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London’s best hot dogs include this gourmet hot dog at Bubbledogs in Fitzrovia Bubbledogs [Official Photo]

Where to Find London’s Finest Hot Dogs

From American-German classics to wieners paired with grower champagne

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The history of the hot dog has been relentlessly contested since the late 19th century. While historical sources tend to agree that the concept of the sausage was created in Rome almost 2000 years ago, Germans and Austrians both claim to have invented the specific sausage synonymous with hot dogs — the now ubiquitous frankfurter or wiener are based on the names of the cities responsible for their supposed creation during the 1400s. Regardless of whether the dish originated in Germany or Austria, industrious German immigrants are widely considered as the first group to have brought the hot dog to America in the mid 1800s. The origins behind the term ‘hot dog’ are also caliginous: some attest the name to consumers being unsure of which meat was used to produce the sausages, with a New York Journal cartoon drawing a link between the sausages and German dachshunds.

Originally sold as lone sausages, St. Louis vendor Anton Feuchtwanger is generally credited with placing the sausages into buns to facilitate the eating process, preventing customers from burning their fingers. Others credit Coney Island vendor Charles Feltman with selling the first hot dogs in buns during 1867. A former employee of Feltman’s, Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker later revolutionised hot dog culture with the launch of Nathan’s Famous in 1916. Over a century later, Nathan’s is still considered the world’s most famous hot dog vendor.

Back in the UK, hot dogs are often overlooked, still yet to experience the widespread popularity of burgers and their recent raft of specifically dedicated restaurants. A tragedy. Traditionally a working class street food staple, hot dogs are inexpensive and boundlessly versatile. While many global restaurants and vendors have famously embellished the dish with luxurious toppings, even the simplest construction is far greater than the sum of its parts: the snap of the sausage’s casing contrasted by the soft white bread, finished with a slick of mustard to amplify to subtle spicing of the beef or pork. These are the best hot dogs available in London.

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The Sausage Man

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Using sausages imported from an award-winning German butchers, this much-loved food truck operates at the station end of Lewisham High Street. Each served in a freshly-baked hot dog roll, a wide number of sausages are available, including a classic smoked Frankfurter and various riffs on the classic Bratwurst. A selection of halal beef sausages is also served alongside some vegan alternatives made with seitan. All condiments and toppings are also free, including the likes of remoulade, German mustard, curry sauce, onions and pickled gherkins. A south east London institution.

The Sausage Man in Lewisham serves some of London’s best hot dogs from its food truck Lewisham Local

Goose Island Brewpub London

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While New York is often considered the spiritual home of the hot dog, Chicago is home to some of America’s finest examples — the world’s meatpacking capital during the fast food icon’s 19th century conception. Popularised by Illinois’ Jewish community, traditional Chicago hot dogs feature beef sausages with all natural casings. A tribute to the world-famous dogs served at Hot Doug’s, a now closed institution, Chicago-born Goose Island Beer Company’s Shoreditch Brewpub serves a version with an all beef kosher sausage, crowned with sweet onion, sport pepper, pickles, relish, mustard, fresh tomato and celery salt. Never ketchup.

One of London’s best hot dogs is the Chicago-style hot dog at Goose Island Brewpub in Shoreditch Goose Island [Official Photo]

Scandinavian Kitchen

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Hot dogs are particularly popular throughout Scandinavia. With a variety of national differences, street food vans typically champion some of the respective countries’ most sustaining and affordable options (especially attractive to British tourists encumbered by the exchange rate). Scandinavian Kitchen’s Fitzrovia cafe features a Scandinavian hot dog of note on its lunch menu, comprising a pork wiener-style sausage topped with Nordic mustard, ketchup, pickles, crispy onions and remoulade as a nod to Denmark’s finest.

One of London’s best hot dogs is the Scandi-style hot dog at Scandinavian Kitchen in Fitzrovia Scandi Kitchen [Official Photo]

One of the many restaurants that will be directly affected by London’s demolition of the Elephant and Castle shopping centre — which could begin as soon as later this year — Migues serves a Colombian take on the classic hot dog. A sensory overload, the softened bun is loaded with a Frankfurter, onion, cheese, salsa rosa, smashed crisps and the dog’s most unique component: a drizzle of pineapple sauce. Enjoy it while you can.

