While frankfurter may be an increasingly dusty term for the hot dog, it reminds us of the dog’s origin in Germany’s Frankfurt — along with its cousins, the Bavarian bratwurst and Austrian wiener. St. Johns’s Urban German Wursthaus grounds its franks in their Mitteleuropean roots. The interior decor is just on the right side of Bavarian hunting lodge kitsch, but the eye-popping views of the St. Johns Bridge are are a feast for the eyes. Urban German Wursthaus offers a range of German and more local brews, as well as vegan options of some of their favorite dishes. Dine inside or on the spacious patio.

Beez Neez may not serve actual bees’ knees, but this Slabtown cart does offer grass-fed reindeer, adding a dose of subtle gaminess in a lightly toasted bun piled high with caramelized onions and jalapenos. Other options include hot links, Polish sausages, vegan seitan sausage, and a classic beef hot dog. Expert doggers are free to customize their toppings, which include house-made curry ketchup, spicy brown mustard, and both garlic aioli and fried garlic aioli. Optional fries are relatively unexciting, but the sausages are large enough that few will leave hungry.

One of the oldest continually operating food carts in the region, the Wiener Wagon has been a downtown Vancouver institution since 1976 and continues to grill juicy beef franks for hungry workers on their lunch breaks. On a cold day, opt for a loaded chili dog, or if the weather’s warmer, try the Skip’s favorite, a hot link with mustard, onions, kraut, and tomatoes, named in honor of beloved founder Skip Ballweber, who died in 2020. There is no onsite seating at this small, lunchtime-only cart.

Sellwood may not be an actual island, but the walkable, riverside neighborhood is one of Portland’s most self-contained. Gibbon Grubb is one of the newest arrivals in Sellwood, whose dog-lovers have heretofore had to venture elsewhere. The dogs here are loaded — expect buns and appetites to be put to the test — from the packed Chicago dog overflowing with pepperoncini and jalapenos, to the kettle chip-topped chili cheese dog. Every dog comes with choice of fries, making even the simple classic dog a solid meal, and each dog can be subbed for a Polish or vegan brat.

A roadside hot dog shack with a long-and-storied history extending back to the 1930s — under various names — Roake's grills a timeless, high-value hot dog menu with a 12-inch long Coney Island dog with house special Coney sauce for just $5, a swamped “chiliboat,” and a quick bite short hot dog for under $3. Rub elbows with regulars in the cramped-but-charming vintage interior or snag a picnic-style seat outside under permanent covering. For sausage skeptics, the classic burgers and shakes are equally beloved.

Burgers might steal the limelight, but arrive late enough on a summer afternoon at Bless Your Heart and find it’s the hot dogs that have sold out for the day. 100 percent beef franks are grilled to juicy tautness and layered with fresh toppings. The Coney-esque Bless Your Heart dog ups the ante with Carolina chili and beer cheese sauce. Beverages include nitro cold brew, draft beers, and rotating wines. Bless Your Heart shares a busy parking lot with New Seasons and offers ample covered outdoor seating.

Considering how many Portland restaurants, bars, and carts use Olympia Provisions sausages for their hot dogs, it’s smart to go straight to the source for a wide selection of Portland-made franks and brats. Sitting out on picnic tables on a Division Street corner, Olympia Provisions Public House visitors bite into massive frankfurters or bratwurst, topped with dijon and onions or whole-grain mustard and house-made sauerkraut. Cheese-lovers may prefer the kasekrainer, a cheesy sausage with red cabbage kraut and dijon. For full-on Americana, finish a frank and walk over to the nearby Lauretta Jean’s for cherry pie.

When Nick’s Famous Coney Island opened in 1935, long before cross-continental flights and the interstate highway system, travel between the real Coney Island and Portland would take the better part of a week. While travel times — and prices — have changed a bit, Nick’s Famous continues to serve its classic, nearly 90-year-old Coney dog with bean-less chili sauce and cheese. The leather, steel, and neon decor is pre-retro, and the clientele is heavy on longtime Portlanders. Nick’s Famous features a full bar with happy hour specials for any budget. Hawthorne may have trendier bars, but none as deeply rooted in the soul of Portland.

A few blocks east of storied Nick’s Famous Coney Island, Zach’s cedes the tradition lane to its elder and embraces a spirit of rock `n` roll in its hot dogs. In addition to safe favorites like the New York and Chicago dogs, Zach electrifies its patrons with a black olives and jalapeños Los Lobos dog, a cream cheese and tomato Dylan dog, and the herbacious onion, cucumber, tomato, and celery salt Grateful (Dead) dog. Hot dog options include beef, spicy sausage, Portuguese pork sausage, or vegan field roast. The full bar offers one of Portland’s absolute best happy hours — with unbeatable prices in the 3 p.m. window. Trade concert stories in the funky interior, or hold onto your dog as you play a game of one-handed ping pong on the cozy patio.

Those who visit this Southeast Division Korean cart may stick to the tried-and-true “bibim-boxes,” but the KJG Hotdog has developed its own cult following. Here, a Portland-made frank lies snug in a baguette as opposed to a softer bun, which supports a pile of sesame sprouts, spicy daikon, kimchi mayo, and pickled mango — a balance of sweetness, saltiness, and funk that’s not unlike the combination of kraut, relish, and mustard.

Tucked in the back corner of Southeast Division’s busy Lot food pod, the Dog House is a perennial favorite, specializing in tender, beer-braised hot dogs with generously loaded, spicy condiments and equally generous and spicy attitude. The wide-ranging menu — including burgers, burritos, and tater tot bowls — is longer than most carts, but nothing is given short shrift, so expect a bit of a wait as your order is prepared. The extensive vegan menu includes field roast versions of their main dogs as well as a handful of vegan specials. The Lot has limited seating for a large number of carts, so on busier days prepare to opt for takeout. The Dog Hose is open until 3 p.m. on Sunday, until 7:30 p.m. the rest of the week.

East Portland’s birria-to-frankfurter ratio may be high, but the Eastport Food Carts pod on Southeast 82nd features one of Portland’s best dogs. Plus, with 25 carts and tons of outdoor and indoor seating, hot dog lovers can bring friends and family who prefer less meaty fare. Off The Leash Chicago commits faithfully to the Chicago style, for both topping-laden dogs and juicy Italian beef sandwiches. Onion lovers will wade through a mountain of caramelized onions to find the third-pound Polish dog underneath — those seeking a wider harmony of flavors need look no further than the 12” Chicago dog, topped with pickle, tomatoes, eye-popping green relish, onions, peppers, and sesame salt. All dogs are customizable with classic or garlic-and-fennel field roast vegan dogs.

For whatever reason, hot dog lovers are less unwavering than their pizza brethren, with plenty enjoying New York, Chicago, Seattle, Dodger, and dozens of other styles without hostility. Less well represented in Portland — but no less vital to the hot dog family — are dogs pulling flavor cues from the East Asian canon, best represented at Mojo Crepes, just east of 82nd on Southeast Division. The counter service Mojo grills up five different all-beef hot dogs each hitting the palate in exciting ways. The Mojo dog is loaded with fried shallots and nori, while the Seoul dog is a fiesta of kimchi, red onions, and sweet, tangy gochujang. There are no veggie dog options, but all the sweet crepes are either vegan or vegetarian. A back room offers billiards and arcade games, though the main dining area is a bit sparse. Mojo is open until 10 p.m. seven days a week.