19 Regional Hot Dog Styles Across America You Have to Try

Hot dogs are an American culinary staple, but how many of us truly appreciate the regional flair each state or city imparts to this classic dish? Just as the United States is a melting pot of cultures, its hot dog styles are a reflection of the diverse communities and their culinary creativity.

Whether it's the unexpected pairing of fish cake in Philadelphia, the tropical twist of Hawaii, or the reindeer inclusion in Alaska, the humble hot dog is reinvented in delicious ways across the nation as evidenced by these unique hot dog renditions from coast to coast. We’ve also included places to try these dogs, as recommended by customers and critics alike.

If you’ve associated Coney Island Hot Dogs with New York, you would be wrong. The saucy mess of a dog topped with beanless, all-meat chili spiked with cumin and celery seeds; diced white onions; and yellow mustard comes from Michigan. While there are different styles within Michigan itself, the signature Coney Island style remains the most popular.

Where To Try It: Head to downtown Detroit to try two famous restaurant rivals, American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island located right next to each other.

The term “dragged through the garden” defines the signature Chicago Hot Dog, that and the no ketchup rule (unless you’re a kid). Quite the mouthful. All beef frank is served on a soft poppy seed bun with toppings galore: dill pickles, bright green relish, tomatoes, onions, sport peppers, yellow mustard, and celery salt.

Where To Try It: Opened in 1967, Wolfy’s is a reliable choice to try this Chicago-style char dog.

No doubt the 808 gives the humble hot dog some Hawaiian flair: mango mustard, seared in Shoyu, Teriyaki mayonnaise, spiked with pineapple — and why wouldn’t you with the abundance of local fruits and ingredients? Despite the many variations, it’ll likely come served in Hawaiian-style sweet bread, preferably King’s Hawaiian Hot Dog Buns.

Where To Try It: Puka Dog in Poipu Beach goes one step further offering an array of Hawaiian fruit relish (coconut, banana, starfruit) and Aunty Lilikoi's passion fruit mustard in place of ketchup.

Popularly known as “half smokes”, eating one of D.C.'s signature dogs requires some skill (or utensils) to avoid making a mess. But one bite of this slightly spicy pork and beef frank with a distinctly smoky flavor covered in a messy, flavorful chili, onion, and mustard makes carrying a Tide pen around suddenly okay.

Where To Try It: You can thank President Barack Obama for making Ben’s Chili Bowl famous. He was known to drop in there late-night in 2009 before he took America’s top job.

Related: These Restaurants Serve the Best Chili in America

No hot dog list is complete without mentioning New York but frankly, their version with steamed onions and yellow mustard with either sauerkraut or relish is, dare we say, underwhelming. But what it lacks in creativity (for this go to Crif Dogs), it makes up for in terms of accessibility seeing as you can find them on most busy street corners.

Where To Try It: Billy's Hot Dog Cart on the Upper West Side has been named a top spot by Google in 2022. Reviewers love it for its $2 price tag location, friendly owner, and “sausages with generous amounts of sauerkraut”.

Related: Tasty Places to Eat for Cheap in NYC

Using a Polish kielbasa sausage, this hot dog off-shoot swaps out ketchup for barbecue sauce, slathers on coleslaw, and a layer of french fries for one satisfying mouthful.

Where To Try It: Live out your wildest hot dog dreams at Happy Dog where 50 different toppings are listed for you to mix and match. Or if you're looking for the classic, try Seti's Polish Boy. 

Related: Where to Find the Most Extreme Hot Dogs Across America

The home of the Boston Red Sox is where you go to try The Fenway Frank, New England’s take on the humble hot dog: beef and pork franks boiled and grilled (but only ever so slightly) and served in a New England-style buttery toasted bun with mustard and relish. It’s reputed to have been sold there since Fenway Park opened in 1912.

Where To Try It: Where else but Fenway Park!

Related: The Best of Boston: A Guide to the City’s Signature Foods

Just when you think you’ve come across the most outlandish hot dog ingredient, Philadelphia delivers a shocker: fish cake. Stuffed under an all-beef hot sausage dog that’s often covered with coleslaw, mustard, and onion, you won’t even spot the deep-fried cake till you’re mid-way through.

Where To Try It: Reviewers recommend Johnny Hots as one of the best places to try this Philadelphia classic for its delicious deep-fried fish cake with pepper hash.

Related: Strange But Surprisingly Tasty Local Foods to Try

Nicknamed the “Danger Dog”, and for good reason. Supposedly created by street vendors in Tijuana, Mexico (or possibly a variation on the Sonoran Dog) this hot dog comes wrapped in bacon, grilled (always), and heaving under layers of ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, sauteed onions, pepper, and often topped with a whole, green poblano chile pepper.

