Gray's Papaya
Hot dog restaurant · Upper West Side
2090 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
Highlights
Iconic hot dogs and tropical drinks at a bargain price
Iconic hot dogs and tropical drinks at a bargain price
"Snappy, all-beef hot dogs and gritty-but-somehow-refreshing fruit drinks are the hallmarks of this Upper West Side old-timer founded by Paul Gray in 1973. It also reflects a distinctive New York City frankfurter that originated a century earlier in Coney Island. Topping choices are limited to mustard, sauerkraut, brown-stewed onions, and ketchup, though true New Yorkers never use the latter." - Eater Staff
"A popular hot dog restaurant in New York City, known for its affordable and delicious hot dogs, featured in 'You've Got Mail'."
"The quintessential Upper West Side snack is not a slice of pizza. It’s a hot dog from Gray’s Papaya. The iconic counter-service spot opened in 1973, and there’s always crowds of people outside scarfing down dogs. You can get a singular, snappy, Sabrett frank for $3, or go for the Recession Special, which comes with two dogs and a drink for $7.50. Wash it down with a neon-orange papaya drink, make sure you don’t have any lingering mustard on your face, and then move on with your day. " - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, hannah albertine, will hartman
"Distance from the start: 7.6 miles Bathroom: No A walk from the top to the bottom of Manhattan without at least one stop for NYC’s most walkable snack? We wouldn't dare, and neither should you. Choose Gray’s Papaya on 72nd Street, an iconic spot for highly processed meat on the Upper West Side. Order a few dogs with relish, mustard, and sauerkraut, plus a papaya juice—it’s the perfect amount of sweet for seven miles in. Two hot dogs and a drink will run you $7.50. " - willa moore
"The Dish: Frank Around the corner from La Dinastia is this overwhelmingly yellow “hot doggery”—a 72nd Street landmark founded and little-updated since 1973. It’s OK to be slightly dubious about the $3.25 franks glistening behind a counter next to random buckets of relish, and the dispensers of florid, tropical fruit-flavored drinks. A single bite of a snappy Sabrett dog, buried under condiments, will put you at ease. In it’s spongy bun, drizzled with condiments and accompanied by a sweet papaya shake, Gray’s hot dog reminds you that this ubiquitous NYC food is—just like the city itself—actually kind of weird, and still kind of wonderful." - bryan kim, sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, neha talreja
