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We mustard you a question: Do you like hot dogs? We certainly do! Now that the sun’s out, it’s (hot dog) buns out at every barbecue around town. If you just can’t be bothered to grill your own, why not check out the best hot dogs in Hong Kong at these restaurants and snack shops?
One of the newer dining ventures at the West Kowloon Cultural District, Hooman By The Sea is a pet-friendly café that serves up some of the most extravagant hot dogs in town. Named after different dog breeds, we can’t resist the Husky ($68), a blend of truffle mayo, coleslaw, and pickles slathered on top of a Frankfurter, and the Corgi ($68), a hot dog covered in a generous serving of crispy bacon bits, chopped onions, and salted egg yolk sauce. If these wild combinations don’t sound like your thing, you can also create your own mix-and-match hotdog ($78)!
Hooman by the Sea, Shop GF07, G/F, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District, 18 Museum Drive, Tsim Sha Tsui | (+852) 6749 0777
While it’s not a very traditional kind of hot dog, it’s definitely one of our favourites: the Red Prawn Hot Dog ($120) with a Josper-grilled prawn head from Pica Pica. This bite-sized treat sees a whole prawn sitting atop a fluffy bun that is toasted to perfection. Next to the bun, you also get a red prawn head filled with the best part of the prawn: the flavourful roe. Pica Pica recommends squeezing the prawn head on top of the hot dog before you bite in, but being the crazy foodies we are, we love sucking all the juices straight out of it for a true umami explosion!
Pica Pica, Shop G & H, G/F, Kai Tak Commercial Building, 317–321 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan | (+852) 2811 9880
Zeppelin Hot Dog all started because of the owner’s obsession with hot dogs. In fact, he was so obsessed with them that he decided to number all of his hot dog experiments to record his exhaustive journey to creating the best flavour combinations. That’s why the menu utilises a naming system of letters and numbers, as it identifies how many experiments he has conducted before attaining the best results. There’s the Z121 ($30), a Japanese-style hot dog with rich mayonnaise and bonito flakes, and the Z125 ($35), an American hot dog with deep-fried onion rings around the sausage. Feel free to conduct your own eating experiment with all of his creations to find your favourite!
Zeppelin Hot Dog, locations across Hong Kong | (+852) 9852 2901
Hot dogs come in all shapes and sizes, so if you feel like you’re up for some alternative hot dogs, you should pop by Arirang Hot Dog. This restaurant is actually a popular hot dog chain in Korea, serving both basic and ‘cheese heaven’ hot dog sticks, where the sausage is stuffed with fillings and coated with breadcrumbs before the whole thing is deep-fried—kind of like a corn dog.
We love the Cheese & Potato Hot Dog Stick ($34) that has deep-fried potato cubes as its coating and mozzarella cheese as a filling, so you can entertain yourself by stretching out the melted, gooey cheese like a long, old-fashioned telephone cord when you bite into it. Here’s a pro tip: Coat your hot dog with coconut sugar, pick a seasoning (preferably honey butter), and ask for more sauces on top for the best experience!
Arirang Hot Dog, Shop 7B, G/F, Kai Yin Mansion, 12–26 Nelson Street, Mong Kok | (+852) 2631 6788
Hot Dog Link has been the place to go for some of the best hot dogs in Hong Kong for the past twenty years. A tiny store that has managed to withstand the test of time, dining here feels like a throwback to childhood tea time in cha chaan tengs, so if you’re looking to relive your youth, this is the place for you. Their selection of hot dogs come in a set ($30) with a choice of either fries or hash browns, as well as a drink to accompany your mains. You are free to pick whatever toppings and sauce you want, but the staff will recommend mustard and relish for the best experience.
Nobody takes hot dog business as seriously as Bulldog Hotdog, where you can sink your teeth into supersized hot dogs as long as your forearms! Next to traditional hot dogs, this niche snack stall also offers creative modern twists, such as the Dark Beer Bolognese Hotdog ($44) and the Truffle Scrambled Egg Hotdog ($55). However, nothing beats their signature Bulldog ($50) that comes with spicy beef mince, a layer of nacho chips, and a thick cheese sauce. Better come hungry—these hot dogs are a full meal on their own!
Bulldog Hotdog, locations across Hong Kong | (+852) 2608 2523
Koreans love their street sandwiches, so obviously, hot dogs are at the top of their list. As the first overseas outpost of one of South Korea’s most popular restaurants, Ssoja Toast & Hotdog specialises in stacked sandwiches and—you guessed it—hot dogs that are filled to bursting. All sarnies are made to order, and buns are toasted with butter and served with their speciality sauces. The Ssoja Hotdog ($28) uses a unique sausage with kimchi mixed into the mince, and it’s served with fresh lettuce, Korean pickles, and a generous drizzle of their signature secret sauce!
Ssoja Toast & Hotdog, Shop B9 & B10, Food Hall, LG/F, Eaton Hotel, 380 Nathan Road, Jordan | (+852) 2155 9123
If a shop names itself Mrs HotDog, you know you’re in for a good hot doggin’ time! It might be quite difficult to spot this small shopfront in Tin Shui Wai among the hustle and bustle of the area, but amidst a menu filled with hamburgers, the hot dogs are their best-kept secrets. Mrs HotDog’s Cheesy Trio ($38) is one of their most popular items, where a blend of cheddar, mozzarella, and Parmesan is toasted with a flame torch before it’s served. This has to be the perfect match made in heaven: bun, sausage, cheese, cheese, and even more cheese!
Mrs HotDog, Shop 1001, T Market, G/F, T Town North, 33 Tin Wah Road, Tin Shui Wai | (+852) 6197 3336
Oh my goodness, it’s Oh! My Dog! Hidden in Kwai Chung, this hot dog speciality shop boasts over 12 kinds of hot dogs for you to choose from, and they can get pretty outlandish. Hate pineapples on pizza? Why not try them on a hot dog instead? Their Hawaiian Hot Dog ($34) comes with a honey mustard chicken sausage covered in a mountain of cheddar cheese, pineapple slices, and corn—yep, corn. The key ingredient that holds everything together is the Thousand Island sauce drizzled on top—just be careful that you don’t get sauce on your nose when you bite in!
Oh! My Dog!, Shop 2, G/F, Victory Garden, 153 Tai Loong Street, Kwai Chung | (+852) 3105 1991
Neighbourhood snack stalls offering made-to-order food is a dying breed in Hong Kong, but I Love Snacks in Sheung Shui is still going strong with their local favourites and, of course, hot dogs. You can find chicken wings, fried drumsticks, and pork chop buns on the menu, but our focus is on their Crazy Evil Cheese Hot Dog ($46). Fanciful name aside, their sausages are filled with cheese and burst with hot juices when you bite into them. Because of the “crazy” amount of cheese on top, I Love Snacks serves the hot dog in a plastic box so things don’t get too messy!
I Love Snacks, Shop B, G/F, Back Block, 184 Jockey Club Road, Sheung Shui | (+852) 9700 2828
Having lived in Hong Kong, Beijing, and London sure is a fun fact whenever people try to guess Ching’s accent. She loves switching between all these language channels and her “mother tongue” is just determined by how many drinks she’s had for the night! She loves movies, travelling, and exploring cities, from hidden alleys to gourmet dining, so feel free to hit her up if you need any suggestions for dinner!
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