Like most people, you probably end up here when you're trying to come to PDT. We ordered the East Village Tots ($5.95), Crif Burger ($9.95), Elote Dog ($7.95), and New Yorker Dog ($4). While food took awhile, we were no in a rush and the employees were friendly. The crif burger and New Yorker were too basic for me, but I enjoyed the elote topping for the elote dog. The tots were a nice side to pair with your meal. There's nothing like some hot dogs and burgers before/after drinking, so it's a smart pairing being next to all the bars. Would I come here solely for the hot dogs and burgers? Probably not. But it works great together with PDT. read more

Crif Dogs - Elote Dog. - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Divey and chill vibes. There are signature hot dogs ranging from 6.55 to 8.25 each or you can opt for a build your own hot dog. The crif is pork and beef, New Yorker (all beef) and veggie option. I did a New Yorker (all beef) $4.75 with sauerkraut ($0.75) and the Spicy Redneck which featured a bacon wrapped crif dog with chili, coleslaw and picked jalapeños. Both satisfied the hot dog craving I had. There are also tater tots and burgers available. The bread was a bit stale, hence the 3 stars and the bun split on my New Yorker making it messy to eat. The woman behind the counter was friendly and suggested I try the dog featured this month- featuring a fried pickle or the Tsunami which has teriyaki sauce and pineapples. I would stop here again if in the area, but for basic dog a cart will hit the spot. read more

Crif Dogs - State and split bun. - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Are you team floppy bacon or crispy bacon? Let's hope the latter because Crif Dogs has perfected this on their famed bacon wrapped hot dogs. And who likes floppy, fatty bacon? Not me, that's for sure. I'm not in the East Village regularly but whenever I am, I make a point to stop by Crif Dogs as I'm obsessed with their hot dogs. My go to order is the Chihuahua dog (bacon wrapped hot dog with avocado and sour cream) and the Everything dog (bacon wrapped hot dog with everything bagel seasoning, sour cream, and scallions). Recently I learned about the Elote dog (bacon wrapped hot dog with chipotle mayo, corn, cotija cheese, and cilantro) - that is on my list to try next. I also love their tots - I've gotten the plain as well as the truffle shuffle but typically if I'm adding tots, I'll get the plain with a side of Crif sauce (I think it's a mayo/ketchup type concoction). A couple friends got burgers just the other month but they didn't seem to be as tasty as their hot dogs. I'm not sure if it was the new chef (the bacon was floppy, and they didn't remember the chips that were listed on their featured menu) but given that this place is famous for their hot dogs, I think I'll stick to those and go elsewhere for burgers. It's a sad day when only one Crif Dogs location is left standing - the pandemic was ruthless to many businesses. In the height of the pandemic, they had a location in LIC and at the time I lived right down the street so it was a treat to be able to get Crif Dogs more regularly. Once years before the pandemic I also visited the Brooklyn location. But alas, we're down to one, hopefully just for now. I do love the connection this location has to the speakeasy, Please Don't Tell. The entrance is the Crif Dogs shop, then there is a phone booth where you pick up the phone to call the hostess to be seated at PDT. Often there is a wait so definitely plan ahead for that. I've been twice I think and on the second occasion we learned that you can order Crif Dogs inside PDT so that's the best of both worlds for sure. Here's hoping for the re-expansion of Crif Dogs in the years to come so we can have hot dogs all the time! read more

Crif Dogs - Chihuahua dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Stopped in here for a little snack and got the yo bacon wrapped dog. So good! We added chopped onions and pickled jalapeños and it was perfect. The bacon was super crispy and the restaurant itself had a very cool vibe. Definitely recommend! read more

Crif Dogs - BYO Bacon Wrapped Crif - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Cool little place back in the cut. If you like that NY style dog in the middle of NYU campus. Not bad... worth checking out read more

