So while I am not the biggest hot dog fanatic, especially compared to my relationship with pizza and especially burgers, I do enjoy a great hot dog every now and then (With Salty Dog forever holding a place in my heart). And just like burgers and pizza, when there is a different take on the classic food, I must do whatever to discover it. Hawaii has a unique take on hot dogs: they drill a hole in fresh Hawaiian bread, stuff the hot dog inside, and decorate it with fruity relish and condiments. If I ever were to win a random trip to Hawaii that would have been one of the first things I would do. Now, there is no need to go to the island state to try the unique hot dogs. We have a small upstart joint in Tourist Country that does the same exact procedure.
Kona Dogs is a new small place on International Drive that takes the Hawaiian recipe and introduces it to Floridians and Tourists. Using a reliable sign next to the institution, you pick what type of hot dog, what type of base sauce, what type of “fruit sauce,” what type of mustard, and then miscellaneous items that you may want to add. What makes these hot dogs very interesting are the fruit options that go with the meat: you can have coconut, mango, and even pineapple mixed in with your hot dog. The mix of fruit and frank might be a turn off for some eaters, but for the adventurous this is a great opportunity. I am one of those adventurers.
I ordered two Kona dogs, just to see if there are any differences depending on what fruit is involved. I ordered one with all the mango fixings and then ordered one with the pineapple fixings. It was just the owner and one other employee working the area. After a very short wait I got my two Kona dogs, and sat down in one of the few tables close by for consumption. First up was the mango Kona dog. Mango is one of my favorite fruits, so it was an easy pick. There are some foods in life that just are tough to describe. This is one of them. It’s a mix of good sweet with good meat with just an odd blend of savoring that mix well with the taste buds.
The Hawaiian bread is fresh, very thick, mildly sweet, and pretty much wraps the hot dog like a blanket, leaving only the head on the top. The bread is much, much bigger than the hot dog, but that will not deter you at all. All the fixings are embedded inside the bread, as opposed to usually sprinkled on top of the dog. The sausage itself is very fresh, quite good, but when compared to the mammoth quantity of the ingredients involved, comes off as almost underwhelming. You get so much “stuff” in this hot dog. The mango sauce was very mild, and never took over the flavor of the hot dog. It’s a nice mix of sweet and salty, and pretty much was what I predicted it would taste when I first saw it on Travel Channel. Good stuff.
Then there’s the pineapple hot dog, which turned out to be much better. For some odd reason, the pineapple mustard (That’s right, pineapple mustard) and relish was far stronger and more intense than the mango, and it definitely improved the overall hot dog by adding infinite layers of sweetness to the sausage and bread. I found my favorite Kona dog, hands-down. And with the prices being nice and cheap (Cash only, warning you), you will never feel ripped off. They also offer combos that include your typical chips and soda. And of course, beer.
Bottom Line: Kona Dogs is a nice down-to-earth institution that serves hot dogs in a very unique way. For those that love something unique and different, this is the spot for you—as you can mix hot dogs with mango, coconut, among other fruits. The place is small, mildly tough to find (Its International Drive, if its not giving you seizureistic lights, you will probably skip it), but once you find it, you won’t regret it. The owner turned this little spec of land into a little slice of Hawaii with Polynesian-like music, silly beach signs, and of course, their tasty yet unique style of hot dogs which I recommend you try at least once. You never know, you might be hooked.
Final Verdict: Recommend
Hula Dog/Kona Dog
6312 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
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