Woe is Papaya King: the beloved hot dog chain can't get a hold of their namesake fruit, thanks to a salmonella outbreak in fresh papayas from Mexico. Curses, food-borne bacteria! First you threaten to destroy brunch, and now this?! more ›

When we heard that Snap, a new hotdog-centric food truck promising Chicago-style dogs was setting up shop here in New York, we must admit we were a bit skeptical. Both cities take their dogs very seriously—Chicagoans preferring all-beef sausages (typically Vienna) loaded into a poppyseed bun, topped with mustard, onions, tomato, a pickle spear, sweet relish, sport peppers and celery salt; and New Yorkers holding a deep and abiding love for Gray's Papaya-style dogs (usually Sabrett's) with kraut, mustard and onions. more ›

We thought the rapture had come and gone already, but today comes another sign (literally) of impending doom, with word that the Gray's Papaya on 72nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue is raising their prices. And they're damning the man while doing it! At least according to their window sign: more ›

It's not a good day for the Gray's Papaya family. The Midtown location of the popular hot dog joint (you know, the one offering their dogs for 50 cents) reportedly closed over the weekend due to "rent issues." Though they're planning on opening up another Midtown location soon, we recommend hitting up their downtown location if you're craving a Recession Special, because their Upper West Side store scored a C grade on their last inspection. more ›

Every since city mainstays Gray's Papaya raised their "Recession Special" to $4.45, we've been more inclined to indulge in 99 cent slices for our cheap meals. But the Gray's location on 8th Avenue and 37th Street is drawing the cheapskates back. Midtown Lunch confirms that outpost is now offering dogs for 50 cents each. Just in time to outdo Papaya King during their grand reopening. The counter clerk "wouldn’t say how long the deal would last," but one Yelper commented yesterday, "Right now, there is a 2 hot dogs and small drink deal for $2.50. A single hot dog alone is 50cents. Yea crazy midtown recession special!" more ›

First the national debt clock runs out of placeholder digits, and now the price of two hot dogs and a drink from Gray’s Papaya—their legendary ‘Recession Special’—is increasing five whole cents short of a buck, from $3.50 to $4.45. On the subject of the price hike that he'd warned the world about last February, 72-year-old founder Nicholas Gray tells the Times, “It’s always very traumatic for me as well as the customers.” more ›

The folks at Serious Eats have launched the first of their city guides today, focusing on -- where else -- New York City. The guide is designed to highlight NYC's "essential eating experiences," and doesn't contain many surprises. You'll find quintessential New York icons like Russ & Daughters and Katz's Deli for "Best Old-School New York Landmark," Blue Ribbon for "Best Late Night Eats," and Blue Smoke, Hill Country and Daisy May's for "Best Barbecue," along with a list that should fill the bellies of many tourists. Visitors should take particular note of the list of eats under the category "Must Eat Before Leaving City," which includes the holy trinity -- a hot dog from Gray's Papaya, a slice of pizza from Di Fara, and a burger from the Shake Shack. Anything they missed? Not a whole lot of love for the outer boroughs, particularly Queens. . . more ›

Okay, so you don't want to go out to watch the game and cooking is not an option. What can you order besides pizza? Plenty, as you already know (hey, we live in New York City, folks!). But we've found some particularly mouthwatering Super Bowl delivery specials, many of which involve pork. Mmmm . . . pork. more ›