The first thing people talk about when you land in Iceland isn’t the glaciers or Reykjavik’s cute downtown area — it’s the hot dogs. The famous Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur is a staple on everyone’s itineraries. Apparently Bill Clinton makes frequent pit stops there, just to get a bit of this hot dog topped with both crunchy and raw onions.
Just like we fight about who has the best pizza, hot dogs are just as polarizing. Argentina has their covered with chimichurri, Norway’s hot dogs are double the size of their buns, and of course, there are the classic chili dogs. There are so many ways to eat this simple yet incredibly satisfying meal. Here are seven hot dogs to devour around the world.
The Classic
Sometimes you gotta go back to the classics. In the United States, relish, mustard and ketchup are just enough for an enjoyable afternoon of grilling.
Photo: TheCulinaryGeek
Denmark’s Inside-Out Sesame Roll
Maybe you’re tired of your toppings going everywhere. Try Denmark’s sesame roll where the hot dog and toppings are all inside the roll — perfect for when you’re on the move.
Photo: SteveCoutts
Iceland’s Bacon Remoulade Bonanza
Maybe you like your meat to be wrapped by more meat? Iceland is happy to oblige by wrapping their hot dogs with bacon before adding it to your warm bun. Top with raw and crispy fried onions, and remúlaði, the Icelandic version of remoulade.
Photo: Waferboard
Chile’s Complete Feast 
This hot dog is a feast in itself. Chile’s completo (complete/everything in Spanish) is a beast. It includes chopped tomatoes, a giant slab of mayonnaise and sauerkraut. On top of all of that it’s also slathered with avocado sauce. Of course, you always add green salsa, bacon and melted cheese too.
Photo: Paul Lowry CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Peru’s Salchipapas Fritas
Sometimes hot dogs don’t come in a bun. In Peru, they are sliced up and thrown in with french fries and a side of coleslaw. You can add ketchup, mayonnaise, olive sauce and chili peppers. The smart ones add cheese or a fried egg on top as well.
Photo: Jorge G. Mari
Japan’s Kawaii Octopus Dogs
Japan is excellent at creating figurines out of food. Japan can make anything cute — so why not hot dogs? These little creatures are often included in a bento box.
Photo: Deborah Austin
Norway’s XXL Throwdown 
Packed with relish, crispy onions, mashed potatoes, raw onions, ketchup and mustard. It’s like Thanksgiving in hot dog form, sans bun.
Photo: Francisco Antunes
Muriel Vega is a freelance writer based in Atlanta, GA. She’s on a life quest to find the best tamales. You can follow her cooking adventures on Instagram.