Dougiedog

My husband and I recently checked out Dougiedog at the Friday night market down by the Lonsdale quay. Due to wanting to try a variety of things because there was so many options, we opted to split the Charlie Mac Dog. It was extremely disappointing and by far the worst thing we tried all night.
To explain why, I’ll break it down by the Charlie Mac’s advertised ingredients: Bacon, Mac & Cheese, Melted Cheddar.
Bacon: It had two or three tiny pieces on it MAX. You could hardly taste or enjoy it amongst everything else. So much potential wasted.
Mac and Cheese: Who puts warm noodles on top of a hot dog, sloppily dollops on some (extremely lacking in flavor) cheese sauce and calls it Mac and Cheese? It didn’t even *taste* cheesy. Pass.
Melted Cheddar: We are pretty sure they forgot to add this, lol.
On top of that, the bun was basic, store bought and pretty much run of the mill. Entirely forgettable. As for the hot dog? Lacking in flavor and effort. I’ve had better from Ball Park. :(
Sorry, Dougiedog, we won’t be back.

When it comes to hot dogs, I feel like such a snob with them. I have had quite a few which are too fatty, tough casing/​over boiled etc. I had a sample of their dog at the Unilocal Elite event, BEST DOG EVER. For me, it really takes the cake next to Japadog. I really expected more from them, but from never hearing about Dougiedog, this was a real pleasant surprise! I can’t remember what it was called, but it had guacamole, cheese, pickled jalapenos on it. The wiener itself was spicy. My friend who joined me at the sampling found the hot dog too spicy, but it is definitely my kind of spicy!
Will try the full version if I spot them around town again!
WOO!

These guys have been on my hit list for over a year. I first saw them down at the Rollerdurby down in Richmond, however, due to dietary restrictions at the time had to sit it out. Today at the food cart festival was my chance to finally check these guys out. The obvious is the price and it baffles me why people are bitching about the price. This isn’t your $ 3 Granville Street meat hot dog, there’s more to the hot dog. Call it extreme hot dog and or gourmet hot dog. You get what you pay for which is honestly the best hot dog out there. The hot dog and the fixings are good. You will be overwhelmed by the menu, however, rest assured that everything on the menu is a winner. Be prepared to pack a roll of Tums… you will need it. Dougie is really awesome and friendly and has energy… he needs to burn those hot dogs some how. The ingredients are quality and he makes his own root beer. I am a root beer person, however, wasn’t feeling the butterscotch root beer but each to their own.

I have never liked hot dogs, in fact it is safe to say that thanks to «Hot Dog Tuesdays» in elementary school I have always detested them. That is until today. I almost passed up a free sample of a Dougie Dog at the Food Cart Festival, but Dougie convinced me to let go of my preconceived notions and give it a go. I expected I was going to hate it but it turns out I LOVED IT! I sampled the LA Mexicana Dog, topped with guacamole, jalapeños, bacon, and cheddar, which was packed with flavour and out of this world delicious. So, so good — in fact it was the highlight of my Food Cart Fest extravaganza! At $ 6.95 I thought the dog was reasonably priced considering the quality — a buck or two more than a Big Mac and so much more delicious. Thank you for helping me discover my hot dog loving side, Dougie!!! I’m a fan!

It is the toppings that really set Dougie dogs a part. With unique ingredients and fun names I can see why fans of this franchise keeping coming back for more.
The «Dave Grohl Special» comes with coleslaw, hot peppers, and its all natural hot dog is infused with whiskey. The «Trailer Park Dog» has processed cheese and crush potato chips. The «Downward Dog» is a veggie option, sporting a vegetarian hot dog, tomato, onion, spinach, avocado, and feta cheese. And most notable is their world record winning, most expensive hot dog, «The Dragon Dog». This beast was created and named after Dougie’s first visit to the «Dragon’s Den». At $ 100 for a hot dog, it is surprising that he has seen sales from this one. It’s ingredients are some of the most expensive and luxurious known to man. Kobe beef, lobster, cognac, and truffle oil. I am surprised that it is missing caviar.
And if you don’t want to go to them, maybe you will come to you? With the surge in success after the last airing of Dougie on «Dragon’s Den», he has been able to launch his first food truck and plans for more to come.
Would I go back? — Yes and no. If I was in the area and my party wanted to eat here, I would oblige them and partake in a dog myself. But at $ 7 – 10 a dog I am better off offering $ 2 up for some street meat. Hot dogs are not meant to be good for you. They are fatty and grilled in grease to give you that satisfying meaty taste. Hot dogs are the go to at ball games and carnivals because they are fast, easy, and cheap. Three things that «Dougie Dog» is missing, that have given the classic wiener, bun, and ketchup its claim to fame.
Would I recommend it? — Yes. If I had an extra $ 100 I would love to throw it on the most expensive hot dog in the world. Plus a few of their concoctions are worth trying. But if you aren’t concerned over the quality of your processed meats; you can read their menu and easily duplicate them in your own kitchen, at a discounted price.
Don’t deny your cravings.

