Best Hot Dogs in the Northeast

The hot dog is one of the most classic Fourth of July dishes. July is even National Hot Dog Month. However, there is no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to frankfurters in the US… In Massachusetts, the hot dogs are usually served boiled and grilled, topped with mustard and relish or Boston baked beans in a New England-style bun. Stop in for a Red Sox game and a Fenway Frank at Boston’s Fenway Park. Just don’t mention the Sox when you go to New York. You’re sure to find a Sabrett’s “dirty water dog” street vendor on the corner of any street in Manhattan. Don’t let the name scare you. Every true New Yorker has had one. Customize it with your favorite condiments and enjoy it on the go in the city that never sleeps (or sits down).

Then head over to Brooklyn and visit the historic Nathan’s Famous at Coney Island to try the hot dogs that earned them that title. Since its opening in 1916, it has been a local fixture and they

still hold their annual Hot Dog Eating Contest every July 4th. Up in Rochester, you can try something a little different. Their hot dogs are made with a combination of uncured and unsmoked pork, beef, and veal. This gives them a white-ish color, which earned them the name “white hot.” It won’t be complete without adding some hot sauce or mustard, and onions. You can get yours at Red Wing Stadium. In fact, multiple local teams claim these as their official hot dog.

You’ll have to leave New York if you want to try the “New York System wiener.” Despite the name, it's a distinctly Rhode Island meal. Olneyville New York System in Providence is a local favorite and has been serving their dogs with meat sauce, yellow mustard, and onions since 1946. Vermont also has some confusingly named hot dogs. The “Virginia dog” is served wrapped in bacon, while the Michigan dog is served steamed with tomato meat sauce. Both can be found in Burlington at Beansie’s famous food truck, which is actually a retrofitted school bus.

Philadelphia is best known for cheesesteaks, but it also has a pretty iconic hot dog. You can find a surf-and-turf style dog called the “Philly combo” all throughout the city. Also sometimes called a fishcake dog, it consists of an all-beef hot dog and a fishcake on a bun and is often topped with pepper hash or vinegar slaw and spicy mustard. In Clifton, New Jersey, you’ll want to try the “Ripper”, a deep-fried hot dog first invented at Rutt’s Hut and now a staple of the area. Jimmy “Buff” Racioppi and his wife Mary took it a step further in 1932 when they created the Italian hot dog. Head to Jimmy Buff’s in Kenilworth or West Orange to get one on an Italian roll with peppers, onions, and potatoes.

Connecticut has many hot dog spots loved by the locals. Some notable shops include Blackie’s Hot Dog Stand for their hot pepper relish (made from a secret recipe) and Capitol Lunch for their signature meat sauce mixed with onions. Both have been in business since the 1920s. Up in Maine, you can find the “Red Snapper.” That may sound like a fish dish, but it’s actually the state’s most unique style of hot dog. Known for their distinctive bright red color and meant to be served on a split-top bun, they’re the official hot dog of Double-A baseball team, the Portland Sea Dogs. Every July 4th weekend, they change their name to the Maine Red Snappers in honor of Maine’s iconic red dogs.

Many say that the best hot dogs in New Hampshire can be found at Gilley’s in Portsmouth. Since 1912, they’ve served traditional hot dogs made from pork, beef, and veal that can be customized any way. Located in a 1940s-style diner car, the nostalgic setting is the perfect place to enjoy a good old-fashioned hot dog. If you’d rather grill your own this Fourth of July, some of America’s most popular brands -Hebrew National, Nathan’s Famous, and Sabrett - can be found at almost any local supermarket.