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Seattle Hot Dog Beats Cincinnati, Wins NYT Test

7/3/2026

Summary

Seattle Hotdog Wins

The Seattle hot dog was declared the best regional hot dog in a New York Times Wirecutter taste-test video.
Food writer Kathleen Squires, Wirecutter editor Katie Quinn, and chef José Andrés judged the contest.
Seattle defeated Cincinnati 2-1 in the final of an eight-style regional bracket.
Hadley Long of Pioneer Square created the 1980s Seattle dog, which uses a potato bun, cream cheese, beef frank, caramelized onions, sriracha, mustard and jalapeños.

Summary

Hotdogs Tour

New York City vendors serve boiled dogs in brine with sauerkraut, mustard and onion sauce.
Chicago’s classic dog uses poppy-seed buns, bans ketchup and adds mustard, neon relish, onion, tomato, pickle, sport pepper and celery salt.
Cincinnati’s version piles meat-only chili, mustard, onions and shredded cheese on the frank.
The Sonoran hot dog from Mexico is bacon-wrapped, includes pinto beans, grilled onions, tomatoes, jalapeño salsa, mayo and a bolillo roll.

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Seattle Hotdog Wins

The Seattle hot dog was declared the best regional hot dog in a New York Times Wirecutter taste-test video.
Food writer Kathleen Squires, Wirecutter editor Katie Quinn, and chef José Andrés judged the contest.
Seattle defeated Cincinnati 2-1 in the final of an eight-style regional bracket.
Hadley Long of Pioneer Square created the 1980s Seattle dog, which uses a potato bun, cream cheese, beef frank, caramelized onions, sriracha, mustard and jalapeños.

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