The best hot dog joint in each of N.J.’s 21 counties – NJ.com

New Jersey — specifically North Jersey — is the center of the hot dog universe. New York City? Nathan’s, the most iconic hot dog stand in the world, is there, but otherwise it’s pretty much a million street carts selling the same bland hot dog. Whoopee.

New Jersey? There are probably more hot dog trucks, carts and storefronts crammed into Passaic, Essex, Bergen and Union counties than any comparably-sized area in the country.

New Jersey is also the cradle of hot dog civilization. Birthplace of the Italian hot dog? Newark, Jimmy Buff’s, 1932. Birthplace of the chili dog or Texas weiner? Paterson or Plainfield, take your pick; both cities claim the honor.

Sabrett, found at hot dog carts and trucks across the country, is headquartered in Englewood. Best Provision, a major supplier of hot dogs to supermarkets, is headquartered in Newark. Here’s my behind-the-scenes profile of this low-profile company.

Which brings us to this list of the best hot dog joint in each of N.J’s 21 counties. Some of it is based on my search for N.J.’s best hot dog joint last summer, the rest on wiener road trips the past ten years.  

Hot dog purists may go into pickle-fueled paroxysms of paranoia, aghast that several legends — The Hot Grill and Hot Dog Johnny’s among them — are not No. 1 in their respective counties. What’s your favorite hot dog joint? Let us know in the comments section.