Best hot dogs in Atlanta? Check out these 5 restaurants.

Ole’ Cuban Kitchen. 99 Krog St. NE, Atlanta. 404-228-9924, olecubankitchenatl.com.

Credit: Justin Brown

Credit: Justin Brown

Just Dogs ATL

When you know exactly what kind of hot dog you’re in the mood for, visit Just Dogs ATL. Their Chicago dog gives you all the classic toppings: a poppy seed bun, mustard, pickle spear, neon relish, celery salt, tomatoes, white onion and sport peppers. It’s bright, crunchy, tangy and loaded the way a Chicago dog is supposed to be.

Then there is the Red Hot chili dog, which goes in a different direction. It is heartier, messier and made for the person who wants a hot dog with some weight to it. The chili brings the comfort-food feel, while the red link gives it a little more kick and personality than your regular dog. Also, the red links take me back to 1994 when everybody was eating red links, or “red hots” as we called them. It’s a nostalgic hot dog.

Just Dogs ATL is where the hot dog is not an afterthought; it’s the reason you’re there. Whether you go Chicago-style or chili dog, this spot gives you options without making things complicated.

Just Dogs ATL. 1059 Meredith Park Drive, McDonough. 470-507-4170, justdogsatl.com.

Credit: Justin Brown

Credit: Justin Brown

Oh K-Dog

Oh K-Dog takes the hot dog out of the bun completely by deep frying it in a rice-based coating that creates a crispy outside. The hot dog is covered like a pillow in a pillowcase.

That first bite delivers the crispy outside with a soft chew of rice, followed by the hot dog. Depending on what you order, cheese might be involved, too, which takes it into the stretchy, pull-apart territory that makes Korean corn dogs so popular.

Go all the way and ask for the sugar sprinkle to finish it off. Located inside H Mart in Doraville, Oh K-Dog is a snack, a meal and an experience all at the same time.

Oh K-Dog. 6035 Peachtree Road, Doraville. 770-234-9866, ohkdog.com.

Credit: Justin Brown

Credit: Justin Brown

Pepper’s Hot Dogs

What is a baseball game without a hot dog?

That is where Pepper’s Hot Dogs enters the chat, with a location at Truist Park in the Outfield Market. With names like the red dawg and NYC dog, only goodness can follow.

Start with the red dawg. It is a must-have, topped with turkey chili, a cheddar-Jack cheese blend, raw onions, spicy mustard and garlic aioli. It gives you everything you need for an amazing hot dog: richness, spice, creaminess, crunch and the chili-dog comfort all in one bite.

The NYC dog brings a different balance. It combines tangy sauerkraut, sweet caramelized onions, creamy garlic aioli and spicy mustard. You get that tanginess up front, followed by a slightly sweet aftertaste.

Pepper’s understands that a hot dog should be fun, dressed up and full of flavor. And if you are not able to catch them at Truist Park, they have another location on Peachtree Street.

Pepper’s Hot Dogs. Truist Park, 755 Battery Ave. SE; also at 84 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta. peppershotdogs.com.

Credit: Justin Brown

Credit: Justin Brown

NFA Burger

To be known for a smash burger and have a chili dog on the same level is mind-blowing.

That is what NFA does. Most people know the Dunwoody gas station spot for its burger, but the chili dog deserves its own conversation. The chili is perfect: a little sweet, but savory enough to keep everything balanced. When the chili meets the hot dog, it is a marriage made out of love.

The hot dog itself has enough snap and flavor to stand on its own, but the chili brings it all together. It is rich without being too heavy, messy in the way a good chili dog should be, and flavorful enough to make you understand why people keep talking about NFA beyond the burger. Go for the burger if you want, but do not leave without giving the chili dog some respect.

NFA Burger. 5465 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. 404-666-2874, nfaburger.com.