# Why don't the major fast food chains serve hot dogs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 7, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483 "2011-04-07T02:04:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/21 "2011-04-07T09:45:56Z")
It’s the same reason that they don’t serve McRibs all year round. No follow-up questions. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/22 "2011-04-07T10:32:47Z")
There used to be a chain in LA in the 60’s-70’s called [Pup ‘n’ Taco](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pup_'N'_Taco) that sold hotdogs and tacos. They were cheap and good, and you could get a whole box-full for a couple of bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/23 "2011-04-07T11:00:47Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Wait, am I just not getting something? They’re called Wienerschnitzel, but they don’t appear to serve any Schnitzel at all? 😕 Especially not Schnitzel made from the natives of Vienna. 😃 They’ve got them down in Texas too. Pretty good dogs there. When I see one, I like to stop in for a chili dog or two. 😃 Anyhow, it seems that while there ARE fast food joints that serve hot dogs (DQ, Sonic, and DW have been mentioned), burgers are just the more mainstream drive-in fare. You might as well ask why major fast food joints don’t serve tacos and burritos (except for the ones that do: Taco Bell, Taco Bueno, and Whataburger all come to mind). ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/24 "2011-04-07T11:14:26Z")
[A previous thread on this very question.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=458327) ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/25 "2011-04-07T12:15:16Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > In Boston there is a fast-food chain that specailizes in high-quality hotdogs. Spike’s it’s called. Buffalo has [Ted’s](http://www.tedsonline.com/), and a bunch of smaller independent hot dog stands. Traditionally, hot dog stands in the Buffalo area are owned by Greeks. Like Chicago, it’s a city with high “hot dog awareness”. Some cities seem to be crazier for hot dogs than others, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/26 "2011-04-07T12:23:00Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Buffalo has [Ted’s](http://www.tedsonline.com/), and a bunch of smaller independent hot dog stands. Traditionally, hot dog stands in the Buffalo area are owned by Greeks. Like Chicago, it’s a city with high “hot dog awareness”. Some cities seem to be crazier for hot dogs than others, I guess. And used to have Pat’s until they up and moved. Pat’s was the best. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/27 "2011-04-07T12:46:24Z")
Sonic recently added several varieties of hot dog to their menu. They’ve sold cheese coneys for over 40 years. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/28 "2011-04-07T13:27:52Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Wait, am I just not getting something? They’re called Wienerschnitzel, but they don’t appear to serve any Schnitzel at all? 😕 The name was chosen after they found out that most Californians of the time thought “schnitzel” was German for “sausage”. Never let reality get in the way of careful market research. Also, the company name started with “Der”, the German masculine version of English “the”. Never mind that in German, Weinerschnitzel is a neuter noun & “Das Weinerschnitzel” would have been correct. The corporate marketing folks thought only “der” was instantly recognized as connoting “German” by the locals, most of whose knowledge of all things German was based on Hogan’s Heroes, then prime time TV fare. Eventually the corporate name was changed to just “Weinerschnitzel”, but that was more a response to being bought & sold a couple times than any desire to correct a grammatical gaffe. And to top it off, there was exactly zero about their menu which was German. It was just a hot dog stand. But hot dog == Sausage == German was the marketing gimmick & so it was played that way. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/29 "2011-04-07T13:37:21Z")
B…b…but I thought whale sperm was a traditional German dish 😕 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/30 "2011-04-07T13:39:56Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Also, the company name started with “Der”, the German masculine version of English “the”. Never mind that in German, Weinerschnitzel is a neuter noun & “Das Weinerschnitzel” would have been correct. The corporate marketing folks thought only “der” was instantly recognized as connoting “German” by the locals, most of whose knowledge of all things German was based on Hogan’s Heroes, then prime time TV fare. And they still use that perception in their ads, even though they’ve dropped the “Der” from the name. Everything they sell is “Der-licious!” They actually do a not-bad line of dogs. The bacon-cheese dog is a favorite of mine. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/31 "2011-04-07T13:49:51Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > They actually do a not-bad line of dogs. The bacon-cheese dog is a favorite of mine. They’re not great; but sometimes, as with Jack In The Box tacos, you just have to have a couple Wienerschnitzel chili-cheese dogs. When you want 'em, there’s nothing better. ‘Real’ chili dogs don’t hold a candle to them. Unfortunately, the one Wienerschnitzel I knew of up here is closed. > [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > There used to be a chain in LA in the 60’s-70’s called [Pup ‘n’ Taco](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pup_'N'_Taco) that sold hotdogs and tacos. I never went to a Pup’N’Taco, but I remember their ads. Dad and I were watching TV once, and I was flipping channels. I went from a religious station to a Pup’N’Taco commercial. The dialog came out as: **And the banquet was laid out on the table. Pup’N’Taco! Pup’N’Taco! Pup’N’Taco!