The Most Unique Hot Dogs You'll Find At MLB Parks
It's almost impossible to go to a Major League Baseball game and not feel compelled to order a hot dog. The notorious handheld food dates back to some of the earlier days of competitive baseball. During this time, German immigration to the United States was common, and with them came their sausages. After periods of experimenting with beloved sausages to turn them into more of a sandwich you could eat with your hands, merchants began selling hot dogs. Turns out, they were perfect for convenient eating at ballparks, and by the turn of the 20th century, hot dogs were relatively commonplace at baseball games (via MLB.com).
Since then, some of the most iconic hot dogs in baseball have been talked about and eaten by fans across the country. The Dodger Dog from Dodger Stadium is one of them, surpassing the sales of hot dogs at any other MLB stadium. And then there's the Fenway Frank from Fenway Park, which has a New England-style split-top bun rather than the traditional hot dog bun, a seemingly slight difference that makes fans go wild.
MLB hot dogs have drawn such a following that stadiums have brought their A game when it comes to new recipes, creating hot dog concoctions we never thought we'd see. Here are some of the most unique MLB hot dogs you can order this season.
Crab Mac N Cheese Dog from Oriole Park
Have you ever thought about getting crab or macaroni and cheese on top of your hot dog? Or both? No? Well, apparently, the fans at Oriole Park, the home of the Baltimore Orioles, have. Stuggy's, an American-style restaurant that features incredibly unique hot dogs at its Baltimore location, also has a shop at the stadium. In addition to the traditional Stuggy Dog, it offers a Crab Mac N Cheese Dog, which adds lump crab, creamy macaroni and cheese, and some Old Bay seasoning to your hot dog. And, just in case you needed another reason to try this decadent version of a hot dog the next time you visit, this unique dog is on a New England-style roll, which tends to be a fan favorite.
One ballpark hot dog reviewer explains that, regardless of its odd combination, this Stuggy's offering is a winner. Although it's a bit on the smaller size compared to other ballpark dogs, its size doesn't outshine its "absolute tastiness," according to the reviewer.
Boomstick Hot Dog from Globe Life Field
Head over to the Texas Rangers' home at Globe Life Field, and you'll surely be in for a treat. This is where you'll find one of the most talked about ballpark hot dogs of all time, the Boomstick Hot Dog, which is fortunately still available this season. The menu item is two whole feet of an all-beef hot dog topped with Texas-style chili and cheese and served on a brioche loaf. Optionally, you can add other toppings, like onions and jalapenos, to make this larger-than-life hot dog your own.
If you're not sure you want to drop about $24 on this beast, just remember that this hot dog is truly like no other in that it's probably enough for three to five people to enjoy. Therefore, depending on how many are sharing with you, it could wind up costing less per serving than single hot dogs, which are known for their sometimes outrageous pricing at ballparks. Just be sure to have enough hands available to guide it back to your seat safely.
Tried it and loved it? Don't skip out on the burger version, which hit the stadium menu for the 2023 season. Both are available at the Texas 24" stand in section 132, but the burger version will cost about $35.
Sumo Dog from Yankee Stadium
Former Iron Chef competitor Jeffrey Lunak heads Sumo Dog, which was founded in 2017 and has since received its own spot at the renowned Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New York. The ballpark spot offers its namesake hot dog for baseball fans who love non-standard hot dogs. This unique take on the traditional ballpark food tops a hot dog with Asian-inspired ingredients, like teriyaki sauce, wasabi relish, spicy mayo, minced onion, and pickled peppers. Oh, and don't forget the furikake and kizami nori to bring it all together.
The Sumo Dog is also available as a vegan dog to suit certain dietary preferences. And if you don't quite think the Sumo Dog itself will be enough to fill you up during the game, try pairing it with Sumo Tots, which come with many of the same ingredients, creating a due that's full of flavor and originality. Sumo Dog is available at Sumo Dog locations throughout the stadium, including section 205 of the main level and in The Delta Sky Club.
Poutine Hot Dog from Rogers Centre
If you're unfamiliar with poutine, picture this: french fries smothered with cheese curds and gravy to create a savory mess that's uniquely satisfying. Poutine is a beloved dish in Canada, thought to have originated in Quebec around the 1950s.
So, when we found out that the Toronto Blue Jays' stadium, Rogers Centre, was introducing the Poutine Hot Dog to fans for the 2023 baseball season, we weren't so much surprised as we were intrigued. This combination is truly an odd pairing, adding hash brown potatoes with gravy and cheese curds right on top of a fan-favorite Schneiders hot dog. However, we also think that it might just be so weird that it really works.
