A Mainer Wants To Know Who Makes The Best Red Snapper Hot Dogs?

Most people outside of Maine, have no clue why we love this treat so much. And some people don’t even know these exist!

Perusing Reddit this morning, I saw someone pose an interesting question “Who Makes The Best Red Snapper Hot Dogs”

You can’t talk about red snapper hot dogs, without mentioning Bangor’s W.A. Bean & Sons, the last makers of this delicacy here in Maine.

They earned the name “red snapper” because of the color, and the snap sound it makes when you take a bite. This is not a normal occurrence in other parts of the United States. Add in a top split bun, your condiment of choice, and you have a delicious treat.

However, not everyone feels this way. I have found that when the subject comes up, people have mixed opinions. Some prefer a regular hot dog and have no interest in the red snapper.

Here are some of the Reddit responses on what they think are the best of the best:

RditAcnt
Jordan's are where it's at nowa days.

Jamievs26
Shields Hotdogs, local brand and they sell them at Hannaford and Market Basket

nothankyou566
Shields is the answer

987nevertry
1970s Maine teen lunch - 2 Jordan Reds, a bag of Circus Time chips (“they’re wicked good”), a Moxie, and a whoopie pie.

flyfishor2010
WA Beans in Bangor has good reds.

LeisureSuitLawrence
They do. I find their larger stuff lacking though.

xrocket21
Lewiston Lobsters

Trajan476
I usually got my reds served hot at a nearby convenience store when I was a kid. They always had the best snap. I don’t know what brand they were though. Nowadays I just get Kayem

floppleshmirken
Kayem is what I bought this time and they just don’t have that same satisfying snap. Lol

geneticswag
pretty sure Kayem is not a Maine brand

MistakeVisual3733
Born and raised in Maine but don’t live there anymore. Are Jordan’s hot dogs still around?

MathematicianGlum880
Jordan’s have always been the best.

PrestigiousMoose
When I first moved back to Maine as an adult, I about lived on red hot dogs and Italians for a good 3 months. Probably not recommended but boy, did I miss them.

sudsymugs
I personally think shields makes the best hot dogs you can cook yourself. So much so my dad actually gets them to put in the freezer whenever he comes to visit

Yourbubblestink
WA beans in Bangor

Admirable_Trifle_164
None of the above
Zwiegels, Hoffmans, or Salens are your only choices

Chronicle is a show that bills itself as an “Insider's Guide to New England” It airs weeknights at 7:30 on WCVB-TV Channel 5, the ABC affiliate in Boston, Massachusetts. The best way to describe it would be that is similar to the show 207, which airs locally, here on Channel 2. Last year, they paid a visit to the Pine Tree State, to figure out why we love red snapper hot dogs so much.

Now if you will excuse me. I need two red snapper hot dogs with mustard and ketchup, a bag of Humpty Dumpty chips and a soft drink(anything but Moxie) for lunch!