After some agonized selection (we figured we could only try two between the two of us), she settled on the Menchikatsu Dog and the not-shown-on-the-website Okonomi. Together they came to $22.24 after tax.
It was interesting to get my friend's take on the Japadogs because she's Japanese. For starters, she recommended eating the Okonomi first, because she estimated it would have a subtler flavour than the Menchikatsu Dog.
Okonomi Dog
- Inspired by the Japanese okonomiyaki pancake, what you think of this Japadog will probably depend on your idea of what an okonomiyaki should contain. If you start with a blank slate about this, then this Japadog will simply be special for having bonito flakes on top.
- It is otherwise nothing really special. One thick and juicy sausage with toppings. If you can get bonito flakes yourself, then you can just make it at home honestly. After having tried it, I'd give it a pass for not being that special. There are surely more interesting Japadogs to try.
Menchikatsu Dog
- My Japanese friend's experience of menchikatsu is a very crunchy-on-the-outside beef patty with maybe a 60-40 beef-veggie ratio. The menchikatsu dog is basically that patty shoved into a hotdog.
- I did not find the patty to be particularly crunchy. Sure, the bottom part might have been softened by exposure to the veggies and sauce, but the top should have been fine and we claimed our freshly made order from the counter promptly. Certainly no fun crunch to be had here.
- The ratio of beef seemed quite high. Patty was reasonably juicy. Taste is okay but nothing special -- tastes like beef. Meh.
- I think if you've had a crunchy menchikatsu before, this might feel mediocre.
- The shape of the menchikatsu is quite short and wide, almost a ball or egg. And shorter than the hot dog bun. You might want to grab a plastic knife and cut it lengthwise, then shove the patty around a bit so every bit of hot dog bun will have some beef.
- Again I'd pass on this Japadog next time and keep looking for something more complex in terms of condiments/toppings.
For an outlet at McArthurGlen, I feel the ambiance of this diner style Japadog is severely lacking. Feels dark, messy, and like some kind of low-brow dive you might find in a Gastown side street. The predominantly black decor doesn't help either. Feels very out of place compared to the overall style of McArthurGlen even if you consider only the other eateries.
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