The Best Hot Dogs in Every State and Washington, D.C.
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AND THE WIENER IS ...
PEOPLE Food partnered with the editors of Food & Wine to find the best hot dogs across in every state and Washington, D.C. Click through to find what our tasters deemed the most delicious dog near you.
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ALABAMA
1808 Old Shell Rd, Mobile
Opened in 1924, the restaurant offers an Upside Down Dog: sauerkraut, chili, mustard and ketchup slathered in a bun with a wiener placed on top.
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ALASKA
International House of Hotdogs
415 L St, Anchorage
A specialty rarely found outside the state, the reindeer Polish sausage in the McKinley Dog is dressed with sautéed onions and their secret chipotle crème.
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ARIZONA
Multiple Locations
The Sonoran—which received the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics award this year—boasts a sweet Mexican roll filled with a bacon-wrapped dog, pinto beans, tomatoes, grilled onions, and a fiery jalapeño sauce.
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ARKANSAS
5508 J.F.K. Blvd, North Little Rock
City-inspired offerings—like the Kansas City Dog with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese—are the perfect start to a meal that ends with frozen custard.
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CALIFORNIA
709 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles
What began as a family hot-dog cart in 1939 has become an institution: There's everything from a classic Chili Cheese Dog to the Emeril Lagasse "Bam" Dog with mustard, onions, cheese, jalapeños, bacon and slaw.
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COLORADO
2148 Larimer St, Denver
A former repo man, owner Jim Pittenger has created a hot-dog haven with custom cuts and locally sourced ingredients. Try the Elk Jalapeño Cheddar or Rattlesnake-and-Pheasant Frank.
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CONNECTICUT
2200 Waterbury Rd, Cheshire
Their Connecticut-style sausages—quick-fried in hot oil until blistered and crisp—can be topped with Blackie's famous spicy, pickle-free relish.
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DELAWARE
3401 Concord Pike, Wilmington
The Delaware Destroyer consists of two plump sausages piled into a 6-in. hoagie roll and smothered in creamy mac and cheese, chili, grilled onions and hot sauce.
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FLORIDA
5355 E Colonial Dr, Orlando
A Windy City native, owner Mike Feld makes an authentic Chicago Dog with tomatoes, mustard, onions, bright green relish and a celery salt made in his hometown.
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GEORGIA
5948 Roswell Rd, Sandy Springs
These snappy Vienna beef sausages are inspired by the classic Chicago Dog—and are served on steamed poppy seed buns.
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HAWAII
2360 Kiahuna Plantation Dr, Koloa
The fresh buns here are baked with a hole, or Puka, in the center before the sausage goes in with a secret garlic-lemon sauce, one of six tropical relishes and Aunt Lilikoi's passion fruit mustard.
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IDAHO
2700 E Seltice Way #6, Post Falls
The family-owned business prides itself on seasonal specialties like elk and buffalo dogs. Or pick the Huckleberry Hound topped with huckleberry chipotle, mozzarella and bell pepper.
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ILLINOIS
2720 N River Rd, River Grove
Consider these slender sausages the minimalist's take on the Chicago Dog, dressed with mustard, relish, chopped onion and sport peppers...and a fistful of french fries. Insider tip: Don't ask for ketchup.
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INDIANA
Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island Wiener Stand
131 W Main St, Fort Wayne
Known for its Original Coney Island Hot Dog, with mustard, onions and homemade Coney sauce, this spot still opens at 8 a.m., a time once set to accommodate overnight shift workers on their way home.
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IOWA
5th Ave SW, Le Mars
The locally made Wimmer's franks snap when you bite into them. The joint's famous Bob Dog comes topped with tavern loose meats (a.k.a. seasoned ground beef).
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KANSAS
Fritz's Meats & Superior Sausage
10326 State Line Rd, Leawood
People flock to the oldest smokehouse in Kansas City for the family's gourmet beef sausages that date back to Fritz Plapp, a master sausagemaker from Germany.
