The hot dog is one of humanity's greatest creations, and Houston has some very delicious options. Should someone find themselves craving a glizzy, consider the best of the wursts below.
El Superbeasto at Senate Avenue Brewing Company
A recent addition to the menu at the Jersey Village brewery, El Superbeasto is a foot-long dog topped with chili, cheese, onions, and pickled jalapenos. The mix of sweet condiments and hearty meat on a just-barely-toasted bun has quickly made it a favorite of regulars. Served with a knife and a fork — because the best chili cheese dogs defy any attempt to eat them by hand — the only real question is why someone would name a hot dog after a movie made by noted vegan Rob Zombie. 16000 Dillard Dr Suite F
All of the hot dogs Good Dog Houston
There's no point in making a list of great hot dogs in Houston without mentioning Good Dog, which is definitely the one stop shop for fans of tubed meats. In addition to having excellent tofu dogs for vegetarians, they have a wide variety of toppings like guacamole, a fried egg, and apple horseradish coleslaw. Be sure to try their homemade chips as well. 903 Studewood St
Houston Dog at River Oaks Theatre
The evolution of the movie theater hot dog at the River Oaks Theatre is the most impressive growth since Magikarp turned into Gyarados. In the 1990s, patrons were served a microwaved, pre-packaged dog that was as dreary as the Vincent Gallo films you watched while eating it.
Now, the Houston Dog is a gourmet experience. It's an all-beef hot dog topped with banh mi-style vegetables and sriracha mayonnaise. The glow up on the food is almost as good as the one the cinema got when it reopened last year. 2008 W. Gray St.
The New York street-style dog at YoYo's Hot Dogs
For that classic hot dog stand experience, nothing beats YoYo's. The lines can get a little long late at night, but it's all worth it for the premium toppings. Curry ketchup and crispy onion bits are a must, but most people just pour everything on it and walk away to munch while coming down from a night out. As the city sadly loses more and more late night eating establishments, it's nice to know a filling meal can still be found until 3 a.m. Be warned, these get messy, so mind your fancy duds while eating standing up. 2201 Dallas St.; 4620 Washington Ave.; 401 Franklin Ave.
Old Fashioned Hot Dog at Becks Prime
Calling this an "old fashioned hot dog" might draw some critical comments due to its unusual presentation. Rather than being served whole in a hot dog bun, the dog — made for Becks by Schwab Meat Company out of Oklahoma City — is sliced into four slivers and served on a hamburger bun topped with mustard, pickle, and onions.
And yet, for all its hot dog heresies, it's actually pretty tasty. The dog spears have a nice char on them that clearly comes from competent grilling, and Becks normal buns and condiments are popular for a reason. Sure, it may feel like the meat equivalent of eating a KitKat whole instead of breaking into pieces, but that adds to the uniqueness.
Honorable mention: Pork and Mimolette Sausage at Barbacana
Admittedly, the recently-opened downtown restaurant's entry on this list isn't a traditional hot dog. Still, the housemade pork and cheese frank is served in a house made potato bun and topped with sesame slaw and pickled mustard seeds (also made in house, natch). Priced at $20, including a glass of wine or beer, it's available during every Astros game when the restaurant is open (closed Sunday and Monday). 907 Franklin St.
Courtesy of Becks Prime
The Becks Prime hot dog is served on a burger bun.
