A Ukrainian vertical hot dog, a staple at gas stations back home, now serves as a taste of nostalgia at Twin Hot Dogs in Brighton Beach, where brothers Vitalii and Andrei Zherikh recreate the snack that defined their childhood journeys.
Photo by Emma Delahanty
A taste of the Ukrainian road has rolled into Brighton Beach, where vertical hot dogs and automatic coffee are bringing a familiar gas station ritual to a neighborhood shaped by immigrants.
Thirty-five-year-old Ukrainian twins Vitalii and Andrei Zherikh opened Twin Hot Dogs on Nov. 18, 2025. After driving across the United States for construction work, the brothers realized something was missing from American gas station fare: good-quality vertical hot dogs.
“In Ukraine, they are at every gas station, and it is associated with you going somewhere,” Vitalii said. “It is a snack for you and the whole family.”
The twins grew up in Kyiv, Ukraine, and left after the full-scale invasion. Vitalii later obtained United for Ukraine status, a two-year humanitarian parole program, and joined his brother and mother, who were already living in New York City.
Working with Andrei in construction, the two traveled a lot, which led to a lot of soul searching about what fulfilling job they could have. And that’s when they began thinking of a business.
“[We thought,] ‘what can we bring here that people would like [and] think is cool,’” Vitalii said. “And it was like, hot dogs.”
Brothers Vitalii and Andrei Zherikh turned a childhood favorite from Kyiv into Twin Hot Dogs in Brooklyn.Photo courtesy of Vitalii and Andrei Zherikh
The brothers spent six months preparing to open the shop, focusing first on finding the right ingredients. Quality and affordability were priorities, and they said they made a promise — reflected in the pinky-promise logo on their sign — to themselves and to the community to get it right.
Finding the right bread took time, but the hunt for good meat was a family affair.
“We brought the whole family, and bought 20 different sausages,” Vitalii said. “We cooked them, and everyone put their star — four stars, five stars — and we had a vote.”
A symbol of promise: the pinky-promise logo reflects the brothers’ dedication to quality ingredients and community at Twin Hot Dogs.Photo by Emma Delahanty
Another challenge was finding a location and equipment on a budget. Renting or buying quality second-hand materials, such as a European automatic coffee maker, and finding a small location on Brighton Third Street, allowed the two to open shop.
When the shop finally opened, the twins soon realized how much Ukrainians missed this simple snack.
“When they come, specifically those for the first time, they are excited, because they haven’t had this for three years,” Vitalli said.
The brothers are currently preparing for their first summer, which is expected to have heavy foot traffic.
Vitalii Zherikh at work, serving up a taste of Ukraine at Twin Hot Dogs in Brighton Beach.Photo by Emma Delahanty
While they continue settling into their first storefront, the brothers say they are already thinking ahead.
“We have a plan to open more and to open a franchise,” Vitalli said.
Twin Hot Dogs is located at 3067 Brighton 3rd St. between Brighton Beach and Ocean View avenues in Brighton Beach. The store is open seven days a week from 9 am to 9 p.m.