I'd been looking forward to eating at Japadog since I'd heard about it a month ago, but sadly it didn't live up to it's expectations. I'm a big hot dog fan, and was hoping Japadog would be similar to the NYC based Asiadog. Sadly, I was wrong. I wound up getting the hot & spicy dog as well as the Robson exclusive avocado dog. The avocado dog was far too rich for me and I ate only half before throwing it out. I couldn't even taste the sausage, it was just cream cheese and mayo. Both of which I can handle, but not in absurdly large doses. The hot & spicy had too much "spice" and was another instance of me being unable to taste the sausage. Thankfully I'd ordered the sauce on the side, so I did manage to finish the hot dog without burning my tongue, but I found it rather lackluster. The dog was grilled to an extreme and had no flavor other than char. Maybe that's why they load them with so many toppings? For such a high price tag ($5-$7) I really needed these to be better. Costco has better hot dogs for less. But I guess it's really more of a 1.5 than a flat-out 1, not good either way, but not the worst. I could've made better dog choices, so I'd be willing to give Japadog another chance if I was in the area, but my hopes for better are unbelievably low. read more

Japadog - Avocado dog. - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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First time trying a japadog. I got the kurobuta which had a sweet flavour to it and overall a really good twist on a hotdog. Great for a quick lunch and it won't disappoint. Note: Cash only. read more

Japadog - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Visited the storefront 2 weeks ago for a quick dinner as it's been a while since I've had Japadog. Ordered Kurobuta Terimayo and Oroshi with Butter and Shoyo shake fries. I enjoyed both dogs (I didn't eat 2 hotdogs to myself, we took a few bites of each other's :P) but the Terimayo does have a creamier and more flavourful punch that is likely to be better liked by most because who doesn't like teriyaki sauce and mayo? The grated radish with soy sauce on the Oroshi was refreshing and felt more exotic on a hotdog. It seemed more influenced by traditional Japanese cuisine and made for a good balance of flavours as the radish cuts the greasiness in each bite. Butter Shoyo shake fries reminded me of Honey Butter Chips mixed with not the best batch of McDonald's fries if that makes any sense. The flavour was not bad but the texture of the fries weren't the best. Overall a good, relatively quick, meal. Storefront not recommended for people who sweat easily in hot places though as it was quite stuffy inside and not much seating outside or nearby. read more

I don't eat hotdogs often but when I do, it's a japadog. It gives me great pride to say that this is a Vancouver original. I've never before had such a delicious dog, customized using japanese flavours, suited to North American tastebuds. This brand is a major tourist draw and often times means line ups. The dogs here will typically run you under $10, not bad for such a unique and delicious meal. It's a nice big hot dog, loaded with your choice of japanese favourites. The Good: So far...everything on their menu The Bad: No complaints, except for the lines but hey, that means it good. Best Bet: It's definitely on my must try list for anyone visiting Vancouver or a resident, you'll definitely enjoy it. read more

These hot dogs are so unique and delicious. I would totally come here again!! Staff is friendly and the service is very fast.

My bf and I came here in the wee hours of the morning so there was barely anyone in there so we ate in peace. It's too bad we weren't too hungry because I would have ate about 3 more of these. Terimayo: Of course I need to get their most popular dog. It's so simple: mayo, terriyaki and seaweed. It was heaven on a bun. I liked how they also grill their buns as well. That hot dog snap though...OMG... That's what makes a great hot dog. Spicy Cheese Terimayo: Basically the same as my hot dog but with cheese and a kick of spice. Great place to grab a bite. Don't make my mistake and only try 2, try them all! read more

