Where to Find the Best Hot Dogs in New York City

For most people hot dogs are best left for backyard barbecues and baseball games. On the streets of New York City however, the hot dog offers a culinary experience like no other along with an ongoing debate as to who serves up the superior frankfurter experience. Although you can find hot dogs on almost any New York street corner, if you really want to experience the best, you should consider visiting one of the following legendary hot dog stands.

Papaya King (179 East 86^th Street)

Papaya King has been a New York institution since 1931 and it originally started out as a tropical juice stand. As the story goes, the owner of Papaya King (then known as Hawaiian Tropical Drinks, Inc) fell in love with a German-American woman who introduced him to his first hot dog. He liked the taste so much, he included them on the menu alongside the juices. Today, Papaya King offers their delicious hot dogs alongside exotic beverages like Papaya, Mango, and Coconut Champagne. Papaya King has long prided itself on providing delicious hot dogs with an assortment of toppings at a price that working people can afford.

Papaya King is best reached by taking the 4,5, or 6 train to the 86th Street stop.

Gray's Papaya (2090 Broadway at 72^nd Street)

Gray's Papaya opened in 1973 in an effort to capitalize on the success enjoyed by Papaya King. Gray's Papaya became famous for offering its Recession Special which offers two hot dogs with unlimited toppings (chopped onions, cooked onions, sauerkraut and, tomato sauce) and a drink for a low price. Although commonly confused with Papaya King, Gray's has become a New York legend in its own right, being prominently featured on television shows like Sex and The City and How I Met Your Mother.

Gray's Papaya is best reached by taking the 1,2, or 3 train to the 72nd Street stop.

Nathan's (1310 Surf Avenue - Brooklyn, NY)

Home of the annual Hot Dog Eating Contest, Nathan's is one of the oldest hot dog stands in New York City. Visitors from all over the world flock to the Coney Island section of Brooklyn to enjoy Nathan's signature hot dogs and fries and walk the legendary boardwalk. Although Nathan's hot dogs are a little bit more expensive than Gray's or Papaya King, their crisp texture and unique spicy taste make the trip well worth it.

Nathan's is best reached by taking the D,F,N, or Q train to the Stillwell Avenue stop.

Regardless of which of these three legendary hot dog stands you visit, you can be sure that you won't leave hungry.