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Wikipedia: Papaya King is a chain of fast-food take-out restaurants in New York City. The original Papaya King was opened in 1931 on the corner of 86th St. and Third Ave. on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Although the restaurant originally only served drinks made from fresh tropical fruits, it soon expanded to serving hot dogs - due to the influence of its neighborhood, which, at the time, was populated predominantly by German-American immigrants. It now also serves crispy Cajun curly fries with or without cheese. Over the years, the chain has had numerous competitors, including Gray's Papaya and Papaya Dog, open around the city. Papaya King was founded and run for many years by the late Gus Poulos, and later on his son Peter, who first managed their second store at 87th Street and Third Avenue. During the 1970s, the Pouloses attempted to franchise the restaurant, and one franchise briefly opened up in midtown before closing. A company-owned store opened in the 1980s at 59th Street and Third Avenue, and in 2001, another company-owned store opened in Philadelphia, this time on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania at 40th and Locust Streets. The Philadelphia store closed in 2004. In the 1930s, there was also a store in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania.In 1976, Nathan's set up shop next door to Papaya King, and a hot dog war ensued. Nathan's cut the price of its hot dogs to 35 cents (normal was 50 cents), while Papaya King sold its hotdogs for a quarter. Six months later, Nathan's capitulated and left the block.On March 22, 2007, the E. 86th St. location of Papaya King was shut down after the news program Inside Edition aired a video of rats inside the building . They reopened six days later. Papaya King recently opened another store in Clifton, New Jersey, its only active store not in New York City. Other Papaya King locations include the southwest corner of 7th Ave. and 14th St. and 121 W. 125th St.

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by aturkus Papaya King, Founded In 1931, Is A Fine Example Of New York City Street Fare.	by petroleumjelliffe Coconut Champagne At The Amazing Papaya King.	by sfllaw Hot Dogs And Cajun Fries Are On The Menu At New York's Papaya King Restaurant

by traceyholman The Original Papaya King, On 3rd Avenue On Manhattan's Upper East Side	by megzimbeck A Customer Waiting For Delicious Food At Papaya King.	by dandeluca Papaya King Is A Chain Of Fast-food Take-out Restaurants In New York City.

by benreichelt Papaya King: Home Of Papaya Drinks And Hotdogs