Spring is almost approaching, as it gets warmer and warmer, which also means that summer is almost approaching, which, as a result, means that it’s time for the hot dog season. But here’s the big question; what do you put on a hot dog? Or better yet, what is the best thing to put on a hot dog? To find the answer to this important question, I have asked myself and a few others about their opinions on hot dog toppings.

I asked 4 different people 5 different questions:

Question 1; What would you say is your favorite hot topping?

Question 2: What would you say is your least favorite hot dog topping?

Question 3: How would you make your Top 5 hot dog toppings list?

Question 4: Are there any toppings you have neutral feelings for on hot dogs?

Question 5: Are there any toppings for hot dogs that you don’t like on hot dogs but enjoy not on hot dogs?

I received a lot of varying answers for these many questions, most of which influence this ranking, and most of which are incredibly important.

Honorable Mentions

• Lettuce: Lettuce is widely agreed to be decent enough on hot dogs, however, the only time this topping was mentioned was in the “Least favorite topping” question. But if you ignore this person’s opinion, lettuce on hot dogs is still a crunchy and yummy topping on hot dogs. However, there is a very big flaw with lettuce on hot dogs-it’s nothing on its own. It needs some extra toppings to truly make the hot dog delicious.
• Onions: Onions are, again, a very popular and good topping on hot dogs, however it suffers from the same criticism that lettuce faces, that is, it’s too plain on its own. Lettuce and Onions do make good hot dog toppings together and could theoretically be in the top 5. But I’m ranking single toppings, how they are on their own.

DISCLAIMER: The flaw of being too dependent on other toppings will repeat in this list, however it won’t affect much because the toppings would still taste good on their own.

5.

Relish. This topping is very controversial,  I’d say relish has the most mixed opinions on it. Some say that it belongs with the delicious duo that is ketchup and mustard. However, unlike most of the toppings on this list, relish probably has the most hate out of any topping here, probably because the people who do not like how relish tastes, also do not like how pickles taste. So while appreciating the delicious taste of relish on hot dogs, I cannot ignore the opinions of the public for much longer. Therefore, relish is on the list, but at the very bottom of it.

4.

Cheese. Some may believe that cheese should be included in the honorable mentions because it doesn’t taste good on its own. However, I, along with many others, believe that cheese is an independent-enough topping, and deserves to have its own spot on the list. It has better combinations on hot dogs than lettuce and onions that’s for sure. However, I don’t like cheese on hot dogs, and I don’t like cheese in general. Which is why it’s so low on the list.

3.

Chili. It is amazing on hot dogs. There’s so much versatility with chili, you can put cheese on it, you can have it without cheese, you can make it spicy, put bacon or other things in it, and you can change the types of meat in it. It even has its own name, instead of just Chili on hot dogs, it’s a Chili dog. It was also moderately rated among the interviews I asked, ranging from 4th places to 2nd places. However, oftentimes the chili overpowers the hot dog and bun, but it still tastes good on its own which gives it some extra bonuses. But that only gets it so far, so it lands in 3rd place.

2.

Ketchup. Not only is ketchup delicious with mustard, but it’s also delicious on its own, Ketchup goes with basically every topping on this list that isn’t chili. It’s a delectable, rich topping for hot dogs. But praise aside, ketchup is tasty and all, but it’s still just ketchup, and is better with other toppings than on its own. In the end, ketchup plays it safe and ends up tasting plain and generic. Which is why there’s a clear answer to number 1.

1.

Mustard. Unlike plain old ketchup, mustard has a distinct and tangy taste. It’s a flavorful phenomenon, a party in your mouth. It dares to be unique and different, unlike the “play-it-safe-and-hope-to-win”, ketchup. It has variety, good combinations, consistently high rankings among the interviews, It even has the oldest brand of condiments, with the Colman’s mustard company originating back in 1814. Mustard deserves to be first place, and it is.

Although… At the end of the day, it’s not summertime yet, which means it isn’t hot dog season yet, and we still have to wait to truly enjoy hot dogs. So maybe… Just maybe… The true best hot dog topping is the friends we made along the way… But that’s just some food for thought.