Here’s Where To Find The Best Hot Dog In South Carolina

Who doesn't love a hot dog?  Well, I guess some people don't love a hot dog.  But, I don't know them.   And, when you want to indulge in the occasional splurge food, you want the best.  So, I went on the hunt.  And, according to LoveFood.com, here's where to find the best hot dog in South Carolina.

I know you're on the edge of your seat wondering where this best hot dog in South Carolina might be.  Well, it's none other than Jack's Cosmic Dogs in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina.  First of all, I never knew there were so many ways to enjoy a hot dog.  But, take a look online at Jack's Cosmic Dogs, and you'll see.

And, one of the things that seems to get a lot of attention is Jack's 'blue cheese coleslaw.'  That item comes as a side or a topping.  In fact, one of the most talked about menu items at Jack's is the 'Blue Galactic' with chili, cheese, blue cheese coleslaw and Jack's Cosmic mustard, made with sweet potatoes.   And, I think the one I might start with is the 'Atomic.'  That one includes housemade chili, diced onion and spicy mustard.  But, since I love spice, I think the 'Build Your Own Dog' route is the way to go and add some jalapenos.

And, in addition to their popular dogs, Jack's offers plenty of vintage drinks sure to stir feelings of nostalgia.  And, don't forget the cold treats with delicious sounding shakes.  A visit will probably quickly show why Jack's Cosmic Dogs found itself voted Charleston's Best Hot Dog for 20 consecutive years.  Plus, they even caught acclaimed chef Alton Brown's attention for his 'Best Thing I Ever Ate' segment on Food Network.  No wonder they come up in searches of where to find the best hot dog in South Carolina.

Growing up, we took chili dogs seriously in my family.  My mom took the simple and super affordable kid-friendly food and created something passed down in our family for generations.  It wasn't fancy.  But, she took whatever favorite wiener and put it in a saucepan on the stove.  Instead of boiling them in water, she covered them with canned chili, no beans, from the grocery store.  And, our brand in Texas was 'Wolf Brand' chili.  Now, we just use Hormel.

Then, she splashed a little water in the can and poured in the pan with weiners and chili.   This came to a boil briefly, then it simmered 'til heated through.  The dogs go into buns, topped with the chili and tons of shredded cheddar.  They toast for a couple minutes under the broiler until the cheese is melty and gooey.  I thought everyone did that.  However, my husband was unfamiliar with that type of method and deemed it brilliant.  It's the only way he eats a hot dog anymore.

So, I don't claim to have the best hot dog in the state.  But, when you want to try the one named best hot dog in South Carolina, visit Jack's Cosmic Dogs on U.S. 17 in Mount Pleasant.  See the full list for every state at LoveFood.com.  And, check out Jack's recently opened new location on Folly Rd., James Island, too!

Food trucks are showing no signs of slowing down in popularity. And for good reason. There are some delicious street foods that you can get from food trucks, not just your basic food options. Whether it's an oyster po'boy, lamb curry poutine, or Alaskan reindeer sausage. Yeah, I had to google when that last one even was. Plenty of my friends follow food trucks around, going to breweries specifically to eat from the trucks. This surging popularity led Shane Co. to determine the most popular food truck items. To do this they turned to Google Trends. From there they analyzed search volume across 500 food trucks and 1,500+ menu items over the past year to find the favorite food truck orders and cuisine both by state and nationwide.

Many of the favorite food truck items reflect the local cuisine. Some are more basic, and others had me scratching my head about how on earth that item was the most popular. Listen I love brussel sprouts but that's the most popular item in Delaware? I have a hard time believing that. I know one thing I will be participating in these Google search trends trying to find a local vendor for some of these foods. Keep reading to see the most popular item by state including both Carolinas and our neighbors. You'll also find out the ten most popular food truck foods. Read the full Shane Co. article here.

**Based on Google search data in the past 12 months**

Tacos were one of the two most popular items in 10 states:

There are seemingly endless varieties of sandwiches, so of course, it's the second most popular item! This includes lobster rolls in New England, Florida Cuban sandwiches, and North Dakota's favorite Hawaiian pulled pork sandwich.

A conversation the other day led me to the realization that fries might just be my favorite food. So you can bet I'm ordering loaded fries at a food truck. Other popular options include pot roast fries in Arizona and curry fries in Virginia.

Always a classic. North Carolina loves the shrimp burger, other popular options are the Wagyu beef burger and a falafel burger!

You can jazz up a hot dog but it's still a hot dog. But some people love them. Idaho loves its classic corn dog while South Dakota prefers the Sauerkraut dog.

Gourmet mac and cheese? Yes, please. Don't mind me I just may relocate to Maine for the lobster mac and cheese or Ohio for the pork belly variety. Good think North Carolina has the Cousin's Maine Lobster truck I and I don't have to move to Maine. I wouldn't survive that winter!

Not to be roped in with burgers or sandwiches sliders are their own category. Popular favorites include pulled pork sliders in Georgia and Utah. Maryland boasts some crab cake sliders as well.

You can never go wrong with pizza. I'll take it frozen, from a brick oven, or a food truck. Topping the list in multiple states including the Chicago deep dish in Illinois and a lasagna pizza in Wyoming that I am dying to try!

It's not just the Louisiana that loves their po'boys. In fact, it wasn't a top contender in the Bayou. But nearby Alabama enjoys a hot chicken po'boy and Virginia likes their's with oysters.

Ribs from a food truck are a little bit of a stretch for me. But too each their own. In fact, North Carolina loves honey-drizzled pork ribs. Though it's not me that's searching for them.