Hot dogs and summertime go hand in hand. The classic bite — smothered in ketchup and mustard and snug in a bun — is perfect for those on-the-go taking in what the summer season has to offer: sports games, pool parties and backyard barbecues. Eating a hot dog is (usually) a one-handed operation; use that other hand to pet an actual dog nearby or lift a drink to your mouth.
Cincinnati has plenty of hot dogs to choose from, some traditional and others more extravagant. We sent our CityBeat editorial interns out to test out some of the Queen City's most classic spots to grab a hot dog and and report back with their recommendations. These aren't fancy gourmet sausages delicately topped with fried egg or kimchi — these are real wieners: no-frills torpedoes of meat, hugged by a white-bread bun and smothered with a hot dog's best companions: chili, cheese, ketchup and/or sport peppers. OK. There may be some coleslaw in there, too.
At a time when local-based reporting is critical, support from our readers is essential to our future. If you're able to, please support City Beat today.
Browse Galleries
25 Greater Cincinnati Restaurants Where You Can Order Your Brunch To-Go
All the Wild $5 Chicken Wing Baskets You Can Try During January’s Cincy Wing Week
25 Cincinnati Adoptable Pets That Would Love to Snuggle The Winter Away With You
Perched High Atop the Clifton Hills, This Illuminated Local Landmark Just Hit the Market
PHOTOS: Sunday’s Political Protest at the Ohio State Capitol
These 17 Much-Anticipated Greater Cincinnati Restaurants Are New or Opening Soon