Homegrown Hot Dogs

June 15, 2014

Hot dogs, whether tucked in a bun at the ballpark or served on a stick at the state fair, are a great American summertime tradition. Fierce regional loyalties still shape the hot dog business: Many of the dogs produced in this country are made by local, often family-owned businesses, and flavors and styles vary widely from place to place. From North Carolina's peppery red skinless franks to Oregon's salami-like beef-and-pork dogs, from garlicky weiners made in Pennsylvania from a 1939 recipe to Coney Island's famously snappy franks, we love them all.

John Morrell Bistro Naturals

OHIO Made in Cincinatti from 100 percent uncured beef, John Morrel's Bistro Natural hot dogs are delicately seasoned with celery and sea salt. $2.50 for a 1-pound package at a local store, like Family DollarTodd Coleman

Bright Leaf Skinless Frankfurters

NORTH CAROLINA Whether grilled or fried, there's an unmistakable bite to these bright red, peppery, skinless frankfurters. They've been a Southern classic since 1940. $5.99 for a 1-pound box at Carolina PackersTodd Coleman

Caspers Famous Hot Dogs

CALIFORNIA Made from a beef-pork blend with a sweet oniony flavor, these hickory-smoked dogs have been made by the same family-operated business since 1934. $18 for a 2.5-pound box at Spar SausageTodd Coleman

Cloverdale Meats Mariner Dogs

NORTH DAKOTA Though they've been made in North Dakota since 1915, these all-beef weiners with a zesty, citrusy taste are the official hot dog of the Seattle Mariners. $45.95 for twelve 1-pound packages at Cloverdale Country StoreTodd Coleman

Continental Sausage Wieners

COLORADO Continental's nitrate-free wieners are brightly seasoned with celery powder, sea salt, and turbinado sugar. $6.96 for a 12-ounce package at Continental SausageTodd Coleman

Deck Farm Old World Hot Dog

OREGON With a salami-like flavor, Deck Farm's beef-and-pork franks are generously seasoned with garlic. $9.85 for an 8-ounce package at Deck Family FarmTodd Coleman

Dearborn Beef Franks

MICHIGAN Made by a family-owned company since 1945, these all-beef, paprika-laced franks are beloved by Detroit Red Wings fans. $3.99 for a 16-ounce package at Dearborn Sausage CompanyTodd Coleman

Dewig Meats Jumbo Wieners

INDIANA Three generations of the Dewig family have been producing these colossal wieners -- flavored with a hint of rosemary -- since 1916. $2.99 per pound at Dewig MeatsTodd Coleman

Dietz & Watson

PENNSYLVANIA The garlic- and onion-rich recipe for these hot dogs hasn't changed since Gotlieb Dietz started making them in 1939. $7.49 for a package of 8 at local grocery stores, such as GristedesTodd Coleman

Eckrich Premium Beef Franks

Indiana Sweet and peppery, these all-beef franks are reminiscent of Italian summer sausages. $2.49 for a 12-ounce package at local Indiana stores, such as WalmartTodd Coleman

Field Roast Vegetarian Hot Dogs

WASHINGTON This meatless frank from Seattle can stand up to any pork or beef hot variety; they're plump and flavorful with a garlic-rich, tangy spice. $7.49 per pound at VeganEssentialsTodd Coleman

Let's be Frank Uncured Beef Frank

CALIFORNIA Former Chez Panisse "meat forager" Sue Moore is behind these peppery franks, made from grass-fed beef. $7.50 for a 12-ounce package at Let's Be FrankTodd Coleman

Gwaltney Big 8's Angus Beef Franks

VIRGINIA Made from a combination of beef, pork, and turkey and naturally smoked, these juicy hot dogs have been beloved in Smithfield since 1870. $1.49 for a 16-ounce package at local Virginia supermarkets, such as ShopriteTodd Coleman

Hebrew National Jumbo Beef Franks

NEW YORK A Yankees game wouldn't be complete without an all-beef frank from Hebrew National, a kosher dog with a strong paprika note. $7.49 for a 12-ounce package at NetgrocerTodd Coleman

Hoffy Hollywood's Original

CALIFORNIA All-beef with a super-snappy skin, these dogs were made famous by Pink's in LA. $69.95 for six 12-ounce packages at Amazon.comTodd Coleman