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It's not the worst hot dog spot I've been to, but it's just not worth it. For the price, both the quality and portions need improvement. I ordered the corn dog and the New Yorker hot dog. I dislike that sauerkraut costs extra, sauerkraut is included at Nathan's. The corn batter on the corn dog was bland, and the hot dog itself had a slightly synthetic taste. The New Yorker, an all-beef dog that I had with yellow mustard, was decent but really thin for a hot dog. The vibe inside the restaurant is cool, and the staff was very friendly, but overall, Nathan's still does it better when it comes to a truly satisfying hot dog. read more

Crif Dogs - Corn dog and New Yorker - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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this place was fabulous. I think I like the criff dogs the best. The mix of beef and pork is phenomenal and the flavor profile was great. I had the think it's called Julio dog or whatever it was the one that has the corn on it. I thought it was OK. I ordered a chili dog, but got a criff dog instead, but really enjoyed it. The tater tots with the Parmesan and truffle oil was phenomenal. read more

Killer hot dogs. Small place with a really cool atmosphere. Lots of wall art that was fun to look at. Recommend for a kick ass hot dog!! (And fries If you're feeling crazy) read more

Crif Dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Delightful and fun place! Excellent hot dogs and fantastic, friendly service. Fun vibes. Classic video games too. Cool little spot and there is a phone booth inside where you need to call the speakeasy next door to be admitted. I loved the elote dog! The truffle shuffle tater tots are sooooooo good!!!! My boyfriend really enjoyed his Philly Tubesteak dog. I would happily return and try more menu items. read more

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Crif Dogs is a small spot located in East Village of New York City. Our friends who were local to the area brought us over to this place because it's not only a hot dog place, but an underground hiddle speakeasy. Unfortunately, the wait for the speakeasy was very long and we never received notification that we could go. Instead, my boyfriend wanted to try a hot dog while we were in New York City, to see if it's any different from Seattle. He ordered the Everything Dog, which includes the signature Crif dog, cream cheese, scallions, and everything bagel seasoning. It was good for what it was. Definitely gave off the vibes of an everything bagel. read more

wanted to try the hot dog spot of please dont tell speakeasy to really feel authentic speakeasy vibed def a casual spot- glad it was empty when my friends and i came. i got the elote hot dog, definitely not my favorite hot dog combo but it was good and reasonably priced, very filling too service was fast, would come back read more

Crif Dogs - Elote Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

The interior was pretty crowded & hot. We were just there to sample the dogs! We ordered the all beef chili dog with chopped onions. Took 15 minutes for it but I'd say it was worth it! Crisp snap of the dog & the chili was flavorful! Sold!! We'll be back! read more

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The food was good. Simple hotdogs. Super busy though and there's also a speakeasy inside the store so it gets busy especially late at night

Came from Long Island to get some crif dogs. Great atmosphere and delicious food. Super friendly staff. read more

Crif Dogs - BYO Bacon Wrapped Crif - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

I ordered the "Chihuahua" hot dogs inside and it was so good. Definitely hit the spot after a long night. The tater tots were so crisp and not greasy at all. I noticed tables were wiped down after every customer, and service was super quick! Great spot. read more

Crif Dogs - Chihuahua hot dog and Plain Tots - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Was only planning to order a chili dog, but the East Village tots caught my eye on the menu too. Glad I did because while the chili dog was good, the tots were the star of the show. They were borderline too hot to eat when brought out, perfectly crunchy, and covered in cheese and pickled jalapeños. It doesn't get much better than that. I also appreciate that they have classic, all beef, and veggie versions of the hot dogs. Nice guy at the counter brought the food out to us once it was ready and offered a frequent flyer punch card. Reasonable prices for a fancier hot dog in Manhattan too. read more

