The Hot Dog Style You'll Only Find In Kansas City

When you want to treat yourself, you can't go wrong with a hot dog. According to Delish, different cities tout their own version of this staple and each take has something unique to offer. Expect to find a relatively simple version of the hot dog in New York — most eateries across the city offer up the classic version of this meal, including the addition of one or two toppings, like sauerkraut, flavorful mustard, or onions sautéed in a rich tomato paste. 

Chicago's version of the meal looks totally different than the New York hot dog, as locals encourage plenty of condiments and extras. Some of the quintessential Chicago toppings include tomatoes, pickles, hot peppers, relish, and sweet onions. While these iconic geographical takes on the hot dog have cemented themselves into American culture, there's one particular style of this staple that you can only find in Kansas City — say hello to the unique and mouth-watering Reuben dog.

First We Feast points out that Kansas City specifically claims the Reuben dog, while Kauffman Stadium, home of the KC Royals, made its name selling this local dish. The recipe for this regional specialty stems from the Reuben deli sandwich, which features lots of beef, melted cheese, sauerkraut, caraway seeds, and a generous serving of thousand island dressing. The Kansas City hot dog closely mimics the Reuben sandwich and uses the same ingredients, namely corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and a creamy dressing (via Serious Eats).

If you want to make this hot dog at home, Martha Stewart offers up a signature recipe for the Kansas City dog on her website. Her recipe calls for mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, in addition to some extra cheese and sauerkraut. According to Smells like Home, the dish tastes even better with some salted butter and is worth trying if want to switch up your weekly meal plan. When you want to take your hot dog game to the next level, you can't go wrong with this regional specialty that easily ranks alongside dogs from Chicago and New York.