The 15 best hot dogs in NYC

What is it? A late-night dive where the frozens are chilled and the hot dogs are dressed for the occasion. 

Why we love it: This Bushwick dive is home to disco balls, Funkytown and salsa tunes, and an array of Venezuelan street eats served well into the AM hours. Here, the buns are packed with bacon, a squirt of cilantro-y guasacaca sauce and a dusting of potato chips. Even plant-based eaters can snap into it, thanks to a handful of vegetarian and vegan dogs that sub out meat for plantains, carrots and a fried block of queso.

Time Out tip: The weekends bring DJs and dance parties off all types, so prepare to snap into a dog while snapping your fingers. 

Address: 234 Starr St, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Hours: Daily noon to 2am

What is it? Once on the cusp of mini-chain status, the lone hot dog stand still remains steady in the Upper West Side.

Why we love it: Gray's Papaya has long ruled the area’s tropical-drink-and-hot-dog market, with crispy-skinned all-beef Sabretts for a price that can't be beat. It once swelled across the city, with stands in Greenwich Village and Midtown. Today, only the original remains in the UWS, continuing to feed Central Park goers and those of us just on the go.

Time Out tip: You can get one frank and a medium drink for the low, low price of $5. 

Address: 2090 Broadway, New York, NY 10023

Hours: Sun-Wed 8am–10pm; Thu–Sat 8am–11pm

What is it? A legit hotdog stand that serves as a front for one of the city's most favored speakeasies. 

Why we love it: The stoner-friendly offerings at Crif Dogs include the perennially top-selling “Spicy Redneck,” featuring a bacon-wrapped dog, chili, coleslaw and pickled jalapeños. The crunch of deep-fried bacon gives way to a soft interior, and the mild chili sauce soaks into the bun, giving each bite an extra hit of meaty flavor.

Time Out tip: If ducking down to the basement on a warm summer day feels like the waste of a good day, the restaurant takes over St. Mark's Street on the weekends, setting up a pet-friendly patio.

Address: 113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009

Hours: Sun–Thu noon–2am; Fri, Sat noon–3am

What is it? A not so secret speakeasy hidden behind a phone booth in the East Village.

Why we love it: Picture it: you've wandered past Crif Dogs, thinking you solely want a drink at the speakeasy hidden within its walls, Please Don't Tell. But once you sit, your urge for a snappy tube hits. Lucky for you, this cocktail den has its own haute-dog menu. Yes, they are of the cheffy variety, but still good, including beef-based wieners draped in kimchi, lemongrass chili and coriander-scented sauerkraut. 

Time Out tip: PDT now takes reservations or you can always chance a visit to the phone booth without if you are feeling lucky. 

Address: 113 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009

Hours: Mon–Thu 5pm–2am; Fri–Sun 4pm–2am

What is it? A beloved kosher deli known for pastrami and brisket sandwiches that damn near spill out of the bread.

Why we love it: Famous for their gigantic portions, kosher deli Pastrami Queen knows that sometimes one hot dog just isn’t enough. Their “two franks” special serves up, well, two franks, with a side of potato salad or coleslaw. We like ours topped with sweet onions, mustard and sauerkraut—in a deli that’s been around since 1956, tradition just tastes good. 

Time Out tip: Two franks and a beverage or two franks and a side will run you $13.50. 

Address: Multiple locations

What is it? An NYC institution that was "born and bunned" in Coney Island. 

Why we love it: Tourists and tube-steak zealots make the trek to this Brooklyn landmark for a taste of hot-dog history. Established in 1916, the former 5¢ stand still does a roaring trade. The bun is flimsy, but in the end, it’s just a vehicle for the chain-spawning wiener, which has a tight casing that gives way to a juicy interior.

Time Out tip: The ultra-competitive hot dog eating contest is over 100 years old and, we think, should be experienced at least once in your life. It always goes down on America's birthday, on July 4th. 

Address: Multiple locations

What is it? Chicago-style hot dog operation now with two outposts in BK. 

Why we love it: On the block where the Pacino film of the same name was filmed, Dog Day Afternoon is serving up Chicago-style hot dogs to hungry Brooklynites. Their Chicago dog is made with Vienna beef and served with fresh tomatoes, vinegar-y sport peppers and a kosher pickle—none of which you’ll find on a regular NYC dog.

Time Out tip: Don't sleep on the chili dog with cheddar cheese sauce, beef chili, diced onions and a few hits of hot sauce. It is in a league all its own. 

Address: 266 L, Prospect Park W, Brooklyn, NY 11215;  519A Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

What is it? A fast Columbian counter operation where arepas, tostones and fresh fruit juices can be had. 

Why we love it: At this Colombian cocina, dig into one of the towering hot dogs smothered beneath crushed potato chips, crispy bacon, fresh carrot-cabbage slaw, crumbled costeño cheese, pineapple sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise, salsa rosada and the crowning jewel: a skewered, hard-boiled quail egg.

