Skip to content

The Most Popular Hot Dog Cities in the U.S.

If you love hot dogs, you're in good company.

Sure, you've had a hot dog at a baseball game or on the Fourth of July. But how often are hot dogs a part of your grocery list? (Hopefully not too often, considering what happens to your body when you eat hot dogs.) Some cities are keener on the meat, though, which is why the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council decided to analyze which U.S. cities sell the most hot dogs.

And while some of the top hot dog markets are larger cities like New York and Los Angeles, hot dogs are more popular in Southern states like North Carolina and Tennessee. The council took into account "actual sales vs. expected sales based on population," per a press release, leading to a number of Southern cities on the list of the "Top 10 Markets Where Hot Dogs are Most Popular." So while more hot dogs are sold in New York City than in, say, Raleigh, they're more popular in the latter city.

With that in mind, here are the U.S. cities where hot dogs are the most popular. Get ready to fire up the grill!

And for more, don't miss these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback.

Nashville, Tennessee

bacon wrapped hot dog
Shutterstock

Nashville may be most famous for its hot chicken, but its residents enjoy hot dogs, too.

And if you love food, sign up for our newsletter to get daily recipes and food news in your inbox!

Albany, New York

hot dogs
Shutterstock

New York state's capital city might agree that a hot dog is a sandwich.

Little Rock, Arkansas

Processed meats sausage hot dog red meat deli meat
Shutterstock

Arkansas' capital loves throwing hot dogs on the grill for an easy meal any time of year.

Knoxville, Tennessee

Hot dog with sauerkraut and mustard
Shutterstock

Hot dogs are even more popular in Knoxville than in Nashville.

Birmingham, Alabama

Grilled sausage and hot dogs
Shutterstock

The only Alabama city on this list, Birmingham joins other Southern cities in its love of hot dogs.

The easy way to make healthier comfort foods.

Greensboro, North Carolina

Hot dog bun ketchup
Shutterstock

Three different places in North Carolina made the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council's list of U.S. hot dog cities. The state loves its hot dogs, that's for sure!

Paducah, Kentucky and Cape Girardeau, Missouri

chicago hot dog
Shutterstock

Fourth place on the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council's list was a tie between Paducah and Cape Girardeau. The more hot dog cities, the merrier!

Charlotte, North Carolina

hot dog with ketchup and mustard
Shutterstock

Second and third place for the most popular hot dog cities went to North Carolina's major metropolitan areas. If you're visiting the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a hot dog sounds like the perfect lunch to fuel a day of excitement.

Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina

hot dogs burgers on flaming grill
Shutterstock

North Carolina's state capital loves a good hot dog, and we can't blame them.

Buffalo, New York

hot dogs with toppings

There you have it: The U.S. city where hot dogs are the most popular is none other than Buffalo, New York. Forget chicken wings; it's all about those juicy links.

Meghan De Maria
Meghan De Maria is a senior editor at Eat This, Not That!, specializing in food, product, and restaurant coverage. Read more about Meghan
Filed Under