At the time of this writing, it is one day prior to the start of National Hot Dog Month (July) and I have pregamed the celebration by eating a hot dog in my car. For breakfast.
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I harbor no guilt. The macros on this aren’t that bad. The dog itself? About 150 calories. Figure a hundred more for the bun. Mustard and sauerkaut: a pittance. So much so that I had the lady stationed outside the Home Depot spoon on some of those saucy onions for good measure.
It’s baseball season, so it hasn’t been abysmally long since my last hot dog, but it’s not an indulgence I allow very often outside of work. In fact, just talking about this is giving me those charred-to-near-burnt-on-the-kettle-grill vibes. I’m going to have to do that at least once before the month’s out.
I’ll be one of many.
According to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, July is the summit of peak grilling season, a time when the U.S. consumes some 7 billion hot dogs in the time between Memorial and Labor Days. Here in Orlando, there are many places to partake outside one’s own backyard, including a few spots that do the big work of making their own.
Primrose Lanes‘ (400 N. Primrose Drive in Orlando, 407-745-0862; primroselanes.com) controversial and delicious housemade tubesteak isn’t the only one in town, though. Over at Ten 10 Brewing (1010 Virginia Drive in Orlando, 407-930-8993; ten10brewingcompany.com), they’ve got their own version, packed full of sirloin, smoked on the Big Green Egg and done up in a multitude of ways. It’s about as solid a pairing for beer — and summer — as you’re gonna get.
Read on for a few more sausagey suggestions.
Cupid’s Hot Dogs
When this California fave came to Winter Park in 2022, nostalgic fans came running for the chili dogs they grew up on. And while those in close proximity may have balked when it made the move to Longwood, it’s likely that the comforting feels of those snappy Viennas will get them in the car for the craving.
More: 254 W. State Road 434 in Longwood, 407-674-8517; cupidshotdogs.info
Hot Dog Heaven
There’s a formula to the Chicago dog that is sacrosanct. The poppy seed bun. The Vienna Beef hot dog. And though locals in Chi may differ when it comes to the toppings to some degree, they can all agree on one thing: no ketchup. Ever. You’ll find signs saying as much at Hot Dog Heaven, a classic on Orlando’s Colonial Drive since 1987.
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More: 5355 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando, 407-282-5746; hotdogheavenfl.com
Portillo’s
I’ve interviewed native Chicagoans for whom Portillo’s is an obsession and those who don’t much understand it, since one can get a solid Chicago-style hot dog virtually anywhere in the Windy City. Here in Orlando, though, its following is something akin to the cult-level status that White Castle enjoys.
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That said, Portillo’s plays with the formula, and right now, they’re offering a limited-edition special alongside their classics: the Char’diniera Dog. In partnership with Vienna Beef, this tubesteak’s infused with giardiniera and provolone cheese, a special that’s available now in celebration of America’s 250th. Guests can enjoy the new Char’diniera Dog Maxwell-style with mustard and grilled onions or Chicago-style.
More: 7715 Palm Parkway in Orlando and 315 N. Alafaya Trail in Orlando; portillos.com/order
Red Panda Noodle
They’re not known for hot dogs, but they *are* known for doing whatever the H they want. And for America’s 250th, that means hot dogs, albeit in a very Red Panda style. Hence, a ween covered in their very own delectable housemade krab salad and lobster cheese with fried noodle crisps on the side. Lady Liberty’s well-known for welcoming literal boatfuls of mashup, so I think this one’s a fitting tribute.
More: 274 N. Orange Ave. in Orlando; instagram.com/redpandanoodle
SoDough Square
Hot dogs are nearly as regional as pizza stylings, and this born-in-Orlando brand features the twin delights of the Motor City under one roof. Detroit natives are so delighted when they walk in for the frico-bordered deliciousness of a SoDough pie that they’ll box that one for home and grab a chili-slathered Coney to eat in-house.
More: Multiple locations: sodoughsquare.com
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: [email protected], For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
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