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Some key statistics from the National Hot Dog & Sausage Council:

– During “Hot Dog Season” from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Americans typically consume 7 billion hot dogs: That’s 818 hot dogs per second.

– Los Angeles residents consume more hot dogs than any other city, including New York.

– The biggest hot dog day of the year is surely the 4th of July: it’s estimated that Americans eat 150 million hot dogs, enough to stretch from D.C. to L.A. over five times.

If you want to send out summer with a bang, and make Labor Day an even bigger hot dog holiday than Independence Day, we can help you get started at the following places. Better still, some of them can help save the world while you eat their terrific dogs.

Dreamy Weenies – New Orleans, Louisiana

This brand new spot on the edge of the French Quarter has hot dogs that address your kosher, halal and vegan dining concerns. In fact, all their dogs are kosher, from the beef “knock” to the Polish sausage; halal options include the beef kebab; the falafel is vegan.

Dreamy Weenies says, “The prepping, cooking, and serving process avoids any mixing of ingredients and oils. In other words, your vegan dog will be just that after it’s prepared.” The groovy toppings, like red beans and rice, grits and BBQ shrimp sauce, reflect their New Orleans location.

DogHaus – Pasadena, California

This So-Cal mini chain features the Sooo Cali, a hot dog topped with mixed greens, diced tomato, tempura fried onions, spicy basil aioli and avocado all served on King’s Hawaiian bread. Their other spots include Dog Haus Biergarten and, for, take-out Dog Haus To Go.

Dog Haus believes in giving back to the community: Last winter, they dedicated a day to serving hot dogs and chili to homeless people at Union Station Adult Services in Pasadena.

Station Street – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

On Station Street’s website you’ll find adorable pie charts detailing the ratio of ingredients in their dogs. For example, the kimchee dog looks to break down like this: hot dog (75%); kimchee (12%); kewpie mayo (7%); nori (3%); bonito (3%). You can similarly calculate the amount of eggplant and tahini in their vegetarian Tabbouleh Dog. Chef Kevin Sousa gets the most from his ingredients at Station Street: Leftover hot dogs go into the baked beans at one of his other spots, Union Pig & Chicken.

Bowery – Dallas, Texas

At this new combo hot dog restaurant/Champagne & cocktail bar, sausages are made in-house from farm-raised, grass-fed organic meat (regular, all-beef franks are not). Bowery respects the traditional hot dog, but also dresses it up and takes it around the world. Look for the Moroccan dog with merguez and harissa slaw; a battered-fried Buffalo chicken dog; and a bacon-wrapped Mexican dog. This is Dallas; there are schmancy dogs, too, like the Croque Madame with Paris ham, béchamel sauce, Swiss cheese, and a fried egg.

Hot Dog on a Stick – Multiple Locations

This chain started back in 1946, but its first-ever drive-through location just opened this past July just outside of Salt Lake City. HDOAS makes it easy for the decisionally challenged because there are only 6 menu items. Here, count them:  The namesake Hot Dog on a Stick (a turkey hot dog dipped in “Party Batter”); Cheese on a Stick (either American cheese or spicy jalapeño jack, dipped in that Party Batter); hot dog in a bun; funnel cake sticks; French fries; and lemonade.

The chain’s president Dan Smith told Nation’s Restaurant News that it’s the ideal drive-through menu because everything can be eaten with one hand.

Tell us what if you will be eating hot dogs over the weekend?