What Type Of Hot Dogs Does Shake Shack Use?

If you're ordering a hot dog at Shake Shack, odds are you're a discerning dog diner. This multinational burger chain doesn't use just any kind of generic beef-and-pork combination found at your local fast food joint. In fact, Shake Shack uses 100% Vienna Beef from the longtime Chicago-based hot dog brand. The choice for a premium frankfurter makes sense given Shake Shack's history. The restaurant actually began as a hot dog cart in New York City's Madison Square Park, so dogs are part of the company's DNA, and not just an afterthought.

It's a bit surprising that a New York-based chain would choose a Midwestern supplier, but these are no regular dogs. Vienna Beef is especially associated with Chicago-style hot dogs, and its franks are known for their beefy taste and extra-firm texture. The natural casing is also beloved for giving that pronounced snap when you bite into one. The beef gives Shake Shack's dogs a meatier, savory flavor that holds up well to aggressive toppings like melted cheese and bacon.

Perhaps most importantly, Shake Shack doesn't just heat the dog up and stick it in a room-temperature bun. The restaurant's signature preparation involves splitting and griddling the frank on a flat-top grill, which gives it additional browning and crispiness. The result is a hot dog with considerably more texture and juiciness than a plain ol' boiled frank. There's good reason why many believe it's the best hot dog you'll ever get from a fast food joint.

Shake Shack's menu currently offers four different versions of their flat-top dogs, ranging from plain to melted cheese to crispy onions to bacon — or all the above. All are served on toasted potato buns, creating the perfect blank canvas for whatever weird cravings you may have. The chain allows you to customize your dog, with additions like cheese sauce, caramelized onions, crispy onions, cherry peppers, and chopped bacon all offered at a small upcharge. Believe it or not, the cheese dog is a sleeper hit among Shake Shack fans, boasting a $5.99-ish price tag and ultra-comforting flavors.

Of course, anything with contrasting flavors and textures is a setup for success when it comes to crafting the perfect bite. In our ultimate ranking of hot dog toppings, sauerkraut, relish, and pickled red onions all made the list for the much-needed acidity they contribute. If you're taking your cheese dog home, a spoonful of pickled jalapeños would also nicely balance out the rich flavors from the meat and cheese.

Shake Shack likes to shake it up occasionally with limited-time releases, like this year's West Coast Menu. Though no dogs are on that menu, the chain has celebrated National Hot Dog Day in the past with versions topped with fried pickles, Angus beef chili, and hot pepper blends. Though the dog days of summer are almost over, you can still go hog-wild for these all-beef hot dogs for the rest of the year.