Hot dogs! Hot dogs! Get your hot dogs here at these local Columbus hot dog joints

They say nothing is more American than baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and a certain truck brand. In honor of Glizzy Fest this weekend, hosted by Frank’s Alley, Ledger-Enquirer reporter Kelby Hutchison decided to try multiple hot dog joints around Columbus. After consuming enough hot dogs to feed a large extended family, this is what he found:

Jordan Girl’s Gourmet Dogs

Jordan Girl’s is a hot dog restaurant located on Veterans Parkway close to the Columbus Civic Center. The menu consists of multiple SEC school themed hot dogs that are sure to satisfy die hard fans. I decided to go with one of their combos which came with two hot dogs, fries and a drink for under $11.

My first choice was the Missouri themed hot dog which comes with chili, mustard, pickles and onions. My other choice was the “Daniel” hot dog which came topped with chili and nacho cheese. I topped the two off with some Louisiana hot sauce, which is my preferred hot sauce for chili dogs.

The hot dogs had a great flavor that was enhanced by the tasty chili. The Missouri had a very diverse range of flavors with the onions giving the dog a tangy flavor that was balanced out nicely with the vinegar-like taste of the pickles. The mustard and hot sauce added a nice spicy a savory flavor to go along with the pickles and onions.

The Daniel was one of the greatest versions of a chili cheese dog that I’ve had the pleasure of eating. The chili paired with the creamy texture and the slight hint of spice of the nacho cheese and provided a hit of dopamine as soon as I bit in.

The fries that came with the order were perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and have a myriad of choices for seasonings you can choose from. I chose the creole seasoning which paired nicely with the flavor of the chili dogs.

World Famous Hot Dogs

World Famous Hot Dogs is located on Hamilton Road. With the price and flavor of these dogs you can see how they deserve to be world famous. When my photographer Mike Haskey and I decided to take lunch that day I was starving. So, I decided to go with the footlong hot dog that came with chili, onions, mustard and pickles served alongside chips and a drink for under $9.

The chili was the one of the perfect hot dog chilis with just the right amount of wetness and nice earthy flavor with a hint of spice. The onions tasted nice and fresh and the pickles paired with the mustard gave the dog the perfect amount of kick. I enjoyed the footlong hotdog so much that I decided to go back and order a regular world famous dog just to enjoy the flavor some more.

To those that like to add a little spice like me you can ask them to put hot sauce on the dog when ordering.

I must also say that the sweet tea at World Famous Hot Dogs is some of the best tea I’ve had in Columbus. Not too sweet, but not too bitter with a nice flavor and gentle sugary taste that won’t send a person into a sugar coma.

Destiny’s Dogs

Destiny’s dogs is located near Jordan Girl’s gourmet dogs in a bright and welcoming building. For those wanting to eat here, you will have to take it to go, but it’s worth it. I decided to go with the number two combo which came with three chili dogs, chips and a drink.

The chili had a little bit of a sweeter taste and came with onions, mustard and ketchup. I decided to not put the ketchup on though because I have always had an aversion to ketchup on a hotdog. I took the dogs home and debated eating outside due to the beautiful weather lately. However, wanting to watch Netflix on my lunch break I went inside the apartment for a short break before beginning to write again.

Destiny’s Dogs has great prices and is a great place to feed the whole family without breaking the bank. Other menu items include a scramble dog, smoke sausage dog, chili cheese fries, porkchop meal, and a fish meal.

Frank’s Alley

Frank’s Alley is located at the beginning of Broadway and is home to some of the most complex, unique and tasty hot dogs you can find. My go-to hot dog on my visits is usually the Manhattan hot dog which comes loaded with a thick Texas-style-like chili, beer cheese, shoestring potatoes and pickles.

Growing up, I would eat shoestring potatoes out of the can we would buy from Piggly Wiggly for about a dollar. Nearly 20 years later I got excited seeing the option available on top of a hot dog for the first time in my life.

The saltiness of the shoestring potatoes, the rich flavor of the chili, the creamy texture and flavor of the beer cheese, and the pickles mixed with the hot sauce I added makes for a flavor that dances around the mouth exciting every taste bud.

I’d also suggest the Staten Island dog which comes topped with beer cheese and Flaming Hot Cheetos for those that like to live life with a little spice and adventure.

I’ve also been told that the Brooklyn dog is amazing. It comes with everything sauce, red onion, tomato and capers.

Frank’s Alley will be hosting Glizzy Fest this year which will take place Saturday from noon to around 10 p.m. on Broadway in downtown Columbus.