The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council is real and it knows everything about hot dogs.According to the Council’s most recent data, Americans consume roughly 9 billion hot dogs a year – and that’s just what they’re buying from retail stores. They estimate that if you add other places where hot dogs are served like a baseball game, local fairs, and carnivals, the number is actually closer to 20 billion.
And the city with the largest appetite for hot dogs? The city that never sleeps, or in this case, never stops eating hot dogs, New York City.
If you want to see the city in its most authentic, download the New York Travel Guide and Offline City Map app and take a bite of gastronomic history with this list of the best hot-dogs in NYC from eTips.
Nathan’s Famous
As iconic as its original location in Coney Island is its annual Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. The current record is held by competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, who ate 70 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Gray’s Papaya
If you want a no non-sense New York hot dog, Gray’s Papaya on the Upper West Side at the corner of Broadway and 72nd Street is open to satisfy your taste buds, 365 days a year, 24/7. A must-try is their much beloved Recession Specials - $4.50 for two hot dogs and a 14 ounce drink.
Crif Hot Dogs
An open mind and a recklessly adventurous palate is what’s required if you’re eating at Crif Hot Dogs. Long way from traditional, toppings for its bacon-wrapped hot dogs consist of pineapples, cream cheese, eggs, avocado among others. And, of course, slathered in copious amounts of melted cheese.
Katz’s Delicatessen
A sign where Meg Ryan sat in the movie When Harry Met Sally reads: "Where Harry Met Sally... Hope You Had What She Had! Enjoy!" And what she had was their classic pastrami sandwich, meant to be eaten with mustard – and only mustard. It’s been on top of every Best Pastrami Sandwich in New York City list. Put simply, it’s delicious – and there’s no faking that.
Papaya King
At first glance, the odd combination of tropical fruit drinks and a beef frankfurter doesn’t make any sense – but it does. When you’ve got a drink made by New York’s first juice bar and a hot dog topped with a delicious red onion sauce, everything makes absolute sense. Curious? Drop-by their flagship store at the corner of 86th Street and 3rd Ave in Manhattan.