Did you know that a place that sells hot dogs is called a "doggerie"? Neither did I, until I heard writer Paul Lukas use the term to describe hot dog vendors in his quest for the best hot dogs in New York City. He feels that hot doggeries are steadily becoming more common, as more New Yorkers accept that a great hot dog can be a whole meal, not just "a snack to be eaten on the run." His quest was designed to help hot dog lovers in the big city find their way to the most satisfying dogs.
He set a few ground rules: all-beef with natural casing for the dogs, and toppings had to be either mustard and/or diced onions. He found a lot of dogs, but not all of them were up to snuff. Here are some of the best:
- Brooklyn Diner USA - Really good, and really huge, dogs. Their "15-Bite Hot Dog" measures 15-inches in length and 5 inches around!
- Crif Dogs - Skip their signature deep-fried dog and go for the all-beef, which is crisp and delicious, especially when washed down with a shot of Jägermeister.
- Katz's - Super beefy, these dogs deserve the name "tube steaks." The buns aren't as good as the dogs, but you'll get over it once you start to dig in.
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