The best hot dog buns have soft, fluffy texture and (like all good things) a strong, sturdy bottom. They bring a mildly sweet flavor, a hint of yeastiness, and a satisfying chew. 

The 2024 grilling season is here, and we’re leaving the days of bun breakage and crumbly bread in the past. In fact, we take the title of “Grill Dad” very seriously at Sporked. And let me be clear: Anyone can be a Grill Dad. Your mom can be a Grill Dad. Hand your eight year old some lighter fluid and a spatula—that’s a Grill Dad now. The only people who can’t claim the title of “Grill Dad” are those who spend all their energy concentrating on the quality of the hot dogs and ignore the importance of choosing the best hot dog buns. That’s not big Grill Dad energy. That’s big Grill Sad energy. You’re sad. And we don’t like you. 

Kidding! I’m kidding. We do like you, and we completely get the struggle. It’s easy for the artist to disregard the canvas. That’s why we’re here, sitting down for our second taste test of the best hot dog buns. No matter what type of buns you’re looking for—and I assure you, they come in many different shapes, sizes, and yes, tastes—we’ve got you covered. From the best brioche hot dog buns to the best gluten free hot dog buns (yep, we found some decent ones), here’s what the real Grill Dads are buying.

Best Gluten Free

Our gluten free friends already know the deal: Finding even one brand of gluten free buns is hard, nevermind the best GF hot dog buns. But we wouldn’t shine a spotlight on Schar Hot Dog Rolls if they didn’t seriously impress us. These buns have a subtle sourdough flavor and good doughy structure, breaking apart nice and evenly—without crumbling into bits. That’s not easy to do with gluten free bread, folks. (That said, the bag of buns we bought were oddly shaped and fatter on one end than the other. Not sure what’s going on there, Schar.) These are the best gluten free hot dog buns out there right now, but if you can eat gluten, I would skip them in favor of the others that made the list. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Keto Friendly

For those of you not on the keto diet, let me tell you a secret about keto-friendly bread: There is typically some sort of funky aftertaste. Sometimes it’s too sweet, sometimes too sour. I tried a few different brands and was getting more and more dejected… until Kroger Carbmaster stepped up to the plate. These almost pull off the yeasty taste and soft texture of normal bread buns, easily earning the title of best keto hot dog buns. They have a slightly sour aftertaste, but compared to other keto-friendly hot dog buns, it’s super mild. (And if you’re already living the keto life, you’ll hardly notice it, I promise.) —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Ralphs

Rating:

7/10

Sporks

Best Classic

Wonder Bread Classic Hot Dog Buns are what you think of when you think of the best hot dog buns. They have a uniform look, doughy aroma, and subtle flavor. Wonder Bread is a classic, so it makes sense that their hot dog buns would be too. And similar to Wonder Bread, these are affordable and accessible to almost everyone. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Albertsons

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best for Lobster Rolls

When I see a hot dog bun cut on the top like this, I immediately think “lobster roll!” On their own, I thought these buns were a little soft, but these are the best hot dog buns to butter and griddle. They are also very structurally sound, making them good for cradling something delicate and luxurious like a pile of lobster. The bottoms of these really don’t seem like they’ll break and spill your expensive shellfish all over the floor. I’m not saying a hot dog would be bad in these buns, but I think they might have a higher calling. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

7.5/10

Sporks

Best Whole Wheat

Look, Nature’s Harvest knows what it’s doing when it comes to whole wheat bread. Their Stone Ground Whole Wheat is our #1 pick for sliced wheat bread, and they make the best whole wheat hot dog buns, too. Soft and pillowy on the inside, with textured grains lining the outside, these can really elevate your weiners. (Put that on a T-shirt, Redbubble.) The buns are soft, nutty, and extra wheaty. If anyone wants to grill me about a dozen chili cheese dogs and slap them on these, I will marry you. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best Seeded

These Francisco Hot Dog Buns are the best hot dog buns for folks who care a lot about texture. They have seeds! Not only do the seeds contribute a good mouthfeel, they also add a little bit of a nutty flavor. I typically associate seeded buns with hamburgers, but why not hot dogs? I can’t decide if adding seeds to a hot dog bun makes it feel fancier or more classic, but either way, I like it! —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Runner Up, Best Hawaiian

