Japadog - January 2, 2014

We loooove street food. In Montreal, street food was legalized as of summer 2013. In the summer of 2012, you could usually only enjoy food truck fare on "First Fridays:" on the first Friday of the month from June to September, the trucks would gather at the Olympic Stadium to legally sell their offerings. In 2012, there were only about 6 trucks and when we went, we ate something at each of them. The lines were very short, but still enough of a crowd to make the event worth having.

In 2013, the First Fridays was brought back despite trucks now being allowed to sell in the streets in designated areas. This time there were probably 20 trucks, long lines of couples and families, buskers, and street performers. The popularity of the trucks blew up within a year, and it wasn't just at the now festival-like First Fridays. There were long lines at every food truck in the streets. Each day there were 2 trucks across the street from my office, and if I wanted to get lunch there I had to get there before 11:30 to avoid the lines.

I like street food because it is usually made to order, tastes fresher and is easy to eat on the go. Each truck has their own gimmick which adds to their charm. I also like the limited selection of menu times. I hate when I go for lunch with friends or co-workers and there are 50 mediocre dishes. Food trucks usually have 3 to 5 solid and tasty menu items, usually including a daily special if you happen to go everyday and get bored of the 5-dish rotation.

Stephen kept saying that he needed to go to the ATM to get some cash. The only reason Stephen carries cash is to buy lunch at busy food courts on work days. I was suspicious since he didn't have to work for 4 days, and he just kept saying, "It's just in case!" Suuuuure.

We were headed to the ScotiaBank Theatre on Burrard and Smithe to see American Hustle. All the afternoon showtimes were sold out, so we bought tickets for later in the evening and left. We got to the street corner and were waiting for the "walk" sign to light up when Stephen asked, "Is it snack time yet?" with a mischievous grin on his face. He obviously saw Japadog across the street and wanted one. The ATM withdrawal suddenly makes sense.

The name Japadog is a good indicator of what they serve: hot dogs with a Japanese twist. By looking at the cart (not truck) and the menu, you can tell that it's just not Top 50 calibre. The toppings are not the usual ketchup and mustard and the cart boast pictures of celebrities and chefs eating their dogs, but ultimately it's a hot-dog stand. It is currently listed at #238 on TripAdvisor, which isn't surprising. But is it good for what it is? Yes.

There are about 12 different topped dogs on the cart menu, and you can also order any of their 7 types of sausages plain. Stephen chose the Okonomi: kurobuta (pork) sausage topped with bonito flakes and spicy mayo. It may have been wasabi mayo...maybe not.

The sausage was BIG. It's a good thing they score it because otherwise it would be tough to bite into. It was grilled and pipping hot, and was moist but not juicy. The bun was steamed, which was appreciated because had it been toasted it would have been tough to bite through the hot-dog. I love the crispy and salty bonita flakes, but I would have liked more of the sauce.

The hot-dog costed about $7 without the combo, which I find to be a lot for a hot-dog. I would consider paying that much for a "gourmet" hot-dog, but Japadog isn't quite in that league. I wouldn't recommend it as a meal, but it was a great on-the-go snack to share.

The Cart on Burrard... "Many Celebrities!"

Stephen and his Okonomi Japadog

THE STATS - Out of 10

Taste: 7
Creativity: 8 - It's not your typical ball-park dog
Service: 5 - Can't say much about it since its not a sit-down
Bang for your buck: 6 - It's a little pricey for what the toppings are
Overall experience: 7 - For a hot-dog cart, it was better than most

Would I go back? Yes, I'd definitely like to try a few more menu items.
Who would I recommend it to? Someone looking for a quick snack to-go and avid carnivores. Obviously don't bring your vegan friend.
For what occasion? When you're out running errands or shopping in the area.
It was better than: Nasty steamed hot-dog stands
It wasn't as good as: Time will tell
Expect: A slightly over-priced semi-gourmet hot-dog. Don't expect this to be a filling lunch to carry you over to dinner, even if you do get the combo.

Top 50 Worthy? Nah, but it's a Vancouver staple, so we had to check it out.