** > [@Zsofia](#): > > Five Guys has them, by the way. That’s good to know. Are they grilled? I could go to Dairy Queen, which is a fast-food burger joint that sells hot dogs. I could stop into a dive bar called Shorty’s in Belltown. I could go to Arco or 7-11. But it’s bloody difficult finding a grilled hot dog instead of one of those ‘roller dogs’. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/32 "2011-04-07T14:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > : > > > > Der Wienerschnitzel is a pretty common chain around Calfornia. Never ate there, but I would if there was one conveniently located. > > > > Joe > > Wait, am I just not getting something? They’re called Wienerschnitzel, but they don’t appear to serve any Schnitzel at all? They had them in Utah, too. They annoyed my very German professor, since they did not serve Wienerschnitzel (basically breaded veal cutlets, although German food aficianados will be coming after me for that characterization). It’s obviously a name come up with Americans for most other Americans, who neither know nor care what the word really means. Stewart’s, on the East Coast, specialized in the 1950s and 1960s Hot Dogs and Root Beer and Fries, served in trays at your car. They’ve decreased in number, but they’re still around. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/33 "2011-04-07T14:23:21Z")
Amusing note from the Wikipedia page on Wienerschmnitzel restaurants: > [@](#): > > Strictly, Wienerschnitzel might also be seen as incorrect, since the term is a two-word expression in German. As one word only it can suggest that natives of Vienna (Wiener) have been processed as Schnitzel. “Wienerschnitzel ist PEOPLE!!!” > **[Wienerschnitzel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wienerschnitzel)** > > Wienerschnitzel is an American fast food chain that specializes in hot dogs and other food products. The brand was founded in 1961 by former Taco Bell employee John Galardi and originally named Der Wienerschnitzel. Despite the name, the company does not ordinarily sell Wiener schnitzel, doing so once as a promotion. Wienerschnitzel locations are found predominantly in California and Texas; others are found in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Ne ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/34 "2011-04-07T14:25:26Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > It’s obviously a name come up with Americans for most other Americans, who neither know nor care what the word really means. Hot dogs are sometimes called wieners, and Wienerschnitzel is a German word that sounds better for a restaurant than ‘Wiener-_worst_’. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/35 "2011-04-07T14:30:18Z")
Could you supersize my McWiener? (and add extra special wiener sauce) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/36 "2011-04-07T14:32:32Z")
The real question hasn’t been asked: Given how successful the hamburger chains have been, why would anyone selling hot dogs not try to sell hamburgers?! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/37 "2011-04-07T14:34:58Z")
When I was a little kid (5 or 6 years old, around 1970), my family would occasionally go to Burger King, where I’d always get a hot dog (since, at that formative age, I still didn’t like hamburgers). One day, we went there, and I was crestfallen when we found out that they no longer had hot dogs. I grudgingly had a hamburger instead…and a love affair was born. 😃 I wonder if part of the reason for lack of hot dogs at many national fast-food chains is regional tastes in hot dogs (especially the toppings). What you get on a Nathan’s hot dog in New York is very different from what you’d get on a Portillo’s hot dog in Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/38 "2011-04-07T14:46:46Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > I may be off my nut, but I’m certain there was at least one Wienerschnitzel in Cleveland in the early '90s. You sure you’re not thinking of [Das Schnitzel Haus](http://www.dshparma.com/)? They actually serve schnitzel there and not hot dogs 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/39 "2011-04-07T14:49:08Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > The real question hasn’t been asked: > > Given how successful the hamburger chains have been, why would anyone selling hot dogs not try to sell hamburgers?! 🙂 Weinerschnitzel has burgers too. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483/40 "2011-04-07T15:00:51Z")
Several Weinerschnitzels in town here; we refer to it as “Weenie World”. My wife loves the chili cheese dogs and chili cheese fries; the kiddo like corn dogs or occasionally a regular hot dog. Me, I like the all-beef stadium dogs. They also have “pretzel buns”, which I haven’t tried but I hear are delicious. I’m pretty sure they sell burgers too, but hot dogs are their main draw. They’re also allied with Tastee-Freez, which means their soft-serve ice cream cones are better than Dairy Queen’s, IMHO. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-the-major-fast-food-chains-serve-hot-dogs/577483.md?page=3)