Hot dogs are some of the most well loved treats in the US. They’re staples at baseball games and backyard barbecues. Yet somehow they’re always overshadowed by some other food – the ribs, the corn on the cob, and especially the famed hamburger.

Image credit: stu_spivack

Hot dogs don’t deserve the short end of the stick and in response to their relatively poor treatment some chefs have decided to step the game up a notch by serving some incredibly interesting hot dog variations. Check these out:

9. Ditch Plains Restaurant – New York, NY

Image credit: Ditch Plains Restaurant

The Ditch Plains Restaurant is a local favorite in NYC. Open from 11am until 2am, the restaurant is famous for serving a wide variety of comfort foods. So why not blend a few comforting favorites together? The Ditch Dog features an all-beef hot dog covered with macaroni and cheese on a potato roll. Yum!

8. Chef Michael Mina – Los Angeles, CA or Washington DC

Image credit: Michael Mina

If you’re a fan of Chef Mina you’re in luck because his hot dog creations can be found on both the east and west coasts. His fabulous Lobster Corn Dog is a mix of lobster mousse, chopped lobster meat, shallots, and seasonings coated in a decadent corn batter. The dish is served with a side of his amazing homemade mustard.

7. One Sixtyblue – Chicago, Illinois

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Chicago natives take hot dog preparation very seriously. At the gourmet One Sixtyblue restaurant you’ll find a strange twist on the traditional hot dog. Instead of being stuffed with beef, it’s stuffed with wagyu, a specific breed of cattle from Japan (sometimes referred to as Kobe beef in other areas). Top your dog and poppyseed bun with your favorite standard salad fixing for a treat that’ll leave you wanting more.

6. The Pop Shop – Collingswood, NJ

The Pop Shop in Collingswood, NJ is a local favorite. Modeled after old 50’s style diners, the restaurant has multiple selections when it comes to burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and – of course – hot dogs. The most interesting hot dog on the menu, though, is the Grease Truck – a 12 inch hot dog with beef sliders, onion rings, fries, cheese, and condiments all stuffed into the same bun.

5. Oak Bar – Plaza Hotel, New York, NY

The Oak Bar in NYC is famous for having served a wide variety of celebrities, including the Rockefellers and Astors. The newest addition to the menu by Chef Eric Hara is the exquisite hot dog dish. You’ll get three miniature hot dogs made with foie gras, lobster, shrimp, and a wide variety of seasonings. It’s a taste you’ll find interesting, at the least.

4. Dogmatic Gourmet Sausages – New York, NY

Image credit: Dogmatic

The gourmet sausages and hot dogs served at Dogmatic are tasty and politically correct at the same time. They’re made with free-range animals, grass-fed beef, and are free of any meat that was ever treated with antibiotics, nitrates, or any other artificial ingredient. They wrap the hot dogs in a bread, toast the entire thing, and serve it with one of six gourmet sauces.

3. Ko’a Kea Hotel & Resort – Kauai, Hawaii

Image credit: Ko’a Kea

The strange looking Poolside Hot Dog served at the Ko’a Kea Hotel & Resort certainly provides an interesting twist. The hot dog itself is made from German pork and veal. It is served inside a soft baguette but the baguette is never sliced. They toast the bread by inserting a hot prong, squirt condiments into the hole, and then insert the hot dog.

2. Crif Dogs – New York, NY

Boasting an 80’s theme, Crif Dogs is an incredibly affordable hot dog joint in the East Village of Manhattan. The Spicy Redneck consists of a pork and beef wiener deep fried after being wrapped in bacon. It’s topped with chili, cole slaw, and jalapeno peppers before making its way to your plate.

1. New York HotDog & Coffee – New York, NY

Image credit: New York HotDog & Coffee

At New York HotDog & Coffee you’ll find an interesting variation on the menu. Called the Bulgogi Hot Dog and inspired by the owner’s Korean heritage, this dish features a regular beef dog covered in barbequed Korean meat, greens, and onions for a meaty dish any carnivore is destined to enjoy.

Hot dogs may not be on the top of your list when it comes to delicious dinner-time fare but maybe if you try one of these tasty variations you’ll change your mind.