Fancy and Festive Hot Dogs to Try in Washington D.C.

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Beat the cold with this ballpark favorite, gone upscale.

Fancy and Festive Hot Dogs to Try in Washington D.C.

Share All sharing options for: Fancy and Festive Hot Dogs to Try in Washington D.C.

The humble hot dog has come quite a long way since its birth in 15th century Germany. After European immigrants introduced the frankfurter to the United States in the 19th century, baseball parks soon served these sausages as standard fare.

According to the National Sausage and Hot Dog Council (yes, it exists), Americans today consume about 20 billion hot dogs annually, or around 70 per person each year. No doubt Americans love their dogs.

Now links get a new look, with a growing trend of artisanal hot dog joints in DC giving a gourmet makeover. Think beyond the city standard half smoke with chili, to consider fresh toppings like blue cheese or kimchi.

Hardly dirty water dogs, here are several places that reinvent the classic with new twists. This list has been updated from February thanks to the arrival of the ideal hot dog season: summer.

—additional reporting by Missy Frederick

Note: Restaurants on this map are listed geographically.