Kate Krader (@kkrader on Twitter) is Food & Wine's restaurant editor. When she tells us where to find our culinary heart's desire, we listen up.
Some key statistics from the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council:
- During "Hot Dog Season" from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs: That’s 818 hot dogs per second.
- Los Angeles residents consume more hot dogs than any other city, including New York.
- The biggest hot dog day of the year is surely the 4th of July: it’s estimated that Americans eat 150 million hot dogs, enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. over five times.
If you want to send out summer with a bang, and make Labor Day an even bigger hot dog holiday than Independence Day, we can help you get started at the following places. Better still, some of them can help save the world while you eat their terrific dogs.
Dreamy Weenies - New Orleans, Louisiana
This brand new spot on the edge of the French Quarter has hot dogs that address your kosher, halal and vegan dining concerns. In fact, all their dogs are kosher, from the beef “knock” to the Polish sausage; halal options include the beef kebab; the falafel is vegan.
Dreamy Weenies says, "The prepping, cooking, and serving process avoids any mixing of ingredients and oils. In other words, your vegan dog will be just that after it’s prepared." The groovy toppings, like red beans and rice, grits and BBQ shrimp sauce, reflect their New Orleans location.
DogHaus - Pasadena, California
This So-Cal mini chain features the Sooo Cali, a hot dog topped with mixed greens, diced tomato, tempura fried onions, spicy basil aioli and avocado all served on King’s Hawaiian bread. Their other spots include Dog Haus Biergarten and, for, take-out Dog Haus To Go.
Dog Haus believes in giving back to the community: Last winter, they dedicated a day to serving hot dogs and chili to homeless people at Union Station Adult Services in Pasadena.
Station Street - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
On Station Street’s website you’ll find adorable pie charts detailing the ratio of ingredients in their dogs. For example, the kimchee dog looks to break down like this: hot dog (75%); kimchee (12%); kewpie mayo (7%); nori (3%); bonito (3%). You can similarly calculate the amount of eggplant and tahini in their vegetarian Tabbouleh Dog. Chef Kevin Sousa gets the most from his ingredients at Station Street: Leftover hot dogs go into the baked beans at one of his other spots, Union Pig & Chicken.
Bowery - Dallas, Texas
At this new combo hot dog restaurant/Champagne & cocktail bar, sausages are made in-house from farm-raised, grass-fed organic meat (regular, all-beef franks are not). Bowery respects the traditional hot dog, but also dresses it up and takes it around the world. Look for the Moroccan dog with merguez and harissa slaw; a battered-fried Buffalo chicken dog; and a bacon-wrapped Mexican dog. This is Dallas; there are schmancy dogs, too, like the Croque Madame with Paris ham, béchamel sauce, Swiss cheese, and a fried egg.
Hot Dog on a Stick - Multiple Locations
This chain started back in 1946, but its first-ever drive-through location just opened this past July just outside of Salt Lake City. HDOAS makes it easy for the decisionally challenged because there are only 6 menu items. Here, count them: The namesake Hot Dog on a Stick (a turkey hot dog dipped in "Party Batter"); Cheese on a Stick (either American cheese or spicy jalapeño jack, dipped in that Party Batter); hot dog in a bun; funnel cake sticks; French fries; and lemonade.
The chain's president Dan Smith told Nation's Restaurant News that it's the ideal drive-through menu because everything can be eaten with one hand.
Got a different top dog? Shout it out in the comments below!
More from Food & Wine:
America’s Best Bars
Best Burgers in the US
Best Pizza Places in the US
America’s Best Beer Bars
Best Fried Chicken in the U.S.
Previously - How to pair wine with hot dogs and Relish the taste of Detroit-style hot dogs at Motor City Coney Island and Haute dogs to relish
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Gotta add Vicious Dogs in NoHo California to this list. Best Dogs and Sausage in LA in my opinion.
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The author of this article can't be serious. Two of the five places mentioned are new. There is no mention of any place from NYC, NJ, or Chicago. The author needs to put down her caviar and go out into America and have a real hot dog. For my money Portillos in Chicagoland is the best.
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Franks Smokehouse in Wilber, Nebraska has AWESOME weiners! No fillers here- all meat!!!
Fab in Reseda Ca is great so is Garage Dogs in Thousand Oaks Ca.
I live in New Orleans and I can confirm dreams denies is one of the best hot dog experiences I've ever had. I'm a NY transplant who was raised on Nathan's and sabrett as well as halal carts and none of them have anything on this place. If you're ever in New Orleans dreamy weenies is a must.
stuggy's in baltimore!
Speed's in Boston. I'm amazed that hasn't been mentioned.