We are suckers for a good Hawaiian roll around here (as you’ll see with our #2 pick). I’ll just say this: Western Hearth, whatever you’re doing with your “new formula” for these Hawaiian hot dog buns, well, keep doing it. The bread has a mild sweetness and hint of pineapple. I can’t say the flavors are particularly bold, but that’s what makes these Hawaiian hot dog buns versatile and crowd-pleasing. So don’t be a weenie and grab these—even narrowly escaping our top five, they’re still some of the best hot dog buns you can buy. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Ryan Martin / Albertsons

Rating:

8.5/10

Sporks

Best Brioche

“Stunning,” I said, out loud, within about two seconds of trying these beautifully crafted hot dog buns from Whole Foods. Unfortunately, this is one instance where judging a book by its cover has some merit, because these perfectly crafted, shiny Brioche hot dog buns taste as good as they look. They pull apart straight down the middle into soft, doughy pillows. If I were a hot dog, it would be my privilege to nap on these. Want to impress the whole neighborhood with buns that are shiny, fancy, and French? These are the best brioche hot dog buns you can find. —Ariana Losch

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best for Topping Lovers

Alfaro’s Artesano Bakery Sausage Rolls mean business. These are gigantic, bready, and definitely designed for sizeable sausages (like brats or Italian sausages) rather than dainty dogs. These would also be the ideal buns for someone who eats their hot dogs on the topping-heavy side, like me (diced raw onion, shredded cheese, vegetarian chili, pickled jalapeños, dill relish, and yellow mustard to be exact). I also think these would be the best hot dog buns to use to make individual serving-sized loaves of garlic bread or knock-off French bread pizzas, but that is beside the point. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Walmart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

For the Hot Dog Purist

Bimbo (pronounced beem-bo) Golden Hot Dog Buns are the best hot dog buns for anyone who wants the focus of their hot dog to be the dog. They have a nice, spongy texture and are not crumbly at all. Plus, they have a sturdy bottom layer to keep your hot dog from busting open. What more could you want from a store bought hot dog bun? Bonus points for the fact that you could almost convince someone they were freshly baked at home because of their appearance and smell. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Best Sweet

You already know King’s Hawaiian makes great bread (we sure love their dinner rolls), and they make some of the best hot dog buns, too. They are soft yet strong and have just a hint of that classic King’s Hawaiian sweetness that makes them famous. They also tasted much more buttery than buns we tried that were labeled “buttery”! These are my personal preference when it comes to hot dog buns. I am a King’s Hawaiian fan. If King’s Hawaiian has one fan, it is me. If King’s Hawaiian has no fans, I am dead. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Instacart

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

These Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted Brioche Style Hot Dog Buns are, indeed, perfectly crafted. Eating a hot dog in one of these is like eating a hot dog stuffed between two clouds. Unlike most of the other brioche buns we tried (besides our #5 pick), these are soft without completely disintegrating the moment they hit your mouth. They have the mild sweetness that you crave from brioche while still allowing the flavor of your favorite hot dog to shine through. After a full day of tasting hot dog buns at work, I brought these home and had hot dogs again for dinner. They are truly the best hot dog buns you can buy at the grocery store. —Jordan Myrick

Credit: Liv Averett / Amazon

Rating:

10/10

Sporks

Other Hot Dog Buns We Tried: 365 Hot Dog Buns, Oroweat Keto Hotdog Buns, Keto Culture Baking Hot Dog Buns, Hero Bread Classic Hot Dog Buns, SOLA Hot Dog Buns Golden Wheat, Market Corner Wheat Hot Dog Buns, Ball Park Hot Dog Buns, Signature Select Hot Dog Buns, Nathan’s Famous Famous Restaurant Style Hot Dog Buns, Udi’s Gluten Free Hot Dog Buns, Sam’s Choice Sweet Hawaiian Rolls, St. Pierre Hot Dog Rolls, Simple Truth Hot Dog Buns, Trader Joe’s Gourmet White Hot Dog Buns, Lightlife Veggie Smart Dogs Protein Links

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