The reviews seem to be mixed so far, suggesting that you may really need to be a poutine fan to get satisfaction from this hot dog. While one person on Twitter says, "This combination isn't necessary," another person claims that it's "an absolute abomination ... that weirdly slaps."
Churro Dog from Chase Field
We're willing to bet that you never thought about transforming the usual ballpark hot dog into a dessert. But that's exactly what Chase Field, the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, did to appeal to fans of all ages and taste preferences when it released the Churro Dog. Back on the menu this season, the Churro Dog features an authentic churro that's topped with frozen yogurt, whipped cream, and chocolate and caramel drizzles. Then, it's tucked neatly into a bun. it's not any ordinary hot dog bun, though. This sweet treat has a donut bun, of course.
Don't worry: No hot dog is hidden inside the Churro Dog. Instead, it's made to look like the famous hot dogs fans love to chow down on at ballparks as they cheer on their favorite teams. The Churro Dog is an absolute hit at Chase Field, so we expect it to last for years to come, which is good news for you if you're not making it to a game this year. One Twitter user even says it's one of the "best stadium food items I've ever had at any stadium."
Slider Dog from Progressive Field
Warning: Things are about to get weird. The Cleveland Guardians stadium, Progressive Field, potentially has one of the oddest hot dogs you can imagine. What surprises us more than the ingredients is that people are excited to visit its creator, Happy Dog, in section 159 to order one. It's called the Slider Dog, and although it sounds like a typical name you'd expect for a ballpark hot dog, this one is ridiculously unordinary.
It starts with a regular hot dog and bun. Then, Happy Dog adds pimento macaroni and cheese and some crumbled bacon. But the fun doesn't stop there. Atop all of that is a bunch of Fruit Loops — yes, the same colorful, sweet O's you used to eat in a bowl with milk when you were a kid. Except now, they're on your hot dog.
Grossed out yet? Don't be. This hot dog has a surprising number of fans, and you might end up being one too. One MLB ballpark reviewer says, "The bacon offered another texture, and the sweetness and crunch from the cereal was better than I thought it'd be. I've occasionally ordered ballpark fare that I've been unable to finish for one reason or another, but I'm proud (embarrassed?) to say that the cardboard tray that held this meal was empty a few minutes after I sat down."
Chicago Dog from Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is where you can find the iconic Chicago Cubs playing ball. And with that comes the must-try food that fans clamor over at the stadium: the Chicago Dog. The Chicago Dog is so popular that it's sold in multiple sections of the stadium, so you probably won't have to look too hard to find one if you want to try it for yourself.
This hot dog is a true Chicago-style hot dog, which is an all-beef dog topped with chopped white onions, a pickle spear, slices of tomato, yellow mustard, and pickled sport peppers. There's also a sweet relish that's bright green, allowing you to snap Instagram-worthy shots of your ballpark hot dog. To top it all off, all the ingredients go inside a pillowy poppyseed bun, adding just the right amount of extra flavor and texture. Don't expect the Chicago Dog to be cheap — one Twitter user jokes that it costs as much as "a house payment" — but do expect it to please your palate while you watch the Chicago Cubs do what they do best.
Banh Mi Dog from National Park
The next time you're cheering on the Washington Nationals at National Park and want to try something you can't eat anywhere else, head to Haute Dogs & Fries, a popular vendor at the stadium. Haute Dogs & Fries has three locations scattered between the main concourse, the gallery level, and the FIS Champions Club Level. At any of them, you can grab a Banh Mi Dog.
In Vietnamese culture, banh mi refers to a type of sandwich that blends French and Vietnamese cultures. Traditionally, it has pickled vegetables, cilantro, and chili to add pops of flavor, condiments, and meats. The hot dog variation of this classic sandwich infuses those traditional flavors into a ballpark finger food by topping a beef or veggie hot dog with pickled carrots, cucumber, jalapenos, sriracha mayo, cilantro, and pickled daikon. Rather than stuffing everything into a French baguette, as you usually would with banh mi, the ballpark version gets a more traditional bun, making it easy to eat while you watch the game.
Foot-Long Pretzel Dog from Tropicana Field
Want to share a ballpark dog with a friend? Maybe the Foot-Long Pretzel Dog from Tropicana Field would work. The Tampa Bay Rays' stadium added this monstrous menu offering to its options for the 2023 season, so you can be one of the first to try it. It's made with a Nathan's all-beef hot dog, which is a whole foot long rather than the usual size you can hold with one hand. The hot dog gets wrapped in freshly made pretzel dough, leaving only the very ends of the hot dog exposed. Since you can't add condiments to the top of the hot dog as you usually would, you'll get a side of house-made mustard for dipping.
