Hot Dogs From Around the World
Hot dogs for sale on a busy street corner is an iconic New York City scene. A boiled dog on a warmed bun with ketchup and mustard – an NYC classic! But, dig a little deeper and you’ll find an impressive array of unique hot dogs from around the world right here in New York City!
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Un Completo - Hot Dogs, Chilean-Style
If adding avocado to your dog sounds delicious, Chilean completos are a must-try! The base of a completo (which literally translates to ‘a complete’) is similar to a US hot dog and bun. But, that is just the beginning. Add avocado, chopped tomatoes/salsa, sauerkraut, and mayo, and you’ve got a completo! Visit La Roja de Todos in North Corona, Queens. Grab a completo to go or sit down for a full Chilean lunch or dinner. There are even couple different varieties of Chilean hot dogs for you to try!
La Roja de Todos - 3311 108 St. Queens, NY
Chilean Hot Dog History
In the 1920s hot dogs made their Chilean debut in Santiago, Chile’s capital city. They were first introduced by Eduardo Bahamondes, a restauranter who had spent time living in the United States. (Learn more about the history of Chilean-style hot dogs from Culture Trip.) Today completos are a common Chilean street snack, available throughout the country!
Swedish Hot Dog Cart on the Lower East Side!
There are not many sights that would surprise me on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. I must admit that a cart selling Swedish-style hot dogs was one of them! Every Saturday you can find Lenny’s Swedish Hotdog stand serving up fresh dogs outside of Bon Bon, a shop dedicated completely to Swedish candies and treats!
Bon Bon’s hot dogs come topped with crispy fried onions, sweet pickles and relish. Bobby, the chef (not Lenny…), mentioned they were looking into a new ingredient to make these dogs even more authentically Swedish. He was waiting for his mom’s recipe help during her upcoming visit to NYC from Sweden. This was a solid dog, and even came with a complimentary cup of beer! Try some sweets from the the store, too!
Hot Dog Buns for Breakfast at a Chinese Bakery
Some of my favorite hot dogs in NYC are found in Chinese bakeries across the city. The most basic (and delicious) are wrapped in a soft, fluffy bun with just their little dog tails peeking out on either side. This simple hot dog / bao combo makes for quick, cheap breakfast option. The dough has a slight sweetness, surrounding a mild-flavored dog.
Fay Da Bakery - Hot Dog Buns 2 Ways
At Fay Da you can choose between the simple hot dog bao (腸仔包 – literally sausage bun) or a decked out version: the hot dog wrap. Fay Da’s hot dogs are 100% beef, and the wrap is topped with lettuce, ketchup and sweet mayo. The wrap will cost you another dollar or so, but both are under $4 each.
Fay Da has multiple locations in Manhattan and Queens. The business first opened in 1991, and has been growing since.
Flower-shaped Hot Dog Buns
Some Chinese bakeries will also sell the more aesthetically pleasing flower-shaped hot dog buns. In all honestly, other than shape they are pretty much the same. But, I highly recommend the bun from Maxin Bakery in Flushing. Pair it with a Hong Kong-style coffee milk tea ftw.
Choripán - Comida Típica de Uruguay
The name in Spanish says it all: chorizo + pan (bread) = choripán. But, one key ingredient is missing from the name: the chimichurri sauce! Choripán is a popular sandwich in Uruguay and Argentina, and you can find it at La Gran Uruguaya restaurant and bakery in Jackson Heights, Queens.
Grilled chorizo on crispy, yet soft bread topped with chimichurri and salsa verde for a robust flavor! The meat is tasty, but what really makes the dish is the fresh chimichurri made of parsley, garlic, oil, oregano and vinegar. It was so good I wanted to dunk the whole choripán in a dish of the sauce. Love the side of the pickled peppers, too.
Read my round-up of the best spots to eat in Jackson Heights for more great meals near La Gran Uruguaya.
South Korean Corn & Rice Dogs
According to bon appétit, 2021 was the year of the Korean corn dog! 2021 is long over, but there are still plenty of worthy places to pick up a Korean corn or rice dog in NYC! If you’ve never tried one, imagine a corn dog, but with sooo many more options.
