Believe it or not, hot dog carts have been in the Big Apple for about 165 years and the very first one is said to have been on the Bowery. But the origins of hot dogs carts are in sausage carts that started in Germany about 525 years ago.
It took 40 or 50 years from sausage carts to evolve into hot dog carts over on this side of the pond, and they've remained popular until this day because of the cheap "everyman" food they provide.
In all this time, dogs have only gone up to the $1 to $2 range (unless you count that cad of a hot dog vendor who was charging Freedom Tower area tourists $30 a dog).
Sure, in these yuppie times, some people have come up with $6 "artisanal dogs" featuring fancy toppings, but mercifully, they are hard to come by even in the city's most upscale neighborhoods.
Unless you are a die-hard vegan, everyone needs their dog fix at least a couple of times a year--and New York's "dirty water" dogs are just so tender and well-spiced that few can resist.
The smell of hot dog carts "dogs-n-dirty-water" is just so distinctive that hot dog carts anywhere else just smell lame in comparison! Here are the 8 reasons Hot Dog Carts are quintessential NYC.
1. Distinct dirty water
No one else's "dirty water" smells the same! Dirty water is just water the dogs have been heated in.
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There is really nothing "dirty"about it though, as there are strict rules and regulations the health department enforces. Hot dog carts are no less sanitary than any other food cart in the city.
2. One handed
You only need one hand to eat a dog! You put on your sauerkraut and or/mustard, then you can hold your handbag or briefcase in one hand and eat with the other.
3. SABRETT!
intefangordetdet Härliga tider! Lovely times! #sabrett #hotdogs #pretzel #pretzels #nyc #bigapple #ny #newyork #varmkorv #kringla #lunch #lunchtime #streetfood #food #snabbmat #korvmoj #chillidog
One word. Sabrett has been the main supplier to hot dog carts and Papaya King stands since 1926.
The mix of pork and beef along with a secret blend of spices make these dogs quintessentially New York.
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No other dog is as tender and flavorful, and its only rival is Nathan's (and possibly Hebrew National).
4. Cheapness
gqhyowie AND SO IT BEGINS... #$3hotdog #nychotdogcart #citylife #living @kat_chau @24one @twenty7zero9
The fare served at hot dog carts is cheap! Dogs are one or two bucks as mentioned before, knishes are two bucks and sodas and water are a buck. No one charges extra for sauerkraut (or delicious Sabrett onion sauce).
,5. All day food
gmtfoodtruck NY state of Mind. We sell nothing but the Best All Beef Franks and Sausages! #sabrett #sabret #sabretruck #hillshire #hillshirefarm #nyc #rvadine #downtownrvafoodtruck #richmond2015 #richmondva #rvafoodtruck
The dogs are freshly made all day. Yes. Freshly. All day.
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Out of towners think dirty water dogs sit in the same water each day, but actually only one batch sits in hot water they are boiled in and then the vendor starts up a fresh batch.
6. Umbrellas
ruedaseunlv The Hot Dog combo comes with a signed Patrick Ewing photo and Season 5 of Blue Bloods on DVD. #sabrett #newyork
The classic umbrellas on the hot dog carts just makes you smile! The yellow and blue striped Sabrett umbrellas are the most classic, but hot dog carts advertising any brand are in bright and memorable colors.
7. Diet friendly-ish
sabrett #Repost @leistner with @repostapp. ・・・ #pennstation #gotdog #instadog || #NYC 🗽🇺🇸🌃 #Sabrett #OnlyHotDogWeEat #WhereIsTheHotDogEmoji
They provide protein and are relatively low in calories. Each hot dog provides about one quarter of a day's necessary protein for an adult, and even more for kids.
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Sabrett dogs are 140 calories each without the roll or condiments. Sabretts are gluten free. For those gluten intolerant folks--which seems to be half of us--this is good news.
8. Unchanging
tonydwhite New Yorker At A Hot Dog Stand. #hotdog #franks #hotdogs #hotdogstand #sabrett #newyorker #newyorkers #newyorkermagazine #nyc #foodstand #streetfood #night #fog #nikon #latenightsnack #midnightsnack
They are a truly nostalgic piece of New York City. While everything is changing around us in New York (especially the landscape and architecture), New York's hot dog carts really don't look much different than they did 80 years ago!
Check out 7 Reasons Why Halal Carts Have Nowadays Become Quintessential New York.
[Feature Image Courtesy of Gary Burke/Flickr]