SAULTY DOGS (Brooklyn Bangers)

My search for the best hot dogs in New York continues….

I was strolling around Smorgasburg, the weekly food-centric flea market at the Williamsburg waterfront, hoping to get a quick bite to eat. That was my first mistake. On an early summer weekend afternoon, there is no such thing as a quick meal at one of these hugely popular food festivals.

Brooklyn Bangers is a tent that last year joined the likes of lobster rolls and pupusas to serve summer food to the masses. I wasn’t specifically seeking them out, but since they were grilling up dogs and it’s my new mission to taste as many as possible, it helped narrow down my eating options for the afternoon.

Saul Bolton, who is a celebrity of sorts in NYC, is the name behind these gourmet sausages, which are available at his restaurants (Saul, The Vanderbilt), other well-known spots (like Num Pang), and here at this slammin’ stand. The menu is made up of variations on the sausage (kielbasa, merguez, etc.), but the cheapest option ($4) is the one I was after: the good old fashioned hot dog!

Focusing on local, sustainable products, they use beef brisket to make their plump, juicy hot dog. It was a large meaty sensation, but it was lacking the saltiness of a typical hot dog. It was grilled masterfully and with the wondrous tangy mustard-pickle relish and the cradle of a yellow potato bun, it was a steal at $4 (most single tacos at this festival cost more!) I thought the sausage could have had more deep, smoky flavors on its own. But with a nice burst of meaty juice and some seriously flavorful toppings, this ended up being a dog worth braving the crowds for.

Does Brooklyn Bangers have the best hot dogs in NY? The flavor of the meat is quality (although slightly underseasoned) and the toppings are a gourmet take on classics. 8 out of 10.