15 Unique Hot Dogs From Around The World

Hot dogs are the perfect canvas for creativity — although some hot dogs we may consider "creative" are perfectly standard in other parts of the world. Nevertheless, whether you eat a hot dog in New York or Lima, it will be special in its own right. Here are 15 unique hot dogs from around the world. 

South African hot dogs are made with a sausage (boerewors) that is a combination of beef with either pork or lamb, but the flavor hardly stops there. The meat is infused with spices like nutmeg, cloves, and coriander seed, which give it a wintry taste that pairs well with its usual toppings of chutney, mustard, and tomato relish. Try them at Gourmet Boerie in Cape Town.

Argentina's answer to the hot dog is the choripán, which is sliced in half lengthwise before being grilled and served on rustic bread. It's then absolutely covered with chimichurri. Read our guide to eating local in Buenos Aires to learn how to find the best of this iconic street food. 

The completo is a much-loved Chilean take on the hot dog. It starts with a long hot dog in an open bun that's topped with mayo, chopped tomatoes, parsley, and avocado. Then, it's smothered with relish, sauerkraut, green chiles, and ketchup. "In a country renowned for its low-key, downright conservative demeanor, the completo proves that there is a well of insanity lying just beneath the surface," writes Carolina Miranda in an essay aptly titled "You Completo Me." She suggests eating completes at three Santiago institutions: Dominó, Fuente Alemana, and Hogs Salchichería.

Brazil is lenient with what they call hot dog toppings; items like quail eggs, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, cheese, marinara sauce, and shoestring fries are not unheard of. A Brazilian completo includes mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, corn, peas, tomatoes, onions, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and fries, at the least. Additional fillings could include mashed potatoes, chicken, cream cheese, ground meat, and/or olives. Try one at Oliviera, a vendor in the Botafogo neighborhood of Rio that's often claimed to be one of the best spots for street food in the city, who has been in that same spot near the Café do Largo since 1995. 

South Koreans like to batter this dish, also called "gamja dog," with potatoes and then fry them on a skewer; the end result is similar to a corndog, but with an interesting shape that's reminiscent of Cubist sculpture. They are often topped with ketchup, but some versions use mustard or just plain sugar. You'd be remiss to try this street food anywhere but on the street.

Is it a hot dog or is it a croque monsieur? Neither; it is a "hot dog," a hot dog baked in a baguette with Gruyère cheese, that comes with either ketchup or a mushroom-based sauce. Traditional American hot dog shops are starting to gain popularity in Paris, but we know where we'd be if we had to choose. There's no particular spot in Paris that is known for this upscale iteration, as it is more or less ubiquitous, but you absolutely must save room for one during your travels. 

The Icelandic version of the hot dog starts with a frank that's a mixture of pork, beef, and lamb. It's topped with pylsusinnep, an Icelandic version of mustard that's brown and sweet. The adventurous hot dog-eaters top it with rémoulade, a condiment made of mayonnaise mixed with capers, mustard, herbs, anchovies ("bacon of the sea"), and gherkins. Hot dogs are so popular in this country that Condé Nast Traveler wonders if it is the dish to eat if you're there. Get them at Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur in Reykjavik.

Guatemala sure does like its hot dogs — so much so that it boasts two standard varieties. The first is known as a mixto, which is a hot dog served on a tortilla with cabbage, lettuce, and avocados. The other is the shuco dog (or dirty dog), which is a hot dog on a sub-sized roll with guacamole, boiled cabbage, mayo, tomatoes, mustard, and hot sauce. Can't get to Guatemala sometime soon? No worries. Los Shucos in San Francisco serves them; please note they are temporarily closed, and will re-open on August 15, 2015.

The Norwegian version of the hot dog takes the meat and wraps it in a round, tortilla-like potato lefse. As for toppings, they keep it pretty simple with ketchup, mustard, and relish. Norwegians have also been known to add brunost, a sweet, brown goat cheese, to their hot dogs. You'll no doubt find a good one at Mathallen, Oslo's foremost food hall.

Tucked into mini loaves of bread, puka dogs contain pineapple (or pineapple relish), of course, and are accompanied by a spread of tropical items like guava mustard, star fruit relish, and garlic lemon sauce. Eat one at the eponymous Puka Dog in Kauai.

The Peruvian take on hot dogs offers a deconstructed approach: sliced beef sausage, similar to German wurst, combined with a generous helping of French fries. This traditional street food is served with dipping sauces such as ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard and aji chile sauce. Enjoy some at Haiti in Lima. 

While this bacon-wrapped hot dog is popular in major southwestern cities like Tucson and Los Angeles, as well as many more cities in the USA, there's no doubt it originated in Mexico, where hot dogs are referred to as "dogos." A toasted telera roll is filled with sliced hot dogs, queso fresco, refried beans, onions, mustard, and creamy avocado. In addition to those usual fixings, Dalina Castellanos of Vice describes the options at carts in the town of Hermosillo, in Sonora, as including "canned mushrooms marinated in soy sauce, shredded cheese, nacho cheese, chopped cucumbers, guacamole, cottage cheese, and last, but definitely not least, crushed Ruffles con Queso." If Tucson is an easier trip for you, try one of these hot dogs at the famous El Güero Canelo.

From the bagel to the hot dog, Montreal dwellers put their spin on everything. A classic steamie is steamed (both the bun and the dog) and served with relish, shredded cabbage, cayenne, and spicy mustard alongside a heap of fries. Order one at Decarie Hot Dogs. 

Amsterdam has a very serious version of the hot dog, known to locals as "The Stoner." It's a cross between an American hot dog and a pizza, making it the perfect late-night snack for hungry visitors. It's perfect for those who can't decide if they want pizza or hot dogs more. You'll find these styles of hot dogs in many stalls, but while Bulls & Dogs does not serve them, their hot dogs are not ones to miss.

Tunnbrödsrulle is essentially a hot dog rolled up inside a soft doughy roll that similar in shape to a wrap. Its condiments range from mashed potatoes to lettuce to onions, but a popular filling is raksallad (shrimp salad). Anthony Bourdain tried it at Maxigrillen in Stockholm.