Welcome to hot dog haven, where you will find only the best fast food hot dogs! We’ve scoured the fast food world to find the 12 best hot dogs, from classic to extraordinary. We’ve thrown in some dogs from warehouse clubs, too because of their incredible value. See which hot dogs stand out from the crowd!
12. Sonic
Sonic has a great lineup of specialty hot dogs, with the classic Chili Cheese Coney earning high marks. The all-beef hot dog topped with warm chili and melty cheese on a warm bakery bun has the makings of a guilty pleasure. Just make sure you don’t get a plain hot dog at Sonic, because it does look unappetizingly sad. You can never go wrong with some chili, cheese, and onions on top!
11. A&W
Honestly, A&W shouldn’t just be known for their root beer, but also for their all-beef hot dogs. They’re soft and juicy, with reddish sausage that appetizingly glistens. You can have them with or without chili, onions, and cheese, but even without condiments, the hot dogs give a flavorful bite with a slightly sweet aftertaste.
10. Five Guys
Five Guys serves up hot dogs in a butterfly-cut with caramelized exterior. If you think that’s already great, wait until you had the full customization experience. The real fun starts when you add grilled onions, mushrooms, jalapeños, and more for toppings. Just keep an eye on the sodium level because the hot dog alone already has 450 mg of it. But hey, we’re not all about diet foods here!
9. 7-Eleven
The convenience store may be using lower quality meat, but the ability to customize the dogs shine through. If you know how to do it, you can score a hot dog that’s perfectly spicy and savory (with chili, cheese, and onion), without breaking the bank. The buns, though, aren’t always great.
8. Checkers and Rally’s
Checkers and Rally’s grilled hot dog lacks the flavor profile of a gourmet one, but it’s better than the options served at food places not focused on hot dogs. Fans also love the meat-to-bun ratio but not the lack of fixings (if you order it by default). Life is too precious for a boring dog, and if you want to live a little, add in that sauerkraut, jalapeños, or relish.
7. Wienerschnitzel
Wienerschnitzel isn’t called the world’s largest hot dog chain for nothing. They sell 120 million hot dogs annually, and fans always go crazy about their chili cheese dog and Texas BBQ dog. However, not all dogs at Wienerschnitzel are created equal. For example, the Chicago Dog is so loaded, it could make your head spin. The choice to have it with a pretzel bun is also a wonderful addition!
6. Dog Haus
You can’t miss Dog Haus’ hot dogs that are placed on toasted Hawaiian rolls with all the fixings that you love. However, not everyone is a fan of the use of Hawaiian rolls, as these give away “too much bread.” Some fans defending the chain are saying that you actually get a lot of meat and toppings, so the ratio is just right.
5. Costco
Huge, inexpensive, and 100% beef with no fillers and additives, that’s Costco hot dog for you! We love the hot dog to bun ratio because it gives room for extra toppings. There’s nothing fancy about Costco hot dogs, but that’s part of their appeal. Not much to mess up when the food isn’t overloaded with ingredients.
4. Freddy’s
Freddy’s is known for using Vienna all-beef hot dogs, which are a standard for high-quality beef products. Their chili cheese dog is getting high marks from guests, and the buns are getting some love, too. The hot dogs at Freddy’s are plain by default, so you should know your way around toppings. But even the plain version will satisfy you with its smoky, beefy flavors and snappy texture.
3. Shake Shack
We love griddled hot dogs, especially ones that have a crisp top. That’s exactly the kind of hot dog you can expect from Shake Shack, only better because they’re split down the middle, so you can see that they’re cooked perfectly. These hot dogs with full-on flavor pair well with the soft potato rolls.
2. Sam’s Club
You’re starving after shopping at Sam’s Club and the perfect snack comes into view: Sam’s Club’s hot dogs! The meat is juicy and fresh, not too salty, and with a nice pork taste. As for the size, it often gets compared with Costco’s dogs, which are longer. However, Sam’s Club’s hot dogs are thicker. They’re also the same size as their buns, making you think they’re smaller than advertised.
1. Portillo’s
Portillo’s offers the quintessential Chicago-style hot dog experience, complete with Vienna beef frankfurter and toppings like relish, mustard, tomatoes, and sport peppers. The assembly of hot dogs and toppings also ensures that from first to last bite, the hot dogs are delicious and full of flavor. This precision is expected from a chain that’s been in the hot dog business for over 60 years.