It is important that you get the right mix of products to sell in your hot dog business. The products you choose to sell should be easy to transport and prepare, offer good profit margins, and most importantly, they should be what customers in a specific location want. If customers are happy with your product selection and they like your hot dogs, then they will become the regulars you need if you want to achieve a great level of profit.

Menus should be fairly simple in both design and the variety of product offerings that are included. If your hot dog cart menu is too complicated, customers will get confused and you will waste time answering questions. On the other hand, if your menu is too simple and doesn’t meet common demands, then you will be leaving money on the table and not maximizing profit potential.

Be sure to include some “combo” offers to encourage customers to include other menu items along with their hot dog purchase.

Here are some common hot dog cart menu ideas to consider when trying to decide exactly which products you want to sell.

The best hot dogs

First of all, you must have great hot dogs and possibly a variety of different types. When it comes to hot dogs, some people prefer regular sausages, while others prefer variations like Polish or Italian sausage.

The size is another interesting variation that you can offer if you are doing a decent volume. Not everyone wants a full-size dog and you can provide your customers with more options by offering medium or small, ‘foot-long’ size options. You can also offer ‘double dogs’ for meat loving customers.

Consider the demographics of the area you decide to locate in when preparing your menus. People of different age groups or backgrounds will have different preferences when it comes to the style of hot dogs, snacks, and drinks they like. If you are settling in an area with a Jewish community, you will need to offer kosher menu options. For a Muslim community, you would do well to have a halal option and so on.

Buns and toppings

Second, you should combine your hot dogs with fresh buns and seasonings so that you can make an interesting menu for all tastes. Of course, many people like to choose their own ingredients, but if you offer them a selection of ‘Chili Dog’, ‘Chicago Style’ or other options then they can go for your offerings rather than wasting time deciding exactly what they want. .

Sauces and dressings are numerous in variety and a good supplier should stock everything that is commonly requested. At the basic level you have sauces like ketchup, mustard, and seasonings. Other common sauces include barbecue sauce, chili sauce, and mayonnaise. Dressings can include onions, cheese, kraut, pickles, chili beans, and even coleslaw. These are just a few ideas and there are plenty of websites you can check out for some of the more ‘gourmet’ options that people are looking for these days.

Be sure to take regional preferences into account. If you’re starting out in New York, it would be silly not to consider including red onion dip on your hot dog cart menu.

Other hot fast food items

If your license allows it, you can choose to offer a variety of other fast food items. This can often complicate things more than necessary, as you must have the space and equipment to prepare them. A common fast food item that complements hot dogs is French fries with various toppings, such as cheese fries or chili cheese fries.

Cold food

Cold foods are great because they generally require little preparation on the spot. Hot dog carts often sell coleslaw or other types of salads. Nachos can also be great for your menu as they can be made quickly and easily.

Snacks and Drinks

Adding snacks like potato chips or chocolate bars to your menu is a no-brainer. They require no heating or cooling, can be easily stored, and provide you with a good profit margin.

Drinks take up valuable refrigeration space, but are a high-turnover item with a large price tag. With sodas, opt for cans over bottles, as cans generally take up less space in your refrigerator. Be sure to also offer bottled water.