True, you could get your hot dog fix at any ol’ Costco and come out happy, but there are a few spots in Vancouver who are serving up next-level dogs with all sorts of fixings.
Japadog
Okinomo dog from JapaDog (Lindsay William-Ross/Vancity Buzz)
Japadog is the food cart that launched a street eats revolution in Vancouver, paving the way for the food truck culture we now have. With numerous carts and a permanent storefront the lure of their Japanese fusion hot dogs, like the Terimayo and the Okonomi, remains strong.
Address: Multiple locations in Metro Vancouver
Website: www.japadog.com
What’s Up? Hot Dog!
A casual Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood hang with a punk rock vibe, What’s Up? Hot Dog! is a great new place to chill out, watch a ball game, and chow down on some clever dogs.
Address: 2481 East Hastings Street, Hastings-Sunrise
Phone: 604-879-8364
Website: www.whatsuphotdog.ca
Dougie Dog
DougieDog at the Food Truck Fest in Abbotsford. (Nicolle Hodges/Vancity Buzz)
Dougie Dog is the wild brainchild of DougieLuv, and a mobile hot dog shop with some inventive twists on the classic dog. You may remember a few years back Dougie Dog’s “world’s most expensive hot dog,” the Dragon Dog.
Address: Find their truck via Twitter @dougiedog
Phone: 604-468-3647
Website: dougiedog.com
Aree’s Dawg House
Catch this beloved Vancouver street cart for killer hot dogs when you can. Set up on West Broadway, this is where you can find European-style hot dogs, classic hot dogs, and veggie dogs, with terrific toppings.
Address: Cart on 1700 block of West Broadway
Dinky Dawgs
Hot dogs loaded up like a plate of Thanksgiving food, spicy chorizo dogs, and seafood dogs are all on the menu at Dinky Dawgs. This bold hot dog shop has recently closed up their Downtown Vancouver storefront in favour of their Electro Carts, which will be at Kits Beach and Olympic Village starting this summer.
Address: TBD
Website: dinkydawgs.com
Big Dogs
Big Dogs Street Hots became an instant local favourite for their organic, high quality hot dogs from a street food cart. They’ve since expanded their offerings and their wheels; you’ll find their Burger Bus most often in Yaletown at Marinaside, where you can order up hot dogs from their original Street Hots menu, too.
Address: Davie and Marinaside, Yaletown
The Dog House at UBC
The Dog House on the UBC campus is a cart that serves hot dogs with a west coast sensibility. You’ll find toppings like crispy bacon, grilled pineapple, Asian slaw, cream cheese, and others on their dogs. Be ready to shell out a few bucks; The Dog House is busy, and on the pricey side.
Address: Location varies; usually at University Boulevard/Lower Mall
Phone: 604-827-0732
Website: www.food.ubc.ca/place/the-dog-house
Myrtle’s Famous Hot Dogs
Photo by Alan Johnstone via Myrtle’s Famous Hot Dogs/Facebook
This little hot dog cart that sets up (way out) in Tsawwassen at the Town Centre Mall, and summers at the Ladner Village Market, has quite a loyal following of locals, and it’s been said people make the trek to South Delta just for them. Here it’s all about classic dogs done right.
Address: Tsawwassen Town Centre Mall and Ladner Village Market (seasonally)
Twitter: @myrtleshotdogs (for location updates)