NYC's top hot dogs

Shack-Cago Dog | Shake Shack

Mouthwatering burgers and concrete-thick shakes aren’t the only reasons to wait on Shake Shack’s infamous hours-long line: In an homage to Chicago-style franks, a steamed, juicy Vienna all-beef hot dog is concealed by medley of Rick’s Picks relish, diced onion, thinly sliced tomato, whole picante sport pepper, cucumber and pickle spears for crunch, and garnished with a dash of celery salt and mustard (don’t even think about squirting ketchup), all nestled in a poppy seed bun. The flavorful result hits spicy, sweet, sour and salty notes on the palate, and while there’s a lot going on, no one taste overpowers—nor will it sit on your stomach. (Price: $4.25)

Bitchin’ rating: 4 stars
A solid standard for those who want a well-made, traditional dog that could easily rival its frankfurter forebears from the Windy City.