Steve and I were on a day trip to Coney Island, and on the way from the subway station down to the beach and the amusement park, we passed the original Nathan’s. It’s right on the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenue, and of course we had to stop, even though we just had a nice soufflé pancake brunch in the city.
Nathan’s opened back in 1916 and through the years, the restaurant that started as a hot dog stand, has turned into quite a New York institution. They’re known for classic New York style hot dogs, and you’ll find Nathan’s hot dog stands all over the city. You’ve probably also heard about the famous hot dog eating contest at the Coney Island restaurant on the 4th of July, where contestants have ten minutes to eat as many hot dogs as they can. I think the record is 70-something, crazy!
When Steve and I were there, we shared one of the original hot dogs and it was really good. All beef, nice flavor, and a proper snap when you bite into it, just like the ones I’m used to back home in Denmark. Maybe it was the sunshine maybe it was the good company, but I think the hot dog tasted much better than the Nathan’s hot dogs I’ve had in the city.
You can grab ketchup, mustard, and other condiments from a table. I added a bit of ketchup on the side, but we ended up just adding mustard and sauerkraut to the hot dog, which is how a New York hot dog is supposed to be eaten. Mustard only. Never ketchup.
We were curious about the rest of the menu, so we ordered a portion of raw clams, served on the half shell with horseradish, cocktail sauce, lemon, and oyster crackers, those little round ones you get with chowder. And speaking of chowder, we also shared a bowl of red chowder, listed as Coney Island Chowder. I think it’s the same as Manhattan chowder, a tomato based chowder, which is a lot lighter than the creamy New England version. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Big portion, great flavor, and we finished the whole thing.
The menu was full of choices, some classic, some a little out there. Besides hot dogs, there are burgers, sandwiches, and even frog legs (!). We decided to skip the frog legs this time, but maybe something for our next visit?
There’s an outdoor seating area with tables and umbrellas where you can sit down and enjoy your food. It was boiling hot that day, so I was actually happy about the massive drink sizes in the US. That Coke Zero was much needed.
If you’re visiting Coney Island, make sure to stop by Nathan’s. It’s a classic, and the food is really good.
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Nathan’s Famous, 1310 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224, United States
