The 22 Best Hot Dog Stands in the United States

Here's where to find the U.S.'s best hot dogs.Few foods scream summer more than a hot dog scored from a vintage, family-owned hot-dog stand where you dine outdoors, likely on picnic tables. The best hot dog stands are American icons, having stuffed wieners into buns for several decades now and, over time, adopting a cult following. They didn’t just open yesterday—instead, these establishments have been staples in foodie circles for a long time. As any seasoned hot-dog lover knows, regions across the U.S. have their own take on the classic “dog.” For example, a Chicago-style hot dog absolutely does not need ketchup, and that thick meat sauce topping a Coney Island dog isn’t a mistake—it’s what makes them so worth seeking out as you travel from coast to coast. Two other regional tweaks are a Sonoran-style dog (created in the Mexican state of Hermosillo and now found in Arizona, the hot dog is wrapped in bacon and topped with, among other ingredients, pinto beans and jalapeño salsa) and a Dixie dog (sometimes called a “slaw dog,” it’s topped with coleslaw and chili sauce and originates in West Virginia). Much like barbecue or pizza offer regional distinctions, so do hot dogs. Another bonus: hot dogs are super affordable, and rarely have their prices spiked, leaving you money to spare. But lest you dub them too “casual” or ordinary, that’s simply not true: one of these spots even won a James Beard Award for its hot dogs. Read on for the best hot dogs across the United States. 1 OF 22 Pink’s Hot Dogs WHERE: Los Angeles, California Even with nationwide shipping, you should still experience Pink’s Hot Dogs at the source. There are eight locations, but for the OG, go to the first location at North La Brea and Melrose, where Paul and Betty Pink debuted their hot dog cart in 1939. Just look for the pink building.Many of the 17 different dogs are inspired by regions through the U.S. (like a New York dog, topped with sweet and saucy onions; or a Chicago Polish dog, featuring mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes and lettuce) as well as Guadalajara, Mexico (folded in bacon, Sonoran-style) and also odes to celebs like Rosie O’Donnell, Shaq, and Carl Reiner. On the Shaq dog, four onion rings symbolize Shaquille O’Neal’s four NBA championships. 2 OF 22 35th Street Red Hots WHERE: Chicago, Illinois Competition for the “best” hot dog in the Windy City is fierce, but hot dog loyalists throw their weight to 35th Street Red Hots located on, you guessed it, 35th Street, in Bridgeport on Chicago’s South Side near Rate Field (home field for the Chicago White Sox).Jeff Greenfield and Barry Nemerow opened this spot in 2005. This is a no-fuss, minimalist kind of place, including the menu description: “hotdog & fries: $4.74.” While the founders have since expanded into burgers, hot dogs are a mainstay on the menu, with Chicago Magazine continually ranking these guys as the best in town, citing its “juicy, beefy hot dog served with mustard, relish, sport peppers, and onions.” 3 OF 22 Lafayette Coney Island WHERE: Detroit, Michigan Known for its Coney Island hot dogs—a hot dog stuffed in a steamed bun and topped with meat sauce—Lafayette Coney Island was opened in 1924 by Greek immigrant William Keros, and is fresh off its centennial anniversary. Don’t leave without ordering a side of chili cheese fries. In fact, the owner recommends a “2-in-1 Coney dog,” which is two hot dogs served together, along with chili fries and Vernor soda, a ginger ale with Detroit roots dating back to the 1860s. 4 OF 22 El Guero Canelo WHERE: Tucson, Arizona In 2018, this Mexican restaurant, with three locations in Tucson, shocked culinary critics by winning a James Beard Award (America’s Classics), which proves hot dogs are indeed elevated under the right chef’s purview. On its menu are three hot dog options: Sonoran-Style, Sammy Dog, and Chucho Dog.Born out of a food cart, chef-owner Daniel Contreras has been serving these dogs