Article & Photos by Steve | StreetCuisine.blogspot.com

Hotdogs and hotdog stands are popular almost everywhere, but I don’t think anywhere takes the concept of sausage and bread as seriously as the Danes. A Danish hotdog stand called a pølsevogn can be found on almost any major street or torv in Denmark. Much larger and more involved than a typical North American hotdog cart, the pølsevogn is more like an outdoor mobile kitchen along the lines on an imbiss in Germany.

The first hotdogs were officially sold on the street in 1910 and quickly grew in popularity. There when over 400 pølsevogn in Copenhagen by the 1950′s. Rødpølser one of the first types of hotdog sold, is a long skinny wiener that was originally dipped in red dye as to hide the fact that they could be “day old” and looked more fresh. They are still traditionally dyed that colour today and over 100 million are eaten each year in Denmark. Pretty impressive for a country of 5.5 million!

Pølservogn menus are fairly standard and posted with pictures on the side of the stand.

The first time I ordered a hotdog pølse in Copenhagen they asked me if I wanted bread. I said “of course” having never eaten a hotdog that wasn’t in a bun. When I got this tiny dinner roll on the side I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, but this is how most sausages are served. Whatever sausage you choose comes on a plate with a squirt of mustard and hotdog ketchup (a ketchup with a texture and flavour that’s unique) and a bun on the side.

A ristet hotdog does come inside a bun and is topped with pickled cucumber, crispy onions, mustard, ketchup, and remoulade ( a sweet mayo pickle and herb sauce)

Possibly the most popular item sold is a fransk dog which is a hollowed out baguette filled with a special tangy mayo and a hotdog stuffed inside.

A medister pølse is a sausage that’s spicier and more like a bratwurst and a  pølse i svob is wrapped in bacon. All types are traditionally eaten with a cocio chocolate milk

A pølsevogn is usually motorized and can be driven from place to place. In the mornings these slow moving vehicles can cause traffic jams, but everyone seems to except it as part of city life. here is a video of a typical Danish hotdog stand.

Pølsemanden are considered a special breed in Denmark and can always be relied on for interesting conversation. Young and old can be seen eating hotdogs day and night in Copenhagen. You must visit a pølsevogn if you ever visit Denmark.