Nathan's may have the best hot dog in the city as a whole due to its simplicity and minimalist approach, but when it comes to clever and creative hot dogs, to me, Crif Dogs is the winner. Perhaps I just started a war between this small hot dog establishment and Dog Day Afternoon, another well known hot dog establishment, but overall, I liked this one more. No apologies necessary. The hot dogs are smaller (seriously, I saw customers eating only one, HOW?), but taste infinitely better. I tried three of them and they each got better with each hot dog that I tried. The plain New York Hot Dog is simple. Overpriced, with nothing much on it. If that is all they sold I would have given them a three star review, but things got better from there. It is not often I have used that phrasing in my Yelp reviews. My next hot dog is the Good Morning Hot Dog, which is like the hot dog equivalent of a brunch burger. Cheese, fried egg, and bacon. It is tasty, but after the hot dog is finished, the whole experience tastes like an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. At least they serve burgers here. Next time I will do it on a burger. The last dog I on my tray is the Elote Dog. This surprised me in the best way possible. The spices, flavors, acid from the cheese and sauce, marry up well with the hot dog. There is even bits of corn to hammer it all home! This is a true Mexican hot dog that has massive flavor and feel. Overall the prices are high, but that is to be expected given the neighborhood this hot dog stand is in. You need to get at least two or three to fully appreciate the menu and the offerings, otherwise everything is simple and bland. Before I forget, the Pac-Man arcade in the restaurant is gimmicky and unneeded. If it is only for the college students, fine. It does not work for me. It is also right next to another favorite of mine, Hanoi House. Check that restaurant out if you must. Then go to nearby Ralph's Italian Ices for that sweet nightcap. read more

Crif Dogs - Elote Dog, Good Morning Dog, and New York Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

We originally came for the speakeasy - please don't tell. They never called us for our reservation after waiting an hour and 15 minutes. Not sure what happened, but we waited and waited. When they said maybe another 30 minutes, we decided to eat a hot dog (didn't know it was inside this place). Skip the speakeasy, stay for the hot dogs! I got the good morning. It was actually delicious! Nice sized hot dog, juicy, and wrapped in bacon! The tots were solid. I'll come back, for a hot dog read more

Crif Dogs - Good Morning Dog Truffle tots - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Came again! Got the tsunami dog this time. I came later in the day and it was packed. Lots of people taking advantage of the blackbird promotion. But the staff were efficient and the hot dogs came out quickly. I like the chicken dog better tho. read more

Crif Dogs - Chicken dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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My boyfriend told me about Crif Dogs five years ago, and we finally went just last month. He has a long history of loving these dogs, but I didn't want to take a chance on delivery since I'd never had them before. I mean, hot dogs? What could be so special about them? Well, I ate my words and one of these delicious hot dogs recently, and I'm here with the fresh egg on my face. We came before the dinner rush and were greeted by an exceptionally friendly cashier. The prices were reasonable, the menu items all sound great and make it difficult to choose which you want, and the ambiance had that special NYC local feel. I ordered the elote dog because it sounded too good to pass up, and I was right. I loved the flavor and finally understood what separates Crif Dogs from regular dogs. Deep fried, wrapped in bacon? Yeah, I get it. And I want more. The restaurant was clean, the food came out fast and steaming hot, and we'll be back! read more

Crif Dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Interesting take on hot dogs, lots of variety in what they serve. This is where Please Dont Tell is also located, there is a phone booth where you can enter the speakeasy. The staff here are super friendly and attentive. When I first came here, they were helpful in providing their recommendations. The ambiance of this place is youthful and down to earth. There are some arcade games you can play for a dollar that also serves as tables. Very hip and this is a cool place to check out for a late night snack. You'll need to eat multiple hot dogs if you want to get full. My favorite hot dog is BLT dog and the Elote dog. It is a little pricey for what you pay in my opinion. read more

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*no I did not go to the speakeasy* But I was sincerely there to try the hot dogs, and their reputation proceeded them! I hat distinguishes a good NYC hot dog is the "snap." Y'all know what I'm talking about. The buns were slightly toasted so they also had a sort of crisp to them which added to my experience here. I had the chihuahua dog: bacon wrapped with sour cream and avocado. Their truffle tots were Amaze balls too...nice and crispy, sometimes tots lack texture, these certainly did not! I'm looking forward to my next visit and will try the speakeasy next time. (Their bathroom is also hidden, just FYI, it's the sliding door next to the telephone booth) read more