Time Out tip: Wash it all down with a drink even more over the top, the crushed-ice and condensed milk cholado bobbing with fresh tropical fruits and showered in grated coconut.

Address: 40-25 Forley St, Elmhurst, NY 11373

Hours: Tue–Sun 2pm–midnight

What is it? A counter operation where “Quality Wursts” are the name of the game. 

Why we love it: In a former meat fridge next to Schaller & Weber’s Yorkville flagship, which has been supplying uptowners with German meats and charcuterie since 1937, lies this 10-seat sausage offshoot, helmed by third-generation wurst maker Jeremy Schaller. The streetside counter serves cheddar brats, chicken brats, wieners, knackwursts, bratwursts, Beyond bratwursts and just about everything else you can stick inside a bun. 

Time Out tip: The Saigon Special changes it up a bit with a daikon-carrot slaw, jalapeño rounds and a squirt of Sriracha for more kick. 

Address: 1652 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

Hours: Mon–Sat 11am–11pm; Sat, Sun noon–6pm

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What is it? An Austrian and German-style eatery located in the belly of an underground food hall in Downtown Brooklyn.   

Why we love it: The folks at Kotti Berliner Döner Kebab already had a lock on German food in the Dekalb Market Hall. But they decided to bring another taste of the region to the basement level food hall with the introduction of Moritz. As for the hot dog, thick brats are served on plush and properly salted pretzel buns with a slick of Bavarian mustard and sauerkraut—a nice combo that will cause your nose to tingle just right. 

Time Out tip: The order of fries, which can come loaded with German sausages, diced onion and Berliner curry ketchup, is a nice add if you feel like sharing. 

Address: 445 Albee Square W, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Hours: Daily 11am–10pm

What is it? A dive where each and every drink comes with a dog. 

Why we love it: The unblinking, six-foot-tall pig statue will forever beckon us to Rudy’s Bar & Grill. But it’s the free hot dogs that keeps us coming back for more. A historic dive since 1933—seriously, it received one of the first liquor licenses in the city after Prohibition—this bar has been home to free dogs with a thin trail of mustard since the beginning. And we genuinely hope it stays that way. 

Time Out tip: Drinks start at $4 bucks and cap at $9, so savings can be had all around. 

Address: 627 9th Ave, New York, NY 10036

Hours: Sun–Fri 8am–4am; Sun noon–4am

What is it: A family run delicatessen that's reached New York legend status.

Why we love it: The iconic eats at this famed Lower East Side deli counter have always been of the no-frills sort, from the hulking piles of peppery pastrami to the Swiss-and-sauerkraut reuben. The hot dog is no exception: The all-beef frankfurter is seasoned deeply with garlic, salt and paprika beneath its firm, lightly charred natural casing. A traditional topper of zesty golden mustard and tangy kraut adds some bright acidity inside a soft, humble split bun.

Time Out tip: The "When Harry Met Sally" table is labeled in the center of the restaurant. Snag it if you can. 

Address: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002

Hours: Daily 8am–11pm

What is it? An aptly named bar that once operated in secret during the speakeasy era.

Why we love it: The unfussy specimens at this venerable tavern still hold their own against the city's artisanal upstarts. Get the chili dog: A grilled and scored all-beef Sabrett is deposited on a butter-toasted bun along with spicy homemade beef-and-red-kidney-bean chili, diced onions and shredded cheddar, as well as a side of fries.

Time Out tip: Most beers don't tip over $10, making for a cheap meal and a drink. 

Address: 45 E 18th Street, New York, NY 10003

Hours: Mon–Sat 11:30am–12:30am; Sun noon–10pm

What is it? A Colombian storefront where the sky is the limit when it comes to what you can put on a hot dog. 

Why we love it: This Colombian joint turns out Latin American–style hot dogs with toppings like diced pineapple, egg and even blackberry. Our favorite is the zesty Mexicano, loaded with salsa verde, melted cheese, crushed potato chips and squiggles of ketchup, mustard and spicy mayo.

Time Out tip: If you could do without the bread, try the Salchibombón, a deconstructed split dog version with melty cheese and a drizzle of salsa rosada. 

Address: 83-12 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Hours: Mon–Wed 11am–3am; Thu 11am–4am; Fri, Sat 11am–6am; Sun 11am–4am

What is it? A classic New York diner that, despite the name, doesn't reside in Brooklyn. 

Why we love it: You may need a friend to help you tackle this eye-catching behemoth. The oversized “15-bite” all-beef frank is griddled on the flat top and stuffed inside a massive bun, which you can pile high with sides of hand-cut fries and homemade juniper slaw.

Time Out tip: The milkshakes are pretty key and come with the right amount of whipped cream (which is a lot).

Address: 212 West 57th St, New York, NY 10019; 155 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036