Every Style of Hot Dog We Could Find Across the US

Hot dogs are about as American as apple pie. It’s not uncommon for different states to offer their unique spins on classic American cuisine, and the hot dog industry is no exception. While some stands and shops take inspiration from other popular local cuisines for their toppings (like adding coleslaw or fish sticks to their classic franks and buns), others insist on layering, excluding, or adding ingredients to ensure their dogs remain a distinct staple to their regional style.

#hotdog #foodhistory #weirdhistoryfood

[Music] hot dogs are as american as apple pie but unlike apple pie hot dogs in the u.s can range from being as plain as a steaming wiener on a bun to one that features all the glories of bacon beans onions salsa and cheese today on weird history food we’re covering the most distinctive dogs in the united states but before we chop onions and squirt the mustard be sure to subscribe to the weird history food channel then leave a comment and tell us what other popular food styles you would like to know more about okay grab some mustard and onion and settle in for this mouth-watering tour of dog town usa new yorkers love their dirty water dogs and look for the signature sabret blue and yellow awnings throughout the city like many dogs these are known for their all beef meat and natural casings what makes the new york wieners unique though is that they’re boiled in vats of spiced water the casual onlooker the vets may appear to be swimming with dirt and stank hence the name in reality the water is seasoned with spices and aromatics like red pepper onion nutmeg cumin and vinegar while some connoisseurs declare ketchup verboten on a dog these vendors sometimes add it and or tomato sauce to the simmering wiener bath vendors serve the franks on doughy buns which soak up the flavor toppings include ketchup mustard sauerkraut and tomato onion dressing found only in new york city coney dogs hail from new york’s coney island you uh probably didn’t use to tell you that but immigrants coming through ellis island who encountered coney island hot dogs put their own unique spin on the recipe as they settled throughout the country take for example william bill and constantine gust kerose who migrated to america from greece and enjoyed nathan handworkers famous franks on coney island before making their way to detroit the duo opened american coney island in detroit in 1919 paying homage to the food that inspired their restaurant and technically claiming right to the first coney dog to give their product a distinctive flavor the brothers topped the dogs with greek meat sauce a beanless chili that became a standard garnish bill and gust started their business together but a feud split the restaurant in two stories differ on how and when the feud began but the disagreement ended up creating a fiery frankfurter competition side-by-side restaurants exist in detroit to this day the hot texas wiener doesn’t hail from the lone star state but rather from paterson new jersey e before i being the preferred wiener spelling in these parts it’s been around since 1924 when someone known only as an old greek gentleman opened a hot dog counter in downtown patterson apparently to test versions of his spaghetti sauce as a hot dog topping he eventually found the ideal combination of ingredients cementing the recipe’s local stature but no one recalls who the gent was or why he chose to name his specialty after another state maybe in the patterson of 1924 texas sounded spicy and exotic almost like a whole other country the dish consists of an all-beef frank blanched briefly in hot oil before finishing in another vat cooks then lay the weiner on a bun and top it in strict order with spicy mustard chopped onions ground beef chili sauce tomatoes more onions and the secret spice blend in a city of divisions north side south side cubs vs socks craft beer versus old style there is a broad agreement on one thing chicago style hot dogs feature a vienna beef wiener on a poppy seed bun vendors follow a strict layering order when it comes to toppings dressing the dogs with mustard followed by a neon green relish chopped raw onion sport peppers sliced tomatoes a pickle spear and celery salt chicagoans never put ketchup on their dogs do not ask you will be mocked nobody i mean nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog so for lunch in the windy city you and your chum can celebrate friendship and camaraderie over a couple of ketchup-free dogs but at dinner time the cease-fire ends will it be deep dish or tavern style pizza [Music] no one knows the origin of the term half in washington dc’s famed half smoke hot dogs some claim it stems from the sausages half beef half pork composition others believe it’s because cooks traditionally slit the wieners down the middle before grilling to half and half not divisions over the origin of the dc dog’s name aside locals and experts agree it’s more than just a regular chili dog dc franks are spicier and smokier more flavorful than a run-of-the-mill dog they also find their way into a splendid breakfast sandwich the half-smoked egg and cheese served by weenie beanie since 1954 the half smoke has become a staple at ben’s chili bowl which propelled the dish to international acclaim celebrity diners like dave chappelle and the late anthony bourdain loved the distinctly dc dish accelerating its popularity [Music] clevelanders take pride in their polish boy hot dogs considering them a hometown delicacy kielbasa coleslaw fries and barbecue sauce on a tasty bun from there restaurants around cle add their flourishes making the polish boy a truly unique experience looking to try the original visit banter’s polish boys where they serve house-made barbecue sauce on a traditional ohio kielbasa seti’s polish boys have been featured by food network stars and appeared on the list of michael simon’s best things i ever ate and if a single polish doesn’t satisfy some restaurants serve their boys with a side of chicken wings beef brisket or chopped pork and if only they could fit