They charged me TWICE on my credit card. Firstly the young lad behind the till didn't even know what day it was, I asked for onions which seemed to be the strangest request on the planet!!! So the problem is he rang in the wrong hotdogs for me which were much more expensive and I only noticed after I had paid and looked on my receipt.....he then said he had cancelled the transaction, which I thought was strange as if it were going back on my debit card I would have needed to enter my pin again....I hadn't done that. So he then rang it ALL IN AGAIN and I paid all over again, checked my bank when I got home and of COURSE he had not refunded it. Idiot! I now have to go back down there and try to explain all of this to them in a foreign language (English) which is really inconvenient as I don't live downtown and it's not cheap to park! Also the place needs gutting, the table and chairs are so awkward to sit in, I had someone's back in my face the whole meal. Clear out the bulky chairs and put some clean ledges, no one knows where to queue up and the guy behind the till was utterly utterly useless. I also don't really get the deal with Japadog, I've been a few times now, always an incident in there with something.....either a ridiculous wait, wrong order, double charged....i've had enough. The hotdogs are only OK, the chips are awful, what's the big deal..it's an average overpriced hotdog? The one's at IKEA are miles better for 50 cents. read more

I heard about this lovely little place from a friend of mine who also came to the BC area on vacation and let me tell you, the hot dogs here are some of the most delicious I have ever had the pleasure of eating. I was with my family and we were starving and decided to give this place a shot and when we got outside of it it was already pretty packed. There aren't very many seats (the only reason this place isn't a five) since it's already pretty small so you might have to wait for someone to vacate or just order togo. We ordered the kurobuta terimayo and the meat love dogs and a side of their shaken fries. The kurobuta terimayo was topped with some seaweed, teriyaki, and Japanese mayo so it was the perfect balance of sweet and savory. The meat love had cheese and pork on top. The fries were mixed with a soy sauce powder. The buns were perfectly toasted and the hot dogs had a satisfying snap back when you bit into it. All in all, I would definitely recommend this place and am definitely coming back if I'm ever back in the BC area. read more

haha. So honestly, as an American I feel uncomfortable saying the name of this restaurant, as it sounds very close to a racial slur... but damnit. The hot dogs are good here. let me be clearer- not only is it UNIQUE, but they execute well! I know of so many places that try to replicate japadog, but they usually fall flat! My art professor in college once said, "Art is art... but ugly is ugly." You can be unique... but still taste ugly haha. But my friends, this place tastes WONDERFULLY BEAUTIFUL. Seaweed, mayo, flakes, oh man. Who would have thought? But put it all on a juicy plump hot dog... euphoric. ALSO make sure to get the fries there. I got the soy sauce and butter fries... OH MY GOD. so rich. So good. So umami. gah. Only thing that is a downer is how small the place is! Hard to sit in there because the line fills up the whole place! read more

Never thought the combinations of hot dog and Japanese food. But it was so good! Definitely worth trying them!! read more

Japadog - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Yay! Finally got to try the famous Japa Dog!!! I like the idea of being able to sit down to eat and having a place to wash your hands afterwards. So, I am glad Japa Dog decided to open up a sit down type place. My husband and I ordered three different types of hotdogs and two orders of fries. My favourite of the three was the teriyaki mayo one - it was the saltiest and most flavourful. My husband enjoyed the Oroshi the best since he is a fan of bratwurst. In my opinion, the oroshi was a little too bland for me. The third dog we had was Okonomi. I wasn't a huge fan of the hotdogs but then again, I never was a fan of hotdogs to begin with. However, the order of spicy fries was yuummmy!!!!! The other order of fries - shoyu and butter was good but ... weird. The fries tasted like popcorn because of the butter flavouring. After a while it kind of became a little sickening ... but still good and less sickening than actual movie popcorn. But, we would not order again. Cool concept and a fun place! read more

japadog has been on my bookmark since Anthony Bourdain stopped by this place...but man...i don't understand the hype. got the terimayo dog and the yokisoba dog. the terimayo dog was sadly saucy and the yokisoba dog was overpowered by the yokisoba. we also ordered the regular fries and the butter and shoyu fries....and honestly we couldn't taste the difference. disappointing stop in vancouver...not worth a stop if you ask me... read more

Japadog - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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Small place. Seating inside but not meant for large groups so don't come here in large groups or you may end up standing. Paid $7 for a pulled pork hot dog. It was delicious! Bread was good. Meat was good. read more

