Coney from Sonic Drive-In is an upgraded version, due to the presence of cheddar cheese.
If you go to Michigan and order a Michigan Coney Island Dog,
you won't be disappointed — but it won't be anything to write home about, either.
"For dog work, I always bring a meat snack."
If you're in Denver, Colorado, the most talked-about regional hot dog is the Rockie Dog.
Originally sold at Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies baseball team,
this bad boy is topped with onions, sauerkraut, and grilled peppers.
Importantly, the Rockie Dog traditionally features a footlong kosher hot dog from Hebrew National,
one of the best hot dog brands available in grocery stores.
The first time you eat one of these hot dogs, you'll be pleased. Hebrew
National makes a great hot dog and the grilled peppers are unique. That said,
you really won't be tempted to eat more than one. Part of the issue is that the sauerkraut is
relatively bland compared to the sauerkraut you'll find elsewhere.
When you're in the contiguous United States, it's easy to find beef hot dogs,
pork hot dogs, chicken hot dogs, and even vegan hot dogs. But when you're in Alaska, they serve
reindeer hot dogs. And, no, that's not a gimmick. These hot dogs are made with real reindeer meat.
The most common topping on an Alaska hot dog is grilled onions. But these
aren't the typical grilled onions that are found in the lower 48.
These grilled onions are glazed with Coca-Cola. That's as yummy as it sounds.
Is it worth going all the way to Alaska to try one of these reindeer-powered hot dogs?
Probably not. These things are good, but they're not that good.
Many people may be surprised to learn that West
Virginia has its own regional hot dog. But they're something special.
A West Virginia dog is covered with chili, coleslaw, and mustard. Onions are also a
popular topping. The coleslaw used on these hot dogs isn't too tangy, but it is deliciously sweet.
Combined with all the other ingredients, that sweetness is a perfect fit.
When you think of Kansas City cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind
is either Kansas City barbecue or their world-famous barbecue sauce. Surprisingly,
the Kansas City Dog doesn't have anything to do with barbecue.
A real Kansas City hot dog features grilled sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and mustard. To be
at its best, the Swiss cheese on a Kansas City hot dog needs to be slightly melted.
When it's melted just right, it adds a whole lot of flavor to each mouthful.
"Be good to your bowels and they will be good to you."
"You're a nutritionist, right?"
In Boston, the Fenway frank is, without a doubt,
the regional hot dog of choice. It was born at Fenway Park, the home field of the Boston Red
Sox. Hundreds of thousands of Fenway Franks are sold each year at Fenway Park alone.
Making the Fenway frank is actually a complicated process. First,
the hot dogs are boiled to lock in all of the juices. Second, they're gently grilled. Third,
they're placed on a buttery toasted roll. Finally, relish and mustard complete the Fenway frank.
Everything's bigger in Texas, and the Texas dog is no exception. The most prominent topping
here is a pale chili that's mostly ground beef. Shredded cheddar or nacho cheese is also added,
along with jalapeno peppers. The spicy peppers add a delicious fiery kick.
The Texas Dog can be found on a regular hot dog bun, but other times, Texas toast is used as the
bun. It's typically grilled, and is similar to the amazing Texas toast Raising Cane's is known for.
California has regional hot dogs that are so yummy,
they undoubtedly deserve to be classified as elite.
Why all the excitement for California hot dogs? The explanation is simple — bacon. These
hot dogs are wrapped in bacon and topped with grilled peppers and grilled onions.
In San Francisco and Los Angeles, carts selling these California hot dogs are common.
Pink's Hot Dogs, a legendary stop in Hollywood that's become a must-try destination,
has been around since 1939. Their version of the California hot dog is called the LA Street Dog,
and it adds mayonnaise, ketchup, and jalapenos.
It's even more spectacular than it sounds. Dirty Harry's got it wrong!
"Nobody, I mean nobody, puts ketchup on a hot dog."
