Papaya King Comes to Hollywood: New York Transplants Rejoice

By Noah Galuten Tue., Feb. 1 2011 at 6:59 AM

Papaya King dog with kraut, onions, and a tropical beverage

Papaya King, the extremely popular chain of stand-up hot dog restaurants in New York City, is coming to Los Angeles. New York has many imitators -- like Gray's Papaya -- but Papaya King is the original, selling quick-service, affordable hot dogs and tropical fruit drinks.

L.A.'s location, on Wilcox Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, will be the first one to open outside of the Tri-State area (there are also Papaya Kings in Clifton, NJ, and LaGuardia Airport). We spoke with Papaya King's Director of Operations, Wayne Rosenbaum, who talked about the expansion. "Basically, we teamed up with some partners out in L.A., the SBE corporation, and Sam Nazarian," said Rosenbaum. "He loved the product."

He explained that Nazarian, "basically took the lead on it," while also adding that, "I actually ship hot dogs to the coast every week."

Rosenbaum says that their target opening date is April 1st, but with construction still taking place, that could get pushed back slightly, to the first or second week of April.

Tags:

Noah Galuten, Papaya King, Sam Nazarian, SBE, Wayne Rosenbaum

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Isafeguard

BAD NEWS....I am transplanted from the big apple and was waiting with baited breath for PK; I just finished my pathetic hot dog and the most horrid papaya drink in the world....I am sick about this disappointment. Perhaps it is the dreadful water here but it is a 180 from NYC PK

NYC HOT DOG LOVER

Wow, I cant believe it. Papaya king was across the street (86 st 3rd ave) from me in New York. I used to eat there everyday for years. Living in Los Angeles for 20 years, i cant believe a piece of 'My home " New york hot dog is coming here. I will be the first person standing in line.

Isafeguard

You will be sooooo disappointed; the drink is UNdrinkable...nothing at all like NYC