Where To Try It: A late-night/early-morning street food favorite, look for carts hawking the bacon-wrapped delicacies outside of music and sports venues throughout L.A. and get one with all the fixings. Alternatively, if you prefer ordering from a bricks-and-mortar business, you can find a pretty solid version at one of Dirt Dog’s locations.

The South prides itself on its comfort food so their version of a hot dog comes loaded with refreshing coleslaw and Vidalia onions. Locals usually prefer to eat it this way without mustard or ketchup but you do you.

Where To Try It: Order the Slaw Dog at Hot Dog Pete’s for its green collard slaw topping.

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What do you get when you wrap a hot dog in bacon and slather it with an array of Mexican-inspired toppings like tomatillo and jalapeño salsa and pinto beans? The Sonoran is a punchy-flavored Southwestern hot dog served in a bolillo-style bun that’s simply street food gold.

Where To Try It: The “Cadillac of hotdogs” is extremely accessible all around Phoenix where vendors sell them in street carts. But according to Tucson Foodie, El Guero Canelo Restaurant on 12th Avenue in Tucson is the real deal. Plus it was awarded the James Beard Foundation “America’s Classics” award in 2018.

They certainly do things differently in Seattle. Cream cheese is slathered on a split hot dog frank and grilled before it’s topped with onions, Sriracha, and jalapeños. Created by Hadley Longe, an enterprising food cart owner in Pioneer Square he decided to fuse two familiar foods (bagels and hot dogs) with great success.

Where To Try It: If there’s a Mariners, Seahawks, or Sounders game, Al’s Gourmet Sausages is bound to be on-site, just follow your nose.

Don’t flinch if you see Reindeer listed on a menu, Alaskan style hot dogs do use reindeer meat mixed with pork and beef for their sausages. It is typically served in between a steamed bun with grilled onions sauteed in Coca-Cola.

Where To Try It: Hit up Yeti Dogs after a full day of adventure in Anchorage, check their socials for weekly specials for the opportunity to try yak or moose.

Related: Signature Cheap Eats From Every State

We all know Puerto Rico’s street food game is strong and their version of a hot dog is amongst some of the best. Served in a soft bun, a boiled or grilled sausage is topped with crispy potato sticks, a smattering of ketchup and mayo, sometimes lettuce for freshness, and occasionally a unique tangy pineapple sauce. The combination of sweet, salty, and crispy gives every bite a mouthful of delight.

Where To Try It: Downtown San Juan has no shortage of vendors but if you’re not heading to the PR anytime soon, here’s a step-by-step guide to make one at home.

You would think a city known for its flash and glitter would have an OTT hot dog but it actually doesn’t. Selling for $1.50 (already a price hike), the hot dog cart in South Point Hotel and Casino has been a staple for late-night revelers looking for the Budweiser steamed frank served on a plain bun to soak up the booze. There’s a limit of three per person and lines get long on Sundays. Toppings-wise, choose from the usual suspects: mustard, pickle relish, onions, etc. 

If you are in the mood for hot dogs with Vegas flash, the Fresh Roasted Chili Dawg at Gordon Ramsay BurGR smothered in roasted Fresno peppers, jalapeños, cheddar, avocado, onions and chipotle ketchup get a nod from Time Out.

Where To Try It: For $1.50 the​​ hot dog cart in South Point Hotel and Casino will satisfy any and all cravings.

Related: Sin City Dining: 17 Bucket List Restaurants in Las Vegas

Coleslaw dominates hot dogs throughout the South including the Carolinas. The perfect foil to a beefy chili topping, mustard, and onions, the freshness of crunchy, tangy vegetables is welcomed especially in 90-degree heat!

Where To Try It: The Chili Man in Concord, North Carolina offers plenty of tempting options for loaded dogs but his Southern All The Way dog is no slouch with fresh onions and a generous amount of slaw.

The Twin Cities know how to turn out a juicy hot dog thanks to Brian Brown of Ingredient who concocted this “Tater tot hotdish on a hot dog”, a doozy of a dog with Tater tots, green beans and cream of chicken, this is definitely on you can to try.

Where To Try It: Make it at home following this recipe.

Depending on who you ask a Kansas-style hot dog is either one topped with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on a sesame seed bun (according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council (NHDSC) or barbecue style with “burnt ends and barbecue sauce along with bread and butter pickles,” according to Men’s Journal.

Where To Try It: Weiner Kitchen, ask for the KC Frank or one of their more creative options including a Vegan dog.

Related: Bucket-List BBQ in Every State

Distinctively bright red in hue, Maine’s unique Red Snapper hot dogs are popular not just for their appearance but also for their “snap” texture lamb (vs. synthetic) casing. Still made by W.A Bean & Sons, this regional favorite is served in a split-style bun with your choice of toppings.

Where To Try It: There are four locations but the original Wasses Hot Dogs on Maine Street in Rockland remains popular. Reviewers recommend the Everything Hot Dog.