Japadog - Pulled pork with cheese on it - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Always gotta stop by Japadog at least once every time I'm in town. There's vendors all over the city but this is their only store front. "Negimiso" wasn't all that, just a hd w/miso sauce & shredded cabbage. The "Love Meat" was better (meat&cheesy) but the best one is the "Tonkatsu." It's a deep fried pork cutlet inside a hd bun w/fresh cabbage. "Butter & Shoyu" fries are #1 & "Shichimi & Garlic" fries takes second place. Place is extremely small and always packed so be prepared to wait in line. read more

I've discovered my favourite Japa dog, and it doesn't even have meat! A must, must try is their Choco Banana sweet dog. Wow, wow, wow. What a brilliant Japanese-engineered work of art. Perfect dougnut-like 'bun' sprinkled with sugar contains a chocolate dipped banana for the 'dog' and for condiments: whipped cream. What a superb combo of textures from outer to inner. You experience the soft, warm fluffy bun, the crunchy crackle of the chocolate coating, and the warm banana in the centre. I was tempted to go for the Age Ice dog (Vanilla ice cream on sweet bun). I ask again, what will the Japanese come up with next?? read more

I don't consider myself a particularly critical or picky eater. I love me some hot dogs once in a while. However, I will say I tend to prefer foods done the traditional way. So, this mentality probably plays a factor here. Sorry to rock the boat, but I think Japa Dog is the most overhyped overrated thing in Vancouver. I have had a couple of varieties of their Terimayo. Sure the Japanese flare is visually interesting, but I didn't think it was anything special or tasty. Also, the weiner is TINY (lol) and wayyyyy too salty. Not to mention the line! The price you pay is also kind of ridiculous. I'd take a big hearty dog with just ketchup and relish over this any day! I guess if you're tourists in town and want to try something that's unique to Vancouver, hit up Japa Dog. Otherwise, I don't see its appeal. However, their fries are good, especially that one with the dried seaweed bits on it (don't remember the name). read more

Came to the store location this Saturday afternoon on a hot dog taste-off. We decided on Japadog and Costco's food fair to satisfy our hunger and provide us with a random variety The store was busy as always but thankfully people wait in the seating area and so there is still room to line up to place your order. We ordered a turkey negi miso and a beef terimayo. There was of course a wait but thankfully it only took ~10 minutes. Our buns were over toasted and were crunchy to eat. I dislike that the wieners are sliced so the juices run out and you're left with a salty generic dog. My turkey negi miso had grilled onions, green onions, and a splash of miso sauce. It was okay but not something I would want to pay $5 for again. My co-judge's beef terimayo had too much nori and mayo for her liking and so we were both left slightly disappointed. I don't know that I would return and think I'll leave this one for the bazillion tourists who consider it a 'must visit'. read more

If your visiting Vancouver this place is a must! Who the hell puts Ice cream in a hotdog?? Japadog does!!! I played it safe when I came here.....they hotdogs were just way too crazy looking lol I ordered the meat juice and cheese one...or something like that. Yup, greasy goodness...yum!!! The cool thing is that each location has a different menu!! Definitely a place to try! read more

Interesting version of a hot dog, but I rather stick with my normal ketchup/relish hot dog. This place is cool to try, but I rather eat the shake fries here. I got to try the Terimayo Japadog, the Aonori shake fries, some other spicy flavored shake fries, and a melon flavored soda with vanilla ice cream (same concept as the root beer float). The terimayo japadog tasted ok, basically a hot dog with mayo and seaweed. The spicy flavored shake fries were tasty, but the aonori shake fries could have used more seasoning because I couldn't really taste the flavor. Skip on the melon flavored soda, unless you really want to try it. Note: They recently opened a Japadog in NY. read more

Big let down. It's much smaller than the pics and in it's signs. The power of close up shots is that it makes certain things look much bigger than it is. They are really just snack size. There's a great legendary story about the restaurant in where the owner only had a hot dog licence and was not able to sell Japanese street food like in Japan. The concept is great, I guess that's why they can charge so much. I got the original which I don't recommend. It just tasted like an hot dog with kim chi and seaweed. Very disappointed at the portions so had to go to Gyu-Kaku which is sooo good. Check out my review there. One thing that I have to give Japadog is that they have a lot of very creative menu items with good graphics so I will have to try those. Food 3.5/5 Service 2/5 Ambiance 1.5/5 Value 2.5/5 ========= Overall 2.1/5 read more