Good filling hot dog. Kinda like a more western version of JAPADOG but without the «street creed» as it is in a store.
Not expecting fine dining, but this place delivers decent hotdogs with tasty toppings. More more, no less. I got a dog with some veggies and cheese (already flirting with cardiac arrest, so didn’t try their chili or other more hardy eats). Have to say it was bloody tasty, and I wasn’t even drunk after clubbing. Stone cold sober.
Staff very friendly, which is surprising as most of these kinds of places are staffed by rude/​bored and/​or outright hostile teens/​twenty-​something types.
If you like hotdogs, then I would recommend this place. If you don’t like hotdogs or are otherwise some sanctimonious vegan, then stay away and enjoy your kale.
3.9 out of 5.

First thing I checked before heading to Dougiedog, was Unilocal’s average review of 3 stars. I didn’t believe (sigh), and went to try it for myself.
And sorry Doubiedog — I give you an «A» for effort, but the truth is, Dougiedog really isn’t any better than Japadog. It’s more expensive than Japadog, and isn’t better to match the higher prices.
This would be entirely forgivable if the hot dogs absolutely blew you away. But they weren’t — they were more like standard weiners (let’s say their claims of «all natural» ingredients held up. Problem here? The dogs weren’t better for it).
The bacon chili cheese dog was fairly good, but remember — this isn’t just about taste. It’s about value/​dollar ratio — and the dog just doesn’t measure up for the amount you pay for it (an wince-​inducing $ 7.95). The derby dog was so-​so, and yes it was the same price as the bacon chili cheese one.
Altogether just shy of $ 18 dollars for two hot dogs. Even though they’re «premium dogs» — guys… that’s expensive.

My thoughtful, wonderful husband brought home some hot dogs from here for dinner after he was out a bit later than usual running errands. We were both excited to try the hotdogs from here because a) we like hot dogs, b) they have a vegetarian option and c) we saw them on Dragon’s Den (my husband is a little addicted).
I have to say, we’re disappointed. We both got a vegetarian option with different toppings we like, with a side of Mac n cheese. The Mac and cheese was bland — I like my Mac n cheese with some bite and a complex flavor — this did not come close.
The hot dogs themselves were also disappointing. They were also lacking in flavour. Now, I know what you are thinking — vegetarian hot dogs don’t have flavour — but you would be wrong. The hot dog cart down the street from me (in front of future shop near broadway and fir) does a beautiful, tasty, vegetarian hot dog.
So, overall, this was a bit meh. On top of that, they left the drinks out of our order and my husband didn’t notice until he got home.

Popped in here for a hot dog. Surprise, surprise.
Parking here sucks. In fact, don’t park here at night. You will get ticketed and towed. You CANNOT park in those spots between 2000 – 0500.
This establishment was featured on Dragon’s Den, and they proudly mention that on the front glass.
Having no idea what to try and also trying not to burn a hole in my pocket, I went for their basic dog ($ 6) to set the benchmark. I must say I enjoyed this dog more than Japadog, which is somewhat of a competitor. It’s no frills, and there’s a satisfying squishiness (?) in the wiener as you sink your teeth in. Kind of like popping a balloon.
They also sell their own in-​house root beer which is also quite good, but a bit pricey at $ 2.50.
The staff were quite friendly.
This place also sells the $ 100 Dragon Dog which is certified by Guinness to be the world’s priciest. It’s got truffle oil, lobster, and some other crazy goodness. You need to pre-​order 12h in advance though.

¹²⁄₃₀ Day Challenge.
Tried this food cart during the Sunday food truck gather at the Waldorf.
Friendly service, though slightly on the aggressive side.
The bacon chili dog is a great choice for any meat lover. The wiener was fairly skinny though, lol. The food is quite pricey. More expensive than Japadogs.
Saw a sticker on the truck saying they have the world’s most expensive hotdog. But I didn’t see anything on the menu, and I’m not sure that’s really something a restaurant would really want to brag about.
Worth a try for hotdog lovers.

