Add in just a hint of sauerkraut and this how I prefer mine:
I grew up a few short blocks from the original Nathan’s in Coney Island. No other hot dog seems quite as delicious to me now. You also need their meaty crinkle cut fries to make the meal just about perfect.
Plain, or with ketchup, or with chili (cheese optional). Yeah, I know I’m a heretic for not doing mustard. Think there are some ballparks where I’d get booed for putting ketchup on a hotdog. Oh well.
Preach it, Brother! I live in Chicago, but the traditional “Chicago style” dog (aka too damn much crap piled on it) sucks. And don’t give me any shit about it Mr. Hot Dog seller. It’s my order, and I’ll have it MY way.
Mustard ( any kind really, though I prefer a prosaic brown like Gulden’s over either the yellow stuff or the fancier alternatives ) and raw sweet onions. That’s it.
I want yellow mustard on an all beef dog. Maybe some relish. I DO NOT want a turkey/chicken dog, those things are tasteless. They’re nearly as bad as rice cakes.
Or I like all beef dogs in beanie weenies, if I need comfort food. I doctor the beans with some mustard and just a touch of brown sugar. Then I have to fight my husband for them.
classic pork/beef blend dog, natural casing, split in half and grilled on a flattop. On a basic hot dog roll with catsup, a sparse drizzle of relish juice [don’t like the pickle bits].
No kraut, no chili, no cheese, no mustard, no onions … though a potato roll is good also.
Chicago-style works for me. There’s a Chicago-style restaurant near me that sells neon relish in bulk, and I find it indispensable.
Alternatively - chili sauce, onions, and jalapeno slices. Cheese I can take or leave. It doesn’t need to be, and for that matter shouldn’t be, good chili - you want a thick, pasty, tomato-less, mildly spicy beef-glue like they use at Tommy’s.
Sauerkraut works on a brat, or a polish dog (either of which should also include grilled onions and brown mustard), but on a standard frank I find it too overpowering.