all that on a dog the hot dogs served at home barbecues and on camping trips in maine are crimson like alarmingly so known as red snappers the beef and pork franks are dyed red before going into a natural casing that delivers a signature snap when bitten so yeah just to clarify they are supposed to look like that instead of nestling into a typical side split bun red snappers are served in top loaded buns like new england lobster rolls the flat bottom design allows red snapper to stand up more easily and the buns are great for buttering and toasting traditionally snappers are best served with potato salad french fries or new england’s humpty dumpty chips cincinnati’s signature hot dog stands out due to its topping of distinctive skyline chili immigrant nicholas labrinidis brought the recipe to the u.s from his hometown of castoria greece named after labrina this skyline restaurant the chili’s ingredients include worcestershire sauce cumin paprika vinegar cloves and the secret ingredient that lends a sweet tang the labridades family keeps mum but many speculate the ingredient is cinnamon allspice or nutmeg come on labrina does family we know we’re close some cincinnati dog lovers used to think the recipe included cocoa powder but skyline shot down that theory by declaring that people allergic to chocolate needn’t worry about having a reaction not everyone in cincinnati embraces their city’s version of the dish and some question whether the topping is even chilly at all hopefully these naysayers find solace in the skyline dogs other garnishes mounds of shredded cheese and diced onions [Music] southern arizona is known for its sonoran hot dogs a riotous hybrid of mexican and american flavors that the locals love comprising bacon-wrapped sausage nestled inside a bolillo-style bun the dogs are griddled on a flat top allowing the fat to crisp and seal the bacon to the link then smothered with pinto beans tomatoes green salsa grilled and raw onions mushrooms guacamole and shredded cheese the dish was popularized by raveness college students yeah it sounds like a hangover tonic it became so sought after that in one 2015 survey more than 200 vendors had the dog on their menu in tucson alone [Music] this iconic sausage is said to have originated in the early 1930s when tony paco the hungarian-american owner of a sandwich and ice cream shop in toledo ohio took a thick hungarian sausage called a cool boss and sliced it in half lengthwise the result was similar in size to a standard wiener paco served the dog on a sausage roll topped with his spicy chili sauce and put it on the menu for a nickel the creation was a hit and helped tony and his wife rose open the original tony paco’s restaurant in 1935. the patco profile grew more prominent over the years in 1972 actor burt reynolds stopped for dinner and famously autographed a hot dog bun starting a tradition that blossomed into tony paco’s wall of autographed hot dog buns with signatures from jimmy carter to george carlin the show mash also helped paco’s popularity with corporal klinger played by native toledo in jamie farr who had mentioned tony pacos in seemingly every episode today at any of several toledo area locations you can get a paco’s original topped with mustard onions and famous sauce for four bucks shredded cheese extra rhode islanders are proud of their hot wiener and honestly who in their right mind wouldn’t say the same thing they consider it as much a culinary staple as cheesesteaks are to philly weenie joint owners across the state agree that the dish originated at the original new york system eatery at 424 smith street in providence while many other hot dogs contain a mixture of processed ingredients hot weeners contain only beef pork veal spices and a single preservative homestead baking company of east providence almost single-handedly supplies buns to all rhode island no matter where link lovers go in the ocean state ordering a hot wiener all the way always includes a steamed bun signature frank mustard meat sauce celery salt and onions while alaska’s reindeer dogs are trendy they’re not solely composed of the meat of a particular hooved mammal that may or may not pull santa’s sleigh although we can’t totally rule it out along with meat from the caribou the north american term for wild reindeer these franks also contain pork and beef local eateries serve them with coca-cola deglazed onions cream cheese and mustard sometimes patrons add ketchup and relish although native to alaska the reindeer links are so beloved that versions can be found in other cities including denver and portland [Music] despite its name the texas tommy was invented in pottstown pennsylvania in the 1940s apparently another lone star wannabe the dog is grilled over medium heat and contains a slice of bacon pepper jack cheese and peppers inside a toasted or warmed bun additional acceptable condiments include ketchup and mustard and adventure seekers can even get a hitched version which features macaroni pour on top because the best dogs do sound like a dare the italian hot dog served on thick pieces of pizza dough bread instead of a traditional bun has its roots in newark new jersey italian hot dogs are all beef made with a natural casing and served with cooked peppers onions and fried potatoes cooks cut the pizza bread into quarters making the dish more like a sandwich than a regular hot dog then they stuff the bread with one or two sausages along with veggies although traditionally used sparingly mustard red sauce or even ketchup qualify as condiments foodies can find the italian dog all over newark but according to a local who has eaten a dish for more than 60 years there are only three spots where a connoisseur can find authentic versions dicky d’s jimmy buffs and tommy’s italian sausage and hot [Music] dogs it’s possible to find delicious meat in tube form as anthony bourdain used to describe it all over the hawaiian islands one example the distinctive pooka dog typically includes a skinless polish sausage or vegetarian link covered in a secret lemon garlic sauce instead of a traditional