Being from Detroit, we love a good Chili Cheese Coney Dog, and we usually don’t need a holiday to pay homage. However, did ya know there’s a day for that, and that’s all the more reason to enjoy them! Falling on the last Thursday in July, National Chili Dog Day closes out National Hot Dog Month. So, join us in celebrating by loading that dog up with some chili, cheese, and onions.
The chili dog has ties to each region, with Los Angeles, New York, Texas, and, of course, Detroit all staking a claim to its origin. That said, let’s agree that as Americans, we love our chili dogs! We’re aware that eating a hot dog is said to take 30 minutes off your lifespan; more like 36. But after you add that delectable chili, melty cheese, and fresh, crunchy onions, it just seems oh-so-worth it.
If we’ve made you hungry and you’ve got 36 minutes to spare (wink), then you’ve got 2 choices. You can either eat locally at one of these magnificent hot dog spots (and if we missed any good ones that you frequent, let us know):
- Nathan’s Famous (NY)
- Sonic Drive-In (Kinda everywhere)
- Wienerschnitzel (It’s a Cali thang)
- Gold Star Chili (OH)
- American Coney Island (Detroit contender)
- Lafayette Coney Island (Detroit contender)
Or, you can use the following brands to make your own at home. This version’s even better because you can control the amount of cheese, chili, onions, and any other toppings you desire. Need a recipe? Here ya go!
- Ball Park Franks (Detroit Tigers’ Stadium favorite! Bun length; holds max cheese, chili, and onions)
- Oscar Mayer (Just classic)
- Hormel Chili (No beans, please)
However, you decide to celebrate, we hope that you enjoy the delicious treat and bring some napkins.
