Think bustling street corners, sky-high buildings, and the fumes of mustard and sauerkraut from a food cart with 6 dollar water bottles.
The scene is so simple, but it embodies the spirit of the city that never sleeps.
The star of the show is the hot dog: a symbol of quintessential American culture.
Nothing screams New York City like pregaming your fancy steak dinner with a good old-fashioned street dog. A total power move.
Similar to pizza and burgers, hot dogs are a bit of a contentious topic for New Yorkers.
See Also: Food Connoisseur Weighs In On The Best French Fries In NYC
Ketchup or Mustard? Traditional or Gourmet? Kosher or Non-Kosher? The list goes on and on. We’re here to settle the debate.
Live like a local, and indulge in the most mouthwatering hot dogs on the island.
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205 E Houston St, Manhattan/Website
Most people come here for the ginormous pastrami sandwiches, but we come here for the hot dogs. Ok, we lied. We come here for the ginormous pastrami sandwiches and the hot dogs, but we’re trying to pretend we’re still on our Cabo diets. Voted the best in NYC by many, this hot dog is in a category of its own. It’s the perfect balance of garlicky and salty, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. 10/10.
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Multiple Locations/Website
You can’t utter the word hot dog without Nathan’s accidentally slipping out of your mouth. New York City and Nathan’s go together like Peanut Butter And Jelly. This chain is the most famous in the world for good reason: it has defined the fabric of Manhattan for decades. This hot dog is juicy, without being oily, making us choose this over a burger any day.
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Multiple Locations/Website
These hot dogs are worth the trek to Coney Island. Legit the only reason you should ever go there. Feltman’s enthusiasts claim that this iconic household name invented the hot dog. Nathan’s aficionados beg to differ, but that’s a debate for another time. No matter which way you slice it, the hot dogs at this New York institution will stand the test of time for years to come. If you call yourself a New Yorker, you need to try Feltman’s before you die.
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Multiple Locations
Papaya dog is next to Nathan’s and Feltman’s in the New York City hot dog hall of fame. It may be out of your comfort zone, but this culinary landmark serves the best red onion sauce in town. It will take the perfectly moist beef to the next level, and add that level of zest you didn’t know needed. This combination is A+ and deserves to be talked about in history books.
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2090 Broadway, Manhattan/Website
We’re not sure where the juice and hot dog tradition came from, but we are here for the unlikely combination. It will surprise you like olive oil and ice cream. Opposites, but totally makes sense when the flavors mold together like long-lost soulmates. We heard that somebody even made out with one of these hot dogs. But they swear it was just one time.
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1652 2nd Ave, Manhattan/Website
Described as a “Berlin street food stand with a New York sensibility,” this iconic sausage bar blends together two spectacular culinary destinations. The hot dog is at the center of New York and Berlin cultures, so naturally, this dish will be some of the best you’ve ever had. We recommend getting The Classic with Bratwurst, Dusseldorf mustard, and sauerkraut. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the Steuben’s Reuben made with a beef wiener, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Stube sauce.
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113 St Marks Pl, Manhattan/Website
A deep-fried bacon-wrapped hot dog? Say no more. Known for pushing the boundaries, Crif Dogs serves some of the best and most unique hot dogs in all of New York City. A personal favorite is the Good Morning which is a bacon-wrapped dog with a fried egg and American cheese. We have yet to try it, but the Everything Dog with cream cheese, scallions, and everything bagel seasoning looks pretty epic.
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659 W 4nd, Manhattan/Website
An all-star player in everything they do, this American food joint is at the top of their game. But if you don’t get the Wagyu hot dog, you’re seriously doing it wrong. There are a ton of options to choose from, but we recommend the All Nighter prepared with house sauteed red onions, bacon bits, pickles, and chipotle bbq sauce. We would lick the chipotle bbq sauce off of the floor if the king ordered us to. All Hail.
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13 Doyers St, Manhattan/Website
Traditionalists are going to push back on this, but it’s the 21’st century people. The Scallion Pancake Hot dog from this Chinatown gem is revolutionizing the hot dog. The crispy pancake coating compliments the succulent hot dog perfectly, which creates a harmonious balance of crispy and moist. The slightly spicy flavoring of the scallions mixed with the garlicky beef is a true party in your mouth.
Photography by: Sndlr for Unsplash