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KENTUCKY
1127 Logan Street, Louisville
This popular food truck will be opening a brick-and-mortar spot soon to serve more of its grass-fed beef hot dogs and homemade sausages.
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LOUISIANA
Multiple New Orleans Locations
One of the fan favorites at this spot—which began as a 475-square-foot shack—is a secret menu item known as the Duck Special: duck sausage with blackberry sauce, barbecue sauce, yellow mustard, and bacon.
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MAINE
99 Chestnut St, Lewiston
The poppy-bright Red Snapper pork franks are not to be missed at this family business that has been standing on its original location on Chestnut Street since 1908.
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MARYLAND
3802 Eastern Ave, Baltimore
The sausages are cooked in the front window for everyone to see, and locals keep coming back for the Coney Island Dog topped with a special sauce of ground beef, chili powder, celery salt and secret spices.
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MASSACHUSETTS
Larry Joe's New England Fire Pit
30-A Cape Rd, Mendon
The dogs are grilled over a hickory flame, but it's the superspicy Caribbean-style Fire Dog—a beef sausage made with crushed red peppers—that sets taste buds ablaze.
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MICHIGAN
118 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit
Locals stay loyal to this cash-only spot's vintage interior and classic order of the Coney Dog with chili fries.
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MINNESOTA
Multiple Locations
A Japanese twist on a traditional hot dog, the umami-rich Yakisoba is a Limousin beef frank covered with stir-fried soba noodles, onions, red ginger and Kewpie mayo and served with potato salad.
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MISSISSIPPI
Multiple Locations
The go-to combo at this local fast-food chain is a chili dog with onions and mustard alongside a frosty house root beer.
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MISSOURI
Two St. Louis Locations
A former musician, Steve Ewing once fed folks from a food cart after his shows. Today he has two hot-dog shops where you can get franks with his fabulous macaroni and cheese scooped right on top.
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MONTANA
1806 Cobban St, Butte
Set in a mining town, this spot with a retro vibe serves 100 percent Montana beef sausages. Their popular Butte Dog is dressed with bacon, blue cheese, onion, mozzarella and tangy steak sauce.
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NEBRASKA
3111 O St Suite D, Lincoln
Try the CinnaDog (chili, cheese, onions, jalapeños and sour cream on a sweet cinnamon roll) or FlyDog (with cream cheese, cheese sauce and jalapeños).
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NEVADA
2291 S Fort Apache Rd, Las Vegas
At this Korean-fusion joint the Gang Nam Dog is made with roasted pork belly, pickled cucumber, nori flakes, sesame seeds, green onions and Korean chili sauce—and can be ordered with a fried egg on top.
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NEW HAMPSHIRE
175 Fleet St, Portsmouth
Late-night revelers hit this original box-car diner for its cheap, hearty franks—like the Kraut Dog—and poutine fries.
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NEW JERSEY
417 River Rd, Clifton
The sausages are deep-fried, which causes the casings to crack and split—hence the nickname "Rippers"—before being topped with their neon-green, house-made relish of cabbage, carrots, onions and mustard.
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NEW MEXICO
1216 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque
This no-frills spot on Route 66 serves Footlong Chili Dogs (served with green or red chili), tater tots and a killer Frito pie.
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NEW YORK
10 W 28th St, New York
Of course luxury hot dogs are a thing in Manhattan. Star chef Daniel Humm's Humm Dog is a $16 deep-fried beef dog wrapped in bacon and topped with black-truffle mayonnaise, Gruyère cheese and a crunchy celery relish.
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NORTH CAROLINA
4400 Old Walkertown Rd, Winston-Salem
There are no seats in this tiny shack that's been around since 1910, but the Chili and Slaw Dog with a toasted buttered bun and supercreamy coleslaw makes up for it.