bun puka dogs are inserted into a bun sized bread loaf with a hole in one end cooks used special pronged toasters to crisp up the inside of the bread so that the outside remains fluffy and fresh if hot dog lovers want toppings beyond the lemon garlic sauce they can sample the signature hawaiian mustard or fruity and or spicy relishes bourdain himself visited the puka dog location in the waikiki international marketplace in the no reservations hawaii episode [Music] new jersey claims more than a half dozen original hot dogs but the ripper is one of the most unusual royal and rutt invented the dog for the roadside venue ratzhut shortly after it opened in 1928 the hot dogs fry in hot oil until their natural casings burst the boiling oil further cooks the frank inside creating unique crispness that permeates the entire sausage we’re generally a fan of any food you can just deep fry until it explodes [Music] [Applause] street dogs are among the most popular vendor foods in los angeles patrons love visiting the cuss to grab a bacon-wrapped prank after a night of clubbing although cops and health officials aren’t nearly as enamored of the food carts you know it’s too bad to screw balls like that loose on the streets nicknamed danger dogs or dirty dogs these links are sometimes sold by unlicensed vendors who leave the uncooked bacon out for hours in the socal sun bacon that is then wrapped around wieners and griddled the dogs are served with toppings like caramelized onions despite the risk of food poisoning danger dogs remain an la staple in addition to caramelized onions patrons can add grilled bell peppers and jalapenos to their bacon-spiraled street meat call the origin of the corn dog a meat in a tube form mystery dipped in cornmeal batter and deep fried the hot dog on a stick is a staple of state fairs and carnivals nationwide it’s been around for less than 100 years but the greasy convenient wiener with a handle tastes so good that everyone wants credit for it did it originate at the texas state fair in the late 1930s or early 1940s at the pronto pup fountain shop in portland oregon in 1941 the cozy dog drive-in in springfield missouri in 1946 the list of corn dog claimants is long but one undisputed fact is that a single bite of this corn robed fella dripping with ketchup and or mustard will take you back to your first state fair hopefully you aren’t afraid of carnies or clowns [Music] the state of new york is home to a three restaurant hudson valley chain hot dog charlie’s which serves three inch mini hot dogs the chain also creates its own miniature buns making the large window to diners a local novelty the trademark topping is chilly but you can also get onions relish ketchup mustard or sauerkraut the chain also serves hamburgers clam rolls fried fish and french fries covered in melted cheese and topped with bacon all of which are in non-miniature form [Music] carolina dogs feature a sausage unique to the region while they don’t taste much different from standard hot dogs their distinctive color sets them apart produced by brightleaf a north carolina-based food brand the pork and beef wieners are electric pink due to a secret blend of seasonings the most popular way to serve a dog in the carolinas is with a load of creamy coleslaw the slaw sits atop a spicy beef chili helping balance the heat as it adds flavor carolinians usually finish their dogs with a drizzle of mustard hot dog enthusiasts don’t have to travel to the carolinas for the experience however pink dogs from bright leaf can be ordered for delivery nationwide [Music] dinglewood pharmacy in columbus georgia turns its quirky scrambled dog concoction into a local favorite since 1918 the diner has served chopped wieners chili pickles oyster crackers and cheese scrambled together on a hot dog bun in a dish popular toppings include white onions yellow mustard jalapenos and sour cream the pup isn’t just popular among columbus natives it also had the top spot on a major league baseball list of best hot dogs by region it was a favorite of president jimmy carter and it’s been served at weddings and formal events in saudi arabia and florence italy see hot dogs are perfect for any occasion they’re the no jacket required of food [Music] the city credits former seattle native and bagel vendor hadley long for popularizing this distinctive version of a hot dog one with a slather of cream cheese customers began requesting he served franks along with his specialty bagel sticks which were bagels or bialys shaped roughly like hot dog buns with a spread of cream cheese so he eventually obliged he started serving bagel dogs topped with cream cheese grilled onions and jalapenos outside bars and clubs in the evenings they became a hit and patrons swarmed the stand for what had become one of the city’s top 10 things to do soon after carts across seattle began selling the local specialty many substituting standard buns for the bagel sticks [Music] fish cakes on hot dogs have a long history in philadelphia though these days it’s a bit of a throwback john dans owner of the city’s most popular fish dog combo spot reports that mainly old timers and some adventurous younger folk order the dish the tradition of topping dogs with fish cakes a cod potato blend began in 1895 and evolved over the years as local eateries added their spin the most typical additional topping is pepper hash made from cabbage chopped red bell peppers and apple cider vinegar onions and brown mustard also usually make an appearance [Music] hot dog lovers can get an authentic reuben dog a spin-off from a classic reuben sandwich only in kansas city originally created for kauffman stadium home of the kansas city royals in missouri reuben dogs can also be found in the city of the same name across the state line in kansas as its name suggests a reuben dog boasts corned beef sauerkraut melted cheese caraway seeds and a load of thousand island dressing so what do you think which of these dogs is your favorite let us know in the comments below and while you’re at it check out some of these other videos from weird history food