In August, the 914 Collective asked Westchester to finish one sentence: "You know you're from Westchester when..." There was no food in the question. Food took over the answers anyway. Wedges, wings, pizza and hot dogs came up again and again, with real names attached.
So we pulled the places locals named on their own and checked every one. These five are open right now, and here's what to order at each.
Walter's Hot Dogs, Mamaroneck
Walter's came up more than any other food spot. One local said it's worth waiting in line in the freezing cold, and good news for that person: the stand is open every day, all year. It closes only on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Walter and Rose Warrington started selling hot dogs in 1919. The stand has been at 937 Palmer Avenue since 1928. That green pagoda roof with the dragons and lanterns is on the National Register of Historic Places. Order the hot dog. It's split and grilled, and it gets Walter's own mustard.
Candlelight Inn, Scarsdale
One commenter said you'll tell anyone, anywhere about Candlelight if they mention wings, and we believe them. The Tracy family has run the Candlelight Inn since 1955, and they still do.
The family told Patch the wings came later, in the early 1980s, from a recipe a friend's wife made. It's at 519 Central Park Avenue and open until 2 a.m. Order the wings. That's the whole plan.
Rocky's Deli, Millwood
One local said they drive from the airport straight to Rocky's, no matter the hour. That works because Rocky's never closes. It has been open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, since 1991.
The deli started in 1961, next to the Millwood firehouse. It moved to 235 Saw Mill River Road in 1966. Greg Santone, who started working there as a kid, bought it in 1980 with a partner. Order a bacon, egg and cheese on a roll. Want to go bigger? Add a chicken cutlet and it's the Tommy D.
Sal's Pizzeria, Mamaroneck
"When you say I'm going for Sicilian, they know you're going to Sal's." One commenter wrote that, and it says it all. Sal's has made pizza in Mamaroneck since 1964.
Salvatore DeRose, who came here from Italy in 1956, started it. His sons run it now. It sits at 316 Mamaroneck Avenue. The Sicilian is the move, a thick square slice. If you're feeling fancy, the salad slice is the other one people talk about.
Dunwoodie Pizzeria, Yonkers
One local called it THE secret gem. It's a family-owned shop on Yonkers Avenue that has been around since 1970, so the secret has been out for a while.
Order the spicy square. It's made with fra diavolo sauce, fresh mozzarella and the little cup pepperoni that curls up and crisps at the edges. One heads up for your weekend plans: it's closed on Sundays.
Who Did We Miss?
Westchester named a lot more places than these five, and we're still working through the list. So tell us. What's the spot, and what's the one thing to order there?
Follow us on Instagram at @notupstatefoodnetwork for more places worth the drive. And for the best food stories from all over the Hudson Valley, subscribe to Not Upstate Magazine at thenineonefour.com.
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