The best hot dog buns are soft, sturdy, and subtly delicious. Personally, I think hot dog buns should get more credit. Establishments and companies regularly brag about their dogs and brats, but you rarely hear mention of the iconic bread that surrounds the meat. They deserve much more clout. Without the bun, eating a hot dog would be impossible (or at least messy).
When it comes to a bun, I am looking for something that is both soft in texture and strong in bottom (because I can’t stand bun breakage). We tasted them alone and we tasted them with dogs (both meat and veggie) to find the best hot dog buns on the market. Whether you’re dunking your hot dogs in a cup of water during a hot dog eating contest or you’re having friends over to grill, you should be using one of the hot dog buns on this list.
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- Wonder Bread Classic Hot Dog Buns
Wonder Bread Classic Hot Dog Buns are what you think of when you think of hot dog buns. They have a uniform look, doughy aroma, and subtle flavor. Wonder Bread is a classic, so it makes sense that their hot dog buns would be too. And similar to Wonder Bread, these are affordable and accessible to almost everyone.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Albertsons
- Marketside Brioche Hot Dog Buns
When I see a hot dog bun cut on the top like this, I immediately think “lobster roll!” Plain, I found these a little soft, but I think these would be incredible slathered with butter and griddled. They are also very structurally sound, making them good for cradling something delicate and luxurious like a pile of lobster. The bottoms of these will never break and spill your expensive shellfish all over the floor. I’m not saying a hot dog would be bad in these, but I think they might have a higher calling.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Francisco International 6″ Hot Dog Buns
If you’re looking for texture when it comes to the bread surrounding your hot dogs, these Francisco Hot Dog Buns are the best hot dog buns for folks who care a lot about texture. They have seeds! Not only do they add a good mouthfeel, they also add a little bit of a nutty flavor. I typically associate seeded buns with hamburgers, but why not hot dogs? I can’t decide if adding seeds to a hot dog bun makes it feel fancier or more classic, but either way, I like it!
Credit: Ryan Martin / Instacart
- Alfaro’s Artesano Bakery Sausage Rolls
Alfaro’s Artesano Bakery Sausage Rolls mean business. These are gigantic, bready, and definitely designed for sizeable sausages rather than dainty dogs. These would also be the ideal buns for someone who eats their hot dogs on the topping-heavy side, like me (diced raw onion, shredded cheese, vegetarian chili, pickled jalapeños, dill relish, and yellow mustard to be exact). I also have a theory that these would make great individual serving-sized loaves of garlic bread or knock-off french bread pizzas, but that is beside the point.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Walmart
- Bimbo Golden Hot Dog Buns
Bimbo (pronounced beem-bo) Golden Hot Dog Buns are the best hot dog bun brand for anyone who wants the focus of their hot dog to be the dog. They have a nice, spongy texture and are not crumbly at all. Plus, they have a sturdy bottom layer to keep your hot dog from busting open. What more could you want from a store bought hot dog bun? Bonus points for the fact that you could almost convince someone they were freshly baked at home because of their appearance and smell.
Credit: Liv Averett / Kroger
- King’s Hawaiian Sweet Hot Dog Buns
You already know King’s Hwaiian makes great bread, and their hot dog buns are no exception. They are soft yet strong and have just a hint of that classic King’s Hawaiian sweetness that makes them famous. They also tasted much more buttery than buns we tried that were labeled “buttery”! These are my personal preference when it comes to hot dog buns. I am a King’s Hawaiian fan. If King’s Hawaiian has one fan, it is me. If King’s Hawaiian has no fans, I am dead.
Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart
- Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted Brioche Style Hot Dog Buns
These Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted Brioche Style Hot Dog Buns are, indeed, perfectly crafted. Eating a hot dog in one of these is like eating a hot dog stuffed between two clouds. Unlike the other brioche buns we tried, these are soft without completely disintegrating the moment they hit your mouth. They have the mild sweetness that you crave from brioche while still allowing the flavor of your favorite hot dog to shine through. After a full day of tasting hot dog buns at work, I brought these home and had hot dogs again for dinner. They are truly the best hot dog buns you can buy at the grocery store.
Credit: Ryan Martin / Amazon
Best Classic
Best for Lobster Rolls
Best Seeded
Best for Topping Lovers
For the Hot Dog Purist
Best Sweet
Best of the Best
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Great list, interesting to know what to look out for next time I get HD buns. For #2 Bimbo buns though, you got a picture of the hamburger buns. Maybe just filler content cause you could grab a pic of the hotdog buns in time, or just a bit of a rush? Just a small mistake I think.
Or it’s a reference to how hot dogs are indeed a sandwich??
As a Chicagoan, you can’t go wrong with S. Rosen’s poppy seed rolls. And where are the Martin’s?
I’m surprised King’s sweet hawaiian buns (or other brand iterations of the sweet hawaiian roll) didn’t make any category.
Disappointed Pepridge Farms Top Sliced didn’t make it, but pleased to see a top sliced on the list. Top sliced is great for not splitting apart on you and keeping toppings in. PF top sliced are a bit more expensive but always found them to be one of the fresher tasting buns.
Disappointed that not one of your bests is a top-sliced bun.
A hot dog 🌭 is not a sandwich
Any recommendations on a good gluten free bun. Schar and Udi’s are the only brands I’ve found out in the wild.
Correction! Canyon Bakehouse now has Sub Rolls, and they make the perfect GF hot dog bun, especially if you are adding extras like grilled onions, sauerkraut, chili or relish.
I love the Artesano multigrain seed bread and also overload my tubed meats(coleslaw on top is underrated imo). Your way sounds really good, will have to give it a shot with the rolls on some impossible or beyond sausages this summer.
Totally disagree but respect your taste buds! I do not like any sweetness to my hot dog buns or my hamburger buns ever. I love brioche bread but hate it as buns.
Trader Joe’s makes a brioche new England style hot dog buns and it’s amazing! I don’t have a trader Joe’s in my town so when I go I’ll buy like 3 bags and freeze them. They’re great because you can toast the outsides. The size of the rolls can be a pro or a con though, if you use a thinner dog like Nathan’s then there’s plenty of room for toppings, I usually go with fried onions and jalapenos, but if you use a thinner hot dog like Nathan’s and you don’t like toppings then it’ll be a little bready.