Chicago has its poppy seed bun, and Seattle has its cream cheese hot dogs (barf). What’s the Portland dog?

In a city that received more 2023 James Beard Awards than any other city and makes pizza recognized as some of the country’s best, we think it’s high time for Portland to have its own signature hot dog.

When we scoured the city for hot dogs worth bragging about, we found no shortage of excellent options, but a lack of a trademark Portland dog. How can this be? To get the ball rolling, we asked some of our city’s beloved foodies what the perfect Portland hot dog should consist of, and came up with four finalists.

1. The Old Town Portland Dog

This dog goes old-school, with a Portland-made bun and frank, topped with locally made condiments. “I’m a traditionalist,” says Bill Oakley, a former Simpsons writer and experienced Portland foodie. “This great regular bun supports the hot dog without overwhelming it with bread or seasonings.”

Bun: Franz Hot Dog Bun
Dog: Old-fashioned wiener from Otto’s Sausage Kitchen
Toppings: Bobbie’s Boat Sauce and Mama Lil’s Sweet Hot Pickled Peppers

2. The Classic Wholesome Dog

Neva Bailey, a.k.a food influencer Neva LaRue, understands that a dish is more likely to become iconic with easily accessible ingredients—and a helpful façade of healthfulness. “The avocado is to make it all healthy,” she says.

Bun: Butter-toasted brioche
Dog: grass-fed beef
Toppings: Tillamook cheddar, bacon, caramelized onions, avocado

3. The Pizza Dog

"Our pizza here is so good," says Jordan Curtis, a former Portland line cook and the man behind foodie account @hoteatscoolfeets. He thinks pizza crust should be represented in Portland's hot dog game—specifically, hugging a made-in-Portland dog, along with an "iconic Portland topping."

Bun: Pizza crust bun
Dog: Olympia Provisions
Toppings: Mama Lil's Peppers

4. The All-Star Gourmet Dog

This hot dog goes big in every way, with two frankfurters cut open and grilled, and piled with six toppings. “It’s a double-decker,” says Nori De Vega, a Portland food Instagrammer.

Bun: fresh and toasted from Binh Minh Sandwiches
Dog: two Olympia Provisions frankfurter, butterflied and grilled
Toppings:  Tillamook Cheddar, Gregory Gourdet’s pikliz, height-of-summer Oregon Sungold tomatoes, and meat-only chili with an Earl Ninsom Jungle Curry base; finished with a drizzle of Durant olive oil and Jacobsen flake sea salt

Which dog best represents Portland? Let us know at [email protected]