We all know there are tons of places coast to coast to sink your teeth into a juicy burger, but let's not forget to pay homage to our other favorite cookout classic — the hot dog. And we're not talking your standard dog with ketchup and mustard, but about some of the craziest creations to ever grace a bun. Here are spots around the country that prove you can definitely teach old dogs new tricks.
Houston
Hot dogs aren't the only draw here — craft beer lovers will also be well served at this brewpub with a laid-back outdoor eating area. But let's talk hot dogs, or as Moon Tower bills them, "wild game wieners." Choose from exotic options such as duck with apple brandy or wild boar with garlic, marsala, and provolone — all are served on plump pretzel buns. Elk, buffalo, and lamb hot dogs are also on the menu.
Las Vegas
If you're into classic food with an exotic twist, check out Sin City's Buldogis, which prides itself on serving up quarter-pound hot dogs with Korean flair. The namesake dog is topped with spicy beef bulgogi, Asian slaw, green onions, sesame seeds, and the restaurant's aioli; you can also go for the Gang Nam, topped with roast pork belly, cucumber, nori flakes, sesame seeds, and chili sauce.
Lesage, West Virginia
The atmosphere at Hillbilly Hot Dogs is as unique as the menu: You can eat in a rambling shack with license plates and graffiti all over the walls, or down your meal in an old school bus. You can even hold a "Weenie Weddin' " at the chapel. As for the weenies themselves, they range from classic to crazy and include plenty of chili sauce and deep-fried options. The king of the menu is the 15-inch, 1-pound Homewrecker, with jalapeños, peppers, onions, nacho cheese, habanero, chili sauce, mustard, lettuce, slaw, tomato, and shredded cheese. Godspeed.
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Columbus, Ohio
It's almost worth a trip to Dirty Frank's just for the "Ask Me About My Wiener" shirts. But this joint is popular for way more than its sense of humor. There are hand-cut fries, "tot-chos" (a mashup of tater tots and nachos), mac and cheese bites, and specialty hot dogs for days. Some of the more offbeat options include the Classy Lady, with cheese sauce and crushed potato chip or Cowgirl Carmen, with swaps in crushed Fritos; the Dog From Hell, with "satanically spicy Giardiniera, red pepper flakes, and soothing cream cheese"; and the Archie's Big Boston, with baked beans, onion, and cheddar.
Medford, Oregon
Dedicated carnivores will want to take a detour off Interstate 5 in southern Oregon and seek out this downtown hot dog stand. At Victory Dogs, the specialty is hot dogs topped with other kinds of meat, which means stomach-busting creations such as the Meat Apocalypse, which is two hot dogs topped with salami, pepperoni, pulled pork, pastrami, ham, roast beef, capicola, meatballs, bacon, cheddar, swiss, and mozzarella. Not enough meat? The Crack'in is two hot dogs topped with German sausage, a Louisiana hot link, salami, pastrami, pepperoni, capicola, pulled pork, roast beef, sausage, meatballs, ham, bacon, cheddar, swiss, and mozzarella.
Los Angeles
This Hollywood institution has been slinging hot dogs since 1939, when it started as a pushcart selling dogs for a dime and sodas for a nickel. Today, it's still going strong, with a star-studded clientele, some 15 locations across the country, and lines out the door. You can opt for a chili dog given the nostalgia factor, but there are zanier options. They include the Rosie O'Donnell Long Island Dog, a 9-inch frank with mustard, sauerkraut and chili; and the El Cucuy, a footlong jalapeño dog with grilled onions, jalapeños, and bacon.
New Brunswick, New Jersey
The menu at Destination Dogs is all about international flair, and if you're a frequent traveler who knows your airport codes, you can place your order even faster. The One Bite in Bangkok (BKK) features Cantonese sausage, cucumber salad, pepper jelly, crushed peanuts and cilantro; the Charles Dog Gaulle (CDG) includes duck sausage, duck confit, shaved foie gras, cornichons, red onions, Dijon mustard, and scallions.
Charlotte, North Carolina
The Chili Man isn't shy about self-promotion. The cart's website proclaims it has "single-handedly transformed the entire world of street meat," and many Yelpers agree, raving despite the waits to sample the goods. Try the Heroin Dog, made with grilled cheddar, chili, taco juice, barbecue sauce, and onions, or opt for the popular Frito Pie Dog, which swaps out the barbecue sauce in favor of garlic and onion sour cream, and adds jalapeños and crushed chili and cheese Fritos.
Related: 13 Regional Chili Recipes
New Orleans
These wacky gourmet dogs have inspired a devoted following, and the menu at this chain with three locations even has plenty of vegan options — not exactly common for a hot dog joint. Go all in on N'awlins flavor with the Crawfish Dog, made with crawfish sausage or the Vaucresson hot sausage. We wouldn't exactly mind if Dat Dog popped up on our home turf.
