The hot dog is an American icon, so it's no surprise that the United States has some of the best sausage-and-bun creations you'll ever taste. Whether you want a classic chilli cheese, a Coney dog or something a little more adventurous, the best hot dog joints across the States have something for everyone. So, we've tracked down the top dogs, from hole-in-the-wall spots to hip places whipping up creative offerings.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the best hot dog restaurants in America.

We've based our ranking on the enduring popularity of each hot dog in its place of origin and beyond, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.

Established in 2010, Stuggy's has become well-known for its quality all-beef, wagyu, turkey and vegan dogs served with creative toppings. The Frank Zappa and Crab Mac N Cheese hot dogs are standout menu choices. The former comes stuffed with cheese and wrapped in bacon, and the latter is topped with mac 'n' cheese, lump crab and a sprinkling of Old Bay seasoning. Burgers and sandwiches also round out the menu.

A hot dog in a steamed bun, coated in chilli sauce and topped with mustard and onions: that's a classic Michigan Coney dog. They're served across the state, but you'll find the finest at American Coney Island. Customers say the chilli has a deep, rich, meaty flavour. They also do a mean Coney dog next door at Lafayette, and the two joints have been rivals for decades.

Now a country-wide chain, Nathan's Famous had humble beginnings. Set up in 1916 by Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker, it's now one of the most popular and famous places on the New York City food map. It gets glowing reviews for its friendly staff, fast service and mind-blowing hot dogs. We think it's best to keep it simple with mustard and a pickle, but there are chilli cheese and cheesesteak options too.

City Dogs has been slinging dogs since 2008, and offers you the chance to travel the US without ever leaving Virginia – each of the hot dogs on the extensive menu is inspired by a famous recipe from an American state. The Chicago-style dog is always going to be popular, but when in Richmond, you should probably order the Richmond Original. It's served 'all the way', with chilli, mustard and onions.

For classic, consistently good hot dogs, look no further than Jack's Cosmic Dogs, owned by local businessman Jack Hurley. The Classic Cosmic Dog is the must-order item, made with sweet mustard and house-special slaw that has a bit of a kick from the added blue cheese. The smiley staff and kitsch decor complete the experience. It's a local institution and very popular with families.

If you like your food messy but finger-licking good, Uncle Franky's won't disappoint. The must-order is the Chicago Dog, which people claim is the best outside of the Windy City. It's loaded with yellow mustard, a pickle spear, onion, Chicago-style green relish, tomatoes, pickled peppers and the joint's secret seasoning. Other dogs take inspiration from across the country, including the Coney Island Chilli Dog and Carolina Slaw Dog.

Rutt's Hut has made several notable TV appearances, including on the Food Network and the Travel Channel. It's known for its deep-fried hot dogs called 'rippers' because the casings used to split during the deep-frying process when the place first started trading in 1928. Customers love the joint and suggest ordering a side of chilli to cover the dog.

Say aloha to one of the best hot dogs you'll ever try. This Hawaiian-style hot dog is called a puka dog, after the unique bun that's baked with a hole running through the middle. Pick your dog (Polish or veggie), how hot you want the garlic lemon sauce (either mild, spicy, hot or lava), your choice of relish (the mango is a big hit), and finish it off with mustard or ketchup. Word of advice: people go crazy for Aunty Lilikoi's Hawaiian Mustard.

Chicago is known for its all-beef hot dogs served in poppy seed buns. And while plenty of vendors sell them, Portillo’s is the place to go to get the real deal. It would almost be rude not to get the classic Jumbo Hot Dog with mustard, relish, chopped onions, sliced ripe tomato, sport peppers and pickles in that delicious steamed bun. Chicago natives call this combo of toppings 'dragging the dog through the garden'.

Casey's 10-stool dining car has been serving customers since 1922, and people still come today to experience a slice of history. The joint is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, after all. But the biggest draw is the famous steamed hot dogs. Locals and visitors recommend the hot dog 'all around', with relish, onions and mustard.

With three locations in New Orleans, there's no excuse to miss Dat Dog when in Louisiana. There are nine house-special dogs on the menu, including everything from classic Chicago-style dogs to out-there alligator and crawfish dogs. But customers say you can't go wrong with anything. Guests also love the vegan and vegetarian options such as the Vegan Banger, with vegan-friendly bratwurst, sauerkraut, dill relish, onions, tomatoes and mustard.

Like your hot dogs with a bit of ketchup? That's too bad if you've come to The Roast Grill. Owner George Poniros serves just one thing and one thing only: a sausage, perfectly grilled to a slight char, covered in chilli or slaw (or both) and served in a bun. Don't ask for mayo, cheese or fries, because you won't get them, either. He's doing something right because it gets a big thumbs-up from customers.

Cool but casual, The Vanguard is an embodiment of Milwaukee – chilled out, unpretentious and great. People like the variety of sausage options, but you're in Wisconsin so there's just one thing to order: the city's namesake dog. The Milwaukee is a classic sausage served in a fresh roll, topped with cheese curds, Cheddar and Cheez Whiz.

Wurstküche steals the show in the Golden State. It remains an LA staple thanks to its inventive sausages and eclectic vibe. With three separate sausage menus – classics, gourmet and exotics – there's plenty to choose from. If you're up for trying something a bit different, the Rattlesnake & Rabbit Dog with jalapeño peppers is highly recommended. There are also no fewer than five mustards to choose from.