since 1993. He even imports the bolillo rolls (akin to dinner rolls) from Mexico for the Sonoran-style, hell-bent on authenticity. Then, after the roll is steamed, the hot dog is wrapped in bacon and topped with pinto beans, raw and grilled onions, and chopped tomatoes. For the final touch, it is drizzled with mustard, jalapeño salsa, and mayonnaise. You can also top it with a dollop of guacamole, sour cream, and cheese, too. 5 OF 22 Papaya King WHERE: New York City Gus Poulos opened this Manhattan institution in 1932 with an Upper East Side location at 86th Street and 3rd Avenue, serving tropical-fruit drinks before adding hot dogs. It reopened last summer a half-block away, which is about as close to the original spot as you can get. Despite many attempts to franchise or expand to places as close as Brooklyn and as far away as Vegas and Los Angeles, this remains the only location open today. Pair your hot dog with a sweet, fun, and off-beat treat (fried Oreos) or choose the nostalgic combo (The 1932: a hot dog with kraut and onions or relish, and fries). 6 OF 22 Puka Dog WHERE: Kauai, Hawaii Hawaii has its own version of a hot dog: taste-test this tropical twist at Puka Dog. While it first opened in 2000 as a hot dog hut, it grew into a hot dog stand two years later. Since 2020, it has been located near Poipu Beach, inside Brennecke’s Deli. What makes this hot dog unique is that it’s partially encased in a sweet Hawaiian bread bun, but that’s not all. Choose a spiciness level for the garlic-lemon sauce, and then add one of six tropical relishes (including banana, mango, papaya, and starfruit), along with passionfruit mustard. This can also be made as a veggie dog. 7 OF 22 Alamo Hot Dog Company WHERE: San Antonio, Texas This downtown San Antonio hot dog stand is a basic cart with a red umbrella and no seating, but popular among locals, often attracting a long line of hungry fans. Its specialty is a bacon-wrapped hot dog smothered in sautéed onions, peppers, jalapeño chili, cheese, mustard, ketchup, and mayo. Just know that it’s open evenings only, except for Mondays, when it’s closed, but stays open very late—until bar time. 8 OF 22 Gus’s Hot Dogs WHERE: Birmingham, Alabama Since 1947, this hot dog stand has been pushing hot dogs in downtown Birmingham. While there have been a few owners since Gus Alexander, a Greek immigrant, founded it, Gus’s remains in the same location. Lee Pantazis is the current owner and, prior to Gus’s Hot Dogs, cooked in some of Birmingham’s best kitchens, including Satterfield’s. On the menu are five hot dogs, including a slaw dog (topped with coleslaw) and a relish dog (relish is a topping, along with kraut, mustard, and onions). A chili dog is also featured on the menu. 9 OF 22 Dogma Grill WHERE: Miami, Florida Tucked along Biscayne Boulevard, where it meets NE 71st Street in the MiMo District, Dogma Grill fits right into the vintage-vibes area with its retro neon sign and kitschy slogan, “a Frank Philosophy.”Miami New Times named this walk-up spot the best hot dog stand in all of Miami 20 years ago, and again earlier this year. The fanfare continues, even under new owners. There are a whopping 13 different hot dog recipes on the menu, inspired by cities all across the U.S., such as the “NYC Pushcart” (featuring spicy brown mustard and onion sauce) and “Tropical” (a Colombian-style option with pineapple, bacon, Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese, and chips). 10 OF 22 Lucky Louie’s Beer & Wieners WHERE: Erie, Pennsylvania Of all the hot dog stands on this list, Lucky Louie’s Beer & Wieners is in the smallest city, as Erie is home to only 93,000 people or so. If you’re tired of a basic hot dog, then the menu here is just for you, with quirky options like Seattle Slew (cream cheese, grilled onions, and chipotle seasonings) and Judy’s Ash Street Greek (spicy Greek sauce, onions, mustard, and cheesy sauce). You can also order a hot dog inspired by Chicago. All of the wieners are from Smith’s in Pennsylvania, and non-meat eaters can enjoy Jumbo Smart dogs as an alternative. 