Maybe I should just stop now and stay loyal to Katz's.
Katz's Delicatessen, Lower East Side.
Confession: I had this hot dog at the end of a night out, so I’m sorry if it ruins the integrity of the review.
I can assure you I was sober when I ate it, just tired of standing in lines outside of clubs and remembered that I saw KATZ’S glowing in the distance just before following my friends to stand outside of another line at another club and bid them goodnight to get my hot dog.
They followed me to Katz’s soon after. Cover was $30.
Katz's Delicatessen
Lower East Side
Famous NYC spot serving pastrami, corned beef, and other classic Jewish deli fare (and hot dogs obviously).
Price: $
What it’s good for: Every day. This is the hot dog you mean when you say you want a hot dog.
Yeah, you’ve heard of Katz’s Delicatessen, probably not for their hot dogs, but if you want, you can order a frankfurter with mustard and sauerkraut at the grill, sidestepping the longer lines.
If it’s more of a pit stop than the end of the night like it was for me, you can even order a beer.
Crucially, they’re open in the middle of the night when you’re club hopping with your friends in the Lower East Side and ready to go home but think it would be funny to get your third hot dog of the day.
It comes with what I assume is a good amount of sauerkraut. But, aye, here’s the rub— I don’t actually like sauerkraut. Still, I’ve tried hot dogs meant to be served with ketchup which I also dislike, so I was going to power through.
Then, all of the sauerkraut fell into a pile on my little plate, and I decided, all right, that’s the universe giving me an out to not see if my taste buds have changed since taking small bites of my parents’ Reuben sandwiches — it was both of their favorites — or since the last time my mom made me nibble a bite to see if I liked it.
I let it all fall off and then covered this one in mustard. Now, I’m not a yellow mustard fan, but a good mustard? Fuck. And Katz’s has a good mustard.
From here, there isn’t much to say. It was the best hot dog I’ve had yet. The dog itself was snappy. I mean, it had a real perfect snap when you bit into it. The toppings were simple and the bun was unremarkable but provided a strong foundation for the hot dog to play off of. This is a good reminder of what a truly good hot dog is all about: the hot dog itself. When you’ve got it on perfect lock like Katz’s does, you don’t need to wow your audience with toppings.
You’ve just got a good, meaty bite to eat. It’s perfectly grilled and just an altogether solid dog. Real hot dog lovers know. In my last review, I said that Santa Salsa had the kind of hot dog my dad would say was good. This one, he’d say is the best. For now at least, I have to concur.
As for the price, it’s a solid hot dog and not overly expensive for such a popular spot. You’re paying for quality here. Maybe a little bit for the name.
There’s plenty else to get here. Look up an actual review of the place if you want more insight. I’ve never gone when the crowds were bad, but it’s one of the few places with a line I’ll never actively discourage someone from eating at.
If you are a tourist in New York and you want to visit the iconic spot, keep in mind that their hot dog is stellar, but I’d probably still steer you towards the rest of the menu. If you live here and happen to be in the neighborhood, it’s my favorite hot dog yet.
What else I tried:
I got a Brisk lemon iced tea. Standing in lines at clubs is thirsty work.
My friends had a pastrami sandwich reuben style. Another friend tried the hot dog with sauerkraut. My mom likes their corned beef.
For what it’s worth, if I wasn’t getting a hot dog, I would get a pastrami sandwich (with plenty of mustard, nothing else) and a Dr. Brown’s Black Cherry, and I think my order’s best.
Rating: ★★★★1/2
I wrote this review last weekend — Yes, I ate Santa Salsa and this hot dog on the same day. I held the review. Since then, the weather has been dreary, and I felt awful but it’s made a comeback and so have I.
Outside of hot dog eating, I’m setting aggressive summer reading goals, so please pass along any must-read titles.
The Full Rankings
Check out the full sheet of hot dog rankings and scores.
For years I have judged sandwich shops on the quality of their Reubens... and yeah, totally with you on the mustard thing. Yellow, bleh. But a quality stone ground? Hell to the yeah!