The Best Places to Grab a Hot Dog in New York City
Few delicacies capture the heart and spirit of New York City quite like a traditional NY hot dog. The perfect food to eat on the go, Manhattan hot dogs stand alongside pizza, deli sandwiches, or bagels with cream cheese as the go-to food for millions of New Yorkers traversing the city’s clogged streets.
Whether grabbing a glizzy in-between innings at Yankees Stadium or scarfing one down before heading into the Met, the Museum of Natural History, or the Empire State Building, there aren’t many foods that surpass the appeal of a hot dog within the City That Never Sleeps.
Given hot dogs’ avid popularity in New York, it could be difficult to know where to find the best hot dogs around town. From NYC staples like Gray’s Papaya to little-known push carts frequented by locals and tourists alike, these restaurants might feature some of the best hot dogs in New York (which is basically the same as saying the best in all of America).
Gray’s Papaya
If you ask any New Yorker where to go for a good hot dog, there’s a decent chance most of them will instantly clap back with Gray’s Papaya. The crown jewel of New York’s hot dog restaurants, Gray’s Papaya has been the pride and joy of NY’s Broadway district since 1973, outfitting the city’s residents with steaming Frankfurters and refreshing beverages for just over 50 years.
While Gray’s Papaya’s hot dogs are beyond delicious, this Broadway staple stands out with the generous prices Gray’s offers on their menu. For example, Gray’s Recession Special has two hot dogs and a medium tropical drink for just $7.50. No matter what kind of glizzy you get, just be sure to order a signature fruit drink to wash your dog down. (Personally speaking, we’re big fans of the regular papaya beverage, but there’s no wrong option when it comes to Gray’s tasty drinks.)
Kings of Kobe
Kings of Kobe may not be as inexpensive as most other hot dog venues in the city, but you certainly get what you pay for in terms of quality and quantity. Taking the topic of Frankfurters very seriously, Kings of Kobe use wagyu beef as the basis for their hot dog products, ensuring each glizzy is succulent, juicy, and bursting with flavor.
In addition to its larger menu that features burgers, sliders, and mammoth-sized steaks, Kings of Kobe has a healthy lineup of options for any hot dog lovers who wander through their front doors. For example, the Chili Project comes heaped with wagyu beef chili, red onions, and a mountain of jack cheese, while the Golden Pineapple comes smothered in sauerkraut, smoked gouda, diced bacon bits, and a pineapple relish that’s simply out of this world.
Schaller’s Stube Sausage Bar
One of the more unique hot dog eateries in the Big Apple, Schaller’s Stube Sausage Bar consistently finds a way to reinvent the hot dog as people know it. Using a tender mix of Schaller’s meats and sausages, Schaller’s introduces a versatile menu of memorable dining options, each more creative than the last.
For example, more traditional diners can stick with The Classic, a Bratwurst sandwich that comes loaded with Dusseldorf mustard and sauerkraut for a distinctly Germanic dish. On the flip side, more adventurous patrons can chow down on El Luchador, made with Andouille sausage, grilled corn, cotija cheese, cilantro, chili powder, and a tidal wave of lime juice that’ll leave you smacking your lips in satisfaction.
Walter’s Hot Dogs
A nationally registered landmark in New York City, Walter’s Hot Dogs has been around since 1919, which should tell visitors all they need to know about this iconic NYC eatery. A delectable combination of pork, veal, and beef, a single bite of a Walter’s hot dog is enough to buckle your knees and send you scurrying off in search of a seat, allowing your tastebuds to recover comfortably.
Compared to most other hot dog restaurants, Walter’s also features a more eclectic menu than your average, run-of-the-mill hot dog cart, including various ice cream desserts, soda floats, even a piping hot bowl of New England clam chowder! While you’re free to order any topping you’d like, we highly recommend getting Walter’s signature mustard, a tangy and slightly spicy condiment you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
Chelsea Papaya
Heading into the Chelsea neighborhood, you’ll find our next favorite place to grab a hot dog. Not to be confused with the historic Gray’s Papaya, Chelsea Papaya has remained a well-respected fixture of New York’s culinary scene for literal decades now. A first-class pizzeria that boasts hot dogs, hamburgers, and other quick-and-easy foods on its menu, Chelsea Papaya is your next best option for satisfying every prospective diner in your group.
