Where To Eat in Coney Island on the Fourth of July Weekend That's Not Nathan's
The sainted hot doggery will be way too crowded with eating-contest attendees
It’s like some foodie nightmare: You have dragged your ass out to Coney Island on an overcrowded subway car to watch Joey Chestnut win the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest for the umpteenth time. After standing in the crowd in the hot sun for an hour and more, you find yourself hungry for a hot dog — or maybe anything but a hot dog. But long lines snake from the multiple Nathan’s counters, making you doubt whether you can endure the wait of getting a frankfurter, plate of raw clams, cup of chowder, or any of the other excellent food sold there.
Don’t despair! Here are five places to eat in Coney Island that are not Nathan’s, but just as good.
Paul’s Daughter
Not far from Nathan’s, right on the boardwalk, stands Paul’s Daughter, founded in 1962, and famous for the little bald guy standing on the roof holding a hamburger aloft — one of Brooklyn’s greatest sights. The hot dogs (especially the freshly fried corn dogs) are great, and so are the fried calamari and clam strips — but skip the doughy pizza. Soft-serve ice cream is available, too, in the usual chocolate/vanilla twist. Best of all, go for the raw clams — small sweet littlenecks opened to order and doubtlessly sourced not far away on Long Island. 1001 Riegelmann Boardwalk
Doña Zita
Among the welter of carnival attractions, small food stands, and souvenir stalls on the blacktop lots between Surf Avenue and the Riegelmann Boardwalk, find the potted-palm-shaded expanse of Doña Zita, a cafe that transports you to a Mexican zocalo. The sorts of snacks you might find in the city of Puebla are well represented, including outsize tortas and cemitas big enough to feed two, along with picaditas and tacos with a choice of six fillings. But more reflective of Coney Island terroir are a series of frankfurters with Mexican toppings featuring crumbled chorizo and pico de gallo. 1221 Bowery Street
Williams Candy Shop
Williams Candy opened in 1941, just as World War II was raging, which is probably why it stocks candy varieties from the remote past you may not recognize. It specializes in nut balls filled with marshmallow and caramel, but also sells candy buttons, caramel corn, rock candy, saltwater taffy, jelly apples, and giant lollipops with multiple flavors swirling on their surface. This is also a great place to get soft-serve, too. 1318 Surf Avenue
Mi Candileja
Are you really, really hungry? Mi Candileja (“my spotlight”) provides typical Dominican fare in belt-busting portions. Rice, beans, and sweet plantains form the bedrock, but the roast pork, rotisserie chicken, chicharrones, and beef stew are prime options. And don’t forget the pressed sandwiches: the Cuban, for sure, but also the steak and fried fish sandwiches are good. 1509 Mermaid Avenue
Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitana
Totonno’s, one of the original coal-oven pizzerias descended from Lombardi’s, is now over a century old, but since the pandemic — when it closed completely — it has only been open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. But the pizzas are just as good as ever, and it’s worth visiting on the weekends — and getting in line before the noon opening on those days — just to sample these stately pies that improved upon their Neapolitan originals. Takeout only. 1524 Neptune Avenue