Gray's Papaya

Gray’s Papaya is a part of New York City lore. The founder was originally affiliated with Papaya King, but he opened his spot on the Upper West Side in 1973, and it’s been there ever since. Like Papaya King, this place is known for relatively cheap hot dogs (which used to cost 50 cents) and tropical drinks, such as the namesake beverage. These days, you can get a snappy Sabrett frank for about $3, or you can go for a Recession Special that comes with two dogs and a drink for $6.95. Service is lightning quick, the ambiance is pure 1970s nostalgia, and there are a couple of counters where you can hang out and shove some food in your mouth before picking up your dry-cleaning or grabbing your kids from school.