Each shop is different, but the general formula is the same. First, choose your filling: hot dog, cheese, fish cake, 1/2 and 1/2. Next, choose your coating: rice flour, corn meal, sweet potato, even ramen noodles or dough flavored with squid ink! Then it is deep fried, and lastly choose the sauces for the top: ketchup, spicy mayo, mustard, or, my personal favorite: gochujang.
Oh! K-Dog & Egg Toast - Top Korean Dog in NYC
Oh! K-Dog is far better than just okay. You may have to wait in line at the Ludlow St location on the Lower East Side, but it is worth it. My favorite Korean dog in NYC: beef hot dog with gochu hot sauce! Oh! K-Dog has a few vegetarian options: mozzarella cheese or rice cake inside.
The Seed and Nuts topped corn dogs from The Basac is another top NYC Korean corn dog!
Colombian Street Dogs
Colombian perros calientes are definitely a more is more situation! The hot dog itself is quickly overshadowed by the piles of fun toppings: super-sweet pineapple or raspberry sauce, crushed potato chips, bacon and sometimes even quail eggs! You can find a few different places serving Colombian hot dogs in the Queen’s neighborhood of Jackson Heights.
El Perro Veloz
Head to Perro Veloz on Northern Blvd in Queens. I recommend the Perro Mexicano. El Mexicano is topped with sausage, onion, jalapaño, ketchup & mustard.
Berlin Currywurst - Germany's Popular Street Food Meets Manhattan
Enjoy one of Germany’s most famous street foods at Berlin Currywurst in Manhattan’s Chelsea Market. Currywurst is a dish made of sliced sausage covered in ketchup or tomato paste seasoned with curry powder. At Berlin Currywurst first choose your sausage. There are pork, beef and even tofu varieties! Next go for either true currywurst or instead get the sausage in a bun with onions and sauerkraut. You opt for more or less spice.
Chelsea Market is one of the most famous food halls in NYC. There are tons of delicious meal options. There are definitely much cheaper places to find currywurst in NYC, but visit Chelsea Market for the experience.
Klobasnek - The Savory Texan Take on Czech Kolaches Comes To Brookyn
Klobasniky look like pigs in a blanket, but with a much deeper history and flavor! During the mid-to-late 1800’s a growing community of Czech immigrants relocated to Texas, bringing along flavors from home. Kolaches, a Czech pastry made from semi-sweet dough and often topped with fruit, became quite popular in Texas. Texas bakers started experimenting with kolach dough by putting a sausage inside – thus, the klobasnek was born!
To try klobasniky in New York City, visit Brooklyn Kolache in Bed-Stuy. Brooklyn Kolache sells a variety of sweet and savory kolaches, including the Texas Beef Sausage kolache (klobasnek). This treat looks bland, but one bit of Brooklyn Kolache’s sausage, and you will be amazed as the level of flavor packed into a small link. The lightly sweet kolache dough around the sausage is a perfect casing.
Brooklyn Kolache also serves locally roasted coffee and has multiple indoor and outdoor seating areas. Definitely try the Texas Sausage flavor, but I also highly recommend Cherry & Cheese.
Venezuelan Hot Dogs in Bushwick
For Venezuelan street dogs, check out Santa Salsa in Brooklyn’s Bushwick neighborhood. Similar to Colombian hot dogs, these dogs are loaded with fun flavors and toppings. I went for the namesake dog, the Santa Salsa. The beef hot dog was merely a vessel for bacon, fried cheese cubes (yum!), avocado slices, onions, ketchup, mustard, salsa, and the two signature Venezuelan toppings: crush potato chips (or potato sticks) and guasacaca. Guasacaca is an avodaco-based sauce made with oil, parsley, peppers, cilantro, lime juice. chilies and more.
Salchipapas - In Peru Fries Are a Dog's Best Friend
Veggie Special - Crif Dogs
Even if you’re veg, there are still quality hot dog options for you in NYC! The Veggie Special at Crif Dogs is a vegetarian dog topped with hummus, pickles and pepperoncini. The pepperoncini give the dog a nice kick, complimented by the shmear of hummus on top of the hot dog. Crif Dogs have Manhattan and Queens locations.
Pin this NYC Hot Dog guide for later!
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Wow, I had no idea there were so many different kinds of hotdogs in NYC! I have to try some of them then!
The flower hot dog is SO fun! Never seen something like that!
Michelle – I completely agree! Creative and delicious!
This looks like such a fun way to explore NYC!