Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 9 Best Hot Dog Brands in 2022

Mark Stock
By

Move over apple pie, the hot dog is actually America’s darling. The weather may be frightful, but that doesn’t mean you can’t keep enjoying the simple but satisfying dish. In fact, if easy is what you’re after, you should probably be eating more — and higher caliber — hot dogs.

Let’s begin with the many praises tied to the hot dog. To begin, it’s a glorious vessel for all of your favorite condiments, from tangy relish and bright mustard to candy-sweet ketchup or a handful of caramelized onions. Sure, grilling may produce the best flavor, but a stovetop dog is plenty tasty, especially within a toasted bun. A good hot dog can come to fruition in just minutes and they’re blank canvases on which you can try all kinds of fun sauces, diced vegetables, fermented things, and more.

Recommended Videos

There are plenty of directions you can go when shopping for meaty links. Sometimes, you just want something cheap and salty, reminiscent of what you might munch on at the ballpark. Other times, you want something a little classier, whether it be a fancy hot dog of some kind or one made with a more exotic or flavorful protein bill. Look no further than these nine options for your next frankfurter fix.

Related

Kirkland

Kirkland Hot Dogs Package
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The well-known Costco brand makes a pretty mean dog. It’s a relatively straightforward beef number that’s plenty savory and calls for a refreshing beer or nice zippy glass of white wine.

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe's Chicken Hot Dogs Package
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The crew at TJ’s does a pretty good job in the precooked category. These uncured dogs are low in fat but deliver in terms of flavor. Plus, they come in a variety of options beyond just beef, such as turkey and chicken.

Snake River Farms

Snake River Farms Wagyu Hot Dog Package
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If gourmet is your thing, Snake River Farms has you covered. These wagyu beef dogs tout great texture and endless flavor. It’s basically the prime steakhouse cut equivalent for a hot dog.

Omaha Steaks

Omaha Steaks Classic Beef Frank Hot Dog
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The classic beef franks from Omaha Steaks are plump and tasty and naturally encased. Coney Island in style, they’re even good microwaved and will have you thinking back to your favorite summer days as a kid.

Olympia Provisions

Olympia Provisions Frankfurters
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Portland’s foremost outfitter crafts some of the best dogs in the field. The foot-long frankfurter is an instant classic, made with pork shoulder, housed in lamb casing, and wood-smoked.

Sabrett

Sabrett Beef Hot Dogs Package
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Ever-popular in New York and elsewhere, the Sabrett link is the go-to for many a street vendor. That said, there’s nothing remarkable about the dog — it’s simply reliable and the perfect salty backdrop for your favorite additions.

Applegate Naturals

Applegate Natural Stadium Hot Dogs Package
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Applegate has a vast lineup of good sausage options. The Natural Stadium takes the cake (or, bun), made of uncured pork and beef that’s been humanely raised and grass-fed.

Boar’s Head

Boar's Head Beef Hot Dogs Display
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Boar’s Head has been at it for well over a century and really fine-tuned its approach to the hot dog circuit. Its beef frankfurters are hit with a tidy spice blend and serve well on your favorite bun or diced up and thrown into some hearty mac and cheese.

The Brooklyn Hot Dog Company

Brooklyn Hot Dog Company Classic Beef Dog
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Another more refined option, this New York company makes excellent specialty dogs. The classic is hard to beat, but also note that there are bison, gyro, and pepperoni varieties, among others.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Mark Stock
Mark Stock
Contributor
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
Get your hydration on with the 9 best electrolyte drinks
Hydrate with these top drinks when working out or running
A biker drinking an electrolyte beverage from his water bottle while cycling on the street.

When it comes to hydration, there’s nothing wrong with good ol’ H2O. However, there are certain scenarios where your body might need a few things added to the water to assist in recovery, the main components being electrolytes. Electrolytes conduct electricity when in solution with water, and your body needs constant electric pulses to work effectively.

When your body is under stress from illness, overexertion from intense physical activity, or dehydration from a long night at the bar, physicians and nutritionists alike recommend that you consume electrolytes. That's why saline solutions at hospitals contain sodium and chloride ions. Sodium, potassium, and magnesium are key electrolytes. These minerals improve hydration levels and assist your body by regulating nerve impulses and maintaining a healthy pH balance.

Read more
The 10 best places to order meat online in 2024
no carb food list best mail order meat online 2021

We are natural carnivores. One of the food items we crave is meat, and nothing beats a good roast, grill, bake, or sear of a delicious cut of meat. And if you know how to smoke meat like a pro, you have a gift. But with prices skyrocketing, many local grocery stores running out of stock, and an explosion of online and e-commerce options, buying your meat locally only sometimes makes sense. As an alternative, you can actually buy fresh meat online. You get what you're craving, it's delivered right to your doorstep, and you can freeze it until you're ready to cook. Sure, you'll always be at the mercy of the market price of meat, but since direct-to-buyer meat suppliers don't face many of the overhead costs of a local butcher or supermarket, the prices are very comparable. Regardless, if any of this sounds enticing to you, we will look at the best places to buy fresh meat online in 2024. Put on your apron, grab a decent blade, and let's cut into it.

 
The TK best places to buy fresh meat online

Read more
The 8 best top-shelf vodka brands worth savoring – Death’s Door, Barr Hill, and more
Save up your pennies for these vodka bottles
Belvedere Vodka

Vodka can be a hard nut to crack. So much of the stuff is linear and in need of other ingredients to make it truly enjoyable. But there's also the really good stuff -- the luxury brands that deserve the top-most shelf in the liquor store or online outlet.

To be fair, you can find some good cheap vodkas and there are some quality mid-tier vodkas, from the clean and rounded build of Broken Shed
to the smooth and subtly rich weight of Ketel One
. But the real nuance and detail show up as you climb up the ladder. Distillers are more selective with ingredients, more meticulous and methodical in their production, and turn out something truly worthy of being poured neat in your favorite bulbous glass.

Read more