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Gray's Papaya

3.8 (1.7k reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 11:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

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GRAY'S PAPAYA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Moderate noise
Happy hour specials
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Gray's Papaya

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Jane M.

Gray's Papaya is a classic NYC stop for a quick, budget-friendly bite, especially if you're looking for a late-night eat! We ordered a hot dog with caramelized onions, relish, mustard, and ketchup. It was a good hot dog, but nothing particularly mind-blowing. The real surprise was the papaya juice, which was absolutely delicious and easily my favorite part of the stop! Service was quick and efficient, making this an easy grab-and-go option when you want something fast without spending much. The atmosphere is casual and no-frills, with a few spots to stand and eat both inside and outside. Overall, it's worth checking out for an affordable NYC hot dog and that refreshing papaya juice, but don't expect anything extraordinary from the food.

Jerry P.

New York City has a remarkable ability to turn ordinary things into cultural institutions. Given enough decades, a basic diner becomes a historic landmark, and a simple hot dog counter becomes a neighborhood shrine. Gray's Papaya on the corner of 72nd Street and Broadway is the quintessential example. Founded in 1973 by Nicholas Gray after he split from Papaya King, Gray's built its reputation on snappy franks, tropical fruit drinks, and microscopic prices. High rents and Manhattan real estate realities eventually shuttered the other outposts, leaving this Upper West Side location as the last one standing. We ordered the famous Recession Special: two hot dogs and a papaya drink. One dog came loaded with mustard and sauerkraut, the other with grilled onions. Both were aggressively, heroically average. They were not bad, which would at least make for a compelling story. They were simply the sort of hot dogs that seemed to spend their lives avoiding taking a firm stance. If hot dogs were graded on a bell curve, these two would sit directly in the middle, quietly hoping nobody called on them. The mustard was mustard, the onions were onions, and the sauerkraut did its job. The papaya drink was cold and pleasantly sweet, offering a refreshing counter to the salty franks. The service was purely transactional. Nobody threw a hot dog at us, but warmth and hospitality are clearly not core company values. You step up, state your order, exchange cash, and move along. Still, three stars feels fair because nobody visits Gray's Papaya in search of culinary perfection. You go because you are hungry on the Upper West Side, you do not want to spend twenty dollars on lunch, and you want a quick taste of a Manhattan that existed before every storefront turned into a luxury bank branch. The hot dogs are strictly middle of the road. The history and price tag are considerably better.

James T.

I can't go to NY and not have a hot dog. On my last day I walked to Gray's to get a dog with everything and a pineapple juice. There was a short line, but it moved quickly. The staff let me use tap pay even though I didn't reach the minimum that was on their signage. I ate at the counter they have outside. The hot dog had a nice snap to it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The pineapple juice was cool, sweet and tart.

Chili dog
Danny C.

Was not impressed here at all. The hotdog does not stand out and frankly was bottom of the barrel from dogs I've had in past. The service was non existent other than a quick transaction exchange that seemed to bother that your there and making them work. Simple chile and cheese and onion. Chili was lukewarm and very bland and basic and overall the only positive thing here was the prices. I also hate these type of places that gives a napkin that's almost non existence in size and thickness. Writing paper has better chances than what you get here. Definitely would not go out of my way here.

Silvano G.

Gray's Papaya is cheap, fast, and absolutely worth the stop! The hot dogs are delicious, but the tropical juices are the real surprise! Every flavor I tried was . Definitely one of the best bangs for your buck in NYC. And knowing it was one of Anthony Bourdain's favorite spots makes the experience even cooler. He famously loved Gray's Papaya and called it a place he missed when he missed New York. Classic NYC food, no frills, great price, and tons of character. 5/5!

Natascha S.

I've had this spot on my list to checkout for quite some time now, and I will be back! Service was quick, no complicated menu. My friend and I both got hot dogs along with a grape and a papaya juice. The hot dog was pretty good but the juice was AMAZING! Really paired well.

Marianne C.

I cannot complete a visit to NYC without any Anthony Bourdain mentioned places. This is cheap, satisfying, and a really meal for the masses all around. It was nice knowing a "kababayan" were working behind the counter during this visit as well. That makes the visit even more meaningful. Recession Special (2 hotdogs and a drink) for only $8.50 is really as steal!! Our order though was +$1.50 due to wanting chili and cheese as toppings. This is definitely a real New Yorker treat when visiting. No frills, just good food.

Alisa J.

Pretty good hot dog. I like all the free toppings to choose from. Hot dog was a bit salty so sharing one was better. Great vibes and quick service. If under $10 total it's cash only.

Hot Dog with Onions
Jeff M.

