🇺🇸 Americans' Love Affair With Hot Dogs: Which City Craves Them Most?

There's something unmistakably American about celebrating the Fourth of July with a hot dog, fresh off the grill. But which U.S. city craves this summer staple the most?

"When I think of hot dogs, I think of families coming together... and to me, that is an American feeling." — Vanessa Lara, co-owner of Coney Burger in Miami.

The Top Dog Cities:

According to the Hot Dog and Sausage Council, Americans spent $8 billion on hot dogs last year. Here are the top 10 cities that purchased the most wieners in 2023:

1. Los Angeles
2. New York
3. Dallas
4. Chicago
5. Boston
6. Houston
7. Philadelphia
8. Miami
9. Washington, DC
10. Phoenix

The Great Dog Debate:

While there are endless debates on toppings (ketchup or mustard?) and cooking methods, a few classics stand out:

• New York-style: Topped with diced onions and mayonnaise, it was voted the favorite in a 2021 survey by the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council.
• Chicago-style: An all-beef frank in a poppy seed bun with mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, a dill pickle spear, and celery salt. Recipe via New York Times Cooking.
• Coney Island-style: Steamed bun, meat sauce, onions, and mustard. Recipe from Allrecipes.
• Korean-style: A corn dog with a twist: hot dog, cheese, and rice cakes, battered and deep-fried, then topped with fries, cereal, ketchup, or sugar. Learn more on Delish.

America's Favorite Store-Bought Dog:

A taste test by the Washington Post ranked Costco's Kirkland Signature Beef Hot Dogs as the best, followed by Nathan's Angus Beef Franks and Oscar Mayer Classic Beef Uncured Franks.

So, this Fourth of July, grab a hot dog and celebrate—just don't forget the sides! As Lara said, "The feeling of just gathering around the grill and being the first to grab the bottle of ketchup and the potato chips—I feel like that is so American."

Links:

• Coney Burger, Miami
• Hot Dog and Sausage Council
• Washington Post: Best Store-Bought Hot Dogs
• Chicago-Style Hot Dog Recipe, New York Times Cooking
• Korean Hot Dogs, Delish
• Korean Corn Dogs, Stellanspice
• Coney Island Hot Dogs Recipe, Allrecipes
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