Nathan's Hot Dogs stand the test of time

by Jonathan M. Forester, Posted Jun 23rd 2008 @ 2:02PM

I've mentioned NYC Dirty Water Dogs, but there is another big dog on the block in NYC, Nathan's Famous. First seen on the boardwalk in Coney Island at the amusement park in 1916, they later started a small chain of Nathan's with arcades and more types of food than you can shake a dog at. They make some mean pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, but it's the hot dogs that they are known for. Just ask the thousands who come out every 4th of July for the International Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Competition.

A Nathan's was just a mile or three up the road on Central Ave in Yonkers, NY; where I spent my teen years. I visited them by bus after school a few times to play some pinball, but it was when I was 16 and got my driver's license and started borrowing my folks car, that I started chowing down on Nathan's dogs on a regular basis. These are griddled dogs, fat, crisp and browned outside, and juicy. They set my standard for what a dog should be. I finally came to realize that the best part is the Nathan's mustard. Over time it has become my favorite mustard of all. I try many, my fridge is full of literally dozens of jars, but the only one I buy time and again is Nathan's.

My favorite way to have Nathan's dogs is to grab two and a small fries. The fries are fat, crinkle cut wedges that are crispy outside, fluffy inside, and the perfect complement to the dogs. At Nathan's you have a condiment bar stocked with mustard, ketchup, relish, and sauerkraut so you can help yourself and design your own dog. The sauerkraut is fresh, crunchy, tart n' tangy. I load down the dogs with mustard and kraut, fill a few small paper cups with ketchup and mustard for the fries, and dig in. First a huge bite of frank, then dip a fry first in the Nathan's spicy mustard, then a dip in the Heinz ketchup as well. A great flavor combo where they balance each other out magnificently, with a root beer to wash it all down.

Filed Under: Ingredients, Fast Food
Tags: comfort food, condiments, Hot dogs Around the World, HotDogsAroundTheWorld, Nathans

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-23-2008 @8:56PM Bernie B said... My local market stocks these, but I haven't been able to justify paying over $1 more than other quality dogs (hebrew national, etc.)
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6-24-2008 @2:17PM Solar said... I've found Dietz & Watson hotdogs to be superior to Nathan's. Although, Nathan's is my usual backup.
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6-30-2008 @12:08AM Elaine said... I have heard so much about Nathans hot dogs from Coney Island...I had to buy some...They were so salty I couldn't finish the hot dog...If you get a chance to go to Syracuse,NY. Try a Hoffmann hot dog at Heides...MMMMMgood!!!
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6-30-2008 @9:02PM pookus said... Witout doubt! the best hot dog in the free world is:
The 'Caspers' foot long Hot Dog (Spar sausage Co. San Leandro, Ca.) Nola Contenda,
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7-01-2008 @12:17AM Barry said... I have been a lover of Nathans Original Hot Dogs since as a boy of 5 in 1941 my Dad took me to Coney Island.I was able to buy them in Los Angeles until about a year ago when they disappeared from every super market I know. Does anyone know where to get them in L.A.
P.S I agree with all comments about Nathans fries. The best Ive ever tasted. Best with a root beer
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7-01-2008 @5:20PM suebeern1 said... Nathans are the best hot dogs on the planet. I had a friend we used to drive from NJ to Coney Island just for the hot dogs. WOW Hebrew National hot dogs are great too. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Hot Dog!!!!!!!!
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7-01-2008 @5:37PM Liz said... Barry,

QVC.com, click on the food link and you can buy them online.
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7-05-2008 @1:51AM Margo Atkinson said... My favorite way to fix a hot dog is to split (butterfly) the dog...add it to a pan where some onions are gently grilling. Meanwhile toast the bun. Turn the dog often and stir up the onions. When the onions and dog are nicely carmelized, pile it on the toasted bun. Add some saurkraut,if you like, and ordinary yellow mustard. My hot dog of choice is a 100% all beef dog...usually Ballpark. This is a real all-American dog with a fantastic taste...YUMM-O....
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7-25-2008 @6:08PM Edgar Rose said... When it comes to food, we tend to prefer the tastes with which we grew up. Thus New Yorkers like Nathan's and Hebrew National, Chicagoans like Vienna All Beef. Personally, I like all three, but one of my additional favorites is Nueske's Pork and Beef in natural casings. Careful when you bite into of these; they are so juicy that they will squirt your shirt if you do not exercise proper caution! Their taste is quite different from all-beef hot dogs, and with their paprika content somewhat reminiscent of Central European and Hungarian hot dogs. They are best plain with the bitten end dipped in a little mustard. Enjoy!
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8-06-2008 @7:56AM Godwell said... Hey Jonathan, guess what?

Nathans on Central Avenue, Yonkers is still there, but...only for a few more months. Yep, they want to build another crappy, non-descriptive mall there.

Try to get there while you can because as kid, my Dad used to take us there all the time to play pinball, arcade and amusement park style games with the family all the time before he passed. It shouldn't make it past October so I urge all who want the experience to hurry.

:(

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8-20-2008 @1:32AM gary said... Nathan's & Chicago's Vienna Beef are tied for #1, any other s are just plain "weiners" not even worth the bother! Nathan's & Vienna are the Rolls-Royce, the filet mignon of hot dogs, there are no thers even deserve the name!
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