A hot dog stand is a business that sells hot dogs, usually from an external counter. Hot dog stands can be located on a public thoroughfare, near a sports stadium, in a shopping mall, or at a fair. They are often found on the streets of major American cities.[1][2][3] According to one report, some hot dog stands are paying up to $80,000 in rent for prime locations in Manhattan.[4]
Similar businesses include hot dog carts or wagons, which are portable hand carts with a grill or boiler for cooking the hot dogs and keeping them hot. In the United States, hot dog carts are also referred to as hot dog stands. However, a hot dog stand is typically a permanent or semi-permanent structure,[5] whereas a hot dog cart is movable. Similarly, hot dog trucks are motor vehicles that are set up at a roadside location, and often include a complete kitchen for storage and preparation.
In Denmark, hot dog stands are called Pølsevogn (sausage wagons).[6] They serve traditional hot dogs as well as assorted sausages and sausage meats.
In Toronto, Canada, the hot dogs from hot dog stands are often called "street meat".[7]
Windows 3.1 included a red and yellow desktop colour setting titled "Hot Dog Stand".[8]