Nathan’s Isn’t the Original Coney Island Hot Dog — Here’s The Juicy Backstory

Coney Island hot dogs are as synonymous with the beachside retreat as the Luna Park Cyclone and Riegelmann Boardwalk . We tend to associate the summertime staple with Nathan’s Famous on Surf Ave, but the iconic spot was actually *not* the first to touch down in the **Brooklyn** neighborhood. As it turns out, Nathan’s had a competitor back in the day, and said competition was all the rage. Surprised? We kind of are, too. For a deep dive into hot dog history in NYC, here’s what you need to know. Coney Island hot dogs — who was the first? ------------------------------------------ Back in 1867, Charles Feltman , a German baker, landed in NYC and wanted an easy-access, no-frills sausage dish for the beach, one to enjoy without plates or silverware. (Genius, right?!) Thus, the hot dog came to be, and it was a great go-to on a hot **summer** day when hunger struck. The baker allegedly converted his pie cart to Charles Feltman’s “Coney Island Red Hots” — truly a business on the go. But the biz didn’t stay small. In fact, it went viral, in 19th century terms, that is. Eventually the li’l ol’ cart transformed into the block-long Feltman’s Ocean Pavilion in Coney Island , once considered the world’s largest restaurant that served 40,000 hot dogs daily by the 1920s. (Yowza!) Per the Feltman’s site, the hotspot featured nine restaurants, a beer garden, an outdoor movie theater, a hotel, and an amusement park. Sounds vaguely familiar, no? Things got interesting around 1916 when Feltman’s bun slicer, Nathan Handwerker , decided to venture out on his own, founding the beloved **Nathan’s Famous** we know today. Talk about a foodie battle. Today, Feltman’s is available in grocery stores across the country, as is Nathan’s. The iconic Coney Island spot still stands on Surf Ave. remains a popular go-to, particularly when the warm weather strikes. It’s also home to the famous hot dog eating contest on the 4th of July. (Though we don’t believe we’re capable of eating as many franks as **Joey Chestnut**, we do appreciate the effort.) Should you be on the hunt for other **hot dogs in NYC**, we have plenty of suggestions: Crif Dogs in the East Village takes the humble dish and transforms it into something unique: take for example the Everything Dog (Crif dog, cream cheese, scallions, everything bagel seasoning). Then you have the traditional frankfurter at Ruby’s and the jazzed-up pick from Santa Salsa in Bushwick, famous for its Venezuelan street food. The hot dog is a NYC classic, and it’s certainly interesting that its origins has a juicy backstory. Either way, we’ll take ours with mustard and a side of fries, please and thank you. Source: https://secretnyc.co/coney-island-hot-dogs-nathans-famous-feltmans/