The new Foot-Long Pretzel Dog is available at Pig + Potato, but you'll need to be quick on your feet to get one. These dogs will be limited, with 10 Tampa Bay WTSP reporting that only about 98 will be available for each game.
Dyngus Dog from Progressive Field
One venue at the Cleveland Guardians' Progressive Field knocked it out of the park in terms of uniqueness with the Slider Dog, but that's not the only one-of-a-kind hot dog you'll find here. The Dyngus Dog is another you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it menu item that gives the nod to Cleveland's rich Polish history.
Historically, Cleveland was a haven for Polish immigrants in the late 1800s. If you're familiar with Dyngus Day in Cleveland, you know it's an annual party celebrating Polish culture, racking up a growing fanbase each year. Hence, the Dyngus Dog was born, and if you're into Polish food, you can't visit Progressive Field without trying it. This unique MLB hot dog includes an all-beef dog with beloved Polish toppings: pierogies, horseradish sour cream, and red cabbage kraut. Whether you're of Polish ancestry or simply love trying traditional food from other cultures, the Dyngus Dog will surely hit the spot. You can find it at Happy Dog in section 159.
Footlong Sonoran Hot Dog from Chase Field
There seems to be a new trend in Major League Baseball the past few years that's transforming regular-sized hot dogs into supersized meals that you need two hands to hold. That's exactly what happened this season at Chase Field, the same stadium that brings you the famous Churro Dog. The Sonoran Hot Dog used to be a regular-sized menu option, but this year, it got a makeover into a footlong version.
The Footlong Sonoran Hot Dog features a hot dog wrapped in bacon, which already makes us want to say, "Yes, please!" Then, it's topped with pico de gallo and seasoned pinto beans before getting a drizzle of mayonnaise and mustard on top. The Sonoran hot dog style is a staple in Arizona, in case you were wondering about the interesting mixture. According to NPR, the creation gets its name from the Mexican state of Sonora, where this type of hot dog originated. Chase Field simply brings the popular style to the masses during every Diamondbacks game.
Pizza Dawwg from Globe Life Field
Globe Life Field announced several new foods for Texas Rangers and visiting fans to enjoy for the 2023 baseball season, including a Flaming Hot Cheetos Pretzel and a Brisket Croissant. But the only new hot dog on the menu is one with pizza toppings. And you can't just call it a pizza dog or a similar generic name. Its official name is the Pizza Dawwg, and by the looks of it, it seems to have earned its rugged title.
This hot dog is made with Angus beef and comes topped with the must-haves you'd typically put on pizza, including marinara sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese. Then, the hot dog, bun and all, gets toasted to replicate the crispiness you get when you bite into a slice of gooey pizza. The Pizza Dawwg will set you back $11.99, the price you might expect to pay for a small pizza. Still, you might consider chowing down on this savory concoction while watching a ball game priceless.
Canadian Caesar Hot Dog from Rogers Centre
We really admire when baseball stadiums give fans a glimpse into the area's culture and tradition by elevating simple foods like hot dogs, as Progressive Field does with the Dyngus Dog and Chase Field with its Sonoran Hot Dog. Rogers Centre is known for doing the same. In addition to its culture-based Poutine Hot Dog, the Blue Jays stadium offers a Canadian Caesar Hot Dog. Fans can find it at Schneiders Porch, an elevated seating area with some incredible views of the game below.
The Canadian Caesar Hot Dog is modeled after a popular Canadian cocktail known as The Caesar. This drink has a tomato juice base blended with clam juice. Bars that serve it tend to experiment with numerous other flavors and ingredients, upping the uniqueness factor. As for the hot dog version, you won't find any tomato juice or clam juice, but it does include a few typical garnishes for a Caesar cocktail, like green olives, crumbled bacon, celery, and spicy relish.
Elote Dog from American Family Field
The Elote Dog is a new item served at American Family Field, the Milwaukee Brewers stadium, for the 2023 MLB season. If you're unfamiliar with elote, it's a street food popular in Mexico and areas of heavy Mexican influence. Traditionally, it's grilled corn on the cob with a chili-lime sauce spread and sprinkled with garlic, although there are many variations of the tasty dish.
You can expect the Elote Dog not to be an exact replica of elote because, well, it's a hot dog. However, it does take some inspiration from the Mexican dish with its creamy chili-lime sauce and crumbled bits of corn chips on top. According to one Twitter user, the hot dog costs $10.99, so be sure to bring plenty of money with you if you have other foods you want to test out, too. If you end up loving the Elote Dog, you might also want to seek out the new Elote Tots in the concourse's concession stands.