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There are several cities in the United States where one can enjoy a hot dog, but there is one place you might not be aware. For over 35 years, folks in Seattle have enjoyed a style of frank which over time has become affectionately known simply as a Seattle Dog.
As a bona fide Ballpark Hunter, I can tell you with confidence that the ideal place to enjoy these unique dogs is at one of the numerous carts that flood Occidental Avenue before a Seattle Mariners, Sounders, or Seahawks game. The smell of the hot dogs cooking on the grill entices the pre-gamers as bustling proprietors grill all-beef ¼ pound Polish sausages on an open flame and shoot cream cheese from a caulking gun before topping it with grilled onions.
The bun, more like a miniature hoagie roll, is typically toasted with a little char to handle the coating of cream cheese. Fans then have a choice of additional toppings that include a variety of mustards, Sriracha sauce, barbecue sauce, jalapenos, sauerkraut, pepperoncini, and relish. The condiments are usually housed in jars, and not all Seattle Dogs are alike.
WHO INVENTED IT?
Hadley Longe is credited with inventing the Seattle Dog; he moved to town from Carbondale, Illinois, in 1989 and worked at a bagel shop in Pioneer Square. At the time, the district was in the middle of the city’s burgeoning music scene. He sold bagels and a unique bialy stick, similar to the texture of a bagel, with cream cheese, sunflower seeds, raisins, sprouts, and cucumbers.
Coincidentally, Longe also operated a hot dog cart at night for concert and hungry bar regulars, and the hot dogs sold more than the bagels to the raucous crowd. Longe used the hot dog bun-shaped bialy sticks to serve hot dogs with grilled onions and cream cheese. The bialy sticks morphed into hot dog buns, but the ingredients remained the same: cream cheese, grilled onions, and Polish sausage.
HOW DOES IT TASTE?
The Polish sausage with a dab of mustard and grilled onions would be delicious on its own, much better than a standard boiled wiener from other cities, and charred in all the right spots. The additional condiments and slab of cream cheese make it a twist between sweet, spicy, savory, and briny.
The cream cheese makes the Seattle Dog stand out. It blends well with the other ingredients, almost like it would on a toasted bagel. A pistol-like caulking gun is common for squirting it on the toasted bun. The ¼ pound sausage that is not boiled but grilled in the open. This cooking technique locks the juices in and oftentimes causing the sausage to squirt out with the first bite. Pro Tip: First timers might consider using two hands when eating to save on laundry expense.
“You are mistaken if you think you’re ordering a New York-style dog,” said one fan on his way to the game. “The bun situation is immaculate. It’s thick like a hoagie roll. The onions are amazing, and the sausage has a great casing and snap. It’s phenomenal.”
The selection of condiments enhances the eating experience. The popular ones tend to include jalapenos, grilled cabbage, mustard, barbecue sauce, and sriracha. It is common to see a slew of exotic toppings in additional to an assortment of yellow, spicy, Dijon and honey mustards, like pickle chips, pepperoncini, and banana peppers.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
If you are a sports fan like me who travels especially to enjoy a game, the best time is before a baseball, football, or soccer game at either T-Mobile Park or Lumen Field. If you are not a sports fan, don’t worry, you can find them outside your favorite bars in Belltown or on Capitol Hill. They also can be found outside the Seattle Center and other hot dog carts sprinkled throughout the city.
The next time you are in Seattle, seek one out and try it for yourself. You might fall in love with the combination of cream cheese and grilled onions on your hot dog.
It works.
For more interesting ballpark tales, & regional food tips, follow Marc Viquez and he chronicles his sports travels on his YouTube Channel Ballpark Hunter.