We Tried 9 Hot Dog Brands—And The Winner Surprised Us
A taste test revealed some surprising results.
By Catherine Jessee, Published on April 08, 2026
In This Article
Whether you’re whipping up some hot dogs for a whimsical family dinner, trying your hand at hot dog chili, or grilling for a crowd (after all, a hot dog is a great main fixture to any potluck event), there’s always the question of what brand of hot dog is actually the best.
Our editors bravely gathered around the grill to answer the question once and for all: What hot dog wins out in a taste test? It turns out that flavors, textures, and even aromas vary widely across different hot dog brands.
While there were definitely different preferences and differences of opinion, we were excited to see which came out on top—and we are actually pretty surprised at the result. These are our picks for the best hot dogs.
How We Tasted and Tested
We selected an assortment of hot dog brands that are available at most conventional grocery store chains and online retailers.
During the taste test, editors ranked each hot dog on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest rating. They also provided their tasting notes and opinions, before finally selecting an overall favorite. The winner amassed the most points.
The Contenders
- Applegate Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dog
- Ball Park Beef Hot Dogs
- Bar S Classic Franks
- Hebrew National Beef Franks
- Nathan’s Skinless Beef Franks
- Oscar Mayer Wieners
- Parkview Classic Hot Dogs
- Sabrett Skinless Beef Frankfurters
How Each Brand Scored
Applegate Natural Uncured Beef Hot Dog
This hot dog was most closely associated with nostalgia than any of the other hot dogs in this test. Other editors appreciated this hot dog for its noticeable smokiness and just-enough saltiness. Others gave it some praise for a good balance of softness and chew with a textural “bite.”
Ball Park Beef Hot Dogs
Our testers noticed that this hot dog had good flavor as well as a noticeable saltiness. Some took note of its softer texture and others noted its size, which is small enough to allow for lots of toppings. One editor compared its flavor to bologna.
Bar S Classic Franks
This hot dog was also compared to bologna, but many editors took note that it was the spongiest of all the hot dogs, with a very soft mouthfeel. You’d definitely want to add crunchy toppings for this one.
Read more: We Tried 9 Hot Dog Brands—And The Winner Surprised Us – Southern LivingContinue/Read Original Article: We Tried 9 Hot Dog Brands—And The Winner Surprised Us
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