One of the most recognisable purveyors of the quintessential American creation, hot dogs in Malaysia is 1901, and they’re back in school! Standing at the corner of the school canteen, you can spot the long queue from miles away. There’s a queue during break, lunch and even after school. Within the first few days of business, the hot dog stand has already made itself the main event, and the chicken rice, western and noodles stalls look pathetic.

Did you know that 1901 is a “Made in Malaysia” brand that started back in 1997? 1901’s pushcart and store designs are so reminiscent of America’s hot dog stores that for a long time, many people had presumed that 1901 is an American fast food franchise. Founders Tengku Rozidar and A. Zakir gave 1901 its name based on hot dog’s history. The term hot dog was coined in 1901 by sports cartoonist Tad Dorgan at the New York Polo Grounds on a cold April’s day. Vendors were hawking hot dogs while shouting "They're red hot! Get your dachshund sausages while they're red hot!" He then hastily drew a cartoon of a dachshund rolled warmly in rolls. As he was unable to spell dachshund, he simply wrote hot dog on the caption. And the rest is history.

Although the stand at school only offers two flavours, students are willing to brave the long queue to get enough satisfaction of their cravings. Priced at RM 4.00, the all time favourite New York Chicken is a winner. The scrumptious sausage, cooked to perfection on a soft, warm hoagie bun, dressed with relish and two tasty sauces, mayonnaise and ketchup, with a touch of black pepper. Simple, yet delicous. It’s bound to leave you coming back for seconds, or even thirds.

On the other hand, a bite in the Texas Ted leaves you with nice, subtle flavours in your mouth. The hot dog is covered with a slice of cheese, streaks of a sweet sauce and lightly dusted with a dash of chilli flakes. If you’re a sausage lover, you may opt for a Soakin Ted, a sausage on a stick smeared with a tasty sweet sauce. For a quick thirst quencher, grab the orange juice, priced at only RM 1.50.

1901, which started out as a small pushcart kiosk more than ten years ago in Sunway Pyramid, has now grown by leaps and bounds to a total of more than 40 outlets across the country and overseas today. Whether you like your hot dogs heavily garnished or unadorned, 1901 has something for everyone.