A hot dog is a type of fully cooked, cured and/or smoked moist sausage of soft, even texture and flavor. It is usually placed hot in a soft, sliced hot dog bun of approximately the same length as the sausage, and optionally garnished with condiments and toppings. The flavor of hot dog sausages varies widely by region and by personal preference, as do the accompaniments.
In the United Kingdom and Australia, hot dog refers more commonly to the combination of sausage and bun, with the sausage called a frankfurter.
We in New York believe we have some of the best hot dog in the country. And we take our hot dog seriously. Did you know that a hot dog stand in front of the metropolitan museum can cost upward of $300,000.
You can read more about hotdogs and New York here:
Hotdog Stands are a multimillion dollar business
Best Hotdog in New York from nymag
Serious Eats Disagrees with nymag choice
PBS Documentary on hotdogs
Wikipedia on Hotdog