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Such a Gem to visit while in NYC away from the Time Square BS. Love coming here for Novelty Hot Dogs and cans of Beer. The Bathroom is very underground NYC and practically hidden (Sliding door). Play some classic video games while you're there either for a fun time in-between bar hopping or ending the night after said Bar Hopping In St Marks. read more

Great spot for a quick bite. I had the "Chihuahua" hot dog and I enjoyed it. My hot dog was wrapped in a slice of bacon, had a slice of avocado, sour cream. AlThough I've never had a hot dog dressed up like this, it felt like $8 might have been a bit pricey. I absolutely loved the "chill/arcade" vibe this place had and it was quick service! :) read more

Crif Dogs - Menu - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Best late night vibes, Rory was the best and had the place jumping! Excellent service & had a smile on his face the entire time! Also come here for the speakeasy Please Don't Tell drinks are immaculate. Not sure if it's the same owner hehehe ! read more

Crif Dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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I am not sure how am I just now writing a review for Crif Dogs as we've been coming here since 2002, but it clearly says something that this has been my go-to place for the best veggie dog in the city for nearly twenty years!!! Yes, 18 years ago this was more of a late night spot after being out late, but it has now become a place where we still enjoy stopping in for some veggie dogs and perfectly made tots. It's a small space, and "back-in-the-day" the speakeasy was actually a speakeasy that not many people knew about and we had a blast learning about it and going. It's now become popular and more people come for that than the food at times, but it's still a wonderful cozy spot with great service! Our most recent visit was just as great as our first. The service has always been exceptional here - they are kind, welcoming and always get the order right. It may take a little longer for your food to come out, but it's worth the wait. Don't come here expecting "fast food". It's quality food made fresh and with love. We are vegetarian so our base will always be the veggie dog, but we love changing up our toppings. Since we're originally from Chicago, we like to make it Chicago-style once in a while, thankfully we don't get any flack for that :). The tots make the perfect pairing! I love the East Village tots most, mainly because they are spicy, but the Truffle Shuffle is quite good too. Honestly, I am not sure when the menu changed to just tots, I am pretty sure it used to be waffle fries...anyhow, I digress. Be sure to stop in whether you're just passing through NYC or live here and haven't been yet! read more

Crif Dogs - Build your own veggie dogs and east village tots - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Awesome little place for hot dogs. We came here to get into PDT but also for the hot dogs! Place is tiny with a few tables. Hot dogs and tots were great!! read more

Crif Dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Honestly I had no idea that the Please Don't Tell speakeasy was here - I just needed some late night food. The cashier was super rad and down to earth - great vibes for late night. It's a divey type of place but that's pretty spot on for the type of vibe they're trying to create. Good classic hot dogs with a few twists - their tater tots are also 10/10 would get again. This place is great at 1am after a couple drinks at local bars. I'll definitely try and stop by when I'm craving a hot dog. It's also nice because everything else is a bar in the area so a place that is a good break is great. read more

This place was fun. Small space, but well-used and well-decorated. The service was phenomenal! For a small shop, we were very impressed with how attentive and kind they were. As soon as we walked into the place and walked up to the counter, we were offered ice water. After walking around all day, this was the first time we were offered water and it just felt very... human. To that guy who was running the counter: THANK YOU! The hotdogs were decent. The hotdog itself wasn't very flavorful, but the ingredients in each dog boosted the flavor. Both were good and the amazing tater tots made it all even better! Whenever we're back in NYC, we're returning to Crifs! And next time, we'll be making reservations to check out that speak easy that you can enter through the phone booth! read more

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Quality has dropped a little but this place always hits. Chihuahua dog is always my go to. read more

Crif Dogs - Chihuahua - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Not your average hot dog! Very interesting flavors and mixes of ingredients, you can't go wrong with most of them. I liked the one with chili and corn, had a bit of a kick to it too. Gotta eat it quick too, cause the bun gets soggy quick. Staff are friendly but seating can be a bit cramped. read more

