The whole world may turn a blind eye to what might be ground into a hot dog, but that doesn’t mean that everyone approaches presentation the same way. Matador gives you a run-down of how wieners make the world go ’round.
The Terimayo. Photo by rosietulips
The Terimayo (Vancouver)
Japa Dog became a fast favorite with this year’s Olympic crowd, with lines routinely stretching around the block. Many have tried to infuse Japanese ingredients with dogs before but none have done it as successfully as this stand in downtown Vancouver.
Most people gravitate towards the Terimayo, a beef hot dog toped with seaweed, teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise and fried onion. Other Japa toppings include grated radish, green onion, okonomi sauce, fried cabbage and dried bonito flakes.
The Pylsur. Photo by roboppy
The Pylsur (Iceland)
This hot dog is dressed with pylsusinnep, an Icelandic version of mustard that’s brown and sweet and looks like an infant’s diarrhea. Most often you’ll also be able to sauce things up with remoulade, a condiment made of mayonnaise mixed with capers, mustard, herbs, anchovies, and gherkins. The meat itself has a unique taste, owing to a mixture of pork, lamb and beef.
Crif’s famous Spicy Redeck. Photo by mesohungry
The Spicy Redneck (New York) *
Crif Dogs in New York specializes in audacious hot dogs. The Spicy Redneck is firmly established as a worldwide classic. Bowels quiver at the mere mention of the bacon-wrapped dog, topped with chili, cole slaw and japapenos.
Choripan. Photo by jessicajuriga
Choripan (Argentina)
There’s not much better than chorizo and crusty bread, topped with some of the best condiments in the world, like chimichurri. The beef or pork sausage is sliced down the middle, then surrounded by a hulking roll. Huge arguments have broken out about where to find the best in Argentina, with some of the suggested winners coming from roadside grills and vendors outside of football stadiums, rather than anything even close to posh.
Boerewors. Photo by dvdmerwe
Boerewors (South Africa)
A combination of minced beef and either pork or lamb, this swirly sausage is often served on a roll, making it a beautiful, hand-sized mess of a dog. Its somewhat unique taste comes from an interesting combination of spices like nutmeg, cloves and coriander seed.
The Completo. Photo by mrcortes
The Completo (Chile)
I’d guess that the average Chilean has a thousand of these in their lifetime. “Completo” means what you think it does – complete with everything. The base condiment is an absurd amount of mayonnaise, topped usually with chopped avocado and tomato. From there, there’s a possibility of relish, mustard, ketchup and green chili pepper.
Remember that the red bottle of ketchup next to it isn’t ketchup – it’s hot sauce. Also remember that this is a relatively healthy meal in a country that serves healthy dishes like greasy chips covered in fried strips of steak, onion and scrambled egg.
Browned gruyere on top – only in France. Photo by andshewas
The Cheese Baguette Hot Dog (France)
People get all drool-y when talking about French wieners, which are most often served on half of a baguette, then topped and grilled with gruyere cheese. Most often there will be an inclusion of Ketcepes, which is sort of a mushroom-based ketchup.
Tunnbrodsrulle. Try spelling that without cut/pasting. Photo by chjmt
The Tunnbrodsrulle (Sweden)
Lola Akinmade (our editor at Goods and part-time Swedish resident) describes this as a “soft, thin bread (tunnobrod) rolled up funnel-style and filled with hotdog or sausage, mashed potatoes, onions, mustard, lettuce, and other dubious condiments.” That sounded good to me, or at least until I found that it also sometimes includes Raksallad, a minced shrimp/mayonnaise/paprika/dijon combination.
Currwurst. Photo by wordridden
Currywurst (Germany)
Currywurst remains one of the most popular choices in a country full of sausage options. Sliced wurst is served with a slightly spicy, curry-infused ketchup, then eaten with tiny wooden forks. The bun is served on the side, which seems like a sacrilegious concept but works, mostly to goop up the remaining sauce. Pommes with heaps of mayo commonly accompany this wienie adventure.
Norway’s best. Photos by melaniewrong
The Norwegian (Norway)
Norway’s hot dogs are served on a potato lefse, then wrapped. Less show-offy about their condiments, the Norwegians play it simple with ketchup, mustard and relish. Sometimes dogs are also topped with brunost, a sweet, brown goat cheese.
Cachorro Quente. Photo by agentlebossanova
The Cachorro Quente (Brazil)
Brazilians generally pack more onto a hot dog than seems physically possible, with notable ingredients like shoestring potatoes/sticks. Other toppings (most often depending on where you are) can include quail eggs, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, cheese and marinara sauce.
The result is a hot dog that looks like it’s been pooped on by a pterosaur, which sounds about right when placed next to Brazil’s other oozing food like the churrasco.
