Purists be damned, there is no better hot dog than a Chili Cheese Dog only from Nathan’s on Surf & Stillwell in Coney Island. A garlicky, juicy and snappy all-beef dog covered in mild beef chili and heart-slowing warm cheddar cheese sauce, it’s heaven on a bun and it’s an authentic New York experience.
If you haven’t been to Coney Island recently, get out there. You can take a ride on the Cyclone, eat pizza at the legendary Totonno’s (just a block away from Nathan’s), grab some hot dogs, and go see the Mets future stars playing for the Brooklyn Cyclones. Read on to find out if the bacon cheese dog was better than it looked plus some delicious fry photos.
At first I asked for bacon on my chili cheese dog but the look of sheer amazement on the cashier’s face dissipated when she couldn’t find a button for this on the register. Unfortunately, the bacon cheese dog ($3.65) was nothing like the Crif Dogs bacon-wrapped version I hoped for. It was really salty and just made me feel sorry for my arteries. I’ll definitely go with two chili cheese dogs ($3.65 each) next time.
The fries ($2.99 for a large order) were delicious as always, and like the hot dogs, better than the fries at any other Nathan’s I’ve ever been to. It must be the oil and the grill, the flavor of nostalgia resonates with every bite.
Here’s a look at the menu. You can eat inside but the real experience is ordering and eating outside, letting the fresh ocean breeze help you breathe after you down two chili cheese dogs and fries.
And to set the scene for you, here’s the outside of what may be the greatest mecca to hot dogs in this country, maybe the world.
Nathan’s Famous
1310 Surf Ave. at Stillwell Ave.Brooklyn, NY 11224
718-946-2202 Open Daily, 8am-1am
Tags: best food nyc, HOT DOGS, Nathan's Famous - Coney Island, NYC Food
June 23, 2008 at 4:43 am
L-
Love the Nathan’s, man! I’m a real purist though. I only get the dog with the onions on it and no ketchup on the fries. I absolutely hated hot dogs growing up, but Nathans are so f-ing good. Nice snap, garlicky, meaty and the onions add something to it rather than obscure the flavor. I can’t have the fries anywhere but Surf and Stillwell, just not the same, so true! Hey, have you ever bought their dogs in a grocery store and made them at home. Are they just as good (strictly basing it on taste and not the whole ambience/experience of “being there”)?
June 23, 2008 at 12:29 pm
look at those TUBESTEAKS. i am giving new meaning to “working hard” right now!
June 23, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Nothin better than a nathan’s dog from coney island! Those fries are AMAZING! Food guy, you ever have the nathan’s chili fries?? SO good!!!
I love those hot dogs oooooh baby!
June 23, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Oh and one more thing food guy,
I was going through an old post of yours and noticed that you did a review on a foot-long (wow!) chilli cheese dog and fries from Shea:
http://nycfoodguy.com/category/baseball-stadium-food/shea-stadium/
Can you compared the chilli cheese dogs and fries with one another? Excluding the fact that on was a foot long, does the chilli cheese dog w/ fries from Shea even compare to the real thing? Thanks!
-Phil
June 23, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I love Nathan’s all beef hot dogs, but NYCFG have you ever tried the hot dog brand, “Best’s”. they are made in newark nj and are the dankest. Nathan is still a stud though!!!! What is the biggest dog youve ever had????
June 23, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Petey,
I’ve never had best’s before but are you sure they’re from Newark, NJ? A quick google search would indicate they are from Chicago. A good hot dog is a good hot dog though. What are you favorite places to eat in the city? I love the recession special at gray’s papaya. I used to love the 99c hot dog man in Penn Station down at the long island rail road too!
PS, here’s the best’s link:
http://saraleefoodservice.com/Images/Products/Labels/BW/03793_labelBW.jpg
-Phil
June 23, 2008 at 1:48 pm
phil,
you really know your weiners!!! but the bests im talking about are at the following link: http://www.bestprovision.com/. the free hot dogs at rudys are amazing as well, and its tough to find anything for free these days :). nycfg would go with me and phil to rudys one night for a for a weiner-a-thon?
June 23, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Petey,
Excuse my ignorance. I have not heard of these either but after having a look at their franfurter section;
http://www.bestprovision.com/page5.html
I must have died and gone to heaven!!! Do you like your weiners skin-on? or skin-off? I’m more of a skin-on kind of guy.
June 23, 2008 at 1:58 pm
And I would love to go for a weiner-a-thon one night with you and NCYFG Petey, but I’m not sure I could “hang” with this guy. Have you ever seen what he’s capable of eating? If not, check this out:
http://nycfoodguy.com/2008/03/11/east-village-food-tour-part-i-crif-dogs-thai-me-up-vinny-vincenz-zaragoza-vanessas-dumplings-cecel-cafe-crepe/#more-492
It’s ridiculous!
June 23, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Phil & Petey-
There’s only one way to settle this: The 2 of you should get together with your dogs in your hands and have an eat-off. And don’t forget the special sauce, it makes all the difference.
Thanks.
June 23, 2008 at 2:00 pm
i love both skin-on and skin-off! I have always been open minded and do not discriminate based on relgion(heheheh jkjkjk). When it comes to hot dogs i do pefer skin-on to get that extra snap. but id consume a skinless frank in no time!
June 23, 2008 at 2:08 pm
skin on all the way!!!
another question: beef or pork? i personally prefer to pork dogs.
June 23, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I like beef. for sure Not too sure what kind of meat you’re actually eating when you pork dogs.
This site is great, i’m really in the mood for a good hot dog tonight. Might have to go over to Gray’s! Thanks FG!
June 23, 2008 at 2:14 pm
sometimes i just stare at Nathan’s Frank!
June 23, 2008 at 2:20 pm
definitely. can i get in your dog-a-thon? i’m gonna have to make it to coney island to try out these hogs! that is wack that they don’t let you put bacon on the chili cheese… i get that elsewhere and it is heaven in a skin casing!
June 23, 2008 at 2:41 pm
wow and best’s really do sound good! i wonder how big the king sized franks are!?
June 23, 2008 at 2:44 pm
nycfg, what is the difference between coney island nathan’s and all the others?
June 23, 2008 at 2:53 pm
What is the thickest hot dog youve ever had? mine was jamals!
June 23, 2008 at 2:56 pm
hmmmm.. something tells me these posts aren’t serious. But nonetheless, the thickest dog i’ve ever had was at my friend justin’s bbq. I think it was a ballpark jumbo.
June 25, 2008 at 10:20 pm
the best part about the coney island nathan’s is that NO ONE wants to eat the other food, just hot dogs.