Some restaurants are reinventing this iconic American dish with international flavors, while others are elevating it into a premium culinary experience with high price tags.

Caviar hot dog

The USD100 "Golden Glizzy" features a hot dog, rich sour cream, mascarpone cheese, 30 grams of Ossetra caviar, and 24-karat gold leaf, all served on a freshly baked croissant bun.

The Golden Glizzy hot dog is topped with caviar, rich sour cream, mascarpone cheese, and gold leaf. *Photo: WSJ*

This gold-covered dish became a sensation at this year's Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and Miami Open tennis tournament, appearing in countless social media videos and consistently selling out at both events.

"People exclaim, 'Wow, a USD100 hot dog'", shared Keith Glickman, managing partner of Golden Goat Caviar, the company behind the Golden Glizzy. "But a single tin of Ossetra caviar alone retails for USD120. So, I often joke with customers that they are actually getting a bargain".

Another equally luxurious yet more affordable option is two mini hot dogs served with caviar and pickled red onions, priced at USD39 at the Bar Room within The Modern restaurant, located at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York.

Mini hot dogs topped with caviar at The Modern restaurant. *Photo: WSJ*

Hot dog towers

At the Breckenridge Ski Resort in Breckenridge, Colorado, new "towers" are transforming the local culinary landscape. These are not skyscrapers, but multi-tiered trays laden with buns, hot dogs, and various accompaniments.

Featuring 6 100% beef hot dogs and 6 types of sauces, this USD60 food tower also includes waffle fries. This dish, which adds a touch of luxury to a casual meal, is among several "hot dog tower" variations currently served in VIP stadium lounges and upscale eateries. A notable example is Alchemy Bistro & Bar in Martha's Vineyard, which offers a tower of 4 hot dogs with fries for USD29 on its late-night menu.

At the Aspen Snowmass ski resort, an eatery called "Hot Dogger" recently started serving hot dogs with unique seasonings and accompaniments, including: furikake (Japanese rice seasoning), nori seaweed, and wasabi sauce.

Prices range from USD11 to USD16, about 10 times more than Costco's famous hot dog and soda combo, which has maintained its USD1,5 price since the mid-1980s.

Breckenridge's USD60 hot dog tower is served with various sauces and fries. *Photo: WSJ*

Hot dogs nearly 60 cm long

Similar to other culinary trends, social media has fueled demand for oversized and unique hot dogs, where part of the cost is for the opportunity to showcase the dish to others.

One of the most famous hot dogs online is a nearly 60 cm long sausage tucked into a roughly 48 cm bun, sold for USD45 at Coors Field stadium in Denver. Named "Glizzilla", this name alludes to "glizzy", a term often used by young people on TikTok to refer to hot dogs.

The Glizzilla hot dog. *Photo: WSJ*

Joey Chestnut, 42, an 18-time champion of the Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest, believes the hot dog's appeal, regardless of price, partly stems from a sense of nostalgia.

"It's hard not to have a good memory when eating a hot dog", Chestnut said. "Hot dogs are like a comfort food that brings a familiar sense of joy".

Hoang Lan (According to WSJ, AP)