Gray's Papaya, New York

Gray’s is hot dog legend among denizens of the village. Ask any Manhattanite about the best place to get a dog, and you’ve got 50/50 odds that “Gray’s Papaya” will be their answer – and one bite of a Gray’s frank will show you why: the buns are toasted, the relish is savory, the dogs are plumped to perfection. In business for more than twenty years, and Gray’s has made cameos on Sex and the City, Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, and still gets bundles of business in a city where many finer restaurants bite the dust in less than a year. Gray’s has three central locations on West 8th street, 72nd and Broadway, and north of Herald Square, so you can get your papaya fix no matter which side of 14th street you’re on. Gray’s also spices up their menu by offering various fruit juices, including papaya, mango, and non-alcoholic daquiris. A “recession special” will set you back a mere $3.50, which includes two hefty hot dogs and a large fruit juice.