An unquestionable symbol of culinary Americana, the hot dog appears on menus, in grocery stores and at concession stands all over the country, and its enduring popularity is at least partially due to its blank-slate potential. When you start with a hot dog and a bun, you have a culinary canvas that allows you to create anything. Sauces, cheeses, shredded vegetables, relishes a hot dog can accommodate all of those toppings, explained Adam Beane, the brand director at Hebrew National .

Because the hot dog can be customized so easily and so thoroughly, its a prime dish for region-specific variations, with chefs from different cities and states using their areas favorite ingredients and flavors to develop specialty dogs that reflect their place of origin. Each combination reflects the region where it was created, so a hot dog really allows you to travel the country in a way few foods can, Beane said.

Here, were breaking down eight of the most popular regional hot dog styles in the United States, including where theyre from, how theyre dressed and why theyre so beloved by locals and visitors alike.

Chicago Dog