Gray's Papaya
Gray's Papaya has sold Sabrett franks at 72nd and Broadway since 1973. The man who opened it came out of Papaya King. Service is fast.
Why go
Papaya King paired tropical drinks with cheap hot dogs. Gray's has run the same pairing uptown ever since. The dogs used to cost fifty cents. I haven't found anything published about the shop since August 2024.
Order this / avoid
- Order: the Recession Special, two dogs and a drink, $7.50 in August 2024.
- Order: a single Sabrett frank with the papaya drink that gave the shop its name. The frank was about three dollars at the same date.
- Avoid: planning to sit down. This is a stand-up counter.
What locals & experts say
- Bryan Kim, editorial lead for The Infatuation in New York, rating it 8.0:
the ambiance is pure 1970s nostalgia.
1 - Kim again, in the same review: he puts the counter on The Infatuation's hot dog list for the city.1
Good to know
- The door: 2090 Broadway at 72nd Street.
Verdict
could-visit — Order at the counter and do not build an evening round it.