If you know what's good for you, don't…
EAT ANYTHING FROM A HOT DOG CART

Like yellow cabs and the Empire State Building, street-corner hot dog carts shaded by colorful umbrellas are iconic symbols of New York City. The vendors do a brisk business, thanks to famished tourists tempted by the promise of quick sustenance. But let's be real for a second: Limp frankfurters stewed for hours in a metal box, accompanied by cardboardlike pretzels and gristly shish kebabs…well, that just ain't lunch. Of course, not all street meat is bad news (check out our picks for New York City's best food carts), but if it's a hot dog you're after, consider your options before forking over $2 for a "dirty-water dog" and reaching for the crusty mustard bottle.

Instead…
GET YOUR GOURMET DOG ON

There's no better venue than Katz's Delicatessen for a classic, all-beef deli dog ($3.10), but here in the country's gastronomic capital, even the lowly hot dog gets a gourmet makeover. Located just north of Union Square, Dogmatic (26 E. 17th Street, 212-414-0600) sources grass-fed or free-range beef, chicken, pork, turkey, and lamb from sustainable regional farms, folds their handmade sausages ($4.50) into fresh-baked rolls, and tops them with sauces such as truffle Gruyère, mint yogurt, and cheddar jalapeño. In the East Village, Crif Dogs (113 St. Marks Place, 212-614-2728) deep-fries homemade, naturally smoked wieners (giving the casing a satisfying snap) and offers a range of unorthodox toppings such as avocado, coleslaw, and cream cheese. For an even more decadent taste of NYC, make a reservation at PDT, a speakeasy accessed through a phone booth in Crif Dogs, and pair the "Good Morning," a bacon-wrapped dog crowned with melted cheese and a fried egg ($5) with a perfect Manhattan.—Lynn Suhrie

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