HOT DOGS  come in a surprising number of local varieties

           considering they are essentially only 2 essential ingredients (meat & bun) ! 

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In the USA there are...

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  • Dirty Water Dogs† - boiled in seasoned water in push carts, like those in NYC            

• Chili Dogs††                          • Slaw Dogs (w/ coleslaw)* 

  • New England Style  - a thin split top, dog  w/ sauerkraut & mustard on a special roll

(invented in MA in 1940’s for clam strips) - grilled like a cheese sandwich

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  • Jersey Dogs -  deep-fried w/ yellow relish             

 •  Seattle Dogs  - w/ cream cheese & onions           

• Kansas City Dogs - w/ Swiss cheese & sauerkraut ​

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  • White Hots - uncured, unsmoked dogs, always grilled. When dyed they're called Ret Hots, with the 'hot' referencing hot dogs, not spiciness​

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  • Chicago Red Hots -  all-beef frankfurter w/ mustard, onions, sweet pickle relish, dill pickle spear, tomato, pickled peppers & celery salt

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  • Sonoran Dogs -  wrapped in bacon, in soft roll & smothered w/ beans, tomatoes, onions, crema or mayo, salsa, cheese & radishes

(Arizona & across the South West) 

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   • Michigan (Detroit Coney) Dogs -  w/ mustard, onions & coney sauce (thin meaty chili; no beans - based on the Greek saltsa kima) ​

  • Rhode Island Hot Wieners - a slider version of a dog, 4" long, w/ mustard, meat sauce, chopped onions, & celery salt on a steamed bun.

Meat might not be in a casing and can even include veal. (Never ask for ketchup, and don't call it a hot dog to a local) ​

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  • Hawaiian Puka Dogs - Polish sausage on a toasted-on-the-inside bun w/ regional sauces like guava mustard​​​​

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Internationally there are ...

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  • Danish Dogs: Rød Pølse - sausage on soft Danish bun w/ pickled cucumbers & fried crispy onions​

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  • Deutsch Dogs: Knockwurst - German pork + beef wurst (sausage) with sauerkraut - optional Currywurst version w/ curry ketchup​​

  • Icelandic Dogs: Pylsur - sausage, stuffed a piece of bread w/ chopped onion & Apple Ketchup or Remolaði

(Icelandic sauce of mayo, vinegar, onion & pickle)

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  • Slavic Dogs: Kebapche - grilled mince meat w/ cumin. Popular in Bulgaria

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A Spin off, popular all over the world, is the Corn Dog** 

- invented in the 1940's, it's a hot dog battered in cornbread & fried.

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†  Most well known is the original CONEY ISLAND DOG, operating since the 1870's when hotdogs were called 'dachshund sausages'.

Nathan, of Nathan's Famous 1st worked a Coney Island Dog cart.

†† This can be with or without cheese and there is a CAROLINA version of a Chili Dog that is just bun + chili - no dog!

*  Stadium Dogs, sold @ Baseball games, often offer additional local topping varieties the Fenway Frank w/ Boston baked beans, or

jalapeños when@ a Texas ballgame & LA's Dodger Dog is whole  foot-long.​​ 

** Particularly in Germany & Southern USA -  Oregon's Pronto Pup, Illinois' Cozy Dog  & Texas' Corny Dogs, all claiming to be the original -​