New York City
For close to 20 years, Crif Dogs has been satisfying patrons' late-night munchies at its dives in Brooklyn and the East Village. The latter location even boasts a secret entry to a speakeasy where you used to be able to enjoy a hot dog with your cocktail. Signature dogs include the Chihuahua, a bacon-wrapped dog with sour cream and avocado and the Good Morning, a bacon-wrapped dog with a fried egg and American cheese.
Cleveland
Happy Dog bills itself as "a neighborhood corner bar," but it's also made a national name for itself with its build-your-own hot dogs, limited only by patrons' creativity. There are 50 toppings that include sloppy joe meat, beer-cheese fondue, fried eggs, Spaghetti-Os, Froot Loops, Cheetos, coleslaw, black truffle honey mustard, and much, much more.
Louisville, Kentucky
At Red Top, hot dogs are all about high-quality meats, with options including grass-fed beef, wild boar sausage, and bison. The Black & Blue includes blue cheese spread, bourbon grilled onions, smoked bacon, and blackberry jam. The Hoosier sports shredded cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, jalapeños and mustard.
Honolulu
Hank's, founded by a Hawaiian restaurateur who already conquered fine dining, has received plenty of acclaim, including shout-outs from Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and the Travel Channel's "Man vs. Food." Gourmet twists are evident everywhere from the meat (wagyu and lobster dogs are sometimes on the menu) to sides and desserts (you can try a white-truffle mac and cheese or crème brûlée). Hot dogs include the Hawaiian, made with Portuguese sausage, mango mustard, and pineapple relish; and the Lobster Fat Boy, a bacon-wrapped lobster dog that's deep-fried and topped with garlic aioli, tomato, and lettuce.
Related: 30 Strange But Surprisingly Tasty Local Foods to Try
Grand Forks, North Dakota
It would be easy to pass by this squat brick building, but DogMahal boasts some of the most creative hot dogs in the Dakotas. Though the menu looks relatively tame, flip it over to reveal "The Other Menu," where the restaurant's most creative choices lie in wait. You're practically to Canada, so this is a fitting place to try the Poutine Weenie, a quarter-pound beef frank topped with fries, gravy, and cheddar cheese curds. There's also the Chester Fester, topped with chili, mac and cheese, and "a heap of Cheetos."
Littleton, Colorado
This strip-mall joint proclaims a "hot dog revolution" with its made-to-order options. Not feeling a regular beef hot dog? You can also choose from andouille, Italian, or Polish sausage; and a chipotle buffalo brat, a veggie dog, or a chorizo dog. Get a taste of the Mediterranean in the Rockies with the Toga Dog, a beef hot dog topped with lamb, beef, gyro seasoning, lettuce, onion, tomato, and tzatziki sauce. Or opt for the Italian-inspired Eddie Spaghetti, an Italian sausage in a garlic bun topped with pasta, marinara, and mozzarella.
Pittsburgh
This Steel City favorite, open since 1999, began with a humble aim — to be the go-to neighborhood joint for a beer and a hot dog. It succeeded in a big way, selling more than 1,000 bottled beers and more than two dozen drafts, and a robust hot-dog menu with build-your-own and specialty options. The latter include the Hot Valentine, topped with sweet potato fries and sriracha slaw. Give it some extra zing by requesting a scorpion dog, made with cheddar, jalapeño, and kielbasa.
Anchorage, Alaska
This modest trailer with outdoor seating is a beloved spot for a casual bite in chilly Anchorage, and as its name suggests, its menu draws inspiration from far-flung places. Still, it doesn't completely abandon its roots: The Alaskan is a reindeer or buffalo dig with sautéed onions and chipotle sauce. The most adventurous option might be the Frankenstein, made with a bacon-wrapped beef dog that's topped with cream cheese, sautéed onions, sautéed ham and bacon, pineapple, mustard, and chipotle crème.
Mentor, Ohio
Though it has a menu with plenty more on it, including french fries and ice cream, Scooter's World Famous Dawg House has more than two dozen dogs that are reason enough to stop by in season. There’s lots that’s hot, from the Extreme Dawg (“XXHot sauce,” bleu cheese, celery, jalapeños, and hot spices) and Flame Dawg (Flamin' Hot Cheetos, cheese sauce, jalapeño peppers, and ranch dressing) to the Jalapeño Popper Dawg (ranch dressing, cheese sauce, and jalapeño peppers) and Cardinal Dawg (grilled onions and red peppers). Don't like it hot? There are some 20 other dogs to explore.
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