It’s an immigrant story
The American hot dog grew from sausage-making traditions carried by European immigrants.
A tiny tribute to your favorite frank
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THIS WIENER’S ON A ROLL
A very serious sausage story
The History of the Wiener
Long before it became a ballpark legend, the hot dog was part of a much older sausage tradition. Its exact inventor? Still delightfully disputed.
Frankfurt or Vienna?
Frankfurt, Germany, claims the frankfurter. Vienna—Wien in German—points to the word “wiener.” Historians generally trace today’s hot dog to European sausages brought to America by immigrants.
- 800s BC
An ancient snack
Sausage is mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, making the basic idea far older than the bun.
- 1860s
The cart rolls in
German immigrants are reported to have sold sausages with rolls and sauerkraut from pushcarts in New York’s Bowery.
- 1871
Coney Island gets cooking
German baker Charles Feltman opened a Coney Island stand and reportedly sold 3,684 sausages in milk rolls during its first year.
- 1895
“Hot dog” hits print
One early known printed use appeared in the Yale Record. The famous tale about a cartoonist who couldn’t spell “dachshund” is probably just a tasty legend.
Bite-sized wiener wisdom
Every city has opinions
Chicago piles on toppings, New York loves onions and sauerkraut, and Detroit is famous for the chili-covered Coney dog.
A Coney bargain
By the 1910s, Feltman’s sprawling Coney Island operation still sold hot dogs for a dime each.
More than lunch
“Hot dog!” became an expression of delight, while a “hot dog” can also mean a daring show-off.
Sources: National Hot Dog and Sausage Council · Smithsonian Magazine · Encyclopaedia Britannica
A coast-to-coast condiment tour
The United States of Wiener
Pick a numbered stop to discover what locals pile on their dogs—and why every region believes theirs is the right way.
Pick a stop
Chicago, IL
Chicago-Style Dog
Born around
Chicago street stands during the Great Depression
The works
- Yellow mustard
- Neon relish
- Onion
- Tomato
- Sport peppers
- Pickle spear
- Celery salt
The famous “dragged through the garden” dog is an all-beef frank in a poppy-seed bun—with ketchup traditionally left off.
Frankly speaking
Wiener vs. Wiener
Choose up to three regional dogs above and compare what makes each one a big deal.
Chicago, IL
Chicago-Style Dog
- Origin notes
- Chicago street stands during the Great Depression
- Toppings
- Yellow mustard
- Neon relish
- Onion
- Tomato
- Sport peppers
- Pickle spear
- Celery salt
- The whole dog
- The famous “dragged through the garden” dog is an all-beef frank in a poppy-seed bun—with ketchup traditionally left off.
New York, NY
New York Street Dog
- Origin notes
- German immigrant pushcarts, 1800s
- Toppings
- Sauerkraut
- Spicy brown mustard
- Onion sauce
- The whole dog
- The classic pushcart frank keeps it punchy and practical with tangy kraut, mustard, or sweet-savory red onion sauce.
Regional recipes vary by stand and family. Sources: Serious Eats · National Hot Dog and Sausage Council
Fresh from the grill
The Wiener Wall
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