Take a look at the list of ingredients in most hot dogs sold in grocery stores, restaurants, and convenience stores across the country. You might choose a different snack at that point. One well-known brand’s list of hot dog ingredients starts with turkey, chicken, and pork that have been mechanically separated. It then goes on to list corn syrup and dextrose. It might surprise you to learn that fast food restaurants still serve great all-beef hot dogs if you know where to look.
Since many fast food items get a bad name, you might think that fast food hot dogs would be no different. You might expect to find a slurry of meats that have been mixed together and pressed into the shape of a tube. There are also places where you can get fast food hot dogs with a meat mix and other very unpleasant ingredients. Other places have surprisingly tasty dogs that are actually made with beef.
If you’re in the mood for an all-beef hot dog, these are the best fast food places to get one. Just remember to eat them in moderation, since most hot dogs are also pretty high in fat and salt.
Five Guys is about more than burgers, fries, and peanuts it turns out. On its website, Five Guys says that each of its four hot dog options is proudly “all-beef.” The popular chain also serves a number of sandwiches and some very good milkshakes. And said all-beef dogs are “split and grilled lengthwise for a caramelized exterior. “.
Even though most Nathan’s Famous locations are now only delivery restaurants (a few still have takeout and a few dine-in spots), the classic beef hot dogs that you will get delivered are still available. And in fact, youll get the same when you buy Nathans dogs in the grocery store, too.
There are a lot of hot dogs at Wienerschnitzel that aren’t 100% pure beef, but that’s the point. Poland’s Polish hot dogs are a mix of beef and pork. The chain also has the World Famous Original dog, which is also a mix of meats, and an all-beef hot dog. Customers can choose any of those three options for any of the chains many hot dog offerings.
Shake Shack’s famous Flat-Top Dogs are 100% beef. They are cooked on a flat-top grill that gives them a caramelized sear, a lot like Five Guys’ dogs. Once you add cheese sauce, chopped bacon, and your favorite condiments, they are 100% awesome.
Things get a little tricky now, so bear with us: Portillos has three types of hot dogs, and the Polish sausage is the only one that isn’t made from beef. Next, keep in mind that their regular-sized hot dogs are made from sheep, but their Jumbo hot dogs are 100% beef. If you want all-beef dogs from Portillos in the purest sense, go Jumbo. Any of them will taste good if you don’t care too much about the details.
Sonic makes a great hot dog. It comes with ketchup, relish, mustard, and diced onions. You can also add chili, jalapeños, pickles, shredded cheese, and tomatoes. Also, the base of it all is a premium beef all-American dog made with 100% pure beef. “.
Come for the root beer; stay for the all-beef hot dogs. The chain also has Coney Dogs and Coney Cheese Dogs, too. You shouldn’t assume the same for the Corn Dog Nuggets because we weren’t 100% sure about them, but they sound delicious.
Thought it might be a dark horse, but what else do you call the hot food sold at Costco stores besides fast food? It’s also amazingly cheap food, since each dog costs only a dollar. Cheap in terms of ingredients, though? Not at all. Costco serves 100% pure beef Kirkland Signature hot dogs. And hey, FYI, for $1. 50 you get a fountain soda, too. Steven John: Steven John is a freelance writer for Eat This, Not That! who lives not far from New York City.
Sonic Drive-In is known for its extensive menu of American classics like hot dogs, burgers, fries and of course, corn dogs. The popular fast food chain boasts about using 100% beef in their famous corn dogs. But is this claim really accurate? Let’s take a closer look at what goes into making these hand-held snacks.
Sonic’s Bold Beef Statement
According to Sonic, their traditional corn dogs are made with “100% beef” in the center. The savory beef frank is coated with a crispy, golden cornmeal batter and deep fried to perfection.
On their website’s nutrition information page, Sonic specifies that their regular corn dogs contain “Beef Frank” as the only meat ingredient. There is no mention of any other fillers, pork, poultry or meat blends.
The Telltale Signs of Real Beef
When you bite into a Sonic corn dog, the interior texture and flavor profiles do match that of beef. There is a firmness and slight chew, along with savory umami notes you expect from beef.
Visually, the inside of a Sonic corn dog also resembles beef. It has a dark pinkish-red color with marbling of white fat streaked throughout. These are clear indicators you’re getting actual beef, not a substitute.
Why It Makes Sense for Sonic to Use Pure Beef
As a major fast food chain, Sonic has the buying power to obtain high volumes of quality beef frankfurters for a competitive cost. With beef as their headline ingredient, it allows them to command a premium price for their corn dogs versus imitation versions other quick service restaurants may use.
The 100% beef claim is also great marketing for Sonic. Consumers perceive beef as more valuable and appetizing. Using pure beef enables Sonic to charge a few cents more per corn dog, multiplying into bigger profits across their thousands of locations.
How Sonic’s Beef Corn Dogs Are Made
According to Sonic’s website, their traditional corn dogs start with a “savory beef frank” that gets dipped into a corn meal batter and then deep fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside.
The corn meal coating adheres tightly to the beef, providing an extra layer of crunch and texture contrast. The corn dog is then speared with a stick for easy on-the-go eating.
Why Customers Keep Coming Back
Sonic’s corn dogs have achieved an almost cult-like following over the decades. Fans love the juicy, meaty beef filling encased in crispy, cornbread coating. It’s an ingenious handheld meal or snack.
The nostalgic fun of skewered corn dogs also taps into happy childhood memories for many. Eating them often becomes a comforting tradition families pass down through generations.
Potential Drawbacks of an All-Beef Corn Dog
While using pure beef has many advantages, there are a couple potential drawbacks as well:
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Cost – Beef is one of the most expensive meats, so all-beef corn dogs also have a higher cost to produce. This translates into slightly higher menu prices for consumers.
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Texture – Some people may find beef franks to have a harder, chewier bite compared to pork or poultry dogs. The high fat content can also result in an oilier mouthfeel.
Alternatives for Customers Avoiding Beef
For those who don’t eat beef for dietary, religious or personal reasons, Sonic offers some corn dog alternatives:
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Veggie Dog – A meatless option with a veggie frankfurter and same classic cornmeal coating.
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Kids Hot Dog – Uses an all-turkey frankfurter, so it avoids beef.
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Chicken Strips – You can also substitute chicken tenders for the corn dog.
Verifying Sonic’s Bold Beef Claims
Short of getting a tour of Sonic’s frankfurter factories, it’s difficult for the average consumer to definitively prove whether the chain uses 100% beef as stated.
However, Sonic’s corn dogs do match the look, taste and texture people expect from beef. As a major company, it’s unlikely Sonic would mislabel their ingredients or risk the legal and PR repercussions of doing so.
In the absence of any strong evidence to the contrary, Sonic’s bold beef claims can be taken at face value by most consumers. It’s the logical choice from a business perspective too.
Key Takeaways: Are Sonic Corn Dogs Really All Beef?
To summarize, here are the key points explaining why Sonic likely uses 100% beef as advertised:
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Sonic explicitly states their traditional corn dogs contain only beef.
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Taste, texture and visual cues match that of real beef franks.
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Using pure beef makes financial and marketing sense for Sonic’s business model.
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Beef franks allow Sonic to command higher prices compared to non-beef fillings.
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Sonic offers alternative non-beef corn dog options for restricting customers.
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As a major chain, Sonic is unlikely to mislabel ingredient content and risk legal action.
So while customers can’t inspect Sonic’s frankfurter factories themselves, all signs do point to their traditional corn dogs using 100% pure beef. It’s the logical choice aligned with Sonic’s brand image and the product attributes.
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FAQ
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