Best Hot Dogs in New York (2025)

A Lower East Side legend since 1888, Katz’s grills natural-casing beef franks with that signature snap. While crowds chase pastrami, locals head straight to the hot dog counter—regularly praised by Eater NY and longtime critics.

The last remaining Gray’s still anchors the Upper West Side with griddled franks and tropical drinks. Frequently cited by Eater NY and local food writers, it remains a quintessential late-night New York experience.

Papaya King Finally Reopens on the Upper East Side | Eater NY

I've followed the long, dramatic saga of this 90-year-old hot dog institution: after being saved from extinction last spring, it finally reopened on Saturday at 206 East 86th Street on the Upper East Side. The owners had briefly planned to relocate across the street to 1535 Third Avenue, but that plan faltered amid legal trouble in January 2024 when the landlord sued Sajid “Sid” Sohail for $4.4 million; Sohail, who remains involved in the latest iteration, ultimately ditched that space and found a new alternative. Founded by Constantine “Gus” Poulos in 1932 and later purchased by Wayne Rosenbaum around 2010 — who vowed, “Papaya King will be here for another 178 years” — the chain once had outposts in Downtown Brooklyn, the East Village, the Roosevelt Mall on Long Island, and locations in California and Pennsylvania, though only the Upper East Side remains. (The story was updated on July 8, 2024 to correct the new address.) - Emma Orlow

An East Village original known for deep-fried franks, bacon wraps, and creative toppings, with late hours and a cult following. Featured in Eater NY’s hot dog guide and loved by local critics.

Schaller's Stube Sausage Bar - Review - Upper East Side - New York - The Infatuation

German butcher and grocery Schaller & Weber has been operating on the Upper East Side since 1937. Nowadays, they have a takeout window next to the shop called Schaller’s Stube where you can pick up a currywurst, a half-pound kielbasa, or something more adventurous like a buffalo chicken brat with ranch, blue cheese, and celery leaves. Their sausage creations are inventive and delicious, and the pretzel buns are a very nice touch. Grab a po'boy-inspired brat with crisp cajun slaw or a red hot frank with hot honey, and eat your fantastic hand-held food at an indoor counter or a table on the sidewalk. - Bryan Kim

This butcher’s counter serves house-made dogs like the Big Fred—garlicky, juicy, and built for mustard and onions. Eater NY recommends it, and the shop’s sourcing from upstate farms keeps things proudly local.

A Flatiron saloon dating to 1892 where the frankfurter and chili dog are part of the city’s bar-food canon. A favorite of historians and regulars alike, with the menu’s dogs even noted on broadcast segments.

Greenpoint’s modern Jewish deli keeps an excellent all-beef dog and a beloved two-dogs-and-a-drink deal. Featured in Eater NY’s hot dog roundup and celebrated by food media for its smart revivalist spirit.

Dog Day Afternoon - Review - Windsor Terrace - New York - The Infatuation

Going to Dog Day Afternoon is a lot like stopping by your neighbor’s place for a bite, if your neighbor had a Ms. Pacman machine, a sick vintage record collection, and enough wit to name a hot dog joint after a classic heist movie that was shot in the neighborhood. This Windsor Terrace spot makes excellent Chicago-style Italian sandwiches (a hot dog is a sandwich, fight us), and you should eat here ASAP. Despite the menu’s Midwestern accent, this is a VBR (Very Brooklyn Restaurant). Yeah, they make a Chicago dog, a Chicago-style Italian beef sandwich, and a Chicago-style Italian sausage sandwich loaded with giardiniera—but when the weather's nice, the guy grilling the sausage will be doing so on the sidewalk, wearing a Roll N Roaster T-shirt. He’ll dress the sandwich on a folding table perched over a few crates of $2 records, and more than a few of those records will be Rat Pack alumnus. Customers, neighborhood folks, staff (who knows, really; the lines here are blurry) will lounge on lawn chairs scattered along the sidewalk between the storefront and the street. We love it when so-called junk food is taken seriously, and that’s exactly what happens behind the counter at Dog Day Afternoon. The cheese sauce that crowns several dishes has the texture of liquid crayon with an ideal balance of salt and cream, which is how we like our cheese sauce. Proper topping ratios are carefully maintained so that nothing overwhelms, and the Chicago dog is so textbook perfect you can cross-check it against the official Vienna Beef diagram by the register. It might feel easy to write this place off as just a really good hot dog spot with a cute space. It is that, but what truly makes Dog Day Afternoon special is the way it's become a fixture in the community. Even if it’s your first time here, the staff will make you feel like this has been your spot for years. After a visit or two, you might find yourself exclusively seeing movies at the Nitehawk down the block so you have an excuse to grab a hot dog after. The restaurant worms its way into your heart. It makes you want to be a regular. Food Rundown Chicago Dog This Vienna Beef hot dog comes in a poppy seed bun with Ecto-Cooler colored relish, cute little sport peppers, pickles, tomatoes, and a sprinkle of celery salt. Even the proper Chicagoans we’ve taken here say this is as close to the real thing as you can get out east. Chili Cheese Dog Some chili cheese dogs dissolve into a soggy, inedible mess the moment you look at them, but not this one. Through some kind of alchemy, Dog Day's version manages to maintain impeccable form from the first bite to the last. We especially love the depth of flavor the chili imparts and the plasticine texture of the cheese. Frito Pie One of our sleeper favorites on the menu, we’d come here just to get the Frito pie. It’s a study in textures; The Fritos somehow maintain a satisfying crunch despite being buried under layers of expertly applied meat sauce and cheese. It’s the best Frito pie we’ve had. Italian Beef If you want an Italian beef made by chefs with a bit of a pedigree, you can get that here. The giardiniera packs some serious heat, and the sesame-seeded bun has the perfect balance of squish and chew. You’ll want to order your sandwich thoroughly dipped. Orange Whip If you were planning to share this with someone, change your plans. The orange whip is both impossibly light and decadently creamy, with the perfect hit of citrus tang. You’ll be scraping your straw against the bottom of the cup before you know it, desperately trying to scrounge up one last sip. Polish Dog A charred, split sausage positively smothered in grainy mustard, onions, and sport peppers. If you want your dog to bite back, get this one. Chili Cheese Fries The only thing we don’t love. The chili and cheese are excellent, but better applied on the hot dog and Frito pie. The fries, alas, are a bit limp. - Carina Finn

Seasonal and beachy on the Rockaway Boardwalk, Rippers grills Meat Hook franks with serious snap. Its crew’s roots and Eater NY coverage underscore the spot’s role in modern Rockaway food culture.

A Queens daytime institution for crisp natural-casing dogs, serving locals for decades. Included on Eater NY’s NYC hot dog map, with current hours corroborated by recent listings and customer reports.

Riverdale’s 1953 kosher deli still grills frankfurters with classic sides like knishes and latkes. Recognized by NYC’s official tourism site and local press for enduring neighborhood roots and quality.