11 OF 22 Ben’s Chili Bowl WHERE: Washington, D.C. Fresh off an appearance earlier this year on season seven of the Netflix series “Somebody Feed Phil,” Ben’s Chili Bowl has been a D.C. institution since newlyweds Ben and Virginia Ali opened in 1958, in the U Street Corridor, within a former silent-movie house and pool hall. Virginia is still alive, although her descendants manage the restaurant, keeping it in the family. Topped with chili, the hot dogs here are unique, such as its locally famous Half Smoke: a hot dog that mixes pork and beef, and is topped with chili and condiments. There’s even a veggie dog topped with, you guessed it, veggie chili. 12 OF 22 The Varsity WHERE: Atlanta, Georgia In business since 1928, which is just shy of a century, The Varsity now has eight locations, all in the Atlanta area. While the original at 55 North Avenue is no longer open, each location still flaunts a unique and retro-laced design, weaving in light-yellow and bright-red hues. For example, the one in downtown Atlanta features a shimmery silver sign and is also the “world’s largest drive-in,” seating up to 800 diners. There are seven hot dogs on the menu, including three slaw dogs as an ode to the Southern specialty: chili slaw dog, chili cheese slaw dog, and slaw dog. Menus vary at each spot. 13 OF 22 Gray’s Papaya WHERE: New York City While at one time there were multiple Gray’s Papaya locations in New York City, today there’s just one, at Broadway and 72nd Street. Wondering why a hot dog stand is named for a tropical fruit? There’s a reason that completely makes sense: papaya-fruit drinks are sold here, to pair with your $3.45 hot dog. Even if you haven’t been here, you’ve likely seen it, thanks to appearances in films like “You’ve Got Mail,” “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” and “The Back-Up Plan.” Gray’s Papaya also popped up in episodes of “Sex and the City” and “How I Met Your Mother.” 14 OF 22 Superdawg Drive-In WHERE: Chicago, Illinois With a stand on the Northwest side and another in Wheeling, Superdawg’s Superdawg hot dog is in a poppyseed bun and adorned with hot peppers, chopped onions, mustard, and tangy piccalilli. It’s served with a kosher dill pickle, pickled green tomato, and crinkle-cut Superfries, in a cardboard box with midcentury-modern graphics. Two Food Network shows (“Emeril Live” and “Unwrapped”) have featured Superdawg. Fans of ‘50s culture will love the carhop service and a walk-up window. Maurie and Florence “Flourie” Berman opened Superdawg in 1948, and it continues to be owned and operated by the couple’s son, along with the newer one that opened in Wheeling in 2010. 15 OF 22 Mel’s Hot Dogs WHERE: Tampa, Florida As this iconic hot-dog stand likes to say, it was founded by “a Chicago hippie”—Mel Lohn, who searched for, but did not find, a Chicago-style hot dog in Tampa while on tour with his band in the early 1970s. In 1973, the Chicago native opened Mel’s Hot Dogs and kept the stand sizzling until he sold it to the Szabo family in 2023. There are 15 hot dogs on the menu, including two Chicago riffs: “Ditka,” a Polish dog named for the former Chicago Bears coach who led the NFL team to win the 1986 Super Bowl; and a Chicago-style dog topped with all the right fixings. There’s also a veggie dog so meat-free diners don’t have to miss out, and an ode to a Southern favorite, the “Slaw Dog.” 16 OF 22 Ted’s Hot Dogs WHERE: Western New York With seven locations in Western New York (including the second one to open—still standing—in Tonawanda), plus two in Arizona to satisfy snowbirds, Ted’s Hot Dogs first opened in 1927 by Greek immigrant Theodore Spiro Liaros. (Just before this, he tested the concept via a hot-dog cart parked in a Buffalo park.) Hot dogs sourced from Sahlen Packing Co. (in business since 1869) are made to order and cooked over charcoal for tasty char-broiled flavor. Over time, more menu items have been added, including