Sorry America — though the hot dog is certainly in the pantheon of classic American foods, you’ve been bested. John’s Hotdog Deli in Copenhagen serves what is almost certainly the best hot dog I’ve ever had. It’s absolutely stunning.
Hot dog stands are pretty huge in Copenhagen; John’s Hotdog Deli started as a stand, but became so legendary around town that they were eventually able to open a full restaurant.
The menu’s pretty simple — it’s basically just hot dogs, various sausages, and fries. I went with the standard hot dog, which comes with the classic Danish toppings — ketchup, mustard, remoulade, crispy onions, and raw onions.
The first thing you notice is the hot dog’s amazing ultra-snappy bite. There’s something oddly satisfying about that great snap that you get when you bite into a hot dog made with a natural casing, and this particular hot dog was the snappiest of the snappy. There’s an audible pop when you bite into it, and it’s delightful.
The texture of the meat is a bit more coarse than you’re expecting; it’s almost sausage-like, but without ever losing its unmistakable hot dogginess. It’s perfect.
The flavour is just as good, with a nice smokiness and a more subdued level of salt that lets the meaty flavour shine through.
The condiments? Yep, they’re great too. The ketchup is tangier and slightly less sweet than the typical Heinz, with a very mild spicy bite; the grainy mustard balances nicely with the sweet ketchup; the remoulade adds some welcome creaminess; and the two types of onions bring the crunch.
And the bun is soft and fresh, with just enough heft to stand up to the sizable hot dog and the generously applied condiments.
Best hot dog ever? Quite possibly!
Location: Flæsketorvet 39, 1711 København, Denmark