Hummel Bros. Natural Casing Frankfurters #5

CONNECTICUT New Haven's Hummel Bros. have been producing their iconic smoke-cured beef and pork frankfurters since 1933. $4.85 for an 8-ounce package at Hummel BrothersTodd Coleman

Indian Valley Alaska Hot Dogs

ALASKA Reindeer meat gives these Alaskan dogs a robust, gamey flavor. $3.69 for a 12-ounce package at Indian Valley MeatsTodd Coleman

Kayem Fenway Franks

MASSACHUSETTS These plump, all-beef franks are irreplaceable to Red Sox fans at Fenway Park. $5.19 for a 16-ounce package at KayemTodd Coleman

Koegel's Natural Casing Viennas

MICHIGAN Available throughout Michigan, Indiana and Ohio, Koegel's Viennas are smoked to give a rich, almost bacon-like flavor. $10.99 for 2 packs of 8 at Koegel MeatsTodd Coleman

Kunzler Grill Franks

PENNSYLVANIA One of the nation's oldest hot dog producers, Kunzler has been making their plump pork-and-beef franks in Lancaster since 1901. $34.60 for eight 1-pound packages at Wholesome FoodsTodd Coleman

Nathan's Famous Skinless Beef Franks

NEW YORK The stuff of legends, these skinless franks from Coney Island are incredibly juicy with a deep onion flavor. $14.99 for a 24-count pack at Nathan's FamousTodd Coleman

Rocky Mountain Organic Beef Hot Dogs

WYOMING 100 percent organic, these hot dogs are made from grass-fed sirloin, top round, and chuck, and are packed with spicy ground mustard and white pepper. $7.95 for an 8-ounce package at Rocky MountainTodd Coleman

Sahlen's Smokehouse Hot Dogs

NEW YORK Family owned since 1869, Sahlen's spiced beef and pork franks are the official hot dogs of the Buffalo Bills football team. $59.99 for a 3-pound package at Made in BuffaloTodd Coleman

Saugy Skinless Frankfurts

RHODE ISLAND Family-operated Saugy has been producing their all-natural, buttery-tasting skinless franks since 1869. $100 for a 5-pound package at SaugyTodd Coleman

Schweigert Hardwood Smoked Beef Wieners

KANSAS Made in Wichita, these snappy-skinned, hardwood-smoked wieners have a punchy garlic taste and are a fan favorite at the Minnesota Twins ballpark. $5.99 for a 14.3-ounce package, see Schweigert Meats to find a local retailerTodd Coleman

Thumann's Frankfurters

NEW JERSEY Carlstadt's own deli-style frankfurters, made from pork and beef and naturally cased, have had the same buttery richness since 1949. $20-$29 for a 5-pound package at local New Jersey supermarketsTodd Coleman

Tony Packo's Hickory Smoked Hungarian Hot Dog

OHIO Toledo is famous for its smoked pork Hungarian franks with kielbasa-like heft and flavor. $109-$129 for Tony Packo's 15 Original Hot Dog Pack at Tony Packo'sTodd Coleman

Usinger's Old World Style Wieners

WISCONSIN A Milwaukee staple since 1880, Usinger's wieners are made of beef, pork, mace, garlic, and plenty of paprika. $3.75 for a 10-ounce package at Usinger'sTodd Coleman

Vienna Beef Frankfurters

ILLINOIS A classic in Chicago, these dogs have a snappy casing and a juicy center. $89.99 for the Chicago Style Hot Dog Kit including 16 Poppy Seed Buns, one 1.2-ounce container celery salt, one 10.5-ounce jar Plochman's yellow mustard, one 12-ounce jar Bright Green Relish, and 16 Skinless Hot Dogs at Vienna BeefTodd Coleman

Wimmers Natural Casing Wieners

NEBRASKA The Wimmers family has been making these hardwood-smoked wieners in Snyder since 1934. $8.49 for a 1.5-pound package at a Midwest grocery store, like Jerry's Hometown MeatsTodd Coleman

Zweigle's Pop Open

NEW YORK These plump, paprika-spiced "hots" in natural casing split when grilled. $4.25 per pound at Zweigle'sTodd Coleman

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