The original Nathans Hot Dogs is a must-see neon encrusted Weiner palace in Coney Island...
Founded in 1916 by Nathan Handwerker and his wife Ida, the hot dog stand became instantly popular by undercutting the nearby Feltman's hot dogs by 5 cents.
Soon more hot dog stands were added around New York, and in 1987 the family business was sold with new investors franchising Nathans, so it was hot dogs a go-go across the country.
None, however, have the charm of the original Nathans which has been located in the same spot since 1916. It has been open every day of the year ever since, notwithstanding natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy which caused the hot dog stand to close for six moths in 2012.
Weirdly, the original Nathans's also sells fried frog legs (!) which were added to the menu in the 1950’s. No other Nathans's sells these (again!)
The original Nathans's is also the home of the annual 4th of July hot dog eating contest. Be prepared for a shock to the system - there are people out there who can eat 74 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
We ate one in ten minutes at an old wooden picnic table set up beside the hot dog stand …. actually, one of us ate two.
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New York No.7 - last visited March 2023
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