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What to eat in the United States of America? Top 27 American Hot Dogs

Last update: Fri Mar 21 2025
Top 27 American Hot Dogs
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01

Hot Dog

CHICAGO, United States of America
4.3
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One of the street foods that are synonymous with Chicago, the Maxwell Street Polish sandwich is said to have been created in 1943 by a Macedonian immigrant Jimmy Stefanovic who operated a hot dog stand - now called Jim's Original - back then located in Chicago's old Maxwell Street market district.


Served on a bun, the grilled or fried Polish sausage is topped with grilled onions, yellow mustard and optional pickled green sport peppers. Soon after its invention, Maxwell Street Polish grew to be one of the Windy City's most popular local fare, and remains a staple of its hot dog stands until this day.

MOST ICONIC Maxwell Street Polish

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02

Hot Dog

NEW YORK, United States of America
4.3
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Despite the name, Michigan hot dogs are practically unknown in Michigan. They are traditionally produced in New York State and Québec. This tasty street food staple consists of a long steamed roll and a steamed hot dog sausage in natural casing, and the whole thing is topped with a meaty sauce called Michigan sauce, chopped onions, and occasionally, yellow mustard.


The sauce is thick and chunky, typically made with tomatoes, vinegar, brown sugar, and cabbage, while the onions may be ordered with or buried (under the sauce).

MOST ICONIC Michigan Hot Dog

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03

Hot Dog

CHICAGO, United States of America
4.1
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Chicago-style hot dog's history begins with street cart hot dog vendors who first started selling them during the harsh times of the Great Depression. Chicago dog was born as the vendors offered a flavorful, hot meal on a bun and started selling it for only a nickel.


Vienna beef hot dog was placed in a steamed poppyseed bun, then topped with numerous ingredients—green relish, yellow mustard, fresh, diced onions, red tomato slices, kosher pickles, a bit of pickled peppers, and a sprinkle of celery salt. The customers absolutely loved the unique combination of hot and cold, crisp and soft, sharp and smooth, and the hot dogs became an authentic icon of the city. 

MOST ICONIC Chicago-Style Hot Dog

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04

Hot Dog

MICHIGAN, United States of America
4.1
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Contrary to popular belief, Coney dog, also called the Coney Island hot dog didn't start on Coney Island, New York. It was invented in Michigan, and three businesses claim to be its original birthplace - American Coney Island in Detroit, Lafayette Coney Island in Detroit and Todoroff's Original Coney Island in Jackson.


A popular theory suggests that it was created by the Greeks and Macedonians who had immigrated to Detroit and passed through Coney Island on their way. The popular dish is consumed since 1917, a beef hot dog that is topped with a beanless, all-meat chili, yellow mustard and diced white onions, served in a warm, steamed bun. 

MOST ICONIC Coney Dog

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05

Hot Dog

CINCINNATI, United States of America
4.0
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Cheese Coneys are a staple of Cincinnati, consisting of a steamed bun that is split and filled with a beef or pork sausage in natural casing, freshly chopped onions, Cincinnati chili, and heaps of grated cheese (usually Cheddar). Mustard is a typical condiment, although some like a few drops of hot sauce on their Coney.


These hot dogs are not served at hot dog stands, but usually at Cincinnati chili parlors, well-known for their chili that is spiked with chocolate and cinnamon.

MOST ICONIC Cheese Coney Hot Dog

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06

Hot Dog

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.9
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Cheese dogs are one of the numerous hot dog varieties found in the United States. The group includes cheese-infused varieties of the classic wiener hot dogs. The cheese can be incorporated in the sausage, spread on a bun, or additionally placed on top of the hot dog.


Although soft buns are the most common casing for the warm wiener and cheese combination, baguette bread, toasts, or plain white bread might also appear in some local types. Among the numerous available varieties of cheese dogs, the most famous is a simple hot dog served with heaps of cheddar cheese which partially melts on the sizzling hot sausage. 

MOST ICONIC Cheese Dog

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07

Hot Dog

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3.9
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Chili dog is an American creation consisting of a sausage in a standard bun, topped with chili sauce and other ingredients depending on personal preferences, such as onions or cheese. The dish is often sold at numerous street stands, local eateries, and sports stadiums.


No one can really agree about the origins or the inventor of the chili dog: some claim it was invented in Texas, the chili capital, while others believe that the first chili dog was created at Art's Famous Chili Dog Stand in southern Los Angeles. 

MOST ICONIC Chili Dog

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08

Hot Dog

CLEVELAND, United States of America
3.8
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Polish boy is the signature sandwich of Cleveland, Ohio, consisting of a kielbasa sausage, coleslaw, fries, and barbecue sauce in a bun. It is believed that Polish boy was most likely invented by a restaurant owner named Virgil Whitmore in the 1940s, who combined a smoked beef sausage with other available ingredients that he had in the restaurant.


Today, there are some variations on the original, such as the addition of pulled pork to the already huge sandwich that is Polish boy.

MOST ICONIC Polish Boy

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09

Hot Dog

SEATTLE, United States of America
3.7
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Seattle dog is a variety of a hot dog consisting of a toasted bun and a sausage that is topped with cream cheese, barbecue sauce, cabbage, and a large amount of grilled onions. There are numerous varieties of the hot dog throughout Seattle, and almost anything goes with the toppings, so some cooks add pico de gallo, bacon, pickles, or mustard to the already large hot dog.


It is believed that Seattle-style hot dog was created in 1988 by Hadley Longe, a bagel man who originally placed a sausage on a bagel with cream cheese and sold it to the locals on their night out near Pioneer Square.

MOST ICONIC Seattle Dog

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10

Hot Dog

NEW YORK, United States of America
3.7
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Bagel dog is a variety of a hot dog consisting of a regular or small-sized hot dog sausage wrapped in bagel dough. Visually, it is quite similar to pigs in a blanket. This street food staple is especially popular in New York City, Cincinnati, and Chicago.


Bagel dogs are commonly topped with poppy seeds before baking in order to enrich the dish with new flavors and textures, but other ingredients such as cheese, onions, and garlic can also be added to these tasty hot dogs. It is believed that the dish was invented in 1980 by Milan R. 
11
Hot Dog
NORTH CAROLINA, United States of America
3.7
12
Hot Dog
TEXAS, United States of America
3.6
13
Hot Dog
WEST VIRGINIA, United States of America
3.6
14
Hot Dog
NEW YORK CITY, United States of America
3.6
15
Hot Dog
BOSTON, United States of America
3.5
16
Hot Dog
MASSACHUSETTS, United States of America
3.4
17
Hot Dog
ALASKA, United States of America
3.4
18
Hot Dog
LOS ANGELES, United States of America
3.3
19
Hot Dog
WASHINGTON, D.C., United States of America
n/a
20
Hot Dog
NEW JERSEY, United States of America
n/a
21
Hot Dog
NEWARK, United States of America
n/a
22
Hot Dog
HUNTINGTON, United States of America
n/a
23
Hot Dog
BALTIMORE, United States of America
n/a
24
Hot Dog
PENNSYLVANIA, United States of America
n/a
25
Hot Dog
HAWAII, United States of America
n/a
26
Hot Dog
IDAHO, United States of America
n/a
27
Hot Dog
CHICAGO, United States of America
n/a

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 27 American Hot Dogs” list until March 21, 2025, 1,037 ratings were recorded, of which 911 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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American Hot Dogs