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NORTH DAKOTA
305 N Washington St, Grand Forks
Hot dogs meet vinyl and comics at this eclectic mash-up where you can browse vintage records before or after you bite into a Green Party Dog with guacamole, green chili and salsa verde.
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OHIO
248 S 4th St, Columbus
With more than 20 toppings—from brisket to Sriracha cream cheese—there is something for everyone, even vegetarians who can opt for soy-free veggie dogs.
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OKLAHOMA
107 N Boulder Ave, Tulsa
For those in the know, the order is three Coney Dogs (chili, onions, shredded cheese) plus a dusting of cayenne pepper—but you have to ask for it.
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OREGON
Beez Neez Gourmet Sausages
Mobile Food Truck in Portland
Of the many options at this hot-dog cart—kosher beef, Louisiana hot link, bratwurst, seitan vegan—it's the Alaskan Reindeer Sausage that gets the biggest raves.
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PENNSYLVANIA
3901 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh
At this family-run eatery, Original Dogs go best with mountains of award-winning french fries (200 in a small order) and more than 400 types of beer.
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RHODE ISLAND
18 Plainfield St, Providence
They call them Hot Wieners, and the only way to order them is "all the way," with meat sauce, mustard and onions—and a coffee milk (that's milk with coffee syrup, a Rhode Island treat) on the side.
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SOUTH CAROLINA
1505 King St Ext, Charleston
Kick back on the patio and try the Homemade Hot Dog with chili, slaw and mustard—along with one of a dozen house beers on tap—at this 20,000-sq.-ft. brewery.
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SOUTH DAKOTA
422 S Sanborn Blvd, Mitchell
The Philly Dog cheesesteak-frankfurter is an epic combo with fresh-shaved rib eye, sautéed onions and peppers—and Cheez Whiz.
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TENNESSEE
113 S 11th St, Nashville
The Pimento Cheese Weenie is as fun as the spot itself, which boasts a vintage VW van that's been converted into a food trailer. And there's plenty of Tennessee chow-chow on hand.
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TEXAS
407 Colorado St, Austin
Beer and cocktails are paired with an artisan wiener menu that includes house-made specialties like the Jackalope: a smoked antelope, rabbit and pork sausage with bun choices from a pretzel roll to a tortilla wrap.
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UTAH
Multiple Locations
This mini chain keeps fans coming back for its simple and customizable dogs. Start with a Polish Link and add toppings to your heart's content—but always get the special sauce.
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VERMONT
74 Maple St, Burlington
At this local landmark, belly up to a classic lunch counter for its famous Texas Dog topped with yellow mustard, homemade chili and chopped red onions.
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VIRGINIA
2035 Lee Hwy, Marion
There's nothing like the sweet crunchiness of a Dip Dog—lightly battered, deep-fried, dipped in special mustard and served on a stick. Just don't call it a corn dog.
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WASHINGTON
Multiple Seattle Locations
With carts all over the city, you're never too far from a Seattle-style grilled frank dressed with a healthy squirt of cream cheese and grilled onions.
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WASHINGTON, D.C.
Multiple Locations
Located in a former silent-movie theater, this spot's main draw is the Spicy Half Smoke, a beef and smoked-pork sausage served in a warm steamed bun and topped with mustard, onions and a spicy homemade chili sauce.
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WEST VIRGINIA
6951 Ohio River Rd, Lesage
The kitschy menu features wiener combos like the Pineapplelachian with barbecue sauce, country ham, shredded cheese and crushed pineapple pieces.
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WISCONSIN
2659 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee
To elevate the region's beer-and-brat tradition, the owners created a hipster sausage bar with craft beer, cocktails and a menu that ranges from the basic to the exotic—like the Thai Breaker, a pork sausage with lemongrass, ginger and cilantro topped with peanut sauce, carrots and lettuce.
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WYOMING
1740 Fleischli Pkwy, Cheyenne
This hot-dog cart in the parking lot of a home-improvement store is run by a former chef who specializes in game-meat sausages like elk and wild boar.