Our Ten Best--Hot Dogs

• I love top 10 lists, they're a really good indication of how everybody elses likes compare to my own.

• The cost of fish oil products has risen significantly. I am giving my son 2 capsules a day to help him with math. Does anybody know where I an find an cheap solution? By the way, it is great. His grade went up 2 grades after consuming fish oil capsules.

• Thanks, Jimbo, can't wait to check it out! sounds great

• Under the general heading of "better late than never" I nominate Blackie's in Cheshire CT for your future consideration. Fabulous dogs and they've been serving them since 1928. They make their own hot relish. www.blackieshotdogs.com

• i've tried most of the dogs on the list, and agree with yum1 that super duper weenie deserves serious consideration. to be honest, i just ordered crif dogs for dinner tonight (delivery), and it got me thinking about who i would order from if delivery distances weren't an issue. and in about 3 seconds my answer was super duper weenie, with conviction. they have the best hot dogs i've had in the ny/ny/ct area, hands down. robert, hope you can make it there and check it out. if hot dogs deserve a top ten, they deserve an honorable mention, and in my humble opinion, also a feature piece.

• thanks so much, yum1! will do

• Definitely try Max's! Great dogs, and really good hot relish (available along with kraut in huge silver pots on the counter). Windmill is tasty, too, but in our head-to-head comparison Max's came out better (more snap).

• Thanks so much, Kevin. The Hot Grill is the only one I've been to in that bunch, but can't wait to rent a car and hit the rest of them!

• There are a few more joints in New Jersey you should check out especially if you like your dogs grilled as I do. Max's, Long Branch and the Windmill also in Long Branch, the Hot Grill in Clifton and finally Libby's in Paterson. The last two specialize in Texas wieners. Love your columns.

• thanks for the directions Lars! they are rippers just like ruts huts - been around since 1932 - haven't changed a bit since then. the menu is fried dogs, burgers & fries. you can get cheese fries with wiz or chili/onions/kraut/sweet & hot relish on your burger/dog - but thats about it (and as it should be.) I think the secret is how they toast the hot dog bun on the grill and when the dogs come out of the fryer - they go directly in the bun. It gives it a nice crunch against the fried snappiness of the dog. personally I dont' think the dog needs any toppings because of this (sans a bit of mustard of course.) heres a video from No:Reservations so you can see for yourself. The buses from Port Authority stop right out front of the place, btw - but its about 2 minutes from the bridge anyhow. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxIDrHpE7lI

• Rutts is the bomb. Their homemade relish is great.

• Cool, Lars, thanks for the directions.

• Regarding Connecticut dogs...we passed a joint on route 1, in Norwalk, called Swankie Franks. Looked like my kind of place. I think there's some local buzz, not sure. P.

• another great recommendation, yum1, can't wait to try the tempura dog on a stick.

• Michelle Mettler says: Rutt's Hut #1! Amazing! What about Hiram's in Fort Lee?! I have to agreee RUTTS HUT ALL THE WAY!!! NO ONE EVER MENTIONS HIRAMS- FRIED IN OIL JUST LIKE RUTTS HUT, DELICIOUS. Take the GW Bridge over to us in Jersey super close while your here go to the little park right next to the GW bridge to get a really nice look at the skyline and eat some dogs.

• When I lived in Greenwich Village in the mid 1990s I ate at Gray's Papaya at least two or three times per week. It always had a "recession special". You'd get two fabulous dogs and a papaya drink for some ridiculously low price. It was the best food deal going in Manhattan.

• Also, the tempura hot dog on a stick from the snack shop attached to the Hanyang market in Flushing is a fun treat. Perhaps not one of the best dogs, but certainly one of the best novelty snacks.

• Love the name, yum1! Here's the website: http://www.superduperweenie.com/ They apparently use a pork-beef combo, natural casing, and a little smoke. Sounds good.

• Super Duper Weenie in Fairfield is definitely worth a visit. Great fresh-cut fries, as well.

• Shit! Never heard of it. What do they do to the dogs, Michelle?

• Rutt's Hut #1! Amazing! What about Hiram's in Fort Lee?!

• We only included New York and New Jersey. Suggest some CT places and we'll visit. We go to CT for grinders.

• No love for Connecticut hot dogs? There are a half a dozen or so places in Fairfield County that should be in the running for best dog in the tri-state area.

• Thanks, P. I'm riding down to Jumbo to re-check the dog and see if they changed it. Haven't eaten it in several weeks.

• Some interesting choices, in particular, for an urban sewer rat like myself, those listed outside of NYC - thanks for the list. A few years back, I tried Jumbo Hot Dogs on Canal, and loved their dog. More recently, however, the dog I tried there had no snap and had a very strange, overly seasoned taste. On the basis of this more recent dog, I can no longer share the love for Jumbo. It's hard to completely dislike a food venue, however, that shares its' awning with a pawnbroker. Please keep the lists coming. P.

• Hi Herbert -- Love Famous Lunch and have written it up in Gourmet. Just thought I'd give Gus's a shout-out, since I regard the two places as equivalent. Of course, the tiny hot dog business has been somewhat sadder up there since the shuttering of Troy Pork Store, which used to make the franks for both places.

• If you're gonna go all the way up to Watervliet for Gus's, you have to at least cross the river to hit Famous Lunch in Troy.

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