I was getting off the bus at Metrotown today when I noticed a Japadog cart right near the entrance to the SkyTrain. Since it was going to be a couple of hours before we headed to Piva for dinner, I thought I’d grab a quick snack.
It’s been a few years since I’ve had a Japadog. Honestly, I don’t remember them being that big of a deal, which is probably why it’s been a few years. But I already reviewed a hot dog cart this week, so this seemed like a good chance for a quick comparison.
I got the wagyu bacon and cheese hot dog.
I’m a little suspicious of any meat product called wagyu that costs less than $100. A wagyu steak in a restaurant usually runs $200 or more. The first one I ever had, at a Vegas steakhouse years ago before it was really even a thing, was only $80, and it was sublime. I’ve had a few A5 filets since, and they’re always excellent. Are they worth four times the price? Probably not, but if you’ve never had one, try it at least once.
So how does a hot dog company offer a wagyu hot dog for as little as $6.99?
I’m guessing it’s not A5, the crème de la crème of wagyu. And I’m guessing it’s not Japanese either, where the whole craze started. So I’ll try not to think about what parts of the cow ended up in this sausage as I eat it.
First off, I’m no hot dog connoisseur. I don’t eat that many, and when I do, it’s usually out of desperation and usually something other than a basic hot dog, like the bratwurst I had at a stand in New West. That bratwurst was the impetus for today’s venture.
This hot dog was pretty tasty. I’m not sure whether that was due to the quality of the dog or how hungry I was. Either way, the combination of the dog, bacon (the best food ever), cheese, Japanese mayo, and a delicious bun made for a satisfying treat. The bacon was nice and crispy, and the Kewpie added great flavour.
Could I tell the difference with the wagyu? No. Maybe I could with a literal side-by-side against a regular dog, but on its own, it tasted like any other hot dog I’ve eaten.
Of the two dogs I’ve had this week, I don’t think either is better. Both were good in their own way. In a perfect world, I’d put the bratwurst from the first stand into the bun from the second to get the best of both.
Still, a decent snack before dinner.
8/10