Hot Dogs Across America

This Thursday marks The United States’ 237^th birthday, which means Americans all over will celebrate the occasion with parades, fireworks and barbecues. It’s no secret that we love barbecues, and what barbecue is complete without hot dogs, the most American barbecue dish of them all.

However, Americans’ hot dog preparation preferences vary from region to region. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Chicago Dogs

The Chicago Dog consists of a beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun topped with tomatoes, pickles, peppers, onions, relish and anything else your heart desires (except ketchup. NEVER ask for ketchup. Chicagoans consider it a sin to put ketchup on a Chicago Dog and WILL give you dirty looks).

 Coney Islands

In Detroit, hot dogs are prepared Coney Island-style. They are smothered in an all-beef, beanless chili and topped with white onions, mustard and cheddar cheese.   While Detroit is a long ways away from New York’s Coney Island, the dogs became a signature dish for the Motor City after European immigrants brought them after traveling through New York before settling in Detroit.

Sonorans

Sonorans are hot dogs with a south-of-the-border twist. Popular in Arizona, Sonorans consists of a hot dog wrapped in smoky bacon on a soft Mexican roll. It is traditionally topped with pinto beans, onions, mustard, mayo, jalapenos and chopped tomatoes.

Slaw Dogs

 Southerners LOVE their slaw dogs. They “drag them through the garden,” topping them with coleslaw. Chili, onions and mustard are some other popular add-ons.

Dirty Water Dogs

The dirty water dog, named after the hot water used to keep them warm in a hot dog cart, is king in New York. These dogs are simple, only using two toppings: spicy brown mustard and onions stewed in tomato paste.

 Kansas City Royals

You can’t go to a baseball game without indulging in a hot dog, and Kansas City Royals fans prefer to prepare their ballpark franks similar to a Reuben sandwich. Kansas City Royal Dogs are stuffed into a sesame seed bun and topped with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing.

Utah Dog

Since our hometown is distinctly lacking its own signature hot dog, we thought we’d create one. Utahns love their fry sauce (mayo and ketchup mixed together). We’ll slather it on almost anything, so it’s only fitting that the Utah dog prominently feature fry sauce—and lots of it!

How do you prefer your hot dogs? Our marketing team recently took a field trip to Utah’s most famous hot dog restaurant, JDawgs, to show off their preferred hot dog toppings.

 

 

 

 

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