40. Hillbilly Hot Dogs — Lesage, West Virginia
Started by a "West Virginia hillbilly and a California city girl," Hillbilly Hot Dogs is housed in two old school buses that sit along the banks of the Ohio River, making for an unusual but fun location. Those with an especially large appetite should try the "Homewrecker," a 15 inch, one pound all beef hot dog with everything from cheese to chili to peppers.
39. The Red Hot — Tacoma, Washington
Diners say the beer selection at The Red Hot is unbeatable and so are the hot dogs. The beer all comes from microbreweries — most in Washington — and the hot dogs are described as "gourmet."
38. Fab Hot Dogs — Tarzana, California
Fab Hot Dogs brings hot dogs traditionally found on the East Coast to the West Coast. The restaurant's specialty is the ripper — a New Jersey hot dog that's deep fried in oil.
37. Ted's Hot Dogs — Tempe, Arizona
"It's true: The hot dogs here are out-of-the-world terrific: Plump and juicy and cooked just right; crispy on the outside and moist and meaty on the inside," the Phoenix New Times wrote in a review on Foursquare.
36. Lipuma's Coney Island — Rochester, Michigan
Foursquare reviewers call this small roadside stop the best Coney Island hot dogs in the area. Some favorites on the menu include the Coney Island, the Mexican hot dog, and the chili cheese fries.
35. Jonny B'z Dogs & More — Grand Rapids, Michigan
Most diners agree that what sets Jonny B'z apart are its hot dog buns. They're grilled to perfection, not the flimsy tasteless buns you'll find at the grocery store. The Hampton Meeks — hot dogs served with chili, coleslaw, and mustard are a popular menu item.
34. Rutt's Hut — Clifton, New Jersey
Rutt's has been serving hot dogs since 1928. They're best known for their rippers and special relish — the recipe still remains a secret. Don't expect to pay with a card though; Rutt's is cash only.
33. Johnnie's Beef — Elmwood Park, Illinois
"Some aficionados believe this to be the home of Chicago's finest Italian beef sandwich," the Chicago Tribune said in a review on Foursquare. Besides the Italian beef, diners recommend the Italian ice as well as the hot dogs. Expect long lines and be ready to pay in cash.
32. Dogma — Miami, Florida
Known for the unusual topping it serves on its specialty hot dogs, Dogma offers everything from baked beans to bacon to sauerkraut. They even have veggie hot dogs, as well as a turkey corn dog.
31. Coney Island — Fort Wayne, Indiana
Coney Island is an institution in Fort Wayne; the restaurant still serves its "fountain pop" in glass bottles. The old fashioned diner has been around since 1914 and the menu hasn't changed much since. There are Coney dogs, cheese dogs, as well as chili, hamburgers, and cheeseburgers.
30. Moon Tower Inn — Houston, Texas
"They have 66 beers on tap (a few of which are made on-site), a selection of wild game sausages and hamburgers, and a terrifically irreverent, often profane notion of what constitutes customer service," the Wall Street Journal said in a review on Foursquare.
29. Dog Haus — Pasadena, California
Dog Haus nestles their hot dogs into a bun made of three grilled Hawaiian buns and serves combinations that you've likely never seen before and won't see again. There's a dog that comes with Kimchi, one that comes with a fried egg, and a corn dog dipped in root beer batter.
28. Steve's Hot Dogs On The Hill — St. Louis, Missouri
Steve's adds new hot dogs to its menu every week; two favorites are the backyard BBQ dog served with baked beans, potato salad, bacon and BBQ sauce, and the gorilla mac & cheese dog, which comes with bacon, fried onions, and of course mac and cheese.
27. The Windmill Of West End — Long Branch, New Jersey
Diners suggest eating the Windmill's dogs on top of the restaurant — which is a windmill itself. The hot dogs are good, but the selection is basic: There are plain dogs, cheese dogs, chili dogs, and chili cheese dogs.
26. Dune Dog Cafe — Jupiter, Florida
Dune Dog boasts a "happy island atmosphere" as well as world famous hot dogs. The Palm Beach restaurant has plenty of picnic tables perfect for dining outside and a variety of dogs to choose from such as the Chicago dog or the southwest dog.
25. Tony Packo's Cafe —Toledo, Ohio
"Serving authentic Hungarian food since 1932, Tony Packo's offers a delicious selection, from sweet hot pickles to the signature Packo's chili hot dog. They were featured on the hit TVshow 'M*A*S*H,'" Discover Ohio wrote in a review on Foursquare.
24. Bobbie's Dairy Dip — Nashville Tennessee
Known mainly for their ice cream and milkshakes, Bobbie's also serves delicious hot dogs as well as fries and burgers. Ice cream is served until 9 pm Monday through Thursday, but the kitchen is only open until 8 pm.
23. Vicious Dogs North Hollywood — North Hollywood, California
Vicious incorporates all kinds of cuisine into their dogs — Polish, Mediterranean, Jewish, and more. Their Bermuda Triangle hot dog features an impressive combination of calamari, nacho cheese, bacon, Italian sausage, and chipotle Louisiana link.
22. Dreamy Weenies — New Orleans, Louisiana
Dream Weenies serves "hot dogs gone NOLA" straight from New Orlean's historic French Quarter. There's halal and kosher beef hot dogs, as well turkey and vegan options. Toppings are inspired by the area — think red beans, rice, grits, and barbecue shrimp sauce.
21. Sup Dogs — Greenville, North Carolina
Diners rave about the Sup Dog Sauce at Sup Dogs. The menu offers a selection of 14 unique specialty dogs including a Hawaiian dog with sweet pineapple and honey mustard and a deep fried taquito dog with jalapenos.
