"You can get a Nathan’s-branded hot dog just about anywhere, but there’s only one Nathan’s where you can accompany it with an order of fried frog legs. As it says on multiple signs around Nathan’s massive facade in Coney Island, “THIS IS THE ORIGINAL.” photo credit: Noah Devereaux The legendary counter-service spot, which also has a raw bar, is just a block from the boardwalk and has been open 365 days a year since 1916, with the exception of a six-month closure after Hurricane Sandy. When you visit, stick mostly to what they’re famous for. But whether you eat just one snappy, juicy dog or a Joey Chestnut-worthy 76 of them, sit outside and contemplate why they taste so much better in such close proximity to the beach—as if the salty breeze off the Atlantic Ocean acts as a final pinch of seasoning. Food Rundown photo credit: Noah Devereaux Clam Bar We’ll give it to you straight—we prefer the seafood at Pete’s Clam Stop, just a couple doors down, which offers a bigger selection and a shorter wait. photo credit: Noah Devereaux Hot Dog Load yours up with sauerkraut, ketchup, and mustard (we don’t always love the chili here) and proceed directly to the ocean, where you should eat it standing knee-deep in the surf. Ah, summer." - Molly Fitzpatrick
