What is the best hot dog? We're not talking about the best places to get a hot dog, because not everyone is going to travel around the country to find a great one. Sometimes, you only want to travel as far as your local market. Not a problem - you can find some great hot dogs there! Just as with the frozen pizza review, these are rated on a scale of 1-10. Since all the brands seem to be popular, there are not "worst" picks on this list because even the mild tasting Ball Parks have appeal. In general, when choosing dogs, you wil generally be better off paying for an all-beef dog in terms of quality and flavor. Just remember one thing: don't boil your dogs. You'll get a much better flavor and texture through grilling, frying, broiling or even toasting them.
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Boar's Head - Larger than most other brands, Boar's Head dogs are also a bit more expensive. You can taste the quality in these juicy, all-beef franks. 10/10
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Nathan's Famous - Famed for their eatability, these all-beef franks come in both skinless and encased varieties. The skinless ones grill up excellently, with a beefy flavor and flavorful smell, while the cased dogs have a great "snap" when you bite into them. 9/10
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Hebrew National - These dogs are beefy with high-quality meat. Even the reduced fat variety of this all-beef brand is worth a bite. They have a nice snap, grill up well and tastes great. If you over-cook them, though, the casing can get a little tough. 8.5/10
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Oscar Mayer - These are fairly good dogs, though they have a slightly artificial flavor to them. They're not going to hit it out of the ball park when it comes to look or flavor, but they'll definitely bring some people back to the grill for seconds. 6/10
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Ball Park Franks - These look very similar to Oscar Mayer wieners and taste very similar, though they tend to be on the salty side. Frankly, some batches seem to be better than others, but when they're good, they're not bad and kids love them. 5/10
- Sabrett - Sabrett beef dogs are known for their snap, given by their natural casing, and are actually lower in fat than some other dogs. They are very tasty and a bit on the spicy side, but the undertone of smoke flavor is noticeable. They're not kosher, but claim to be "kosher-style. " 8/10
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Healthy Choice Beef- A healthy hot dog? Yup. The all beef ones taste the best out of their lineup of franks, with a blend of spices that makes them taste great for only 70 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. Even Marvo liked them. 7/10
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Yves Veggie Dogs - Considering that these have no meat, they taste surprisingly like some of the other hot dogs, though they can't compare to the all-beef picks for a carnivore. On their own merits, they could use a bit of extra seasoning, but actually taste very good, especially for having 60 calories and no fat per dog. 6/10
[Photo by Nicole Weston]
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 13)
5-26-2006 @ 1:47AM
Paul said...
Vienna and Nathan's -w/the casins-the best.
Super Dog,in Chicago-the best!
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5-26-2006 @ 2:01AM
A. Roberts said...
Western New York is also known for Zweigle's Hots. My favorite is the red pop-open hot. Also greatly loved is their white hot-an all pork hot. I just moved to Florida and cannot get them here so I brought 8-lbs. with me and will have them shipped here when my supply is gone. I have never tasted a better hot dog.
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5-26-2006 @ 2:39AM
K.Dotsey said...
Shop-Rite World Class Hot Dogs exceptionally delicious for a store bought brand hot dog
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5-26-2006 @ 3:17AM
ART LEGGETT said...
AGREE WITH 15 ABOVE JUST GOT BACK TO VA. FROM BUFFALO ATE SALENS AT TED'S HOT DOG STAND WOULDN'T MISS TED'S HOT DOGS ON A BUFFALO TRIP. BROUGHT 10# BACK WITH ME TO COOK OVER CHARCOAL , NEVER ON A GAS GRILL
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5-26-2006 @ 4:33AM
Nick Rossman said...
Wisconsin knows good food and Lambeau Field Hot dogs are the best hot dogs I've ever tasted. You can buy them at grocery stores, but the best ones come from the stadium. They are so different from any hot dog I've had. If you are in Green Bay or surrounding cities make sure to find a Lambeau dog. Another dog that is very popular around here is Klements. These are the sausages feature in the Brewers seventh inning races, very tasty.
