Key Takeaway:
Nathan's and Hebrew National are both tasty, high-quality brands of hot dogs, but Nathan's is the slightly better option.
Today I wanted to rank and compare my 2 favorite hot dog brands, Hebrew National and Nathan's Famous. So what is the conclusion when it comes to comparing these brands?
"When you think of this food, what do you think of them?"
Ball Park? Oscar Meyer? Those are great too; I honestly love them.
But if you're looking for premium, high-quality franks, these brands are two of the best. So I'll just do a quick review of each and then explain which one wins in my opinion.
Hebrew National
I first tried these hot dogs a couple of months ago. I was looking for a premium dog that I hadn't tried before, and I had always wanted to try these.
My first reaction was...wow, these taste like a REAL dog. They taste sort of like the kind you would get in a ballpark.
A crispy dog
They are very crisp, so they have a bit of a "snap" when you bite into them. They're a little juicy, but not the juiciest I've ever had.
One thing about Hebrew National is that they're known for using the highest quality cuts of beef. So these dogs are very meaty, and you can definitely taste the difference.
Flavor-wise, they taste ALMOST like you would expect a classic hot dog to taste, except these have a unique seasoning, so they taste a little different.
As far as the price goes, they do cost more than a ballpark or something like that. But you get what you pay for, and it's worth the extra cost.
Overall, I give this brand a 9/10 in my Hebrew National vs Nathan's review.
Nathan's Famous
What can I say about these except they're fricking awesome! I actually only tried these about a month ago for the first time.
I had recently tried Hebrew National…and I was kind of on a kick of trying new hot dogs. Furthermore, I still hadn't found the perfect dog yet - that is, until I tried Nathan's.
Upon the first bite of one of these, I was blown away by the flavor. 👀
They taste exactly like you would expect a classic hot dog to taste.
They're very plump and super juicy. I will say these don't have as much of a "snap" as the Hebrew National, since these are skinless franks.
The real thing (authentic dogs)
But these are the authentic New York Coney Island franks that they actually sell on the street in some parts of New York.
"Price-wise, this cost quite a bit more, but it's worth every penny if you want a premium dog."
And of course, they're all beef, so you're getting high quality there too.
Overall, these are the favorite I've ever tried, and I give them a full 10/10.
The winner
Overall, these are both really tasty and high-quality…and I really love them both, but when it comes to these two brands compared, Nathan's is the clear winner for me. Although they cost more, they have the flavor of a classic, authentic New York hot dog that I had been craving. And although they are pretty pricey, they're worth every penny.
Facts about Nathan's Famous
Nathan's was formed in 1916 in Coney Island and started as a hot dog stand selling them for a nickel a piece. The name comes from its cofounder, Nathan Handwerker. He started the business alongside his wife Ida, whose grandmother is the one who came up with the flavor recipe for the spices used in the product.
In 1987, the company branched out into franchises and expanded across New York and other areas as well.
An American staple
Hot dogs are definitely a staple of American food culture. They have been around so long, and I can't imagine life without them.
Think about all the summers you have where you bite into a crisp dog. I can't imagine summer without them, either. We've all had times like that when we're hanging out with friends and family around a grill in the summer. Just having some fun, eating some hot dogs.
No matter how you like them, they bring people together, especially in the heat of summer. Hanging around a bonfire in the summer is great as well. And just being with the people you love.
A treat for any time
They're good any time of year, though. They are just great food that really fills you up and satisfies you.
There's just something about them that is so great to enjoy, especially on a hot day. Thinking about having one right now, with cold soda pop.
But I don't have any hot dogs at the moment.
I'd better go get some!
Do you keep them in your fridge at all times? I go through phases where I eat more hot dogs than normal. Like sometimes I will just crave them, especially the higher-quality varieties.
I used to eat cheap ones a lot too. They're still pretty good, but I usually crave a better-quality dog these days. But in general, I just love them. I do get burned out on them sometimes if I eat too many. That's with any food, though.
Too much of anything is bad, for sure.
Even though I've laid out the best reasons why one of these is the winner in my opinion, that might not be true for everyone. Some of you reading this might not even like either of these brands.
Some people prefer something like Ball Park or Oscar Mayer, which is totally fine. Those aren't bad by any means. I enjoy both of those. I simply chose these two brands to compare because they are well-known for being high-quality food products.
I remember that before I tried either of these, I thought Ball Park and Oscar Mayer were the best out there. As I said, those are very tasty. 👌
But there are better options out there if you're willing to spend more cash. I love that these two brands I've ranked have that genuine "New York-style hot dog" flavor to them. I've never even been to New York, but I wanted to know what all the hype was about.
At least now I can say I've tried authentic ones. I got what I was hoping for, and I didn't really pay a crazy amount for it, although I will say these two brands are a little pricey.
Both dog brands are amazing
But they are both totally worth it. I would definitely go for the Nathan's if you're a true hot dog lover. Before I had Nathan's, I thought Hebrew National was the best. And they are very good, for sure. They're just not the absolute best.
Like I said, though, I love dogs in general. How could you not? They are something that anyone can enjoy, and sometimes they actually bring people together. I hope you enjoyed my review.
What do you like on your dog? Mustard only, as pictured above? That's usually how I eat mine. Or do you like ketchup as well?
Whichever brand you prefer, they also go great with soda. Don't forget that! We can all agree that hot dogs are good, no matter when you enjoy them. We each have our own way to enjoy them, for sure. It doesn't matter how you like to eat them; you can have them any way you want- that's the beauty of it. Do what makes you happy!
You should try these
If you haven't yet tried either of these brands, you need to try them at least once. That way you can see which one you prefer. See what "floats your boat". These pictures sure do make them look appetizing. I could go for Nathan's right now.
How hot dogs are made (informational)
Franks (also known as wieners) are created by first grinding up trimmings from beef, chicken, or pork (meat). Then they are blended with different ingredients such as water and spices. Things like nitrates and salt are added as a curing mechanism (all of this is done with a steel chopping machine). The salt helps the flavor as well. After all that, the mixture (known as an "emulsion") is stuffed into a casing, and then the whole "dog" is cooked, and smoke flavoring is added as well. Then they are packaged and sold at your favorite grocery store!
Now let's hear your thoughts
What about you? What kind of hot dogs do you like? Do you live in New York and eat authentic dogs? Or do you live somewhere else and just buy them from the store? We'd love to know what your favorite brand of frank is. Let us know in the comments.
