A lot of my personal and professional life centers around specialty food. But can I tell you a secret? Hot dogs have always been one of my favorite things to eat. Even the cheapest hot dog at the store, when thrown on the grill and served with a bit of ketchup and mustard, is sublime and satisfying, especially during the summer. Gimme a bun or don’t, it doesn’t matter.
After stocking up for a taste test, mainly sticking with beef hot dogs but including a few pork options and one turkey, I tried a bite of each plain from a grill pan on my stove, then added my usual ketchup-mustard combo to see how flavors and textures held up.
Here’s how they shook out, ranked from best to worst.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Best: Teton Waters Ranch 100% Grass-Fed Beef Hot Dogs
$6.99 from Instacart
These were wonderful and easily my top pick. Quintessentially hot dog-y, but also with the most complex beefy flavor and a bit of grassiness to them. I also like that they were a bit smaller than the others.
2. Hebrew National Jumbo Beef Franks
$5.99 from Target
Many of my friends swear by Hebrew National, and they’re one of the few Kosher options you can find, if that’s important to you (or to one of your guests).
I am not nearly as obsessed as some of my friends, but I have to say that these were very good — juicy, meaty, and flavorful. They almost had a baking spice flavor to them, which I really enjoyed.
3. Oscar Mayer Uncured Turkey Franks
$6.29 from Target
I think these ranked so highly because I was shocked (in a good way) by them. They’re great! Lightly smoky, meaty, and juicy. The texture is a bit more delicate than the others, which I actually liked. That nagging voice that is normally saying “You’ve just consumed heart-attack-levels of processed meat” was quieter when I ate them. So I ate two.
4. Nathan’s Skinless Beef Hot Dogs
$5.22 from Walmart
As a former New Yorker, I have quite a bit of Nathan’s loyalty from summer days roaming Coney Island, where the original Nathan’s hot dog stand still draws crowds. But, all that aside, these still rule. They’re beefy, juicy, and quintessentially hot dog-y. These are the ones I will be bringing to backyard summer cookouts.
5. Bar S Classic Bun-Length Franks
$2.08 from Walmart
These are very inexpensive, and I suppose okay for the price. That said, if you can afford to spend a couple more dollars, I’d do so. They just don’t have much flavor!
Trending on Cheapism
6. Ball Park Bun Size Beef Franks
$5.89 from Target
The Ball Park beef franks were a bit mushy and artificial-tasting. If I’d used relish for the taste test, I might have liked them better. Good salt balance, though.
7. Oscar Mayer Classic Uncured Wieners
$3.89 from Target
These feel nostalgic to me, but I think they’d be lower on the list if nostalgia hadn’t played a factor. Salty, without much other flavor, and with a more rubbery texture than I’d like. My inner child loves these; my grown-up palate does not.
8. Kayem Beef Hot Dogs
$8.99 from Instacart
These were all right, with a natural casing snap but otherwise unremarkable.
Sign up for our newsletter
9. McKenzie Deli-Style Beef Franks
$7.24 from Walmart
The McKenzie beef franks weren’t actively offensive, but I wouldn’t call them good either. A bit softer (the word “flaccid” came to mind) than I would hope, with a pretty generic, almost artificial taste.
10. Old Neighborhood Foods Frankfurters
$4.39 from Market Basket
These were … sweet? Not what I expect or want from a hot dog, especially when I add ketchup (which I always do). But one of the ingredients is corn syrup, so I guess that solves that mystery. I couldn’t find these online, which I think is fine. Don’t bother.
For more taste tests, sign up for our free newsletters.
More Hot Dog Stories to Check Out
- Best Hot Dog Styles From Every State — Explore how every region in America puts its own spin on the classic frank.
- Best Hot Dog Recipes for Summer Cookouts — Fun, budget-friendly ways to upgrade your dogs.
- Hot Dog Brands That Use 100% Meat — Find out which labels keep fillers and by-products out of the bun.
