What nickname is given to New York street hot dogs kept in warm-water baths?

New York street hot dogs kept in warm-water baths are nicknamed “dirty water dogs.”

The phrase refers to the practice of street vendors holding unsold hot dogs in heated water so they remain warm and ready to serve. The water can become cloudy or greasy during service, inspiring the unglamorous but affectionate nickname.

A dirty water dog is not a distinct sausage recipe or topping style. It usually means a hot dog sold from a New York City cart, commonly served with yellow mustard, sauerkraut, or onions in sauce. The term captures the street-food setting as much as the cooking method.

The nickname is often misunderstood as a literal claim that vendors use unsafe water. In context, it is generally a humorous expression for the appearance of the warming bath, not the formal name of a separate regional hot dog.