The West Virginia Hot Dog: What Makes it so Special?

You’ve likely heard of the famous pepperoni rolls and ramps, but there is another favorite food that West Virginians and Mountain State visitors always make room on their plate for: the West Virginia Hot Dog. What could possibly distinguish this Almost Heaven delicacy from the original American cookout staple?

The concept is simple. Cook a plain hot dog, drop it in a toasted bun and pile it high with ingredients that are likely already inside your refrigerator: coleslaw, yellow mustard, chopped onions and chili. You may hear locals just call chili “sauce.” If any part of your hot dog peaks through the toppings, you’ve sold yourself short on the flavors!

Hot Dog History

Reflecting Almost Heaven, the West Virginia Hot Dog is a melting pot of cultures – with many ingredients originating in countries across the Atlantic Ocean. West Virginia welcomed many European immigrants during the late 19th century and early 20th century, and most of them brought their native cooking practices with them. Germany’s influence on the hot dog and bun, the Dutch’s signature coleslaw, Italians addition of onions (sometimes peppers, too) and the south’s existing chili recipes all came together – resulting in an unexpected culinary creation. Yellow mustard was already a popular condiment in America.

While the city of origin for the West Virginia Hot Dog remains unclear, Charleston is a safe assumption as many immigrants settled here and set up hot dog stands during the Great Depression. Hot dogs were popular since they were inexpensive to produce and buy, making these along with pepperoni rolls the perfect, affordable lunch item for coal mine and industrial workers. Unlike those living in large metropolitan cities, who solely depended on having the finest meat for their hotdogs available, West Virginians focused on adding fresh flavor and used the ingredients they had.

The West Virginia Hot Dog we know and love today is a product of community engagement. It was common for early settlers to have potlucks with all the ingredients separated from one another. Since agriculture has deep roots in the Mountain State, people could grow cabbage and carrots to make the slaw. A different local could provide the links, buns, onions or mustard while farmers could use beef from their meat inventory for the chili. All it took was one, or maybe multiple, adventurous souls to bring this creation to life. The West Virginia Hot Dog was practical, yet satisfying, for residents to enjoy for years to come. The popularity of this modest fare is known in the state and beyond, and some areas have even launched dedicated trails to highlight their offerings – such as the fun Huntington Area Hotdog Trail.

So the next time you load up your plate at a West Virginia cookout or visit a West Virginia hot dog establishment, give this ultimate delicacy a try. Explore are some of the top dogs in Almost Heaven to help you get started.

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