Is there any item of food more American than the hot dog? The unique style of sausage, served in its custom companion bun and adorned with an individual’s own free choice among limitless condiments and toppings, is always the most fitting food for the Fourth of July. Its essential character transcends a hot dog’s ingredients, whether it’s beef, pork, chicken, Alaskan caribou, or plant-based stuff. Like most American cultural assets, the hot dog has its origins elsewhere – the Austrian and German immigrants of the 19th century, according to Food Timeline. Plus, the regional variations are endless, which adds diversity to the hot dog’s very-American attributes.
Some of the most familiar regional hot dog styles include the Chicago dog, Coney Island dog and Seattle dog. So, is there a California dog? A lineup of toppings that the whole nation knows is from the Golden State? The answer isn’t totally obvious. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council’s summary of 19 regional hot dogs across America acknowledges that Californians enjoy many different varieties of hot dog all over the state. This sausage authority states that “the one most unique to the state is a bacon wrapped dog with grilled onions and peppers. These are favorites from carts around Los Angeles and San Francisco.”
There is a clear consensus that California’s own special homegrown hot dog style is bacon-wrapped. Google Trends released a report of uniquely searched hot dog types by state in the lead up to the Fourth of July this year. Some U.S. states were researching uncommon styles, for example, Maine’s top search term is the red snapper hot dog and Delaware’s is the Peru hot dog. The Korean hot dog had the strongest showing nationwide. But only one state – California – searched predominantly for “bacon-wrapped hot dog.”
How and when did a state better known for its healthier fare embrace one of the most decadent of hot dogs? Adding processed, fatty, salty, delicious bacon to a processed, fatty, salty, delicious hot dog is a move you might expect from one of the more, let’s say… porky states. Food historians link California’s favorite bacon-wrapped hot dog to another regional style, the Sonoran dog. This elaborate hodgepodge of a hot dog has its own origins in the Mexican state of Sonora.
According to this Thrillist deep-dive into Los Angeles’ bacon-wrapped “danger dogs,” vendors in the city of Hermosillo embraced the classic US hot dog, putting it inside their own bolillo rolls and adding a whole heap of local-style toppings. By the early 1950s, the style had evolved to feature a bacon-wrapped hot dog and toppings of pinto beans, chopped tomatoes, onions both raw and grilled, mustard, salsa and crema, plus a roasted pepper on the side. Other options include mayonnaise, relish and shredded cheese.
In the 1980s, Mexican immigrants selling street food introduced Californians to the Sonoran dog concept. (Similar introductions occurred all over the Southwest.) Regular hot dog buns, flimsier than the traditional bolillo, required a reduced array of toppings. In Los Angeles, the “danger dog,” also known as the “dirty dog,” is a distinct local version of the bacon-wrapped hot dog served with ketchup, mustard, mayo, sauteed onions and peppers, and a grilled whole green poblano chile pepper.
A recent Washington Post story on America’s regional hot dog styles assigned the Sonoran dog to Arizona and the Southwest, “with a strong showing in Southern California.” The story made no distinction between the Sonoran dog and the more vague bacon-wrapped Californian offshoot. Nor is it widely acknowledged as a California regional hot dog style among foodie corners of the internet. A basic search for “California hot dog” produces some interesting creations with tenuous links to actual eaters across the state. Food 52 offers the California Cobb dog, with the key components of a Cobb salad (a very Californian creation) sprinkled over a regular hot dog. Delish translates the bacon, tomato and mayo additions common across California into a San Francisco BLT dog recipe.
The Dodger Dog gets a lot of coverage, although it’s less of a hot dog style and more of a location/franchise/brand product. Famous hot dog sellers with origins in California include the Hot Dog on a Stick brand from Santa Monica, and LA’s Pink’s Hot Dogs and Tail O’ the Pup. For home-grilled Fourth of July hot dogs, celebrate independence by cooking any style of hot dog you prefer. If you want to celebrate California-style, wrap that hot dog in bacon and bring on all the toppings your bun can handle.
