If anyone needed another reason to defend cream cheese on a hot dog, here it is: the Seattle dog has officially been named the best regional hot dog in the country.
In a recent New York Times Wirecutter taste test, Seattle’s signature hot dog beat out regional favorites from across the U.S. to earn the title of America’s best hot dog. The bracket-style competition featured eight regional styles of hot dog, but Seattle’s unconventional combination of a beef frank, cream cheese, caramelized onions, and jalapeños came out on top.
The Seattle dog has never been shy about standing out. The now-famous combination is widely credited to Pioneer Square street vendor Hadley Long, who began serving the cream cheese-topped dogs in the 1980s. Decades later, it’s still one of the city’s most iconic late-night bites.
The taste test’s judging table was comprised of Wirecutter’s Katie Quinn, food writer Kathleen Squires, and chef José Andrés. The trio added spicy brown mustard and a drizzle of sriracha to the Seattle dog, giving it the works. While the smoky beef frank and crunchy jalapeños earned praise, it was the cream cheese that won over the judges.
“What the cream cheese does is navigate very well into the sweetness of the onion, the mustard, the jalapeño,” Andrés said during the tasting. “Almost becomes a diplomat that brings everything together.”
Seattle’s dog advanced to the final round against Cincinnati’s classic Coney, which comes loaded with yellow mustard, Skyline chili, diced onions and shredded cheddar. Squires gave the edge to Cincinnati, but Quinn and Andrés sided with Seattle, handing the Emerald City’s signature dog the overall victory.
Whether you’ve been ordering Seattle dogs for years or still aren’t convinced cream cheese belongs anywhere near a hot dog, the experts have spoken. Seattle’s most polarizing street food is now officially recommended by the New York Times.