Gray's Papaya 2090 Broadway New York, NY 10023 Plain Hot Dog Hot Dog with Onions Hot Dog with Chili & Cheese If you are a native New Yorker or frequent visitor, you are most likely familiar with this small, but popular hot dog stand located near W. 72nd. St. and Amsterdam Ave! This location is most famous for its recession special: two frankfurters and one tropical drink (not pictured). The dog by itself is on the bland side, but the dog is nirvana once you slap on your favorite toppings. The chili and cheese are two additional upcharges, but it's a small price to pay for a piece of heaven! Check out Gray's if you are on the go and need a quick, satisfying meal. Indoor/outdoor dining is standing room only in a fast paced atmosphere. #grayspapaya #hotdoglife #upperwestside

IG food page : @bobaliciousreview
Megan D.

10/10 Hot dog - Added onions, chili, and cheese to the hot dog, and it was so freaking good! Even though my boyfriend compared it to a 7/11 hot dog lol, I thought it tasted delicious. I honestly could've scarfed down like 3 of these in one meal, but I came here for a late night dinner snack haha. 9/10 Papaya Drink - This is clearly what the hot dog spot is named after, right? So of course we had to get it! It had a very thick consistency, but it was still yummy and not overly sweet. 10/10 Orange Drink - I loved this drink out of the 2 we tried, and this one was fireeeeeeee! It's basically a spin on an orange juice drink, but in my opinion, it's way better!

Jasmine M.

They are definitely an affordable dog, especially in a place like New York where the prices are high everywhere. These are friendly folks that serve up a tasty frankfurter. There are a list of free toppings and some toppings cost. The signs are very straightforward. This is not a sit down place. There's a place to stand and eat but that's about it. It would have been more pleasant but there was a person asking for handouts around one of the exits. Not a place to park.. so walk there. Work up your appetite. Yum.

Yummy dogs 2 ways and orange  drink
Jaime R.

I come here on all my trips to NYC and it never misses. A total must-try when you're in Manhattan. Classic, old-school fast-casual hot dog joint. This isn't a sit-down spot; it's strictly order-and-take-away, though there is a counter inside if you want to stand and eat. Got the famous special with an Orange Drink--all for around $10! Loaded one dog with chili, cheese, and onions, and the other with onions, mustard, and relish. The toppings were super fresh and tasted amazing. Simply the right dog at the right price. Friendly folks serving up a tasty frankfurter with great energy. A legendary NYC stop every single time.

Photo 1: Montage of images from Gray's Papaya
Ed U.

Long ago, when I was a fresh-faced ad agency intern, I spent a summer in a dorm room at NYU. With no interest in cooking, I remember becoming a semi-regular at the Gray's Papaya located at 6th Ave and 8th St and always ordering the Recession Special: two dogs loaded with onions and a papaya drink. It wasn't the best quality frankfurter, but somehow it worked with my indiscriminate palette. Flash forward a century or so, and this is the only Gray's Papaya left in the city. Since I'm a survivor, I thought it only appropriate to take Jamie to the original flagship location and order what else but the Recession Special. Sure enough, they still offer it for $7.50. It was $1.95 when I was a child, but it's still a good deal consisting of 2 Hot Dogs (Photo 10) and a Medium Papaya Drink (Photo 9). The franks were the same as I recall, nothing special but if you add onions and pay an extra 75 cents for the chili, it just works. The papaya drink is not a fruit juice but a puree mixed with sugar and milk. It actually complements the dog in a guilty pleasure kind of way. There was a line but it moved fast. Plenty of room at the red mini-counter, so I was able to relive my youthful dining dalliance with little effort. FOOD / DRINK - 4 stars...forgive me for I have sinned AMBIANCE - 3 stars...looks the same as it did in the last century SERVICE - 4 stars...they're quick and not rude...decide what you want before you order TOTAL - 4 stars...hope it survives RELATED - Hungry in NYC? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/NKwFRfdezS

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Reviews are mixed. Many praise the classic New York hot dogs, unique papaya drinks, and quick and efficient service. Prices are often seen as affordable.

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Ask the Community - Gray's Papaya

Any references for the movie die hard 3 on here?

Do the hot dog buns contain dairy?

No why would they?

Is the pineapple juice fresh or canned?

Canned. But not from concentrate.

Are the drinks all dairy free? Papaya, banana daiquiri, coconut champagne etc

I am afraid that it is not all free. But they have LOCAL SPECIAL and RECESSION SPECIAL etc for the drink, thank you.

Is this a chain?

They have 2 locations, not sure if that qualifies as a chain. www.grayspapaya.nyc

Do they offer sauerkraut?

Yes they do!

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