Migues in Elephant Castle serves a singular hot dog
Migues’ singular creation in Elephant and Castle
Jonathan Nunn/Instagram

Unity Diner

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British company Moving Mountains has launched a new plant-based hot dog that looks, tastes and smells unusually similar to the original product. Currently available at not-for-profit vegan restaurant, Unity Diner, the 10-inch sausage is produced with sunflower seeds, carrot, coconut oil, onion and paprika. Three hot dogs featuring the Moving Mountains frankfurter are served but the simplest — “The Classic New York Dog” — is the most enjoyable.

One of London’s best hot dogs is at Unity Diner in Hoxton Market Moving Mountains [Official Photo]

Katzenjammers

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A fresh take on a Bavarian Bierkeller, Katzenjammers is home to a vaulted bierkeller and a downstairs hall with a sausage bar. The menu comprises German classics, including a hot dog with sauerkraut, fried onions, sweet mustard and the choice between six sausage varieties: Frankfurter, peppery Pfefferbeisser, Bratwurst, Rindsbratwurst, Paprikawurst and Bockwurst.

Engine Hot Dogs

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Trading from a repurposed 1959 Citroen HY fire engine, Engine Hot Dogs is a touring street food operation. The truck doesn’t have a permanent parking spot, but details of events and pop-ups are regularly posted on the brand’s Twitter. All sausages are handmade and double-smoked, served with various toppings, on demi-brioche buns. The ‘Beef Richard’ is a solid take on the classic, with a beef sausage, dill pickles, crispy onions, ketchup and mustard. The Okotberfest Special — ‘Dachshund’ — is also worth trying, topped with sauerkraut and Mittelscharf Senf mustard.

Check social media to confirm location.

One of London’s best hot dogs is by Engine Hot Dogs, a roving truck Engine Hot Dogs [Official Photo]

Heap's Sausage Café

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The hot dogs at Heap’s Sausage Café aren’t particularly faithful to the traditional American-German version, but the sausages used are certainly of note. Owned and run by chef Martin Heap, the Greenwich space is home to a sausage shop and café serving a repertoire of dishes showcasing Heap’s handmade sausages, including two hot dogs. The classic hot dog features a brioche roll, onion chutney and a sausage that’s heavily seasoned with nutmeg and white pepper. The ‘Lethal Lucifer,’ on the other hand, utilises a sausage spiked with scotch bonnet chilli, finished with coleslaw.

One of London’s best hot dogs is at Heap’s Cafe in Greenwich Heap’s Cafe

Bao Borough

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Following the cult success of bricks and mortar sites in Soho and Fitzrovia, Bao has opened a new site on the edge of Borough Market. In addition to a new menu filled with hits such as the curry cheese bao or shia song bao featuring prawns embellished with chive — served in a long, fried bun — the restaurant is also equipped with a downstairs karaoke room: KTV. Alongside the main menu, KTV guests can also order a currywurst platter, featuring dogs served with rich curry sauce and onions.

The Sausage Man

Using sausages imported from an award-winning German butchers, this much-loved food truck operates at the station end of Lewisham High Street. Each served in a freshly-baked hot dog roll, a wide number of sausages are available, including a classic smoked Frankfurter and various riffs on the classic Bratwurst. A selection of halal beef sausages is also served alongside some vegan alternatives made with seitan. All condiments and toppings are also free, including the likes of remoulade, German mustard, curry sauce, onions and pickled gherkins. A south east London institution.

The Sausage Man in Lewisham serves some of London’s best hot dogs from its food truck Lewisham Local

Goose Island Brewpub London

While New York is often considered the spiritual home of the hot dog, Chicago is home to some of America’s finest examples — the world’s meatpacking capital during the fast food icon’s 19th century conception. Popularised by Illinois’ Jewish community, traditional Chicago hot dogs feature beef sausages with all natural casings. A tribute to the world-famous dogs served at Hot Doug’s, a now closed institution, Chicago-born Goose Island Beer Company’s Shoreditch Brewpub serves a version with an all beef kosher sausage, crowned with sweet onion, sport pepper, pickles, relish, mustard, fresh tomato and celery salt. Never ketchup.

