Hot dogs, at least the ones from my childhood, never had a lot of creativity (the cardinal sin would be pairing a hot dog with ketchup, heaven forbid). If you’re like me and craving something more than classic ketchup and mustard, you won’t have to look far and wide to find new inspiring ideas for your next hot dog – you simply have to look around at different cities across the US.
Georgia’s Scramble Dog
Deep in the south is a pharmacy that’ll make you eat your hot dog with a fork. Called a scramble dog, this hot dog starts out with a simple bun, but the simple stops there. Next, a pool of chili soaks the bun, and hot dogs are sliced into the chili, it’s then topped with cheese, pickles, and saltine soup crackers.
Hawaii’s Puka Dog
In Hawaii, it’s the bun that makes the hot dog. Puka is a Hawaiian word for hole, and that’s just what this hot dog bun is. These cylindrical sweet buns have a hole through the center. The hot dog tunnel is made in a unique way – they jab the bread through a rod. While the hot dog is your classic frank, this is probably the sauciest of hot dogs. A secret sauce, mayo, and sweet mustard are inserted into the hole, while a lemon garlic mayo and tropical relish top it all off.
Detroit’s Coney Dog
When you think of a Coney hot dog you may think of Brooklyn’s famous strip of beach and boardwalk, but that’s not where this hot dog derives from, in fact, this hot dog calls Detroit its home. There’s a bitter rivalry between two restaurants, claiming supreme victory over coney island hot dogs, and they’re even next-door neighbors. Since the early 20th century people have been eating these hot dogs with gusto. A pour of bean-less all-meat chili accompanies yellow mustard, diced raw onions, and a steamed bun. The dissimilarity in the chilis and toppings is slight, but according to die-hard fans, the difference is real. The popularity of this hot dog migrated further into the heartland, however, the Coney dog is a purely Michigan specialty, served at weddings, parties, and funerals.
Ohio’s Polish Boy
When in doubt, add more! That’s what this Cleveland restaurant owner Virgil Whitmore did in the 1940s. He added a meal (plus a side of two) onto a hot dog. A hot dog, coleslaw, french fries, and barbecue sauce barely fit into a hot dog bun for an almost but barely portable meal.
Arizona’s Sonoran Dog
The southwest’s version of hot dogs gets the same Latin inspiration with ingredients from Mexico’s Sonoran region. LA has a similar hot dog, but the southwest’s version takes the win for the better toppings. A bacon-wrapped hot dog snuggles next to a charred pepper, then it’s blanketed with a sizzling serving of sautéed peppers and onions and finally topped with a hefty portion of simmered pinto beans.
Washington’s Seattle Dog
Seattle may be famous for many other things like coffee, but their hot dogs are definitely a standout contender for unique toppings. Their version takes the elements of a bagel and slaps it onto a hot dog. An unapologetic layer of cream cheese glues the hot dog to the toasted bun. The toppings here in the image are just sautéed onions, but there’s also another popular version with fresh jalapeños and more saucy condiments.
What are your favorite unique toppings for hot dogs?