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The Infatuation
The Best Hot Dogs In Philadelphia
By Candis R. McLean,
11 hours ago
It’s no secret that Philadelphians love handheld foods (see our hoagie, cheesesteak, and BEC guides if you need proof). And a meaty meal doesn’t get more portable than the classic frank on a soft bun. No, we’re not here to continue the debate about whether it’s a sandwich (it’s not). We’re here to tell you where to mourn Dollar Dog Night, grab a perfectly charred quick lunch, or get a beefy beauty queen wrapped in her bacon sash. And while they get the VIP treatment during the summer, at these 12 spots, you can enjoy a hot dog all year round—preferably without ketchup (no judgment).
Miller’s Twist in Reading Terminal Market pretty much confirms the citywide belief that everything tastes better in soft pretzel form: breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon buns, and hot dogs. Miller’s has a classic beef option, a cheddar cheese dog, and a few sausage options, too. And because they’re all wrapped in a crispy, soft pretzel scarf—which is so fluffy that it rips like a biscuit when you peel away the warm layers—it’s the most comforting hot dog you’ll ever have. It’s essentially the Philly version of pigs in a blanket. We’ll take four.
Aside from sounding like a maddening candy dispenser, Loco Pez successfully pulls off the dive bar meets Mexican restaurant atmosphere. At their West Philly, Graduate Hospital, and Fishtown locations, you’ll find people drinking cheap margaritas like they don’t have three meetings tomorrow. And to soak it all up, many of them go for the street dog—it’s bacon-wrapped and comes layered with pico, jalapeño, black beans, ketchup, mayo, mustard, and shredded cheddar. It’s spicy and messy enough to create an avalanche of toppings on your plate after the first bite. But it’s a flavorful combination that makes it the most dependable item on their menu.
If you’re looking for a hot dog that fills you up like an entire meal, Famous 4th Street Delicatessen in Queen Village should be your first stop. It’s $8, but it’s a proper jumbo hot dog on a thick, New England-style potato bread bun. It also comes with toppings like sauerkraut, onions, and relish if you’re looking for some razzle dazzle. While you could dress it up with a towering amount of each and be fine—the sweet bun easily holds up—you don’t need to. It’s a state-of-the-art beefy creation even without all the extras.
The Tijuana Street Dog at Spring Garden’s La Chinesca is so good that they could reduce their menu to just the singular item and we’d still keep coming back (though we would miss the margaritas and wings). Two come in an order, and they’re colorfully covered with crispy bacon, chipotle mayonnaise, tomatillo pico de gallo, and tangy pickled chiles. The buttery, toasted bun keeps everything crammed inside. It’s a starter worth ditching your usual taco order for.
Lucky’s Last Chance in Queen Village and Manayunk may be known for their burgers, but their hot dog roster is as stacked as the Phillies batting lineup. Classic ones, cajun ones, savory ones covered in chili, and ones so stacked you’ll have to do mouth gymnastics just to bite it. With 11 optionss on the menu, there’s something for anyone you bring here for a casual lunch and IPA. If there was any justice in the world, we could eat them all in one sitting. But when we have to be reasonable, we play Joey Chestnut with the Coney, topped with chili and strips of melted cheddar, and the Sergeant Pepper, covered in a fiery five-pepper relish and brown mustard.
It may shock you to hear this, but there’s only one place in town where you can get a hot dog topped with a fish cake: Johnny's Hots in Fishtown. Ok, so maybe it’s too niche to be a revelation, but this nontraditional hot dog is pretty delicious. They put a crispy cod and potato nugget on a split hot dog and top it all with a slightly sweet crunchy peppery hash. The loaded-up dog is the cheapest surf and turf you’ll find in Philly ($7.25), and it’s worth the wait in line every time.
We could go steady with this beefy stick from Le Caveau in Bella Vista—which is a pretty odd thing to say about a hot dog, but it’s true. It’s simple: a long, jumbo hot dog smeared with spicy dijon mustard and caper butter, and lists a soft baguette as its home address. This hot dog went to study abroad and came back creamy, tangy, and annoyingly knowledgeable about the Champagne wine region.
You can go to Citizens Bank Park and spend the same price for parking and water as you would for a ticket. Or you can head to Libertee Grounds in Spring Garden and get a pint and all-beef hot dog with kimchi, mustard, and scallion for $6. The dog comes on a New England-style bun that holds all the toppings in place like a bready railing as you dive in. It’s a go-to that doesn’t hold back with the tanginess or umami flavors. Plus, on gameday, it gets crowded-elevator packed, so you can have that shoulder-to-shoulder energy that only exists on the 300 level for less.
This hot dog is not a guaranteed fixture on Mawn’s menu daily. But when it’s at the Bella Vista restaurant, you should get it. This is a 100% destination dog. And by that, we mean this combination of an all-beef dog, salty prohok, crunchy cabbage, pickled jalapeño, and mayo would make the masses build a temple to it centuries ago. The finishing touches are crispy shallots, and it’s on a buttery Sarcones roll. It’s one of those dishes that’s as good to look at, get a tattoo of, and obsess over, as it is to eat.
The Little Hot Dog Wagon has finally given Philadelphians a reason to go to The Fashion District—outside of a Burlington Coat Factory sale. The menu has 12 hot dogs on them, and they’re all good so there’s no wrong answers. The variety spans from average choices like beef, vegan, and turkey to a Philly cheesesteak dog topped with grilled onions, pepper, and melted cheese (that you should go for). Each one comes with a natural and homemade sauerkraut that takes the dogs to another tangy level. And since there are bonus toppings like baked beans and chili, you can make so many variations that you could come here for a month straight and eat a different version every time.
Located in the H-Mart on Front Street, this Korean stall serves hot dogs so dressed up, they’re practically red-carpet ready. Whether you order a plump mozzarella-filled and baked sweet potato-topped hot dog or one rolled in Corn Flakes, you’ll leave so full you won’t need another meal for the day. The cheese pulls are elastic-like, the crunchiness is satisfying, and their signature dog has a doughy, biscuit-like coating. They range from around $4-6, so it’s great for showing up with a few people, splitting them, and still having cash to spare.
The world would be a much less interesting place without the free samples, bulk mania, and shopping cart-pouncing essence that’s Sam’s Club. That list can also include their hot food section, where you can get a hot dog and a soda for $1.38. There’s no better dog deal in the city—since Dollar Dog Night went to Valhalla. At the Franklin Mills (we'll never call it Philadelphia Mills) shopping spot, they give you a simple hot dog as it should be: glistening, with no frills, and cheap. It’s the exact fuel you’ll need to sprint for the last inflatable Swoop rocking Eagles gear in aisle 55.
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