Hot dog fever hits the world hard circa Memorial Day every year and right now our temperature is rising. Our beloved Executive Producer Anna Weggel pulled her hamstring attempting to rapidly click on the recent Wirecutter article recommending the best grocery store hot dogs. We’ll let The New York Times celebrate the grocery store dogs; we’re going to focus on great, full-service dogs from all around the Twin Cities. And remember, this is strictly a hot dog affair! We’ll handle brats another day. So read on, dear friend, for our unranked favorite dogs in the Twin Cities.
The Nordic Dog from Nordic Dog, dog. (Sean McPherson / City Cast Twin Cities)
A couple weeks ago I heard some hard rocking music emanating from behind Wandering Leaf Brewing Co. and got curious and hungry at the same time. I ambled over and discovered the sound was coming from the Nordic Dog food truck which was manned by Tom, the founder of Nordic Dogs. Tom recommended I try their signature item, the Nordic Dog. The dog itself is built from a Kramarczuk’s beef wiener in a lamb casing and it sits atop a locally made bun. The dog and the bun were sublime, but where Tom was really able to show off his culinary training and passion for all things Nordic was in the toppings. The standout topping was the lingonberry ketchup which was inspired by a huge reindeer sausage with lingonberry sauce that Tom had enjoyed while visiting Bergen, Norway. This is a powerful dog that bursts with flavor in each bite. If you want to order one in Norwegian, just say “Jeg tar den nordiske pølsen.” Simple!
Pro-tip: This is a good spot for the vegan hot dog enthusiast in your life. You can make your dog vegan/vegetarian for a $1 upcharge.
The Chicago dog from the 620 Club. (Sean McPherson / City Cast Twin Cities)
Long live the classic Chicago dog. For me, this iconic hot dog preparation is the gold standard for an enjoyable hot dog experience. The poppy seed bun, the sport peppers, the celery salt, the tomatoes. It’s all a part of the magic. Be advised, the 620 Club veers slightly outside of the canonical Chicago dog but for my mind, the appeal remains. The bun is sans poppy seeds but it is toasted and buttery. The sport peppers have been replaced by banana peppers but it still works. It’s still a Chicago dog served up in a dark bar on W. 7th in St. Paul. As I pulled down a Summit EPA while my daughters worked on some cheese curds and a dog of their own, everything felt right in the world until that open top Shirley Temple took a nose dive for the floor.
Pro-tip: The pro-order for two at the 620 is to get three hot dogs (Coney, Chicago, and Kogi) and an order of fries. Cut all the dogs in half and you have a delicious, perfectly-sized dinner for two.
The St. Paul Meat Shop’s celebrated dog. (Courtesy The St. Paul Meat Shop)
Our Keep It Local newsletter writer Roseanne Pereira used to work over at the St. Paul Meat Shop on Grand and she developed quite the taste for their hot dogs. On Grand Avenue I’d consider a $5 hot dog quite the steal and this one gets a stamp of approval not just for its price point but also for its simplicity. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel at every turn. A schmear of mustard and ketchup and a modest pile of sauerkraut on a toasty bun gets the job done.
A spread of Kyatchi’s baseball-inspired dogs. (SBH Photography / Kyatchi)
The first remotely “elevated” dog I ever sunk my teeth into was the Kyatchi House Dog. Kyatchi is best known as a sustainable sushi restaurant for good reason; their sushi offerings are top notch. But their connection with Japanese culture goes deeper than sushi. Their always-evolving hot dog menu is inspired by the artisan hot dogs popular at Japanese ballparks. These three-to-four-bite hot dogs are perfectly crafted with an expert blend of flavors and add-ons. The best part is that you can order one or two in the midst of a sushi meal and add a different taste into the meal.
Pro-tip: The hot dogs are spectacular but they are frequently outshone by the sublime scoop of Japanese potato salad they come with. Even if you don’t like potato salad, I promise you you’ll like this potato salad.
My boss with her boss, the hot dog combo at Costco. (Anna Weggel / City Cast Twin Cities)
I tried to turn up my nose at our Executive Producer Anna Weggel when she doubled down on Denzel Belin’s suggestion that the $1.50 Costco hot dog combo belonged in this list. Costco is not chef-driven. Costco is not local. Costco is not inspired by the hot dog offerings at the stands at Yokohama Stadium. But, Costco makes a helluva dog at a helluva price. For 150 pennies you can enjoy a diet coke and a hearty dog and live to tell the tale of buying three bottles of Kirkland’s finest Prosecco, 25,000 cashews, a weird blanket that you plug in, and a gallon of artichoke dip.
Pro-tip: Don’t just go to Costco for hot dogs. I’m told they have tires and vacations as well!
An array of hot dogs from LITT. (Lars Thomson / LITT Pinball Bar)
Litt Pinball Bar has become one of the ultimate destinations for pinball lovers in the Twin Cities, but it could probably do a brisk business on its hot dog menu alone! Our contributor Denzel Belin swears by the Don Pickles which brings together cream cheese, pastrami spice, and dill pickles. All their hot dogs cost $10 and are served with kettle or tortilla chips. The dogs run the gamut from the traditional to the utterly unhinged and they make for a perfect breather from any pinball gaming you’re throwing your laundry quarters into. Plus, if you are looking for a vegan dog it’s just a $2 upcharge.
Pro-tip: Please ask the LITT staff to bring back the Black Olive Mayo hot dog they used to have. Perhaps if enough of us ask, they’ll heed our requests and get that masterful dog back on the menu.
Kramarczuk’s exterior. (Sean McPherson / City Cast Twin Cities)
You can’t tell the story of sausage in the Twin Cities without tipping a hat to Kramarczuk’s. I’ll be honest, there is so much to get on the menu at Kramarczuk’s that it’s easy to forget that they serve up a delicious, simple hot dog. So if you can pull yourself away from the allure of pierogies and sausage rolls, it’s worth grabbing a dog.
Pro-tip: It’s not really a Twins game if you don’t make it to section 101, 112, or 312 and order a hot dog. Play ball!
When I think of hot dogs in the Twin Cities, I immediately think of The Wienery. During my University of Minnesota days, this was the spot to splurge on a Friday lunch. The spot is located next to The Cedar Cultural Center and it oozes Minnesota history. To plop down on one of those stools with a Maxwell Street and an order of their unbelievably fresh fries is an essential Minnesota experience. The Wienery is the genuine article and always needs a spot for consideration in the Twin Cities hot dog pantheon.
