Famous New York Hot Dogs

A hot dog is not a hot dog until it is put in a bun.

Hot dogs, frankfurters or red hots -- regardless of the name you use -- are New York icons. The origin of the hot dog is subject to debate, but the Coney Island History Project credits German immigrant Charles Feltman as serving the first hot dog in the United States in 1867. Since then, the history of the hot dog has been intertwined with that of New York.

Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs

In 1916, a former Feltman employee named Nathan Handwerker started a hot dog stand serving hot dogs based on his wife's recipe. Since that start, Nathan's has drawn generations of famous customers. Al Capone and Cary Grant were regular customers, and actor Walter Mathau requested they be served at his funeral. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt served them to the King and Queen of England, and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy served them in the White House. Nathan's Famous Hot Dog stand in Coney Island is home to the annual Fourth of July hot dog eating contest. Handwerker's hot dog stand has grown into an international corporation: Nathan's products are served in over 18,000 worldwide locations

Sabrett Hot Dogs

A Sabrett hot dog cart is identified by the blue and yellow umbrella shading it. The Sabrett hot dog is traditionally topped with onion sauce and deli mustard. Sabrett's also offers its brand of relish and sauerkraut. The push carts traditionally use frankfurters with the natural casing that gives them their famous snap. A skinless frankfurter is also available.

Papaya King

Though New York is home to several papaya hot dog establishments, Papaya King is the original. In the 1920s, a young Greek deli owner named Gus Poulos, vacationed in Florida. Inspired by the fruit juices, especially papaya, he encountered during the trip, he opened a own juice store after returning home. Hawaiian Tropical Drinks, Inc. opened in 1931. Poulos began serving hot dogs in his store and his customers loved it. Poulos was proclaimed "The Papaya King" by one of his customers and the name stuck. He officially changed the name of his business in the early 1960s. Papaya King has become a New York tradition. Zagat called it "As vital to NYC as the subway."

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