Buffalo’s reputation for chicken wings and pizza is rivaled by foodies who refer to the city as Hot Dog Heaven. We have delicious Sahlen’s hot dogs and yummy Wardynski Natural/Sheep Casing Hot Dogs. You would think that I would be happy with those excellent choices, but when BJ’s Warehouse sent us a coupon for Nathan’s hot dogs, I figured I’d give them a try.
Compared to Sahlen’s and Wardynski’s hot dogs, Nathan’s has a more salty taste. During cooking, Sahlen’s and Wardynski’s hold their shape while Nathan’s casing split and caused the juices to run out of the hot dog. I’ll stick with Sahlen’s and Wardynski’s in the future. Do you have a favorite hot dog? GRADE: C
I like Ball Park franks. Just looked up a list and they had Nathans at number 2. So go figure.
Steve, I knew Nathan’s had a good reputation, but the salty taste turned me off.
George, I don’t remember the last time I ate a hot dog, but then I don’t eat red meat. We do have chicken sausages and other ready-to-fry chicken kebabs and cutlets.
Prashant, I’m not a big red meat eater either. But once in a while I like to enjoy eating a good hot dog.
The only time I eat hot dogs is at a baseball game—more specifically, a Dodger Dog at Dodger Stadium…and that’s been a while.
Ok, now I know this is going to sound patronizing and I don’t mean it to, but you mentioned the sausage casings splitting. You do pierce the casings in a few places with a fork before cooking, right? That’s the only way I know to keep casings from splitting.
Deb, the casings on Sahlen’s hot dogs don’t split even if you don’t pierce the casings.
HEBREW NATIONAL
Dan, it’s been years since I had a Hebrew National hot dog!
What Dan said.
You need to have a Nathan’s hot dog right off the grill at the original stand in Coney Island (since 1915). But yes, I agree they are too salty. I love hot dogs but never eat them these days, except occasionally when the hotel in Florida has them on Tuesday “barbecue” night. Once in a rare while we will share one of Costco’s huge $1.50 hot dog/drink combos.
Jeff, I prefer hamburgers to hot dogs but once in a while I get an yearning for a tasty hot dog. Fortunately, Western NY has a lot of hot dog choices. There’s also Hofmann’s hot dogs from Syracuse which are delicious, if you can find them in our local grocery stores.
Here is the sodium count:
Wardynski 600 mg
Sahlen’s 660 mg
Nathan’s 730 mg
But:
Kirkland (Costco) 530 mg
Hebrew National 430 mg
Jeff, we don’t have a Costco in Western NY. The closest Costco is in St. Catherine’s, Canada. Never tasted a Kirland hot dog. I tend to shy away from high sodium foods.
Hebrew National for us.
Hofmann’s Hot Dogs – an incredible 980 mg. of sodium!
Jeff, I only read a Hofmann’s about once a year.
Speaking of Syracuse, I wanted to go to Heid’s famous hot dog stand in nearby Liverpool on the way back from Toronto, but it was raining so hard I could barely see the Thruway, so we just went straight to the hotel.
When I buy hot dogs, I usually get Oscar Meyer or Hebrew National. I think the real question is what do you put on your dog? Catsup? Mustard? Relish (sweet, or dill)? Mayo? Something else?
Catsup is for barbarians. Mayo is beyond the pale. Mustard only.
Rick, I’m a mustard guy. But, I have been known to go for a couple chili dogs in a pinch.
I love chili dogs! But with a regular hot dog, it’s catsup, mustard, relish.
Mustard only. I hate onions and relish on anything. And mayo is for tuna.
Jeff and I share a taste in hot dogs! I like Hebrew National and Costco’s $1.50 deal, too! Mustard is the only correct condiment and I also like onions! I usually nuke them instead of boiling! Too old and impatient to wait!
Bob, rumors have swirled around for years that Costco was coming to Western NY. But nothing happened…
I know you are not a baseball fan, but you are passionate about coupons and “free stuff”. Were you able to snag a free burger from the George Webb’s promo? (Brewers won 12 in a row). As I recall you were always a Bob’s Big Boy fan anyway. Always enjoy your product reviews and subsequent replies.