National Hot Dog Day is upon us (July 18) — a day that is actually a pretty great symbol of America, because nearly every section of the country has its own particular way to enjoy this cheap snack, which speaks volumes about the culture of the cities in which they reside. Believe it or not, there are at least 17 cities that have unique hot dog toppings. Here we go:
Anchorage
We’re still a little fuzzy on what these dogs are made of. Caribou? Reindeer? Pork? Beef? A combination of all four?
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It likely depends on what street vendor you buy yours from. But whatever the ratio, these sausages are served in a steamed bun and topped with grilled onions and…whatever else!
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Atlanta
In Atlanta, you can get your dog “dragged through the garden,” which is a cute way of saying topped with coleslaw.
Boston
Red Sox games are best watched with a Fenway Frank in hand: dogs that are boiled, grilled and served in a top-loaded New England style bun with mustard and relish and (sometimes) Boston baked beans.
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Chicago
The famous Chicago Dog is topped with yellow mustard, chopped white onion, bright greet sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomato, a a pickled sport pepper to bring some heat.
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It’s finished with a dash of celery salt and served in a poppy seed bun.
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Cincinnati
A Coney Dog is usually topped with Cincinnati-style chili and heaps of shredded cheddar cheese.
Cleveland
Cleveland is home to the Polish Boy, which is a kielbasa served on a bun layered with fries, barbecue sauce (or hot sauce) and coleslaw.
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Denver
The Rockie Dog, a foot-long dog served with grilled peppers, kraut and onions, is a big hit at Coors Field.
Detroit
The distinguishing feature of the Coney Dog is a chili topping — sometimes referred to as Coney sauce — with cheddar and raw onions.
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Houston
The Texas Dog is piled with chili, cheese and jalapeños (or raw onions).
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Kansas City
If a reuben sandwich mated with a hot dog, it would be this hybrid: a sesame seed bun topped with melted Swiss cheese and sauerkraut.
Milwaukee
According to Delish, a Wisconsin purist will demand their bratwurst come served on a toasted hard roll, butter, spicy mustard, sweet pickles and sauerkraut.
Los Angeles
No, these dogs aren’t topped with avocado (yet). A favorite variety of carts throughout L.A. is a link wrapped in bacon and topped with grilled onions and peppers.
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New York
The simplicity of New York street food is what makes it so special. You can’t visit without grabbing a NY-style dog: straight up mustard and grilled onions (or sauerkraut).
Newark
The Italian Dog rules the roost in New Jersey. It’s a hot dog served on an Italian roll and topped with onions, peppers and deep fried potatoes.
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Philadelphia
This classic Philadelphia dog is a simple concoction of the usual toppings: mustard, ketchup, chopped onion, relish.
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But there are several variation, including one from Levis Hot Dogs that features a  fish cake and is topped with slaw and spicy mustard.
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Phoenix
Found mainly in Tucson and Phoenix and southern Arizona, the Sonoran is wrapped in bacon and grilled, topped with pinto beans, tomatoes, shredded cheese, onions, and other condiments, like salsa, mayo, and ketchup.
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Seattle
For whatever reason, Seattleites love their dogs with a nice schmear of cream cheese (and often a drizzle of sriracha), especially from a hot dog cart…late at night…after a pub crawl.
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