While the pizza and burgers alone are worthy of praise, patrons should make an effort to try Chelsea Papaya’s glizzies and their assorted tropical drink menu. Like Gray’s Papaya, you certainly can’t go wrong by ordering a refreshing papaya drink, along with Chelsea Papaya’s celebrated chili cheese dog for the proper mix of sweet and salty.
Rudy’s Bar and Grill
As a general rule, it’s safe to assume any restaurant frequented by Anthony Bourdain is bound to be good. Fortunately, Rudy’s Bar and Grill doesn’t disappoint with its agreeable prices, cozier atmosphere, and the free–that’s right, free–hot dogs patrons can order alongside their drinks.
In a city known for its steep pricing and expensive menu items, Rudy’s Bar and Grill proves that a few cost-friendly dining venues still exist within the Big Apple. As evidence of their friendlier prices, a pitcher of beer clocks in at a mere $12–which is slightly less expensive than a small cocktail at most other NYC bars. Once you’ve ordered a drink, too, guests can ask their waiter for a free hot dog to accompany their order, complete with any toppings or fixings they so desire.
Jongro Rice Hotdog
As its name might suggest, Jongro Rice Hotdog offers a far different interpretation of the conventional hot dog most people associate with NYC. More of a corn dog than a standard hot dog, every one of Jongro’s Frankfurters possesses its own distinct flavor profile, with no two hot dogs even remotely similar.
Kicking things off strong, guests can order the regular Jongro Hotdog, an all-beef hot dog encased within an eloquent rice exterior and served on a stick. Alternatively, patrons can opt for the Mozzarella Cheese Hotdog filled with mozzarella and sausage, the Cheddar Cheese Hotdog, or the wholly original Ramyon Noodles Chips Hotdog (a hot dog covered with fried ramen noodles, which we guarantee patrons won’t find anywhere else but Jongro).
Liebman’s Delicatessen
Liebman’s Delicatessen has the odd distinction of not only ranking among the finest delis in New York City–it also happens to offer some of the certified best hot dogs in the Bronx. One of the oldest delis in the neighborhood, Liebman’s has been satisfying New Yorkers’ hunger pangs since 1953.
Along with its lengthy menu of traditional NYC deli options, Liebman’s remains most well-known for its classic Liebman’s Famous Frankfurter. Using every ingredient to its fullest potential, Liebman’s masterful hot dog comes heaped with layers of mustard, ketchup, sauerkraut, relish, and sautéed onions for one extraordinary combination. As a helpful recommendation, we also suggest ordering a side or potato salad or coleslaw for a mere dollar extra.
Crif Dogs
A hot dog wrapped in bacon? What else could you possibly need to know? Seeing that Homer Simpson-esque meaty pipe dream through to reality, Crif Dogs has been cramming diners’ faces with their delectable hot dogs for just over 20 years, making it a tried-and-true favorite for anyone stopping by the East Village on their way through the city.
Serving up fried hot dogs with a variety of unique and colorful toppings, diners can find almost any glizzy they could ever imagine within Crif Dogs’ unassuming walls. If you’re craving a breakfast hot dog, you can order either the Good Morning (a bacon-wrapped hot dog with American cheese and a fried egg) or the Everything Dog (with cream cheese, scallions, and everything bagel seasoning). Or if you’d really like to get outside your comfort zone, you can also choose the Lil Ma, which includes a bacon-wrapped hot dog, pickles, peanut butter, and potato chips, taking the cake for the most unique hot dog in NY.
Billy’s Hot Dog Cart
It’s a bizarre phenomenon within New York City. Still, interestingly enough, some of the city’s best restaurants aren’t the ones that have eloquent silverware, a dapper wait staff, or menu items that cost the same as your monthly rent. Some of the best places to eat in NYC typically take the most ordinary forms, such as the fan-favorite Billy’s Hot Dog Cart on Central Park West.
While there’s many, many, many different food carts in New York, Billy’s Hot Dog Cart might just top the list for its delicious fare and comparatively friendly prices. Routinely popping up between West 82nd Street and 103rd Street, Billy’s delivers quick, easy, mouthwatering hot dogs in minutes flat, allowing you all the more time to wander around Central Park and take in the wondrous sights around town.