20. Lafayette Coney Island — Detroit, Michigan
Lafayette is across the street from American; both restaurants are Detroit institutions serving traditional Coney Island-style dogs. Real Detroiters say Lafayette is the way to go though, and suggest ordering "one with everything" and eating it at the counter.
19. Short Leash Mobile Hot Dog Eatery — Phoenix, Arizona
"Unfortunately for my low carb eating habits, these guys make amazing hot dogs. They come on a flat bread, so it's different. Try the "Lady," which comes with fried pickles and chipotle cream cheese," Foursquare user Carter Bailey wrote.
18. Pincho Factory — Miami, Florida
Pincho means skewer in Spanish, which is what this restaurant specializes in. The menu is heavily influenced by Latin cuisine, and although they're better known for their burgers, Pincho also offers quality specialty hot dogs.
17. Frank Restaurant — Austin, Texas
With clever names such as the Jackalope, the Texalina, and the Notorious P.I.G., Frank's dogs are both creative and tasty. The sides — think waffle fries — are good too, but beware that they're the size of an entree so come here hungry.
16. Rosamunde Sausage Grill — San Francisco, California
With beer garden seating and 27 beers on tap, Roasmunds offers more than just hot dogs. The restaurant also boasts an impressive list of authentic German and Austrian sausages, so order something out of the box here, like the traditional German weisswurst.
15. Jack's Cosmic Dogs — Pleasant, South Carolina
Foursquare users suggest ordering the cosmic dog at this hole-in-the-wall joint. The hot dog is topped with Jack's blue cheese coleslaw and famous sweet potato mustard. They point out on their menu that Alton Brown called this hot dog the best thing he ever ate.
14. Dirty Frank's Hot Dog Palace — Columbus, Ohio
248 South 4th Street
Frank's offers a wide variety of dogs — there's 31 different specialty dogs on the menu plus one that you can customize on your own. Foursquare users say you can't go wrong no matter which hot dog you choose, and most recommend the tater tots as a side.
13. Memphis Taproom — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
With a rotating list of American craft beers, along with Belgian, German, and English beers, you'll be sure to find something good at Memphis Taproom to pair with your kielbasa grinder, a kielbasa sausage served with sauerkraut, cheddar, and beer mustard.
12. Willie's Wee-Nee Wagon — Brunswick, Georgia
Although it's just a simple roadside stop, Willie's serves traditional hot dogs along with a pork chop sandwich that's a favorite among diners.
11. Portillo's Hot Dogs — Chicago, Illinois
Starting off as a small hot dog stand in 1963 just outside of Chicago, Portillo's has grown to become Chicago's favorite for Italian beef, hot dogs, and the chain's famous homemade chocolate cake. If you're looking for a true Chicago-style hot dog, this is it.
10. Yesterdog — Grand Rapids, Michigan
Like its name suggests, Yesterdog will take you back to the good ol' days. It's cash only and the walls are lined with various memorabilia. There's no such thing as a regular hot dog here, so try the yesterdog instead complete with chili, onion, mustard, ketchup, and a pickle.
9. Dogtown — Rochester, New York
Almost all of Dogtown's dogs can be substituted for a veggie dog, which is why locals call this place one of the only vegetarian options Rochester has to offer. Its hot dogs are all named after actual dog breeds; for example, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is described as "a dog sleeping on a bed of coleslaw with grilled tomatoes and melted provolone."
8. The Greasy Wiener Truck — Anaheim, California
The Greasy Wiener refers to itself as "the best wieners on wheels." The food truck's mission is to provide the streets of LA with East Coast dogs that have a West Coast flavor. If you're looking for something a little different than your average dog, try the brat Jovi, a cheddar infused brat topped with peppers, onions, and relish.
7. Crif Dogs — New York City, New York
The Village Voice called Crif the best hot dog place in New York City, and suggests ordering the spicy redneck — a bacon wrapped dog with chili coleslaw and jalapeno peppers. The tater tots also come highly recommended.
6. Superdawg Drive-In — Chicago, Illinois
The Wall Street Journal referred to Superdawg Drive-In as an "iconic hot dog heaven." Served in boxes with a heaping portion of waffle fries, the dogs at Superdawg are truly a taste of Chicago, and the milkshakes are irresistibly thick and creamy.
5. Jake's Handcrafted / Der Kommissar — Brooklyn, New York
"Quality food and traditional Schnapps. The owners have been neighborhood fixtures for years. Sausages, tasty pickles, sides and mustard served all night. Pro tip: Get the sausage and a pint lunch special," Gothamist said in a review on Foursquare.
4. Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs — Denver, Colorado
If you're looking for something a little more exotic than a regular dog, Biker Jim's is the place to go. The restaurant offers a variety of different game sausages like boar, elk, and veal with creative toppings and reasonable prices.
3. Wurstküche — Los Angeles, California
"The sausages are exotic (think rattlesnake and rabbit) but the cavernous space in back with disco balls, live music, and picnic tables is even more of a draw," Food 52 wrote in a review on Foursquare.
2. Happy Dog — Cleveland, Ohio
Diners describe Happy Dog as a dive bar with delicious dogs, a fun atmosphere, and good beer and music. And you certainly won't run out of toppings to choose from here — Happy Dog serves everything from chunky peanut butter to SpaghettiOs on their dogs.
1. Shake Shack — New York City, New York
While Shake Shack is traditionally known for its burgers, the shack originally started as a hot dog cart in New York City's Madison Square Park. Their dogs are "split and griddled crisp," and come with traditional topping such as relish, onions, tomatoes, and pickles.
