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[rating:3]

Japadog is one of those sensational rags to riches stories. A humble hot dog stand on the corner of Burrard and Pender turned international superstar by the likes of Ice Cube, Steven Seagal and Anthony Bourdain. Those are some big britches of expectations to fill. Having seldom ventured out to that side of downtown, Case and I finally decided to see what the hype was all about.

So, what makes Japadog stand out from the rest? Well, that’d have to be the uniquely unusual combination of toppings and homemade sauces. Toppings like bonito flake, seaweed, green onions or edamame. And sauces like soy, Japanese mayo, and plum.

(Top to bottom: 1. Bottle of water for parched diners. 2. The number 1 seller – Karabuto Teri-Mayo Dog.)

Case and I ordered one of the dogs that made them famous, the Karabuto Teri-Mayo: a purported special blend of Karabuto Pork (The Kobe Beef of pork according to their website) formed into a tube shape, topped with Teriyaki sauce, Japanese mayonnaise, and ribbons of seaweed, all wrapped in a crisp, soft bun.

It was good. Not mind blowing, but good. The Teri-Mayo was a bit overpoweringly sweet, but the seaweed added a nice interesting texture. The hot dog itself was nicely cooked, juicy on the inside and the bun was fresh.

Overall, we could tell the proprietor took care in the preparation of each dog. Our dog and bottle of water came to $9 with tax and tip, which puts it in the gourmet price realm. We have mixed feelings as Japadog is certainly worth trying at least once, but we’re not 100% sure we’d go out of our way for multiple visits.

Perfect for: feeling some kind of celebrity simply by eating a hot dog.

The Details

510 Burrard Street, Vancouver
604.667.4663
japadog.com/en/

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