We Tried 10 Hot Dogs and You Won't Believe Which One Was Best

A lot of my personal and professional life centers around specialty food. But can I tell you a secret? Hot dogs have always been one of my favorite things to eat. Even the cheapest hot dog at the store, when thrown on the grill and served with a bit of ketchup and mustard, is sublime and satisfying, especially during the summer. Gimme a bun or don't, it doesn't matter. After stocking up for a taste test, sticking mostly with beef hot dogs but including a few pork options and one turkey, I tried a bite of each plain from a grill pan on my stove, then added my usual ketchup-mustard combo to see how flavors and textures held up. Here's how they shook out, ranked from worst to best — with most seeing a significant jump in price from May 2021, like lots of other grocery store purchases.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

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Price: $4.39 from Market Basket
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These were … sweet? Not what I expect or want from a hot dog, especially if I'm adding ketchup (which I always do). But one of the ingredients is corn syrup, so I guess that solves that mystery. I couldn't find these online, which I think is fine. Don't bother.

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Price: $7.24 from Walmart

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The McKenzie beef franks weren't actively offensive, but I also wouldn't call them good. A bit softer (the word "flaccid" came to mind) than I would hope, with a pretty generic, almost artificial taste.

Price: $7.49 from Instacart
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These were all right, with a natural casing snap but otherwise unremarkable.

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Price: $3.29 from Target

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These feel nostalgic to me, but I think they'd be lower on the list had that nostalgia not played a factor. Salty, without much other flavor, and a more rubbery texture than I'd like. My inner child loves these; my grownup palate does not.

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Price: $5.89 from Target

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The Ball Park beef franks were a bit mushy and artificial tasting. If I'd used relish for the taste test, I maybe would have liked them better. Good salt balance, though.  

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Price: $1.58 from Walmart
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These are very inexpensive, and I suppose okay for the price. That said, if you can afford to spend a couple more dollars, I'd do so. They just don't have much flavor!

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Price: $4.62 from Walmart
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As a former New Yorker, I have quite a bit of Nathan's loyalty from summer days roaming Coney Island. But, all that aside, these still rule. They're beefy, juicy, and quintessentially hot dog-y. These are the ones I will be bringing to backyard summer grill-outs once it's safe to gather again.

Price: $4.99 from Target

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I think these ranked so highly because I was shocked (in a good way) by them. They're great! Lightly smoky, meaty, and juicy. The texture is a bit more delicate than the others, which I actually liked. That nagging voice that is normally saying "You've just consumed heart-attack-levels of processed meat" was quieter when I ate them. So I ate two.

Price: $4.99 from Target

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Many of my friends swear by Hebrew National, and they're one of the few Kosher options you can find, if that's important to you (or to one of your guests). I am not nearly as obsessed as some of my friends, but I have to say that these were very good — juicy, meaty, and flavorful. They almost had a baking spice flavor to them, which I really enjoyed.

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These were wonderful and easily my top pick. Quintessentially hot dog-y, but also with the most complex beefy flavor and a bit of grassiness to them. I also like that they were a bit smaller than the others.

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