11 Unique Regional Hot Dog Styles You HAVE to Try If You’re a Hot Dog Connoisseur
Today, July 16, is National Hot Dog Day, and the festivities wouldn't be complete without a tasty hot dog or two, customized to perfection.
Of course, not everyone enjoys hot dogs the same way. You might be the type of person who grew up on ketchup and mustard dogs, or someone who's only satisfied by a hot dog topped with all the fixings. Even if you're a hot dog connoisseur, we bet there are a few regional styles you haven't tasted yet. Below, we dive into some of the very best.
Carolina-Style Dog
Both hot dogs and hamburgers can be dressed Carolina-style, which typically includes chili, cole slaw and onions, and sometimes adds yellow mustard for a sour punch. This preparation originally comes from North and South Carolina, with the slaw lending the full backyard barbecue experience.
Chicago Dog
Chicago dogs may be the most famous style on this list, and for good reason. The ingredients are timeless and classic—an all beef hot dog topped with yellow mustard, chopped onions, tomato slices, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, pickled peppers and celery salt, all served up on a poppy seed bun. It's famous for being packed with veggies, and notably excludes ketchup (as many Chicagoans regard ketchup on hot dogs a criminal offense).
(via Shutterstock)
Completo
Of course, hot dogs aren't only a popular food in the United States. One of our favorite style, the completo, comes from Chile. It's said to offer the "complete" package with diced tomatoes, avoacado, sauerkraut, Americana relish, mayo, ají pepper and green sauce. Notably, completos also tend to be massive.
(via Shutterstock)
Coney Island Dog
The Coney Island dog is another famous fair food, getting its name from the famous Coney Island amusement park in New York. It was invented by Nathan Handwerker of Nathan's Hot Dogs and features a savory chili-like meat sauce, plus optional toppings of mustard, onions, cheese and more.
Also read about: 7 Creative Recipes to Try on National French Fry Day
Danger Dog
Few things are more delicious than danger dogs, also known as street dogs. They were famously first sold by street vendors in Mexico but have also since become popular in the States, especially outside of sporting and music events, and feature a hot dog wrapped in bacon and then fried. They're also often topped with fajita veggies, such as bell peppers, onion and jalapeños, plus condiments such as mayonnaise and mustard.
Maxwell Street Polish
The Maxwell Street Polish comes from the famous Maxwell Street market in Chicago, which undoubtedly has a rich culture around hot dogs and sasusages. The classic meal is like the cousin of the Chicago-style dog, serving a Polish sausage on a poppy seed bun with grilled onions and yellow mustard, and often comes served with green sport peppers, pickled whole.
Michigan Dog
The Michigan dog is a variation on the classic Coney Island dog, getting its name not from the state of Michigan, but from its "Michigan sauce." This sauce varies from vendor to vendor, but is usually a meaty tomato sauce seasoned with vinegar and brown sugar. Notably, these dogs are always served without cheese, though they may be topped with onion and mustard.
Montreal Dog
There are also Canadian interpretations of the classic hot dog, such as the Montreal dog, or "steamie." They're known for their extra-soft steamed buns as well as their unique toppings, which are served "all-dressed" with mustard, relish, chopped onion and either coleslaw or finely chopped cabbage.
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Seattle-Style Dog
Seattle-style dogs break the mold with an ingredient we don't see anywhere else on this list: cream cheese. The concoction came when a Seattle bagel vendor started serving hot dogs. Since he had plenty of cream cheese, that became a primary ingredient of his offerings, and thus, the famous Hadley's Bagel Dogs was born. These hot dogs are usually served on a hoagie roll with cream cheese, jalapeños, sauerkraut and scallions, and while mustard is a popular addition, it's not uncommon to see people add sriracha or barbecue sauce to their Seattle dogs, as well.
Sonoran Dog
Sonoran dogs are yet another hot dog style from Mexico, this time originating in the state of Sonora in the '80s, and spreading in popularity through Arizona and beyond. Notably, it's served in a bolillo bun, rather than a traditional hot dog bun, and consists of a hot dog wrapped in bacon and grilled before it's topped with onion, tomato and pinto beans, plus mustard, mayo and even salsa.
Texas Tommy
Finally, there's the Texas Tommy, which ironically originates from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its unique preparation involves first slicing the hot dog in half lengthwise, filling the gap with cheddar or American cheese, or even Cheez Whiz, and then wrapping the hot dog in bacon before it's cooked and served on a bun.
For even more on the culture around hot dogs, click HERE to discover what your favorite classic condiment reveals about you.