At first blush, a Cleveland Polish boy looks like it was invented by
a crazy person. However, after tasting one, you'll realize this
is a genius invention that doesn't get the recognition it rightfully deserves.
The Cleveland Polish boy starts with either a kielbasa or, less frequently,
a traditional hot dog. Next, a pile of French fries are added, then coleslaw. To top it off,
the Cleveland Polish boy is drenched with sweet barbecue sauce. Some brave
locals even swap the barbecue sauce for hot sauce. Either way, it's stupendous.
Here's a tip: Make sure you're hungry before you order one of these bad boys. It's not a snack,
it's a super filling meal.
The New Jersey dog, also known as the Italian hot dog, combines two things that Americans love:
hot dogs and pizza. The result is a beautiful beast that can
stand toe-to-toe with any other regional hot dog in the nation.
The star of the show is the bun. A New Jersey dog uses pizza bread, which is thick and has a similar
texture to pizza. The party doesn't stop there, as this thing is topped with grilled peppers, grilled
onions, and deep-fried potatoes. The deep-fried potatoes add a huge helping of heartiness.
Jimmy Buff's, an eatery in Newark, claims to have invented the Italian hot dog in 1932,
and it can still be found on their menu to this day. At Jimmy Buff's,
you can trade out the hot dog for a hot or sweet sausage if you wish.
If Washington, D.C. wasn't the capital of the United States,
it might primarily be known as the birthplace of the half-smoke.
Compared to a typical hot dog, the meat in a half-smoke sausage is noticeably coarser and
spicier. Composed of half beef and half pork, it's smoked to perfection. Then, the sausage is sliced
open and grilled. To complete the half-smoke, chili, diced onions, and mustard are added.
When you order a half-smoke, it's common to get it with chili-covered French fries. In fact, that's
exactly what President Barack Obama ordered when he visited Ben's Chili Bowl. This famous DC spot
has a history dating back to 1958, and has been visited by countless celebrities over the years.
"Yeah, I want all the hot dogs please. I'm buying all the hot dogs."
While chili is a common topping for hot dogs, not all chili is created equal. Bad chili can
ruin a hot dog. Conversely, great chili can carry a hot dog to the stratosphere. Cincinnati
chili is world-renowned, so it makes sense that the country's best chili dog can be found here.
If you order a Cincinnati Coney, you will get a hot dog covered with Cincinnati chili and piled
high with grated cheese. Cincinnati chili has a distinctive sweetness,
as well as notes of paprika, cumin, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
If you've never had Cincinnati chili before, order a Cincinnati Coney and
you'll understand why no other chili dog can compete with this masterpiece.
Originally invented and popularized in the Mexican state of Sonora,
the Sonoran dog has gained massive appeal in the Southwest. This hot dog isn't for
the faint of heart due to its many strong toppings — but it's definitely worth it.
Trying one of these bad boys is sure to leave a smile on your face.
Like California hot dogs, a Sonoran dog is wrapped in bacon. It's traditionally topped
with pinto beans, grilled green peppers, grilled onions, chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, mayo,
relish, mustard, and a salsa that's made from tomatillos and jalapenos.
When it comes to regional hot dogs, no place in the United States can
hold a candle to the famous Chicago dog. The Windy City takes their hot dogs seriously,
and a Chicago dog is what you order when only the best of the best will do.
A proper Chicago dog begins with a poppy seed bun. It's topped with peppers,
pickles, slices of tomato, diced onions, green relish, yellow mustard, and celery salt. If you
order a Chicago dog, don't you dare mess with perfection. Keep all the ingredients on there.
While you need to go to Chicago to find the ultimate Chicago dogs,
the Shack-cago Dog from Shake Shack is a surprisingly excellent option. Portillo's,
a chain in the Chicago area and now in Florida, also has really good Chicago dogs. One way or
another, the Chicago dog definitely deserves a highlighted spot on your hot dog bucket list.
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