Beside pizza and pastrami, one of the iconic foods associated with New York is the hot dog. While there are many hot dog vendors around New York City, one that stands out is the Nathan’s Famous Food Truck.
Origins of Nathan’s Famous
Nathan’s Famous is most well known for its location on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn. Polish immigrant Nathan Handwerker started selling hot dogs for five cents back in 1916 on Coney Island. These were made with his wife’s secret recipe.
Over the years, Nathan’s Famous built up a reputation as being the place to get a hot dog at a good price along the Coney Island boardwalk.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
An annual event that has helped to cement its legendary status is the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. The hot dog eating contest started in 1972 and was held around 4 July, usually in conjunction with Independence Day.
In the 1990s, Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest came to be dominated by Takeru “The Tsunami” Kobayash, a competitive eater. More recently, there have been hot dog eating champions like Joey Chestnut.
The contest is based on how many hot dogs a competitor can down in a set period of time. Since 2008, the time has been 10 minutes. As of 2023, the record stands at 62 hot dogs.
Nathan’s Famous Food Truck in Manhattan, New York
With all the myth and legend behind Nathan’s Famous, it is not surprising that they have expanded to multiple locations all around the United States and the world.
In New York City, even if you do not wish to make the trip down to Coney Island, you can still get a taste of Nathan’s hot dogs at Nathan’s Famous food trucks found throughout Manhattan.
You can find them parked along the street at popular tourist places such as Times Square as well as 5th Avenue, in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
What’s on the Menu at Nathan’s Famous Food Truck
The most iconic menu item on Nathan’s Famous Food Truck’s menu is the hot dog.
You can order it plain or topped with chili, sauerkraut, or melted cheese. A popular way to accompany the hot dog is with a side of crinkle-cut French fries.
Other items on the Nathan’s Famous Food Truck’s menu include burgers like the Nathan’s Famous original burger, cheeseburger, and bacon cheeseburger, and chicken wings. There are also cheesesteaks sandwiches and corndogs.
If you do decide to try the hot dogs, you can expect to get an all-beef frankfurter with a nice snap to the casing.
All the branding that goes into the Nathan’s Famous Food Truck brand doesn’t come cheap. You can expect to pay between $5.50 to $7 for a hot dog, depending on the variation that you choose to order. Burgers will set you back more.
Is it worth it?
If you wish to try Nathan’s Famous without having to make your way down to Coney Island, the Nathan’s Famous Food Truck is an option. However, don’t expect it to be life-changing. It is a hot dog from a street side vendor after all.
For something really spectacular, we suggest trying Katz’s Deli, one of the best places for pastrami sandwiches in New York.
