NYC's top hot dogs

Sadie Dog | Willie’s Dawgs

This ambitious Park Slope spot boasts franks fashioned from grass-fed beef raised on the Hearst Ranch in California, as well as all-beef Karl Ehmer cuts with natural casing. But one offering here sets itself apart from the pack—and excludes meat of any kind altogether, substituting it instead for a whole carrot (no, seriously—a carrot)  that’s boiled, marinated and griddled. Known as the Sadie Dog, the firm yet chewy carrot is suffocated with melted cheddar cheese, topped with long, thin wedges of avocado, and nestled in a house-baked, oversized multigrain bun that’s warm and toasty and fluffy and arguably the most rewarding aspect of this adventurous endeavor. (Price: $4.23)

Bitchin’ rating: 4 stars
Not just for vegetarians and health nuts, this mellow “dog” will go down smooth, even for meat lovers.