Crif Dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

This place was amazing, bacon dogs very worth money. Had to save the second for later. Going back tomorrow for lunch haha read more

Crif Dogs - Bacon crif - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Fave hotdog place in NY! When I'm in town I have to make a stop here. faves to get are the chili dog & elote dog. The employees are always so friendly, always checking in on us. a very cool vibe inside. read more

Crif Dogs - Chili Dog Elote Dog Spicy Redneck Chihuahua Nacho Tots - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Super yummy food the elote dog was so good and recommended by the lovely worker at the front named Kaylee. Super sweet and very attentive definitely would come again! read more

Crif Dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Love the vibe of this place. Looks and feels like a bar but serves good hot dogs. Got the elote from the signature dogs and it came out fairly quick. You can ask them to put it in a box or eat it at their tables or table tops. There was even an old school Ms. Pacman machine. Service was fine, the gentleman who took my order bought out the hot dog to me. The hot dog was different from your regular dog. I like the sauce because it was a bit tangy, but most importantly the contents of the hot dog was not falling apart. This is a good snack or to hold you over until your next meal. Will be back to try the other varieties! read more

Crif Dogs - Elote Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Super chill guys working here but there's minimal seating! I've been to the speakeasy before but I stopped in after work to grab a Chihuahua Dog and added grilled onions to it! It was a really good dog and I could see myself craving it as a drunk food but definitely on the more expensive side at ~$8! read more

Crif Dogs - Chihuahua Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

This was the first stop on our self guided NYC hot dog tour (how else would one celebrate July 4th weekend??). We chose to get 2 of their specialty dogs- the Chihuahua and Lil Ma. Lil Ma was just added to their menu, and as a sucker for a good PB and Bacon sandwich, had to go with it for my option. Overall we really enjoyed the unique-ness of the dogs we got in addition to them being wrapped in bacon. Incredible! It was early afternoon, so very quiet and relaxed vibe. Friendly and quick service! Would return the next time I'm in the mood for that kind of hot dog. read more

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Also found Crif Dogs through Blackbird's July promotion! Definitely was worth getting the app. Was surprised that you can choose any hot dog on their menu for their promotion! Great service- guy was nice and patient as I spent some time debating what to get. Gave good recommendations. As for the dogs themselves, they have some interesting and surprising combinations! I got "The Tsunami" which came w scallions and bacon. The scallions helped give the hot dog a more refreshing flavor, which was a nice break from normal hot dogs that feel more greasy and heavy. My friend got the dog w peanut butter on fried egg. Love their creativity! The hot dogs were pretty small in comparison to other dogs I've had in the city. Worth giving them a try! read more

Crif Dogs - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

Every time I visit New York, Crif Dogs is a must. Killer food. Awesome, friendly service. A must try if you're in the area! read more

Crif Dogs - Crif Corn Dog Spicy Redneck Elote Dog - Hot Dogs Near Me - New York, New York

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Are these the best dogs I've ever had? Maybe not. But they have character and style. Some people may know Crif Dogs from the Anthony Bourdain/David Chang episode where they visit this venue in the east village, as well as the speakeasy Please Don't Tell (which was around before speakeasy's got popular and cliche). The place has character. Walking through the gritty east village, you're greeted by a hotdog that says, "EAT ME." Crif Dogs are known for the bizarre and creative: dogs wrapped in bacon, covered in coleslaw, dogs that mimic the famous NY bagel (everything seasoning and cream cheese, and scallions). They have bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast hotdogs. I had the Tsunami dog (bacon wrapped, sliced pineapple, teriyaki, scallions) and the chili dog (chili, diced onion, and spicy mustard--not yellow mustard!) The dogs were crisp and well cooked. Not soggy. Both of them had tons of flavor. I also had the cheesy tots. I'm more of a French fry person, but the tots were hot, crisp, and they weren't stingy with the cheese and peppers. These dogs aren't everyone's taste, but they are fun and creative, worth a try. Definitely the perfect bar crawl food. read more

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