A trip to Vancouver would not be complete without trying a Japa Dog. The concept is clever, and very Japanese, in taking a simple concept (the American Hot Dog) and adding Japanese flavors to create something unique. The Okonomi dog was solid. This Kurobuta (Pork) dog is topped with okonomiyaki sauce, fried cabbage, Japanese mayo, and bonito flakes. To be critical, the dog itself is nothing special, but the combination is creative and tasty. The bun is lite, like most Asian breads, which I like. Overall, this place is probably a 3.5 star, but I rounded up for creativity. read more

Well, even Anthony Bourdain approves of this place. So it has to be good, right? Damn right he is. Japadog is reputed to be Vancouver's icon for street food. These Japanese-style hotdogs are sold in many food trucks across downtown but they have one store on Robson St. I don't each much hotdog and in fact, before going to Japadog, I probably haven't had a hotdog in several years! But this place admittedly put me back on track to incorporating more delicious hotdogs in my life. The place was busy was extremely busy with people standing in line to order and then waiting for the hotdog to be freshly made. As authentic as can be, this place is run by employees with a native Japanese accent. I got the tonkatsu dog. The "dog" was breaded pork cutlet deep fried until crispy and despite being smothered in the sweet tonkatsu, the outer skin of the "dog" still maintained its crispiness. The condiments were white and purple cabbage with Japanese mayo. My husband had the yakiniku dog which came with a sausage, sliced beef, and rice on the bread roll so be sure you have a big appetite if you want to get this. The shoyu fries ain't your regular fries. They're flavored with butter and shoyu (Japanese soy sauce), deep fried until golden brown, and immensely packed with the umami flavor. Not gonna lie... it will probably shorten your life by a year after eating it... but damn, it was good. Get them anyway. You don't have to finish them up if you don't want to. read more

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Went today after the Gay Pride Parade around 2:30 pm and there was a short wait outside the restaurant. I would say the wait to order was 10-15 minutes and then 5 more minute to receive your order. I ordered the Okonomi (Kurobuta Pork) with fried cabbage, sauce and bonito flakes and it was very good. The drizzle of wasabi mayo I added from the condiments counter added quite the potent zing, which was welcomed! The mini dill pickles, hot peppers and sauerkraut were available too. Likes: faster service than the food carts, styrofoam containers for your dogs, friendly efficient staff Dislikes: tiny eating area, not as many flavours offered as I hoped for in a retail location read more

I have Tried many times and love their dogs. I must admit when I went to the restaurant location on Robson location I felt like something was missing. Typically I order a Terimayo fish dog but was very surprised to find out that the Robson location doesn't carry them. Instead I had a veggie Terimayo but it just doesn't have quite the same pep. I thought I could at least get by with lots of wasabi mayo and a cold refreshing Ramune. As it turns out, this location doesn't have Ramune either. So as much as I can normally rave about Japadog to others, I might have to suggest you try the very friendly staff curbside on Burrard as opposed to the sit-down on Robson. read more

One of my friends kept raving about Japadog in Vancouver so I had to seek it out when I was visiting. My expectations were high because of her glowing reviews and I love hole-in-the-wall places. After trying the Terimayo, I was slightly disappointed. I struggled to understand why anyone would pay more than $2 for a hotdog AND then wait 10 minutes for it to be prepared. I really don't understand this concept... read more

solid place great changing menu... seating is cramped and they don't take ammex. the food makes up for the lack of those ammentities read more

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JAPADOG had me barking for more on all fours. My friend and I howled our order consisting of the Kurobuta Terimayo, Love Meat, and Butter & Shoyu Fries. There were so many different combination of flavors and ingredients, which I didn't imagine was possible on a hot dog. We wolfed down everything in seconds. One would think that the heavy meal would be ruff on the stomach, but everything settled down pretty easily. read more

