Nathan’s Jacks Up Prices To $3+


by Arthur Borko on Nov 2nd, 2009

Nathans in Coney Island

Ah, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs. There is nothing more American, nothing more New York, nothing more Brooklyn than the original, Coney Island Nathan’s. When it opened in 1916, one of those delicious and crisp hot dogs cost only five cents. As of today, those franks will run you a lot of beans: $3.15. Yes, you read that right. Three-friggin-sixteen.

Earlier this summer they were $2.95. Sure, it’s only 20 cents, but at more then $3 for a single hot dog it’s getting to the point where one has to ask if its really worth it for that nostalgic crunch? How long before Nathan’s starts to charge $5 a weiner, like some other Brooklyn institution? What do you think? Will you pay?

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  • FWIW, in my lifetime Nathan's was always more expensive than other places.

    Nedicks used to be cheap. But their hot dogs were made by Sabretts so they were not the best kind. Eventually this killed them. A few years back Riese revived the name and there are four Manhattan locations. Hopefully the quality is better.

    They had a godawful orange drink that I liked because it tasted so weird.
  • Ray Johnson
    Not sure if I read that right, but whether it's $3.15 or 3 sixteen, it sure is a far cry from
    the nickel dog days.
  • Frank - where can you find dirty water dogs for a buck anymore? Last one I had was $2.

    Law - you got that right - Shake Shack dogs are one of the best in the city! If they were charcoal grilled they'd be perfect. But try the hamburger at Chicken Masters - definitely in the top five in Brooklyn.
  • Law
    John are you kidding me? Shake Shack has the best burger ever!!! and I've eaten at almost all the burger joints there is. five guys and in n out burgers are overrated.
  • Frank
    I don't eat hot dogs anymore but if I did:
    I'd rather have 3 "dirty water" dogs at a buck a piece.
    If I did have a yearning for a Nathan's dog, I 'd have to get fries and a dog but only in Coney Island.
  • Steffi
    John -
    Crif dogs are definitely worth the price. So many toppings and they have tater tots!
  • local broker
    how can you compare old homestead to nathans one is a high end restaurant and in one of the most expensive areas in the city the other is in the middle of nowhere and the others mentioned are in totally different areas. i like nathans but a hotdog should not cost more than a slice a pizza.
  • Corn dogs have less beef. I think they're narrower.

    Still, with Coney Island being in the off-season now raising prices doesn't seem that smart. OTOH, some people do go specifically to Nathan's.
  • John
    Of COURSE I'll pay. It's 20 cents difference and its actually that good, nothing like those Nathan's clones that license the name.

    Here's the other thing. Hot Dogs cost nearly that much or more than that everywhere else in NYC. Have you been to Crif Dogs? F&B? Papaya King and Grey's Papaya? That ridiculous excuse for a hamburger stand Shake Shack? Something tells me you don't eat hot dogs very often if you didn't know that a Crif Dog, excellent but not as good as a Nathan's frank, is 2.80 these days; with chili, it's 3.75; Corn dog? 4.75!

    And that's typical. Nathan's Famous is at market price and in fact, is still a bargain compared to some of the other places around town (check out the ridiculous prices at the Old Homestead!).

    Sorry for YOUR handwringing, but dog eaters know better than to get upset about 20 cents.
  • One thing I don't understand. Why are corn dogs cheaper? I'm not complaining but arent they more labor intensive? Are buns more expensive then batter?
  • bagels
    I really do love hot dogs, bacon and all those other nitriite infused goodies but I try avoid them. Having a hot dog is a once in awhile indulgence so I would say I'd pay the price.
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