Their hot-​dogs are not *that* bad. I mean, yeah, IMO they taste a bit plastic like, but they’re ok…
The mac’n’cheese is quite good though, and the bacon is great. Got a Charlie Mac Dog last night and even though it was cold (not because of them, but because stupid me had to run an errand right after receiving it) it was slightly above average. Guess when hot it’s way better, certainly.
The Yam Fries are great. Expect this weird spicy and sweet taste that might not be nice the first time but for some strange reason you keep eating more ’til you begin really liking it.
Delivery took a while but at least they told us it would. Actually they said it’d take like an hour, and it took some 45 or 50 minutes. Not that it’s nice waiting an hour for your food but… Well, nice it was on time (on their time though).
«Chili» is not really chili, but «chorizo» like, if you’ve ever had it. Are things pricey? Yeah, maybe, compared to street hot dogs… But I’d expect them to be considerably more careful when it comes to preparation and hygiene and that. So it’s worth it.
So leave aside the artificial flavor I think it’s a good choice.

BEST MAC & CHEESE IN THE CITY!!!
Yeah I know this is a hotdog joint and I’ll get to those in a minute but I’ve just been so underwhelmed and let down by the places in this city offering or specializing in Mac & Cheese that I had to point this out. Dougie’s Mac & Cheese is exactly like what you’d get in Soul Food joints in the southern US states, only gripe is that I wish it was served as a bit bigger side when you get the combo. Now on to other matters.
For one I can’t believe the 1 and 2 star reviews I’ve read about this place and I think out of all those 1 and 2 star reviews I’ve seen one where it was about the persons taste and not just complaining about price and the type of dog it was.
Dougie’s dogs are Vienna style wieners and to those that don’t know «wiener» actually loosely translates to «From Vienna» which makes Vienna, Austria home of the original hot dog and that’s what Dougie is offering up, something different from the norm thank God. If you want over seasoned, greasy crap then you can hit up any other street meat vendor that litter the streets of Vancouver, although I’d compare this with liking food court «Chinese» food over an authentic Chinese Restaurant such as Peaceful Restaurant and if you want cheap then go buy yourselves a pack of Schneider’s and boil them in a pot of water at home. I on the other hand do not mind paying for quality and that’s exactly what this place is.
Everyone of the staff has always been super cool to me when I’m there, the interior is nice, clean and modern though the seating is limited but more often then not seems to be adequate and add to all that… THEY DELIVER IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE. Who else delivers hot dogs for the love of God???
I’ve tried almost every dog on the menu and while they were all good my favourites are the Super Mario (I usually hate ketchup on hot dogs but they make it work with this taste combo), The Kriff Dog (bacon wrapped and deep fried), and the foot long West Ender which is absolutely divine.
To those giving one and two star reviews, forget what you think you know about hot dogs and perhaps try this place again with a more open mind because these aren’t the wieners your mom used to boil up and put in your beans or Kraft Dinner.
Highly suggest this place and I’ve made it a point to take out of town visitors to this spot. Don’t let the low star reviews scare you off and realise that you do pay a bit more for quality before you go if you’ve never been before.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I truly feel sorry for those people who didn’t have the same «five star» experience that I did at Dougiedog.
Let us address the painfully obvious first, price: This is not ikea, you will not get two dogs and a pop for $ 2 or whatever. And really, do you know what is actually IN those hot dogs? Dougie boasts locally purchased, all natural, grain fed and ethically treated animals. That right there doesn’t scream cheap, folks and we all know it. Also, the variety of toppings (and the quantity of them placed on your ‘dog) is mind-​blowing! My lunch (‘dog with extra cheese and pop) was just under $ 11. For lunch on Granville, I consider that pretty dang reasonable.
I had the Super Mario dog with extra cheese, and one of the Dougie Butterscotch Root Beers to go. My order was made fresh to order, prepped and packed before my very eyes. Being the impatient person I am, I cracked open the soda while I waited for my hot dog… Queue pupil dilation scene from Requiem for a Dream. I don’t think I’ve put something that delicious into my digestive system in a long, LONG time. Or at least that is what I thought until I got my order back to the office and stuffed my face…
There aren’t any words for how good this hotdog was! The meat was flavorful and juicy, it had that perfect first snap when you bite in. The bun was perfectly warmed and there was no shortage of cheesey, mushroomy, jalapeño-​y topping goodness. Dougie’s dog was possibly one of the best things I’ve ever put in my mouth, take that as you will!
The other thing that pushed this place through the pearly gates of 5 stardom: Dougie himself! I stopped by during the lunch rush and he was outstanding. Clearly under significant pressure, he was still extremely pleasant and even took a few minutes to shoot the breeze with me about his stint on Dragons Den. He was taking orders, cooking, cleaning the dining area, the whole nine yards with only one other kitchen helper! And he did it all with a great attitude and a smile. Now THAT is how you run a great business!
If you want a cheap hotdog on a steamed bun with some stale grated cheese melted on top, go to Orange Julias.
Dougie’s Dogs make my mouth say one thing: JAPA-​WHO?!