a soy-based meatless hot dog and a battered, deep-fried corn dog. Locals also know to order buttermilk-battered, fried extra-thin onion rings on the side. 17 OF 22 Nathan’s Coney Island WHERE: Brooklyn, New York It would be nearly criminal to not include Nathan’s Coney Island on a list of the best hot-dog stands in America. Even though it’s evolved into a franchise that includes airport locations and 14 countries abroad, and has since tapped a James Beard Award-winning chef to tweak the menu, you can still visit the original in Brooklyn’s Coney Island, which debuted in 1916. (The second location wouldn’t come until 1955, in Oceanside on Long Island.) Whether you crave a simple hot dog or something more layered—like a chili-cheese dog or New York cheesesteak dog—Nathan’s Coney Island has your palate covered. 18 OF 22 Jimmy Buff’s WHERE: New Jersey Hot dog lovers keen on sampling regional varieties should know about the “Newark Dog,” which is essentially an Italian hot dog that’s stuffed into a pizza-like bread and topped with sautéed onions, peppers, and potatoes. Jimmy Buff’s is the real deal, as it’s been open since 1932, when James “Bluff” Racioppi unveiled what’s known to be the first “Newark Dog,” honoring his heritage and based on his wife Mary’s recipe. The original location has since closed, but two more have been added (in West Orange and Kenilworth), both run by Racioppi’s descendants, and still serving that same recipe. 19 OF 22 Arbetter’s WHERE: Miami, Florida Since 1959, Arbetter’s hot-dog stand has been in Miami, despite moving a few times. Now in its second generation and at the same location since 1970, Arbetter’s remains in the same family, run by the founder’s son, Dave Arbetter. Chili cheese as a topping on a hot dog is a true specialty and is featured in two menu items: a chili-cheese dog and a chili-and-cheese grilled dog. Even so, the menu spans the country with a Chicago-style hot dog, New York dog, Hawaiian version (topped with pineapple), and West Virginia (smothered in slaw)—and also an ode to Miami. For that one, a hot dog is dressed with cheese, mustard, onions, mayo, tomatoes, and potato sticks. 20 OF 22 Chronis Famous Sandwich Shop WHERE: Los Angeles, California Locals love to flock to the east side of Los Angeles to order hot dogs and chili dogs at this fast-food-style sandwich stand that’s been serving here since 1945. Sides of chili fries (or regular fries) are also part of the culinary experience. Chronis Famous Sandwich Shop was opened by a Greek-American family (the Chronis) and is still in the family today, with third-generation owner Greg Chronis now at the helm. 21 OF 22 O’Betty’s Red Hot WHERE: Athens, Ohio This hot-dog stand may have only opened in 2003, but it quickly evolved into a local institution and sports the kind of street cred you usually only get after half a century (yes, the hot dogs are that good!). That includes the menu of 12 signature hot dogs you’re not likely to find anywhere else, such as “The Swiss Doll” (topped with mushrooms, Swiss cheese and mayonnaise) and “Varla” (sauerkraut, crunchy bacon bits, horseradish sauce and 1000 Island dressing). At least two of these recipes fold in coleslaw to make an authentic “Dixie Dog,” which is not too surprising as the West Virginia border (where this type of hot dog was invented) is only a short drive away. 22 OF 22 El Capricho Hot Dogs WHERE: Phoenix, Arizona The specialty at El Capricho Hot Dogs’ four Phoenix locations may be Sonoran-style, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, but what makes them different than any other hot-dog stand serving these is that you can tack on other ethnic specialties to your order. This includes two popular street foods: salchipapas (thinly sliced beef sausages and French fries, with a side of coleslaw), originating in South America; and salchicha caprichosa, a variety of sausages blended into one hot dog before being topped with—for example—jalapeño salsa and cotija cheese, and stemming from Mexico.