New Zealand dog. Photo by Dave Crosby
The Battered Hot Dog (New Zealand)
“American hot dogs” are available but most Kiwis are used to wieners coming battered in a wheat-based coating. Served with ketchup or tomato sauce, they greatly resemble corn dogs without a stick.
* The author has only chosen one American hot dog, for fear of a team of foodies flying over his apartment and dropping a nuke on the roof, screaming that their favorite was forgotten. He felt that picking only one was an important gesture but including more would leave him under severe attack. He realizes that there are many great variations of wieners in The United States and encourages you to tell us about them in the replies, which you will surely do with great gusto .
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21 Comments... join the discussion!
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as a south african, i have to say, there is nothing quite like a boerewors roll. for me, the distinct smell of burning farmer’s sausage (the english translation) brings back memories of childhood sports days, fun fairs, and lazy afternoon braai’s (barbeques).
the boerewors rolls, although it does fall into the “dog” category, is part of a much broader barbeque experience. unlike most of the fast food dogs, boerewors is also a versatile homecooked staple, and can form part of a wholesome sunday meal too.
(just in case you were interested)
other than that, completo’s in chile are the best fast food dogs i have eaten. i am definitely a fan of the chilean tendency to eat guacamole with almost everything, even mcchicken burgers.
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In Guatemala, you get “cheveres” everywhere
Basically, they are just normal hot dogs… but their buns are steamed to perfection. If you do it right, they are topped with mayonnaise, hot sauce, ketchup, and this pickled cabbage that hopefully doesn’t give you food poisoning. Mmmmmmmmm…
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wow. drool.
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I actually got out of bed and went downtown because just hearing Japadog makes you want a Japadog.
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Yum. That browned gruyere hot dog looks pretty good actually.
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O…M…G This has my tummy rumbling. Yes, there is something gut wrenching about so many twisted dogs in one article, but damn! I never knew the world held so much hot dog variety! Just apart of the miracle of life…
in my ‘hood there is the cream cheese dog cart that stays open till 2am every day, when all else is closed you can stumble down 1st and get a huge cream slathered wiener with steaming onions and relish for $5.
Next time you roll through Seattle, first dog is one me Tom!
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Okay, so I’m 12, and “huge cream slathered wiener” made me laugh for a day. Thanks, Josh.
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I would really like to try all of these at least once! And now that the Olympics are over, I guess I’d better get down there before I leave Vancouver.
For the record (as far as I know), currywurst is only eaten in Berlin. In Bavaria, the big thing is lieberkase in a bun…mmmmm….
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Currywurst is actually eaten all over Germany, although you are correct in saying that in Bavaria the lieberkase in a bun is more traditional.
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When I saw this article, it immediately brought me back to my semester abroad in Chile. Completo’s were the essence of my being and the reason I gained 10+ pounds abroad….hahaha.
I absolutely love the amount of toppings they liberally add to the hot dog. It’s the way I make my hot dogs back in the states now. I’m addicted.
VIVA CHILE!
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A dog from Crif Dogs was the correct choice for one from the US – the place is amazing, and it alone has so many different ones to choose from. The last time I went I had the philly cheesesteak one, and it was delicious! Amazing creations!
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They got the crif dog completely wrong. The best ones are the good morning (bacon wrapped,deep fried dog with a fried egg and cheese) the tsunami (a teriyaki basted, bacon wrapped, deep fried dog with pineapple and scallions) and the chihuahua (a bacon wrapped, deep fried dog with avocado and sour cream)
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I keep on saying we’re going to make vegetarian completos one day, and then I remember that I don’t like hotdogs even if they are fake (hiding from great throwing of buns). You’re right about some of the junk food in Chile, but then they turn around and blame the obesity problem here on the United States. Consumer, check thyself!
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Mmm… currywurst. I’m sure I ate far too many of those in Berlin. I actually came to prefer the bun-on-the-side situation.
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The Brazilian hot dog mentioned is what’s sold on the streets late at night, but at home we usually just make a fresh, chunky tomato sauce with onions and green peppers and top the hot dog with it, on either a hot dog bun or french bread. Some people will add the stringshoe fries even at home though, and mayo and mustard, but the huge mess with cheese, peas, corn, etc. are left alone for the hunger we get leaving the night scene at 3 am.
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In Peru salchipapas are where its at! sliced up hotdogs on top of a heaping pile of french fries covered in mayo, ketchup, and mustard!
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The Varsity in Atlanta, GA
2 Heavy Weights, all the way, Squirt one and walk em.
The best dog from the biggest food stand in the world.
Currywurst is a close second. Second only because it’s about a 10 hour flight to find one!
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I still dream of the hot dogs of Paris—most decadent hot dog experience ever!!
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Mm… I’d take the Terimayo over Currywurst any day, though I’m feeling a certain craving for the Norwegian about now. Great list!
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