Martha Stewart Loves A Late Night Hot Dog From This NYC Institution

CORRECTION 6/17/25: A previous version of this article states Rawley's Drive-In in Fairfield, CT closed in 2020. The restaurant was temporarily shuttered during the COVID-19 pandemic but has reopened.

Martha Stewart may be a lifestyle mogul famous for her home cooking, whose favorite dish is fish tartare with caviar, but that doesn't mean she doesn't ever indulge in fast food. In a 2017 interview with Bon Appétit, Stewart revealed that after a long day of work in the city, if she skipped dinner, she'd have her driver take her to Papaya King for a hot dog at 11 p.m. "That's an evil thing I do," she quipped. Stewart's typical order? Two hot dogs topped with mustard and sauerkraut.

Turns out, Stewart is a long-time fan of hot dogs, having eaten many of them as a child at Rutt's Hut, a walk-up counter in Clifton, New Jersey, for frankfurters topped with ketchup, mustard, sauerkraut, and relish. While living in Connecticut decades later, Rawley's Drive-In in Fairfield became her favorite as an adult. These Connecticut-style hot dogs — one of many American hot dog styles — include the same toppings as the Rutt's Hut dogs aside from ketchup and with one extra special addition: bacon. Having now spent so much time in New York, though, Papaya King has naturally stolen Stewart's heart, as it has with many residents of the Big Apple over the years.

Located on the Upper East Side, Papaya King is an icon in the world of New York City hot dogs, dating back to the 1930s. Constantine "Gus" Poulos, an immigrant from Athens, Greece, founded Papaya King as a tropical fruit juice bar. It wasn't until 1939 that the establishment started offering hot dogs, which have been savored by legends like Julia Child and mentioned with revery on legendary shows like "Seinfeld." The landmark restaurant's hot dogs are supplied by Sabrett, the brand behind New York-style hot dogs. While you can find Sabrett hot dogs at carts all around the Big Apple, the company's recipe for Papaya King is a special customized version you can't get anywhere else.

While Papaya King has sought to expand over the years, operating hot dog carts and opening and shuttering numerous locations due to a combination of leasing issues and franchising failures, you can still reliably order one (or several) of its legendary hot dogs just across the street from its original flagship location on 86th and Third. Not keen on kraut — one of Martha Stewart's go-to hot dog toppings? You can leave it off of the restaurant's signature dog, which comes with sauerkraut, NY onions, or relish. In the mood for something less conventional, say, pineapple or pastrami? Papaya King's menu features a range of specialty dogs, from the C&C (a frank smothered in chili and melted cheese) to the Onion Overload (a frank topped with caramelized onions, crispy fried onions, and mustard) — although New Yorkers will probably recommend sticking to the classic dog. Order a combo to get a side of curly fries and a drink to wash it all down, perhaps a creamy tropical smoothie or a refreshing cup of Papaya King's namesake juice.