(FORTUNE Magazine) – You don't want to eat them in airports, but if you're a meat eater, you probably crave a hot dog once in a while. The best come from Vienna Beef in Chicago. "A good hot dog should have a nice snap from a natural casing, a hint of garlic, and a slight smoky scent," says Jim Bodman, Vienna's co-chairman. Zagat Survey helped us identify a few of America's finest hot-dog venues. Real Chicagoans take their dogs as pictured above, with yellow mustard, neon-green relish, a dill pickle spear, and celery salt. But if you're way-laid in Atlanta, a chili dog at The Varsity is a great change of pace.

--Ronald B. Lieber