Danger dog facts for kids
A deep-fried, bacon wrapped "Jersey breakfast dog"
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| Alternative names | Bacon-wrapped hot dog |
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| Type | Hot dog |
| Place of origin | Mexico |
| Region or state | Tijuana or Hermosillo |
| Main ingredients | Hot dog, bacon, hot dog bun, various toppings |
| Variations | Jersey breakfast dog, francheezie |
A danger dog is a special kind of hot dog. It's wrapped in crispy bacon and then cooked by deep-frying it until it's golden brown. This tasty hot dog is served in a hot dog bun with lots of different toppings.
People also call it a bacon-wrapped hot dog. It was first sold by street vendors in Mexico. Many believe it started in either Tijuana or Hermosillo. Back then, it was served in a type of bread called a bolillo instead of a regular hot dog bun. You can still find these hot dogs sold from carts all over Tijuana, especially near the border and on Avenida Revolución. They are also popular in the bar area of Ensenada.
Today, these delicious hot dogs are sold by street vendors and in restaurants across big cities in the United States. You can find them in places like San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York City. The name "Sonoran dog" comes from the Sonoran region of Mexico, where this style of hot dog first became popular.
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What is a Francheezie Hot Dog?
In Chicago, there's a unique version of the danger dog called the francheezie. This hot dog is made from all-beef and is also wrapped in bacon and deep-fried. What makes it special is the melted cheese! It usually has melted Cheddar or American cheese, or even Velveeta.
Often, the hot dog is split open and filled with cheese before it's deep-fried. Sometimes, the cheese is added on top after the hot dog is cooked. The francheezie is served on a poppy-seed bun. You can have it plain or with the usual toppings found on a Chicago-style hot dog. Unlike danger dogs, francheezies are typically sold in restaurants, not by street vendors.
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A francheezie, with cole slaw and a potato pancake
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A francheezie with a side of fries; the cheese is on top instead of inside
Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, the danger dog is simply known as the bacon-wrapped hot dog. You can often spot vendors cooking them on metal trays over small heat sources outside of bars, concerts, sports events, and other places that are busy late at night.
A typical bacon-wrapped hot dog in Los Angeles includes the bacon-wrapped hot dog itself, along with grilled onions, bell peppers, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and grilled jalapeño peppers. In 2010, after a public effort, the L.A. City Council even declared the bacon-wrapped hot dog to be the official hot dog of Los Angeles!
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A bacon-wrapped
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Bacon-wrapped hot dog vendor in Los Angeles
The Jersey Breakfast Dog
On the East Coast, especially in New Jersey, there's a fun variation called the Jersey breakfast dog. This hot dog is also wrapped in bacon and deep-fried. But what makes it a "breakfast" dog? It comes with melted cheese and a fried or scrambled egg on top! It's like a whole breakfast in a bun.
San Francisco's Mission Dog
In San Francisco, the bacon-wrapped hot dog is also known as a Mission dog. It gets its name from the Mission District, which is the area of the city where it was first sold. This hot dog is usually served with grilled onions, mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, and jalapeños, just like in Los Angeles.
The Texas Tommy Hot Dog
The Texas Tommy is a hot dog variation found in Philadelphia and other parts of eastern Pennsylvania. Similar to a francheezie, the hot dog is split open and filled with cheese before being wrapped in bacon. The Texas Tommy can be cooked in different ways: it can be deep-fried, broiled, or grilled.
