Hot dogs are an essential good-time food.
Fromsummer barbecuesand baseball games to chillytailgating gatherings, these little tubes of processed meat inside warm buns signal aparty.
More people know about the chain’s iconic burgers, but it sells some slamming hot dogs too.
Meaghan Cameron/Eat This, Not That!
Though of course, you could customize it from there or get it plain.
The look:Sonic, we have a problem.
I ordered the full-dressed dog to try for comparison and it looked just fine with its multicolored toppings.
Meaghan Cameron/Eat This, Not That!
The taste:Overall, this was the worst tasting hot dog of the five I tried.
It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as flavorful as the other options.
The texture was also very soft with no snap or caramelization on the outside.
Meaghan Cameron/Eat This, Not That!
The bun held in all the veggies and condiments admirably.
It began as a roadside stand in 1919 selling root beer to returning World War I soldiers.
It now sells burgers, fries, chicken, and unique sides like Fried Cheese curds.
Meaghan Cameron/Eat This, Not That!
The glistening, reddish sausage was juicy and the bun was soft.
The taste:If you’re looking for the perfect beach hot dog, this one won’t disappoint.
Even without condiments, it was soft and juicy.
Meaghan Cameron/Eat This, Not That!
While the bun was a little dry, that didn’t detract from the flavor of the meat.
It even had a slightly sweet aftertaste.
Bonus points for the price: two of these dogs cost a little over $4.
Meaghan Cameron/Eat This, Not That!
Let’s face it, hot dogs shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.
The look:The hot dog was substantial and poked out of the bun on each side.
The bun, unfortunately, looked very dry and was flaking in spots.
The spices, while substantial, played second fiddle to the meatiness of the dog.
The sad part was the flaky, dry bun that should have been tossed away.
If the bun hadn’t been a total fail, this would have won the taste test.
Maybe it was just a bad bun day at the restaurant I visited.
Five Guys splits the all-beef dogs and grills them on the flat top for a caramelized exterior.
The bun of the Five Guys dog was a bit squished and looked a touch on the drier side.
This sausage checked off all the boxes for flavor and texture.
It was juicy and sweet with a firm bite and it tasted like real beef.
If anything, it lacked a little spice and instead focused on the quality of beef.
But keep in mind that thecomplaints about the prices at Five Guysloom large.
Asinglehot dog at Five Guys costs over $6, depending on location.
For a couple extra bucks, you could get a fully-loaded cheeseburger.
It also showed lots of strong caramelization.
The bun was golden and familiar because Shake Shack usesMartin’s Potato Rolls.
The potato roll offered its own sweetness that melded with the meaty dog.
Shack’s dogs were slightly more affordable than Five Guys' at $4.39 a pop.