I came to Dougie Dog for lunch with some colleagues and tried out Mom’s Turkey Dog. It had turkey sausage, grey poupon mustard, green onions and cranberry sauce. It had a lot of green onions in it which was not so much for my liking.
The turkey dog was fine but I think that it is a bit pricey for a hot dog ($ 6.95 + tax).
The ambiance is fun and casual and the serving staff is friendly. However, I do not find much value in the food in terms of price so I will unlikely return to this place.

Can’t remember the name of the dog I got but it was infused with whiskey and topped with coleslaw and hot banana peppers. I still think the bun is too big.
We shared a Poutine but it could use a bit more cheese curds and gravy.
Craving for beer we ate and left to our next destination.
That whiskey infused dog was damn good!
Typed all thumbs by iPhone. Typos FOC

After the Canuck’s game let out last night I was in desperate drunken need for a veggie dog…
Not wanting to stand in a 20 person line up to get a hot dog at a street cart me and my friend fought our way through the sea of people to make our way to Dougiedog.
The guy/​owner at the counter is way too enthusiastic about his dogs, fortunately for him I was drunk cause otherwise I would’ve thought he was pretty ridiculous.
I got the Downward Dog which has spinach, avocado, onions and feta which I opted out of. Overall it was pretty damn good!
This store has a cheese factor to it that I kinda dig and the phallic hot dog statue amuses me… I will get getting my drunk dog fixes from here in the future!

DougieDog was a place I had incredibly high hopes for — maybe more than I should have.
I was incredibly stoked to hear that I could find a place here (since moving from NYC) that serves natural-​casing hot dogs… once you’ve developed a taste for them, it’s very hard to go back to anything else.
The hot dog itself? Everything I hoped for. Good quality meat, with that crisp bite that can’t be faked.
The «fancy» dogs that I ordered? Meh. The cheese wasn’t melted, the toppings really drowned out what should have been the focus, the wiener.
I think I’ll give them another shot, though — this time, though, I’ll ask for just a wiener, bun, ketchup and mustard. Maybe some sauerkraut.
It’s no Gray’s Papaya or Papaya King, but it saves me a very long plane ride! :)

OK, I know people think… it’s JUST A HOT DOG… here it’s not!!! When Dougie is in the house workin the counter it’s an experience!
This is a carnivor delight on all accounts.
Tonight I kept it simple with the Charlie Mac dog,(yes! Mac n cheese made fresh with a slice of bacon on a hot dog)
My favorite so far has been the Super Mario though, with jalepeno cheese, mushrooms n ketchup on a cheese dog. Standard soda offering is Rootbeer, no colas or other carbonated items to taint the experience here.
I’ve tried japadog, and I wasn’t swayed. I love the north american versions the best… if you want an experience, and a tasty, almost melt in your mouth dog, come here.
I only give him 4 stars, because of the tropical dog offering.
Word of caution to folks about the tropical dog. personally think it should be taken off the menu, or at least people should be advised that the condiments are all served cold, and the pinapple is canned, not fresh.
The combo of toppings sounds intriguing, but doesn’t go over very well when it’s cold.

Background: Me like hot dog. Just tucked in the Granville strip where Kuroshio Sushi used to be, I stopped by here on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
Food: There’s a fairly wide selection of internationally themed dogs. The footlong wieners are boiled and come with various meat and veggie toppings. I ordered a Seoul Dog, which was a footlong dog topped with kimchi, horseradish, and bulgogi (marinated beef). The dog was juicy and met my expectations. Washed it down with a root beer from their extensive collection.
Ambiance: Takeout. There’s room for a standing crowd.
Service: Met the man Dougie himself who was quite personable and checked on each customer as I was eating to see that the experience was good.
Pricepoint: A bit high-​end at $ 6 – 7 per dog. But you’d be paying similar to eat at Japadog anyway.
Overall: This place cures the munchies, and the quality is in line with the rest of fastfood Granville — average but hits the spot. The root beer idea is cute. I’d go here again.

$ 9.92 for a hot dog and root beer!
The signature Dougie Dog is a European style wiener in an extra long white bun with melted cheese, a couple slices of pastrami, Dijon and horseradish.
Unfortunately, my Virgil’s Root Beer won the gold medal on this night.
After waiting 10 minutes and seeing at least one other guy get his dog before me (I ordered first!) I started getting that dreaded Meh feeling.
The wall is covered in photos of celebrities enjoying their Dougie’s. I guess a picture of Bill Cosby in LA is supposed to give them street cred in Vancouver?
But my biggest beef with Dougie is that I could have had my dog served in a whole wheat bun instead. I only figured this out when I heard the «chef» yell out that they had run out of buns and that the rest of the waiting customers were stuck with whole wheat.
Dougie, not all customers want to eat plain white Wonderbreadish buns. Put this on the menu somewhere as an option!
It wasn’t the worst hot dog in Vancouver, but it definitely wouldn’t make it to the podium any time soon.