Few things scream summer quite like a hot dog. Once the warm weather rolls around, the iconic Americana food is a mainstay on grills across the nation. Charred to perfection, nestled in a plush bun, and loaded with ketchup, mustard, and pickle relish, the hot dog is effortlessly delicious.
With simplicity at the core of its identity, the hot dog often fails to stand out next to juicy burgers and barbecued ribs. Yet one Hudson Valley dog has managed to do just that. In its recent report of the 10 best places in the nation to get a hot dog, Time Magazine‘s finance publication Money ranked a local dog on its list.
Earning the lucky number seven spot on the roundup, Holydog in Middletown earned high marks for its “no-frills” approach and competitive pricing.
“Try the $3.50 NY ‘Brooklyn’ dog with mustard, onion sauce, and kraut, or the Southwestern Dog with refried beans and chorizo. You can get a make-your-own hot dog with unlimited simple toppings for just $3, but you’ll have to add a dollar for special add-ons like bacon, chili, or melted cheese,” notes writer Allana Akhtar.
Holydog may be simple in comparison with some of the other shops on the list (one shop serves a Reindeer Polish dog with sautéed pineapple), but it’s a far cry from your New York City hot dog cart. All orders come piping hot and loaded to the brim with cheese, veggies, and whatever else your heart desires. One order is easily a meal, although the eatery’s lower price point means you can score two dogs for less than $10. Plus, with its close proximity to Equilibrium Brewery, Holydog is the perfect place to fuel up before a beer tasting.
As for how Money determined which dogs were worthy of a spot on the report, the publication partnered with Yelp to scour listings and reviews of hot dog shops across the 50 states. To ensure geographic diversity, the magazine only included one business per state. That’s particularly notable for Holydog, since it means the Hudson Valley shop beat out the plethora of gourmet hot dog vendors concentrated in New York City. Other winners come from North Carolina, Arizona, Alaska, California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
So whether you head to Middletown for the shop’s iconic Girlfriend Dog or build your own concoction with the help of the extensive toppings list, do yourself a favor and head to Holydog before the shop becomes too haute to handle.
