Rediscovering the New York City Hot Dog Cart

If there’s such a thing as a New York culinary icon, then the hot dog cart is certainly under consideration. This quintessential street food is a ubiquitous Big Apple treat. 

You’ll probably find yourself wanting one after one of our action-packed New York walking tours, and fortunately, there are plenty to choose from near most major attractions.

But how did this sausage snack become a NYC staple? And is it still popular today? As resident New Yorkers, we’re ready to answer these questions and point you toward a quality NYC hot dog cart for your next snack in the big city.

The history of NYC hot dog carts

New York City food vendors go back as far as when the city was called New Amsterdam. However, hot dogs weren’t among the first street foods. It was more likely to be oysters, a readily available seafood thanks to their abundance in New York waters. 

But NYC’s street food scene would evolve with the rise of push carts in the 19th century. This trend was driven by the many immigrants settling on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. To make ends meet, they often became push cart vendors (also known as peddlers) selling food and other products. As far as we know, in 1866, four vendors on Hester Street became NYC’s first stationary push carts. 

Where did NYC hot dogs come from? 

The video above shows how NYC hot dogs are made. (It begins with “a waterfall of hot dog” — mesmerizing.)

But if you’re curious how the tradition of New York hot dogs got started, that’s linked to German immigrants who brought their culinary sausage-making skills to the U.S. 

Most of the credit is generally given to Charles Feltman, a German immigrant and baker who invented what we now recognize as the hot dog. Feltman is said to have come up with selling frankfurters on long sliced bread buns. 

The story goes that in 1867, on Brooklyn’s Coney Island, Feltman sold frankfurters from a converted pie cart and served them on buns. Over time, Feltman built a hot dog empire but would also face serious competition. 

Nathan Handwerker had worked for Feltman as a hot dog bun slicer but decided to quit his job and start his own venture. In 1916, Handwerker opened up his own hot dog stand on Coney Island, with a $300 loan and his wife’s recipe. His start became the origin story of Nathan’s Famous, which has grown into a household name.

You’ll also see Sabrett, a hot dog producer dating back to 1926, with their well-known blue and yellow umbrellas atop New York City’s hot dog vendor carts. Their special claim to fame? The onion sauce you can use to top your dog.  

Who invented the NYC hot dog cart?

So who officially invented the New York hot dog cart? That honor goes to Frances E. Coffey. 

In 1926, Coffey drew up the plans for the first truly independent hot dog cart. His design featured a cooking plate, a steam table, and even an ice box. Coffey’s design is the basis for the modern cart we use today, and it was soon manufactured around the world. 

A decade later, Oscar Mayer introduced their “Wiener Mobile” cart, which was Meyer’s nephew’s idea.

What can you get at a hot dog cart today?

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A post shared by Dan Rossi – New York Hot Dog King (@nyhotdogs)

It varies from cart to cart what you can get. Typically, a New York City hot dog cart is owned and operated by one person or a family. (And it’s not an easy business either. Running a hot dog cart involves getting mobile vending licenses and permits as well as other operating costs.)

The owner or staff prepares the hot dogs using one of two methods:

• “Dirty water dogs” are boiled in water seasoned with spices. This is considered the traditional serving style.
• Grilled hotdogs are the other method, which some prefer. It’s a matter of personal taste.

The typical condiments include mustard, sauerkraut, and onion sauce, although ketchup is also available.

These days, many hot dog carts sell more than just franks. You can often find knishes, chicken strips, pretzels, beverages, and halal foods.

Best NYC hot dog carts

Looking for a hot dog cart to try on your trip to New York? Here are some we recommend.

• Billy’s Hot Dog Cart: This cart is based along the corner of Central Park West at 93rd Street.
• The New York Hot Dog King: Run by Dan Rossi, this hot dog cart at Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street has a prime spot in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where you can grab a bite before or after our Metropolitan Museum of Art Highlights Tour.
• Famous Eddie’s Hot Dogs: Based near Penn Station, this vendor has especially high marks on Google reviews.
• The Mark Hotel: Head to Manhattan’s Upper East Side for a seasonal haute hot dog stand, with gourmet dogs by French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten featuring organic chicken and grass-fed beef.

You can also find popular hot dog carts at several touristy areas around town, like Central Park and the Brooklyn Bridge.

Hot dog cart history rolls on

Today, amid food trucks and other food carts, hot dog carts in New York City are still thriving. You’ll find them at major commercial or high-traffic areas near popular attractions.

Hot dogs are more than just an NYC food. Nationwide, the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council estimates that Americans eat some 20 billion wieners every year, most often between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 

But the classic American dog rose to fame here, so we New Yorkers like to claim it. However you slice it, hot dog carts should be part of your visit to the city.

Looking for more must-try NYC dishes? Check out our list of the most iconic NYC foods and where to find them.