One of London’s best hot dogs is the Chicago-style hot dog at Goose Island Brewpub in Shoreditch Goose Island [Official Photo]

Scandinavian Kitchen

Hot dogs are particularly popular throughout Scandinavia. With a variety of national differences, street food vans typically champion some of the respective countries’ most sustaining and affordable options (especially attractive to British tourists encumbered by the exchange rate). Scandinavian Kitchen’s Fitzrovia cafe features a Scandinavian hot dog of note on its lunch menu, comprising a pork wiener-style sausage topped with Nordic mustard, ketchup, pickles, crispy onions and remoulade as a nod to Denmark’s finest.

One of London’s best hot dogs is the Scandi-style hot dog at Scandinavian Kitchen in Fitzrovia Scandi Kitchen [Official Photo]

Migues

One of the many restaurants that will be directly affected by London’s demolition of the Elephant and Castle shopping centre — which could begin as soon as later this year — Migues serves a Colombian take on the classic hot dog. A sensory overload, the softened bun is loaded with a Frankfurter, onion, cheese, salsa rosa, smashed crisps and the dog’s most unique component: a drizzle of pineapple sauce. Enjoy it while you can.

Migues in Elephant Castle serves a singular hot dog
Migues’ singular creation in Elephant and Castle
Jonathan Nunn/Instagram

Unity Diner

British company Moving Mountains has launched a new plant-based hot dog that looks, tastes and smells unusually similar to the original product. Currently available at not-for-profit vegan restaurant, Unity Diner, the 10-inch sausage is produced with sunflower seeds, carrot, coconut oil, onion and paprika. Three hot dogs featuring the Moving Mountains frankfurter are served but the simplest — “The Classic New York Dog” — is the most enjoyable.

One of London’s best hot dogs is at Unity Diner in Hoxton Market Moving Mountains [Official Photo]

Katzenjammers

A fresh take on a Bavarian Bierkeller, Katzenjammers is home to a vaulted bierkeller and a downstairs hall with a sausage bar. The menu comprises German classics, including a hot dog with sauerkraut, fried onions, sweet mustard and the choice between six sausage varieties: Frankfurter, peppery Pfefferbeisser, Bratwurst, Rindsbratwurst, Paprikawurst and Bockwurst.

Engine Hot Dogs

Trading from a repurposed 1959 Citroen HY fire engine, Engine Hot Dogs is a touring street food operation. The truck doesn’t have a permanent parking spot, but details of events and pop-ups are regularly posted on the brand’s Twitter. All sausages are handmade and double-smoked, served with various toppings, on demi-brioche buns. The ‘Beef Richard’ is a solid take on the classic, with a beef sausage, dill pickles, crispy onions, ketchup and mustard. The Okotberfest Special — ‘Dachshund’ — is also worth trying, topped with sauerkraut and Mittelscharf Senf mustard.

Check social media to confirm location.

One of London’s best hot dogs is by Engine Hot Dogs, a roving truck Engine Hot Dogs [Official Photo]

Heap's Sausage Café

The hot dogs at Heap’s Sausage Café aren’t particularly faithful to the traditional American-German version, but the sausages used are certainly of note. Owned and run by chef Martin Heap, the Greenwich space is home to a sausage shop and café serving a repertoire of dishes showcasing Heap’s handmade sausages, including two hot dogs. The classic hot dog features a brioche roll, onion chutney and a sausage that’s heavily seasoned with nutmeg and white pepper. The ‘Lethal Lucifer,’ on the other hand, utilises a sausage spiked with scotch bonnet chilli, finished with coleslaw.

One of London’s best hot dogs is at Heap’s Cafe in Greenwich Heap’s Cafe

Bao Borough

Following the cult success of bricks and mortar sites in Soho and Fitzrovia, Bao has opened a new site on the edge of Borough Market. In addition to a new menu filled with hits such as the curry cheese bao or shia song bao featuring prawns embellished with chive — served in a long, fried bun — the restaurant is also equipped with a downstairs karaoke room: KTV. Alongside the main menu, KTV guests can also order a currywurst platter, featuring dogs served with rich curry sauce and onions.