Papaya King
Hot dog restaurant · Upper East Side
206B East 86th St, New York, NY 10028
Highlights
Iconic NYC hot dogs & tropical drinks, a nostalgic return
Iconic NYC hot dogs & tropical drinks, a nostalgic return
"The new location of this 1932 hot dog spot has more of a corporate real-estate aesthetic than their original corner shop, which had the brightest orange neon sign money could buy and photos of regulars on the walls. We'll let it go, because the hotdogs are exactly the same: plump, juicy, snappy, and thirsting for mustard, sauerkraut, and a creamy papaya drink. Come by for a quick snack and see if you can avoid accidentally eating two hot dogs, a knish, some fries, and a calorically-dense beverage." - sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, neha talreja
"Papaya King was dark for over a year before it reopened in this location. The new place doesn’t quite have the openness of the original. Black-and-white life-size pictures detail the history of Papaya King around the restaurant. The menu remains intact, with its hot dog-focused menu and variations that include pastrami, pineapple, jalapenos, grated cheddar, onion rings, hot honey, and mushrooms — all for around $7." - Melissa McCart
"In 2022, when Papaya King closed, we thought we’d lost an icon—an institution, where New Yorkers from all walks of life scarfed snappy dogs with sauerkraut, relish, and homemade mustard, ever since it opened in 1932. The Upper East Side business is back in a new spot on 86th Street, and while the cookie-cutter storefront misses some of the charm of the original, the perfectly griddled hot dogs are just as snappy as before. These dogs are back and barking, and the creamy papaya drinks curtail any potential salt overload in your mouth." - molly fitzpatrick, bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, will hartman
"In a comeback as triumphant as Aragorn bringing peace to Middle Earth in Tolkien’s The Return Of The King, Papaya King is back on the Upper East Side, albeit in a less charming spot than the original. Stop by for a snappy hot dog and a creamy papaya tropical drink. We checked out Papaya King, and added it to the Hit List." - will hartman
"Papaya King reopened near the opposite corner at 206 East 86th Street. The new place features black-and-white life-size pictures detailing the history of Papaya King around the restaurant. The hot dogs are dark, narrow, and of varying lengths. The meat is more salty with a slightly smoky flavor from the griddle. The bun is squishy, and the mustard is slightly grainy with dots of actual mustard seed. The sauerkraut is rinsed and drained, making it less tart and easier to eat. The chili cheese dog is eight-and-a-half inches, stuffed into two buns with chili resembling a Greek meat sauce, finished with liquid cheese." - Robert Sietsema
