Papaya Dog
Taking a break from the PDX posts, let us talk about hot dogs for a brief moment. In New York you can find hot dog vendors on street corners. The heart-warming and appetite inducing term for these is the "dirty water dog" because the hot dogs are generally kept in a warm water bath. You just do not want to spend too much time thinking about what is in that water... Of course this being New York, there is variety, and there are actual hot dog joints that just dole out hot dogs. With Grey's Papaya, Papaya Dog, and Papaya King, it makes you wonder WTF they are selling, hot dogs or tropical fruit. I passed by a Papaya Dog the other day and decided to give it a taste.
The good thing about hot dogs from an actual store-front place is that they cook the hot dog on a griddle instead of in the water. This offers the hot dog a chance to get a nice char of the cook allows for it. At Papaya Dog on 33rd street, this was not the case. A griddle also allows you to toast the bun slightly, but Papaya Dog seems like their buns completely untoasted and soft. You can also get sauerkraut or onions on your dog, if you make sure to ask for it.
For $3.50 you get two hot dogs and a papaya drink. I guess this is where they get their name, but we will get into this more in a second. I got two hot dogs with sauerkraut and no ketchup or mustard because my stomach commanded food to go into mouth and to not mess with condiments. Oh stomach, you fickle thing; it is a good thing you do not make decisions for me like getting to write a food blog... anyway... Biting into the hot dog you get a crisp snap from the outer part of the hot dog. The sauerkraut adds a dimension to the taste but I kind of wished for mustard instead. Verdict? An OK dog that does not make me yearn for return trips, but good enough in a bind.
As for the "papaya" drink. Uh... You can see from the picture that the drink is pale in color and seems like there is no way any papaya went into it. Basically it tastes like colored sugar water. No, not like koolaid but more like... colored sugar water. Wait, did I say that already? Well that is what it tastes like. I actually have an actual papaya in my fridge right now and tonight I will blend it and we can see what a real papaya drink is like. Just a guess but mine will probably taste more like papaya...
Do any of you actually like the papaya drink? Can you shed some light as to why it is good? The other weird thing about this Papaya Dog is that they have a Grand Opening sign up on the glass door. Uh... I checked the yelp reviews of this particular store and the first review came in May of 2006. Is that the longest Grand opening in the history of the world or what?
Papaya Dog
33rd st and 5th ave.
New York, NY 10016
I never really liked those papaya drinks, I think I've only had it once to try it. It doesn't taste like papaya at all! I used to work downtown and there was one of those papaya hot dog places, I think it was Mikes Papaya and a cheap and filling lunch would be two hot dogs with cheese fries..Not necessarily healthy but hits the spot!
wonders
June 24, 2008 1:58 pm
maybe you should do a comparison with Grey's Papaya. There's one on 14th Street. I think that one appeared in Sex in the City (aka your closet favorite show).
Ang
June 24, 2008 7:29 pm
In your opinion, who sells the best hot dogs and papaya drinks?
Su-Lin
June 25, 2008 1:50 am
Mmmmm. I've only been to NYC once but one of my favorite things about the trip was the hot dogs. My friend and I went to Grey's Papaya on the upper west side twice. I think just the dogs + mustard is the way to go. And I prefer the pina colada drink to the papaya. Man, it's been a year and I still think about those hot dogs...
Aubrey
June 25, 2008 2:37 pm
Yes Danny, you HAVE to do a comparison to Gray's. IMHO, that's the best one, even though they themselves are a spin off of Papaya King. Mmm, hot dogs, may just have to go have one right now.
Blondie
June 25, 2008 10:07 pm
Wonders,
Oooh cheese fries with your hot dogs? Now we're talking! But yea, what is with all these papaya places selling hot dogs?!
Ang,
Maybe I will. Maybe I will do it two posts from now...
Su-Lin,
Having only visited two of them, I think Grey's Papaya beats Papaya Dog hands down. Still have to try Papaya King though...
Aubrey,
Oooh pina colada drink! I will try that one next time, thanks!
Blondie,
Yes, you are right! And I am going to do it now!
Danny
June 27, 2008 2:40 pm
there is another papaya walking distance from your office. 8th ave and 38th st.
Janice
June 30, 2008 8:36 am
Gray's Papaya trounces all the other places. Do not venture near them.
Groonge Rock
June 30, 2008 10:23 am
Janice,
I am on it! Thanks!
Groonge Rock,
You seem wise on the subject of papaya hot dogs... I trust you.
Danny
July 1, 2008 9:33 am
What is the papaya drink made of?
bodiddle
April 8, 2009 1:39 pm
@bodiddle,
No one really knows... it's vaguely like papaya so maybe some sort of powder?
Danny
April 8, 2009 1:53 pm