The Best Hot Dogs Outside the U.S.

Hot dogs go hand in hand with all things American, from baseball games to New York City sidewalks. But if you’re heading to any of these global destinations beyond the States, you’ll find some tasty variations on this quintessentially American treat.

Cape Town, South Africa

A boerie roll (Afrikaans for ‘farmer’s roll’) is a simple yet delicious South African rendition of the hot dog. Made with boerewors—a type of long, coiled sausage that’s grilled over charcoal until golden and juicy—the boerie roll is served in a split hot dog bun and covered with ketchup or homemade tomato relish and fried onions. A Booker can grab one at the next Cape Town Street Food Festival in Woodstock, then wash it down with a glass of local wine at the DoubleTree.

Malmö, Sweden

Mashed potatoes aren’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about hot dogs, but the Swedes have proven that incorporating this starchy staple is pretty delicious. The Halv Special (half special) consists of a soft bun with one sausage and three dollops of mashed potato on top, and the Hel Special (whole special) has two sausages, if you’re extra hungry. Stands throughout Malmö’s city center serve them, but you’ll also find them in Gothenburg, Bohuslän, northern Halland, and Västergötland. In addition to mustard and ketchup, you can get a variety of toppings like chopped cucumber, roasted onion, and even shrimp-and-mayo salad. Bookers can enjoy one in Malmö’s Möllevången district, and then sleep it off at the More Hotel.

Osaka, Japan

Hot dog lovers will be faced with some tough decisions in Osaka, where they’ll find everything from traditional sausages in a bun and classic stick-in corn dogs, to hot dogs cut into the shape of octopuses and served in bento boxes. Bookers can visit the city’s Kuromon Ichiba Food Market to try some of these weird yet wonderful hot dog varieties, or pick up the ingredients to make your own back at the Dotonbori Guesthouse Yen.

Santiago, Chile

America is famous for its hearty helpings, but you can go even bigger in Chile by ordering yourself a completo. These buns are twice the size of a hot dog in the States and filled with avocado, sauerkraut, tomatoes, Chilean chilli, and cheese. The Santiago Food Truck Festival is the perfect place to try one. Bookers should check in to the Hotel Cumbres Lastarria and take a dip in its infinity rooftop swimming pool during their stay.

Manila, Philippines

Hot dogs are so popular in the Philippines that they’re served all day, whether for breakfast, a quick lunchtime snack with rice and relish, or chopped up in a tomato sauce for dinner. But the local waffle hot dog recipe is the real winner. Skewered then deep-fried in gold hotcake batter, the waffle hot dog is a famous feature among Manila’s thriving street food scene – especially at the McKinley West Food Truck Festival. After a day of indulgence, spend the night at the Discovery Primea.

Bogotá, Colombia

The hot dogs you’ll find throughout Colombia vary by location. In the cities, they tend to come with ketchup, mustard, salsa, cheese, fries, and even quail eggs. Along the coast, hot dogs are usually piled high with crisp, refreshing lettuce to help beat the heat. But wherever you are, you’ll find a version called perra that features bacon instead of sausage. For Bookers looking to sample a variety of both classic and cutting-edge hot dogs, the Bogotá Food and Wine Festival is definitely worth a trip. Afterwards, head to the festival’s NH Collection Bogotá Royal for a round of cocktails.

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