Papaya King • 1932

The hot dog and papaya juice pairing was born here in 1932, when founder Gus Poulos opened a fresh fruit juice stand on the Upper East Side and added all-beef franks to the menu. Served at no-frills counters where speed and snap matter more than ambiance, Papaya King's griddle-charred dogs come topped with tangy onion sauce and optional sauerkraut. The tropical drink and frank combo remains unchanged for nearly a century, still drawing crowds at dawn and midnight alike.