Claiming to be the oldest coney stand in America, Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island Wiener Stand opened in 1914. Its menu has barely changed in the past hundred years or so and customers love the classic Coney dogs. A grilled sausage is served in a steamed bun with homemade Coney sauce, mustard and chopped onions. The joint is so popular that it serves around 900,000 hot dogs every year.

Hot wieners, also known as New York System dogs, are a Rhode Island speciality. So what better place to sample them than at the James Beard America's Classic award–winner, Olneyville New York System in Providence? The toppings are an interesting cross between those of classic Chicago and Detroit hot dogs, with celery salt, mustard, meat sauce and onions. 

Gourmet hot dogs and house-made brioche doughnuts are the order of the day at this hot dog restaurant in Phoenix. There’s a long list of hot dogs to try, from all-beef and bratwurst to veggie and spicy link, and they're unconventionally served in naan bread with a range of toppings. Customers love the Oliver hot dog, which is a mix of sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing, and the Poutine Dog, smothered with French fries, cheese curds and gravy.

Denver's Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs featured on Anthony Bourdain's hit TV show No Reservations, Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern and Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate. It also gets lots of praise from regular customers! The restaurant serves incredible hot dogs made from beef, pork, boar, veal, reindeer, ostrich, rattlesnake and rabbit (depending on availability). The classic topping is cream cheese and caramelised onions.

Serving some of America's most creative hot dogs, the Urban Hotdog Company has a menu long enough to please everyone. Potato-wrapped sausage, Polish sausage, Guinness-soaked bratwurst – they've got it all. Albuquerque The Magazine has named it the best hot dog joint in the area six times! Don't forget to order the superb fried Onion Strings with chipotle mayo to go with your dog.

The name of this hot dog joint gives away its Irish pub atmosphere. The menu at O'Doggy's includes all-beef dogs served with everything from chilli and cheese to pineapple and Fritos. There are bratwursts and vegetarian options too. Customers particularly love the Jalapeño Popper Dog with cream cheese, bacon pieces and, of course, jalapeños.

There's nothing but compliments for Simones' Hot Dog Stand. Customers say it's a Maine institution that has the best steamed hot dogs in the world. The bright red sausages come in a split-top bun, lobster roll–style (this is Maine after all), and friendly staff serve them however you like – loaded with meaty chilli and melted cheese, or simply with onions, mustard and ketchup.

You won't have trouble finding Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lesage – you can't miss the giant hot dog sign that sits roadside. It's not just a gimmick: people love the extensive and inventive hot dog menu with dishes such as Scott's Man on Fire with fired-up habanero sauce and the Ala Cheesy Beefy Weenie with American cheese, nacho cheese, bacon, mac 'n' cheese and chilli sauce. The hospitality is warm, and the decor is eclectic, which cements the joint as a must-visit pit stop. 

There's just one place to go for hot dogs in Nevada and it's Buldogis Gourmet Hot Dogs in Las Vegas. The name is a play on the traditional Korean beef dish, bulgogi, and lots of the menu items are inspired by Korean and Vietnamese flavours. The Banh Mi is bacon, banh mi slaw, a herb blend and sriracha aioli, and the Angry Kimchi comes with spicy pork bulgogi, Asian slaw, jalapeños and fiery aioli. Service is consistently outstanding too.

This hot dog place serves exactly what its name suggests: hot dogs and ice cream. Go for classic old-school dogs or tricked-out options such as the Wagon with bacon, chilli, fried potatoes, sour cream, onions and cheese. People rate the fast service, and while the joint has a strong local following, customers come from miles around. Oh, and the place does good burgers too.

You couldn't ask for a more beautiful location in which to enjoy a hot dog – Yeti Dogs is right by the incredible Big Sky Resort and surrounded by all of its breathtaking scenery. But none of that makes any difference if the dogs don't taste right. Luckily, the Yeti Dog doesn't disappoint. It's loaded with mustard, a zesty mayo, sweet relish, sauerkraut and onions.

A legend in Miami, Sweet Dogs is known for its outstanding service and for naming its dogs after sports teams. The most popular is the Miami Heat with beef chilli, Cheddar, tomato, guacamole, jalapeños and corn chips. For something out of the ordinary, the Florida Panthers, with grilled ham, sautéed peppers, sweet and sour sauce, and crispy noodles, also comes highly recommended.

Red Top in Louisville is a food truck that serves all-beef and wild game sausages, including wild boar, wagyu and bison, with creative toppings. There's Nirvana – a combo of roasted garlic cream cheese, jalapeños, fried onions and jalapeño jam – and the Black & Blue, with blue cheese spread, grilled onions, smoked bacon and local blackberry jam packed onto your choice of sausage.

The International House of Hot Dogs is loved by Anchorage locals thanks to its easily customisable options and wide range of dogs and toppings. Customers can choose between beef, buffalo, chicken or veggie dogs, but there is one must-order here. The speciality is the reindeer Polish sausage, dressed with sautéed onions and the joint's secret chipotle sauce. The fries aren't bad, either.

Not your ordinary hot dog truck, T-Loc's aims to bring an authentic taste of the Sonoran dog to Texas. The special buns are flown in from Tucson every week. The bolillo bread – Mexican white bread similar to a baguette – is filled with a sausage and a variety of toppings, including beans, jalapeño sauce, mustard and tomatoes. It certainly gets some of the most enthusiastic reviews we've come across.

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Last updated by Luke Paton.