The ultimate battle: Vote today in the final round of The State’s Hot Dog Bracket

We’ll be frank: You’ve got a tough choice on your hands.

The final round has arrived in The State’s 2022 Hot Dog Bracket. After three rounds of voting, only two Midlands places remain: Mack’s Cash Grocery and Zesto.

The bracket kicked off on May 4 with 16 entrants selected by staffers at The State. Readers then whittled the field down to eight in the next round, then to four in round three.

Now we are asking readers to pick the top hot dog joint in the Midlands. Only one place will remain when the (grill) smoke clears.

Mack’s Cash Grocery, which has been selling hot dogs in Columbia since the 1960s, is no stranger to the winner’s circle. This Laurel Street shop was voted by The State’s readers as home of the Midlands’ favorite burgers last August. At the end of Round 3, Mack’s led the hot dog competition with votes from 70% of participants.

Will Mack’s hold on? That’s up to Zesto, another longtime Midlands staple that’s frequently cited among the area’s best restaurants for burgers, fried chicken, shakes and more. With multiple Midlands locations and a name that’s been around for seven decades, Zesto was right on Mack’s heels at the end of Round 3, with votes from 54% of hot dog bracket participants.

Now it’s up to you to trim the bracket one last time by choosing either Mack’s or Zesto in the poll below.

And remember, it was media mogul and cooking magnate Martha Stewart who once said, “I always look for a hot dog wherever I go.” Us too, Martha. Us too.

You have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, to cast your votes in the final round, The Tasty 2.

So make your choice, and whatever you do, please remember: You don’t put ketchup on a hot dog.