America has a storied history of placing grilled meats between bread and naming the result after German towns (specifics of origin and invention notwithstanding). Charles Feltman was a true pioneer in this regard. A German immigrant who sold food on the Coney Island boardwalk, in 1870 he had the genius idea of sticking frankfurters in rolls. This became known as the hot dog, of course. (Side note: one of Feltman's employees was a man named Nathan Handwerker. In 1916, he split off to found his own frankfurter company on the Coney Island boardwalk, and undersold his old boss, peddling his hot dogs for five cents, rather than ten. Nathan's Famous is still on the boardwalk.)

In the century-plus since the hot dog's invention, it has become one of the quintessential American foods — the one we eat at our sporting pasttime, and to celebrate our independence day. You can dress it up any way you want — ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, chili, cheese, onions — name a condiment, and it's probably been on a hot dog, somewhere. But the basics haven't changed: A hot dog is still a sausage in a bun. That's why we want to know: Who makes the best dog in America? As we've done for mac 'n' cheese, burritos and hamburgers, we'll put the life-changers to a vote.

Post you favorite hot dog joint in the comments below, on Facebook, or on Twitter at the hashtag #MostLifeChangingHotDog.

PLUS: Include a life-changing story in the comments and you'll enter to win a $20 Seamless gift card.