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Two seafood “corn dogs” arranged on a plate with sauce drizzled on top
Insa's seafood corn dog
Photo by Khushbu Shah

Where to Find NYC’s Finest Corn Dogs

Eater critic Robert Sietsema tells us where to grab a good one in NYC

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Insa's seafood corn dog
| Photo by Khushbu Shah

There’s something about a corn dog that sets the blood racing, especially when smeared with mustard, and indeed, the corn dog is the progenitor of all the absurdist fried foods now popular at state fairs, including fried marshmallows, fried candy bars, and even fried butter. Despite their appeal, they’re harder to find than you think.

Here’s where the corn dog has made its way to NYC, from classic versions to mutated ones with premium franks.

Note: This map is arranged from north to south.

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Papaya King

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While Grey’s Papaya represents the bare-bones New York City hot dog tradition, providing minimalist condiments like mustard, kraut, and Greek onion relish, the Papaya King chain dolls up its dogs with all sorts of toppings. But it also sells a plain corn dog, with a sweet batter and good-quality frank. At $3, it’s a comparative bargain. Go to the original location, founded 1932.

Papaya King Robert Sietsema

Kings of Kobe

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A few years ago, a device became available that melds an envelope-shaped waffle onto a sausage, and several places now serve them on sticks. The drawback? The flavor is more waffle dog than corn dog, even though the means of eating it is the same. Kings of Kobe makes a good one out of a wagyu beef wiener dressed with spicy maple aioli for $5.75.

Kings of Kobe Robert Sietsema

New York Beer Company

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Corn dogs are wonderful enough as they are, so why make them smaller? That’s a question addressed by New York Beer Company, a monster sized bar with a sophisticated suds selection. Four mini-corn dogs ($14) coated with a beer batter are served on toothpicks accompanied by garlic aioli. They’re damn good, but the coating is the wrong texture if you’re a cornbread fan.

New York Beer Company Robert Sietsema

Papaya Dog

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The 24-hour Greenwich Village fixture Papaya Dog, not to be confused with the Papaya King stands it imitates, also sells a corn dog. The only problem is that the enthusiastic and impatient crew often fails to refry the thing long enough, so it often stays cool in the middle. Make them cook it longer!

Papaya Dog Robert Sietsema

Crif Dogs

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If you want an even better quality frank than Papaya King’s check out East Village mainstay Crif Dogs. There, a longer wiener is coated with a less-sweet batter and fried to a very dark brown, guaranteeing that the corn dog will be piping hot in the middle. But this attention to detail comes at a price: $6.

Crif Dogs Robert Sietsema

Empellón Al Pastor

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Perhaps the most fussed-over corn dog is the one at Empellon Al Pastor, where a dark and juicy premium frank is judiciously coated with a cornmeal batter not overly thick, then carefully fried ($7). A lime wedge is provided on the side, and so is a black huitlacoche mustard that you’ll either love or hate. The corn dog is plenty good without it.

Empellón Al Pastor Robert Sietsema

Insa Korean BBQ & Karaoke

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In New York City, there seem to be more reconfigured versions of the corn dog than ones that are faithful to the original. Gowanus Korean hotspot Insa offers a seafood corn dog made with fish paste wrapped around a stick. These are incredibly tasty, but don’t really deliver any corn flavor.

Two seafood “corn dogs” arranged on a plate with sauce drizzled on top
Insa's seafood corn dog
Photo by Khushbu Shah

Papaya King

While Grey’s Papaya represents the bare-bones New York City hot dog tradition, providing minimalist condiments like mustard, kraut, and Greek onion relish, the Papaya King chain dolls up its dogs with all sorts of toppings. But it also sells a plain corn dog, with a sweet batter and good-quality frank. At $3, it’s a comparative bargain. Go to the original location, founded 1932.

Papaya King Robert Sietsema

Kings of Kobe

A few years ago, a device became available that melds an envelope-shaped waffle onto a sausage, and several places now serve them on sticks. The drawback? The flavor is more waffle dog than corn dog, even though the means of eating it is the same. Kings of Kobe makes a good one out of a wagyu beef wiener dressed with spicy maple aioli for $5.75.

Kings of Kobe Robert Sietsema

New York Beer Company

Corn dogs are wonderful enough as they are, so why make them smaller? That’s a question addressed by New York Beer Company, a monster sized bar with a sophisticated suds selection. Four mini-corn dogs ($14) coated with a beer batter are served on toothpicks accompanied by garlic aioli. They’re damn good, but the coating is the wrong texture if you’re a cornbread fan.

New York Beer Company Robert Sietsema

Papaya Dog

The 24-hour Greenwich Village fixture Papaya Dog, not to be confused with the Papaya King stands it imitates, also sells a corn dog. The only problem is that the enthusiastic and impatient crew often fails to refry the thing long enough, so it often stays cool in the middle. Make them cook it longer!

Papaya Dog Robert Sietsema

Crif Dogs

If you want an even better quality frank than Papaya King’s check out East Village mainstay Crif Dogs. There, a longer wiener is coated with a less-sweet batter and fried to a very dark brown, guaranteeing that the corn dog will be piping hot in the middle. But this attention to detail comes at a price: $6.

Crif Dogs Robert Sietsema

Empellón Al Pastor

Perhaps the most fussed-over corn dog is the one at Empellon Al Pastor, where a dark and juicy premium frank is judiciously coated with a cornmeal batter not overly thick, then carefully fried ($7). A lime wedge is provided on the side, and so is a black huitlacoche mustard that you’ll either love or hate. The corn dog is plenty good without it.

Empellón Al Pastor Robert Sietsema

Insa Korean BBQ & Karaoke

In New York City, there seem to be more reconfigured versions of the corn dog than ones that are faithful to the original. Gowanus Korean hotspot Insa offers a seafood corn dog made with fish paste wrapped around a stick. These are incredibly tasty, but don’t really deliver any corn flavor.

Two seafood “corn dogs” arranged on a plate with sauce drizzled on top
Insa's seafood corn dog
Photo by Khushbu Shah

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