There’s something quintessentially American about enjoying a hot dog fresh off the grill on the Fourth of July. However, determining which hot dog is the best is a matter of spirited debate. Whether it’s the choice of condiments or the method of preparation, everyone has a unique opinion on how to make the perfect hot dog. But which cities in the U.S. consume the most hot dogs?
Top Hot Dog Consuming Cities
Hot dogs are beloved nationwide, with Americans spending $8 billion on them last year, according to the Hot Dog and Sausage Council. The top 10 U.S. cities that purchased the most hot dogs in 2023 are:
- Los Angeles
- New York
- Dallas
- Chicago
- Boston
- Houston
- Philadelphia
- Miami
- Washington, DC
- Phoenix
Vanessa Lara, co-owner of Coney Burger in Miami, highlighted a common oversight in hot dog toppings. “A lot of people are leaving out the diced onions and the mayonnaise,” she said, noting these ingredients often don’t get enough credit.
America’s Favorite Hot Dogs and Styles
When it comes to store-bought hot dogs, Costco’s Kirkland Signature Beef Hot Dogs topped the list, as ranked by the Washington Post, followed by Nathan’s Angus Beef Franks and Oscar Mayer Classic Beef Uncured Franks. Regional preferences also play a significant role in America’s hot dog culture. According to a 2021 survey by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, the New York-style hot dog is the favorite, closely followed by the Chicago style and the Michigan Coney dog. Lara’s personal favorite? “It has to be the chili dog from Coney Burger,” she told USA TODAY. “There’s no other.” The council also found that 76% of participants preferred to enjoy their hot dog with a soda.
Nostalgia and Hot Dog Culture
Hot dogs bring a sense of nostalgia and unity, with memories of family gatherings around the grill. This sentiment is echoed by Lara, who was born in Venezuela and moved to Miami at the age of five. “When I think of hot dogs, I think of families coming together around the grill, and to me, that is an American feeling,” she said. “The feeling of just gathering around the grill and like being the first to grab the bottle of ketchup and being the first to run to the potato chips and just awaiting that moment, I feel like that is so American.”
Popular styles of hot dogs vary widely. According to Delish and New York Times Cooking, the most googled recipes include:
- Chicago-style hot dog: An all-beef frankfurter in a poppy seed bun topped with yellow mustard, neon-green sweet pickle relish, chopped white onion, tomato slices, a dill pickle spear, pickled sport peppers, and celery salt.
- Korean hot dog: A corndog with a hot dog, cheese, rice cakes, or fish cakes at the center, dipped in batter, coated in bread crumbs, deep-fried, and topped with fries, cereal, ketchup, and/or sugar.
- Coney Island hot dog: A hot dog in a steamed bun with meat sauce, chopped onions, and mustard.
The ongoing debate between New York and Chicago styles, much like the rivalry between their pizza styles, reflects the deep connection and passion Americans have for hot dogs. Despite regional differences, the universal appeal and nostalgic value of hot dogs unite Americans from all backgrounds in a shared culinary tradition.