Any hotdog list that doesn't include ay least 1 of Detroit's Coney Island restaurants is sadly lacking!
Oh, and I almost forgot Toledo, Ohio's "Tony Packo's" (Max Klinger's favorite place) – one of the very few legitimate reasons for going to Ohio!
Any hot-dog list that doesn't include the one and only, original Coney Island's Nathan's hot dogs isn't worth talking about. It's the place where New Yorker's learn to love hot dogs in the first place! ;)
How can you fail to mention Hot Dog Johnnies in Buttzville, NJ. I travel from Wisconsin for their hot dogs!
What a bunch of hullabaloo. A dog is a dog is a dog, Pick your toppings and just make it up. Celebrity photos seem to add to the aura of a great hot dog stand and that tells you that.......a dog is a dog is a dog.
Coney Island in Scranton Pa. They serve a grilled locally made Guetheinz Weiner, covered in onions, mustard and Texas wiener sauce, served on a National Bakery roll. They have been around since the 20s in the same spot. Locally made hotdog, locally made bun and a house made sauce, can't beat that!
I agree. Bowery in Dallas is awesome. Their Mac n' Cheese dog – not to be missed!
In L.A., of course there are Dodger Dogs, which is probably why we're tops in hot dog consumption. I also like Pink's (multiple locations), and Fab Hot Dogs in Reseda.
This article is blasphemy! No Chicago representation? Portillos, Hot Dougs, Byron's, even the Weiner Circle. My lunch fav is franks and dogs on Clybourn.
Hell yeah! I was thinking the same thing. To have a list of quintessential hot dog joints without any of them being from Chicago is utter nonsense!
How do you not mention Nathan's....Coney Island
dirty franks in columbus ohio!
Jerry's Wood-Fired dogs in OC, CA!!
Dogtown in Rochester, NY. Combination of Zweigle's hotdogs, excellent toppings, and local flavor can't be beat anywhere.
Roanoke wiener stand. Great chili dogs
HD1 In Atlanta – Blais does "Haute Dogs" right!!!!
Everyone needs to know about Jimmy John's Pipin Hot Sandwiches of West Chester Pennsylvania. With close proximity to the pork by-product capital of the United States, Jimmy Jon's hot dogs are the most delicious, juicy, crispy and succulent wieners in the contiguous states.
I buy cases worth and take them home to cook on grillin' holidays like labor day. With their thick casing they eat like sausage but taste like hot dogs. Featured on the Food Network and numerous "Best Of" books, everyone should check out Jimmy John's https://plus.google.com/100443058451970716775/about?gl=US&hl=en-US
WindMill Hotdogs in Long Branch NJ!!!!
Stuggy's in Baltimore is brand new with their now Famous Crab Mac Dog. Definitely the best!
The Hot dog shop in Youngstown Ohio you ninnys !!!!
Zweigle's White Hots from upstate NY!
Hell yes!
Jen, how do you get that Diana camera efcfet with the black fade out around the edges in some of your photos? You can email me the details if you prefer .
GENE AND JUDES the "BEST HOTDOG IN THE NATION " FACT
What about Super Dawg???
NANA'S In Streamwood. BEST hot dogs and FRIES in the country.
Puka Dog in Hawai'i! Hands down, the absolute best on Earth. Guava mustard, Banana relish...
Second place, Narvisen Karl Johansgate< Oslo Norway. Pølse in Limpa with shrimp salad topping!!!
Thrid place, Dairy Barn, Sebewaing, Michigan. Footlong Koegels Coney with mustard and onion!!!
Super Duper Weenie in Fairfield, CT definitely deserves a shout out...
wasses in belfat and rockland MAINE.the best hotdogs ever.
Pink's in Hollywood and Nathan's in Coney Island.
Blackies in Cheshire CT, and their house made relish is the best.
The oddly named "New York System" in Providence RI has the most unique wiener experience, in my opinion :)
have a couple of wieneres "all the way" with some coffeemilk!!
There's a place in Peoria, IL. over by Bradley University called "MR. G's"....da best I'm tellin' ya......da best!
DOG HAUS IN PASADENA IS THE BESSSTTT!!! So yummy... I love the Cowboy Dog or the B.L.A.S.T !!
Elliots Hot Dogs Lowell Mass.
Scoobys in Chicago and Top Dog in Los Gatos are two of my favorites
Showdogs San Francisco
MY PERSONAL favorite hot dogs are actually Applegate Farms all beef 100% Organic & grass-fed hot dogs!! :) I love them so much I made a video about my love and obsession, AH HA HA! I actually gave Applegate the link to, they were THRILLED! I will definitely be chowing down on those puppies this weekend!
