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Since its appearance, the hot dog has spent years carrying the reputation of lowbrow fast food—cheap, not the most healthy, and unpretentious. Lately, however, the humble frank is experiencing a genuine cultural renaissance. While some chefs are experimenting with international flavors, others are elevating the hot dog into the realm of haute cuisine—complete with matching price tags, writes the WSJ.

A striking example of the trend is the viral $100 "Golden Glizzy," which created a sensation at the Formula One Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open tennis tournament.

• What's inside: Crème fraîche, mascarpone, 30 grams of Ossetra caviar, and flakes of edible 24-karat gold, packed into a freshly baked croissant bun (plus, of course, the hot dog itself).

• "People said, 'Oh, wow, a $100 hot dog!'" says Keith Glickman of Golden Goat Caviar. "But a single tin of that caviar alone sells for $120. So I joke: you're actually getting a deal."

A less extreme but refined option is offered at the Bar Room at the Modern (at the Museum of Modern Art in New York): they serve mini-hot dogs with caviar and pickled shallots for $39.

Social media dictates a trend toward spectacle: part of the cost of such dishes is the ability to show them off on TikTok or Instagram.

• Hot dog towers ($29–$60): At the Breckenridge ski resort in Colorado, instead of traditional seafood, multi-tier towers made of six all-beef hot dogs, waffle fries, and six types of sauce are served. Such luxurious presentations are increasingly appearing in private stadium suites and elite taverns.

• The two-foot "Glizzilla" ($45): At Coors Field in Denver, a giant hot dog in a 19-inch bun is sold. The name refers to "glizzy"—Gen Z's slang nickname for a hot dog.

Nostalgia to the Max

Despite the expansion of delicacies, the classics are not going anywhere: for example, the iconic hot dog and soda combo at Costco has steadfastly cost $1.50 since the mid-1980s.

Legendary competitive eater Joey Chestnut (the 18-time winner of the famous Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest) believes that the secret to the dish's unceasing popularity lies in pure nostalgia.

"It’s hard to imagine a person who doesn't have good memories associated with eating a hot dog. Hot dogs are like a security blanket from childhood and fun."

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