A nickel hot dog stand morphed into a nationwide chain, but it all started here in Coney Island. There are two Nathan’s actually, one on the boardwalk and one further down on Surf Avenue. Both usually have lines, but they serve up the same glistening dogs with that special “Coney sauce.”

If you’re going to dine (can it realistically be called that?) at a Gray’s Papaya, it should be this one. Why? Because it’s in a gritty area of Manhattan, a stone’s throw from dirty old men dive bars and the pomp of Times Square. What ELSE should you be devouring with no reserve but a cheap hot dog?

I used to pass this particular Gray’s Papaya way too early in the morning on the way to work, and the smell of the dogs at that hour was a little off-putting. And because I was off somewhere else by lunch, I never once walked in here. A breakfast dog? Not even I am that adventurous!

You’d think that because they are called HOT dogs, well, that the heat wouldn’t prevent their makers from selling them. One hot, humid day, New York City Hot Dog Company shut down operation! Too hot, they say! Wow.

Hot dogs with bacon? Hot dogs with cream cheese? I’m not sure I Iike concept hot dogs all that much, but I do love that they serve birch beer here. Oh yeah, and there’s a pseudo-speakeasy only accessible through a phone booth in Crif. Points for abounding creative combinations!

Shake Shack is known for burgers and shakes, but it also serves up Chicago hot dogs. I had no idea that ketchup is sometimes barred from Chicago hot dog-sellers. Not at Shake Shack, luckily.

Katz’s is one of the last remaining traditional New York delis of yesteryear (going back to 1888), so you shouldn’t need much motivation to pay them a visit. If the $14.95 pastrami sandwich is out of your budget, try the $3.10 all beef frankfurter instead.

Is it just me, or is it really funny that one of the vegetarian options, the Phoney Baloney Dawg, is a grilled marinated carrot? Willie’s stands out from the rest too because of their buns: choose from multigrain rolls, challah bread or rye rolls.

Maybe it’s because they are in a family-friendly neighborhood, or maybe hot dogs are associated with daytime activities, but this Windsor Terrace locale closes at 8. That sounds like a hot dog curfew to me. If you’re catching a movie at the nearby Pavillion Theatre, smuggle in some dogs at half the price.

For the veg-heads out there, the guilt-free soy dogs are calling your name!