Eddies Footlongs (Meadville PA ) are the best!
has anyone been to nathans in coney island, brooklyn, ny. they r the best above the rest. only nathans in coney island
I've heard about them. Not crazy about hot dogs. I usually buy Oscar Myer because they're precooked.
How is Ben's Chili Bowl in DC not on this list!?!
Where is El Guero Canelo? Where is the most amazing hot dog out there, the Sonoran hot dog?
The Varsity in Atlanta has the BEST Hot Dogs!
Absolutely!
Heid's of Liverpool, outside Syracuse, NY!
Heid's of Liverpool is truly the best!
The are the best!
They really need to put TRUE hot dog places in the article....looks like a bunch of fru fru places!
I'm with you, Arthur... Pinks in So Cal, Portillo's in Chicago-land, even the "dirty water" dogs from vendors in NYC [where my rental car was T-Boned} by an out of control hot dog cart, in the 90's- see I don't hold a grudge!
Nu Way are the best!
Po Dogs, Seattle. Went there all the way from Texas to have a Texas Dog and a Mexican Coke.
Red hot dogs anywhere in Maine.
Coney Island in St. Petersburg, FL, in business since 1926. Just awesome, say 'Hey' to Jerry.
Coney Island in Grand Island, NE is a bit out of the way, but right "downtown". Since 1933. Say 'Hey' to Gus.
Mr. Dog in Pismo Beach!
Dogma in Miami, FL. Hands-down, BEST hot dog I have ever had. And, I've had a lot of weiners in my mouth. ;-)
There's not enough money in the world to make me eat a hot dog. They're mostly made of lips, lungs and sphincters.
You forgot to mention the animal, Animal. Waste not want not (as my mother would say). Every-and I do mean EVERY-part of the animal is used up in most parts of the world. It's pretty hard to screw up a hot dog and the toppings is just a matter of what you fancy. I eat mine with baked beans and sauerkraut and onions.
I mean, you know they also make them from other types of animals besides a cow, right?
Good for you to take such a staunch position on such a sensitive subject matter.
Feel better getting that off your chest?
Try a Sonoran style dog @Bk's in Tucson, AZ
It's all about El Guero Canelo!! No others compare!!!
Walter's Hot Dogs in Mamaroneck NY..Since 1919 a fantastic hot dog and their mustard is out of this world!
I like veggie "Smart Dogs" .... taste like old fashioned hot dogs, but are healthy.
When talking about quality hot dogs, no conversastion would be complete without mentioning the best place for dogs on the East Coast – Maui's Dog House in North Wildwood, NJ. Unbelievably amazing dogs at this place!
... and into something more obscure, Grand Rapids, Michigan has the best dogs anywhere at Yesterdog in Eastown. You can eat them plain and they're good.
Au contraire. I think that Yesterdog is SO overrated! I've had it on multiple occasions, and it can never even compete with any other hot dog on Earth. Pretty gross.
The Dune Dog in Jupiter Florida... Long live the Junkyard Dog!
Yesterdog in Grand Rapids, MI
Seconded.
From a Jupiter Local – Chicago Style dog is #1.
The hot dog shop that failed to be listed here is the HOT DOG SHOP in Warren, Ohio.
It is the best hot dog shop in the country. You have to wait in long lines at times to get in and get a seat. But it is worth it!
I have not idea how anyone could have missed this HOT DOG SHOP!
Franks in Austin, TX offers amazing dogs, fries and mixed drinks. Think fancy and delicious.
Wish I cold remember the name of a stand in East Portland, OR that served up some righteous dogs too.
Learn more about delectable WV hot dogs at: http://www.wvhotdogs.com/
Ted's in Western New York and Tempe, AZ!! See also Portillo's in Chicago.
Positively Ted's Red Hots in Buffalo NY and Tempe Arizona. Delicious Sahlen's charcoal broiled red hots are the best I've ever tasted in the USA. I've had lots and Ted's beats them all. A wonderfully different taste to the charcoal broiled Sahlen's hot dogs and the way they're cooked at Ted's! I used to drive 240 round trip miles on a Sunday to get my fill of Ted's.
http://makingchicagohome.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/navy-pier-dog.jpg%3Fw%3D490
Red Top Drive-in! Hamburg, New York! Find it on facebook
It is clearly just plain illegal to talk about hot dogs without mentioning Chicago. Heresy!
We all know how you Chi-town boys love the wiener, couldn't resit. But you are right.
Oh my!
Its true. Chicago wieners are the tastiest on Earth. Eat your heart out, CNN.
Any hot dog made in in and around Clarksburg, WV, beats any hot dog from anyplace else in the country. It's all in the secret meat sauce, chopped onions and mustard!
Top hot dogs for labor day and not a single mention of Chicago. Negative.