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5-26-2006 @ 4:58AM
Nick Rossman said...
Wisconsin Knows Food. Lambeau Hot Dogs are by far the best dogs you can get that are available in grocery stores. They don't taste like any other hot dog. Also, a local fave is Klements, which are the dogs that are featured in the seventh inning races at Brewers games.
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5-26-2006 @ 6:35AM
Marty Melia said...
Super Dog at Devon at Elston Chicago w/ hot peppers & fries in a box
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5-26-2006 @ 7:39AM
Pete M. said...
Everyone has their own opinions and taste buds.My favorite is "Thumann's" natural casing beef or regular (pork&beef).Thumann's also makes a deep frying hot dog that is out of this world.
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5-26-2006 @ 8:21AM
D'Zee said...
I like Armour's the best for a great store-bought hot dog with the classic kids-love-them taste. They are hard to find in Lebanon,Pennsylvania, though.
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5-27-2006 @ 10:12AM
Doris said...
Zweigle's Texas Red Hots are awesome. So are Wegman's. These are found in Rochester, NY. And the best thing about hot dogs in Rochester when you buy them at a grill is that most of them butterfly them (split them lengthwise) and grill them. This really enhances the grilled flavor. THE BEST.
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5-27-2006 @ 10:19AM
Tara McNamara said...
If you are ever in Providence RI, Go to Oneyville, a sector of the city. There is a place called New York System, and ask for a gagger. They have ultimately the best hot dogs in the world...I am suprised they didn't put it in there..maybe they don't know about it..Take it from someone who doesnt even like hot dogs that much! I have gone to RI just to get one.
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5-27-2006 @ 10:32AM
Mike said...
Between Buffalo and Rochester we have the best Hot Dogs in the world. My personal favorites are Zwiegle's natural casing, red or white hots from Rochester. They split open like a good natural casing hot dog should. They are jucy and delicious too. We also have Salens and Wardinski that are equally delicious at any cook out. Anyone who has lived or went to college in Buffalo has been to Ted's Charcoal Hots. This place has been a Buffalo traditon for many years now and is the premium hot dogs stand in the area that all others try to measure up to.
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5-27-2006 @ 10:32AM
sherry lischer said...
Kogels from Flint Mich are the best. The quality of this dogs are of the highest standerd.We will eat nothing else.
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5-27-2006 @ 10:40AM
Dan Kort said...
Tony say's that he can't believe that the Hot Grill in Clifton, NJ is not on the list. Well I can't believe that there's no mention of Rutt's Hut in Clifton. Rutt's is the best!
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5-27-2006 @ 10:59AM
Dave Collier said...
How about the Hot Dog Shoppe in Warren Ohio? They have bene in business for almost 50 yrs serving the best around. Best hot dog in stores? How about "Big As Buns!"
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5-27-2006 @ 11:07AM
Heather said...
The best hot dogs that you can buy in the store are as follows...
BEST
SABRETT
THUMANN'S
NATHAN'S
All 4 brands are excellent!!
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5-27-2006 @ 11:08AM
chad said...
Smith's dogs are the greatest. My brother-in-law and I have to drive an hour away to get them and three years ago it was 7 hours away, but all worth it.
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5-27-2006 @ 11:22AM
John said...
Interesting reccomendations, but you guys need to come down south to Jack's Cosmic Dogs, located just up the coast from Charleston, SC. Awesome dogs, decent prices..... you can't get much better!!
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5-27-2006 @ 11:26AM
Laron said...
Any natural casing German/Polish dog seems to have the best flavor and juciness. Klement's of Milwaukee are tremendous but limited in distribution area.
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5-27-2006 @ 11:31AM
joanne schumann said...
you haven't lived til you taste a Hoffmann Hot Dog, they are the best in the USA. Made in Syracuse NY and
can't be beaten......
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