There's nothing like a hot dog to conjure memories of simpler times at birthday parties and special events as a kid... Or my recent trip to Costco as an adult, because I still really like hot dogs. I know they're controversial and some people are not the biggest fans, but I find them to be delicious and — bonus — usually cheap.
Costco's hot dogs are obviously iconic, but other Canadian spots have rival options. IKEA and 7-Eleven are two other spots that serve up affordable hot dogs for an easy on-the-go snack or meal.
To see which ones really hold up, I put the three to the test. Evaluating factors like taste, quality, toppings, price, and accessibility, here's how they stack up.
Costco hot dog
Got to battle the crowds for your hot dog
Alyssa Wiens | Narcity
Costco's hot dogs are famous. Infamous, really. They're cheap, delicious, and come with a pop. Out of all of Costco's food court options, the hot dog comes out on top for me.
It's not just that they're so cheap, but Costco hot dogs actually taste really good. I think the meat itself has a great flavour and is always hot when served. The bun is soft and fresh, never stale. There's also more dog than bun, which is the right ratio to me!
The toppings could be better, as they only offer the classic trio of ketchup, mustard, and relish. But for a simple hot dog on the go, I'm not picky.
The major downsides of getting your Costco hot dog are that it's only available to members and you have to battle the crowds. It was so busy at my location that I waited in line for almost 20 minutes. That, and the fact that it's not available to non-members, make Costco a less accessible hot dog in comparison to the other two on this list.
- Price: $1.50 (comes with a pop)
- Taste rating: 9/10
- Convenience rating: 5/10
IKEA hot dog
This was not good
Alyssa Wiens | Narcity
I was really rooting for this hot dog, I was. IKEA is one of my favourite stores for a little stroll and shop, and there's nothing better than stopping for a snack after pursuing all the furniture I wish I could buy. And at just $1.00 (one dollar!), this is a cheap option!
Too bad it's horrible. Honestly, this was one of the worst hot dogs I've had. The bun was stale, the wiener was room temperature, rubbery, and had zero flavour. They only have ketchup and mustard as topping options, so there wasn't much to hide the disappointment that was this hot dog.
I took a picture of it next to a pen for scale and, as you can see, it's pretty tiny. I guess that's okay for $1.00, but I truly expected more.
The good thing about this experience, however, is IKEA itself. It's always a pleasant experience to shop there or eat at the food court, and the self-serve kiosks make ordering a breeze. I just wouldn't ever come back for the hot dog... but meatballs all the way!
- Price: $1.00
- Taste rating: 2/10
- Convenience rating: 9/10
7-Eleven hot dog
All the toppings!
Alyssa Wiens | Narcity
I was well and truly shocked by how good this 7-Eleven hot dog was. Having never had one there before based on the (wrong) assumption that gas station convenience stores could not make a good hot dog, my expectations were low.
But what I found instead was not only a yummy hot dog, but a fun experience.
First, I like that you can watch all the hot dogs and other foods spin on the roller-heater things. Then, you grab your own bun from a warming case and choose your own wiener. I like that it's hot and I like that I can choose my own. They also came in these great cardboard carrying boxes, which made it easy to take away.
Then, the toppings. There were so many! My location had your typical condiments plus hot sauce, pickles, onions, pickled onions, jalapeños, and a kind of salsa. So even if the hot dog didn't taste good, you could add on lots of toppings. But I found the dog to be very flavourful and tasty. It was the right size, too — in between the IKEA and Costco options.
All in all, a very pleasant surprise. The one downside is the price. These are a couple bucks more expensive than the other options. But given how good it was, this would be worth it to me to go back.
- Price: $3.99
- Taste rating: 9/10
- Convenience rating: 9/10
So, does 7-Eleven win? It's certainly close. I was really surprised by how good it was, but I feel that I need to go try it a few more times to see if the consistency is there. Costco hot dogs are always good. Based on that, I'll call it a tie.
Costco and 7-Eleven, I'll be back. IKEA? I'll see you for some meatballs next time.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.