Japadog - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I sometimes stop and grab a Japa dog from the cart before a movie. Well if the line up isn't ridiculously long I do. As far as street food goes it is worth the coin. My favorites are the Okonomi featuring bonito flakes and the Terimayo with dried seaweed sprinkles and mayonnaise. The toppings are all so original and tasty. You really can't go wrong with which one you choose. When they announced they were opening a store front only blocks from my house I couldn't wait. Since they have opened I have only been here twice. For some reason the dogs are not the same. They seem a little dried out, a little too chewy. Maybe the street BBQ holds in the moisture better than the open grill. However, I am not an expert in these matters, I just know that I don't like over masticating my food. New additions offered at the store front include ice cream fried hot dog buns and flavoured fries. I have not tried the ice cream dogs yet. I did try the fries and they were pretty good. If you get a combo it comes with fries a drink and a dog for under $9. Not the healthiest of meal options, but it is an option if you want something tasty in a hurry. read more

Don't go into Japadog expecting a short lineup. Japadog is ALWAYS busy. However, the staff make up for it with efficient, friendly service. They are always working as fast as they possibly could be in this tiny shop so try to be patient! And the food? Well worth the wait! Everything is freshly made and loaded with toppings. There are also plenty of options for vegetarians. I recommend trying the terimayo veggie dog with the butter and shoyu fries on the side. Deeeelicious! My only issue with Japadog is the space itself. It's not very pleasant to eat in if you don't manage to score one of their coveted sidewalk seats. It gets really hot and steamy inside the store itself. Overall: Food and service? 5 stars. Atmosphere? 2. read more

Ahhh, I was homesick for Canada on the other side of the Pacific, and of course where do I eat on my first week back? Japadog, of course. I got there during a lull in the service, with only one couple ahead of me in line, and nobody in the seating area. Lucky me, because I have performance anxiety eating in front of an audience! Just as I was finishing up my meal a dozen people crowded into the store, and circled hungrily for my table. The Terimayo was everything that No Reservations had made me dream of, soooo messy to eat, but so worth it. There was maybe a tiny bit too much onion inside because it was slip-sliding all over the place, and all over my face. The Tonkatsu was a good mix of textures and temperatures, but a little chewier than I expected. Overall if I had to rank it I'd say it was the second most delicious portable bread-cabbage-pork item I've eaten. The new Shichimi & Garlic shake fries are delicious on the flavouring, although they're also cough-inducingly spicy if you inhale at the wrong time. The fries themselves are... okay. They remind me of slightly cooled off McDonalds fries, and weren't really worth me stuffing myself past capacity to finish. But for the record, I love no fry more than the fresh out of the fryer hot and perfectly timed McDonalds fry. read more

Japadog is seriously some kick - ass hot dog place. I'm so glad they have a food truck down here in Los Angeles. The store in Vancouver is such a unique place filled with a few tables and tons of chairs. Seating is up for grabs, so I suggest having friends wait in line while someone grabs the tables. Unfortunately, they were out of the avocado dog when I got to the place, so I ended up with one of their main, popular ones. The flavors were just so juicy and out of this world. Combining a hot dog with a Japanese twist is so genius. I heard they opened up one in Santa Monica Pier and am so stoked to go check them out. If you are in Vancouver though, definitely eat at this place. It's worth your time and money.. plus the combinations are just so unique! read more

Ordered their number 2 hotdog with chicken karate. The fried chicken was a little bit sweet for me, as normally it would just be crispy with light seasoning. The hotdog was fantastic! It did has tons of flavors. Would love to come back again to try other hotdogs and their desserts. read more

Japadog, whose name is one letter away from being a racial slur, was itself very offensive especially in my wallet. I was hyped about it when I learned that we were staying near it. So, I decided that I would never leave Vancouver without trying it out. My cousin, GF, and I went. I was so excited! The menu was so diverse, but I balked at the prices. Goodness, the cheapest hotdog was about $5, and that was without any fries and/or drink. I am committed though so I ordered the yakisoba dog. It was a hot dog topped with yakisoba. I was hungry so I picked the one that probably has to most topping. Also, I ordered fries with that. I got supposedly their most famous one, the butter and shoryu. When it arrived, I was a bit disappointed. I was expecting a big hotdog. I should have known better since it was a Japanese hotdog. It was underwhelming. First, the good thing about the hot dog was that it was not salty, but it lacked flavor. I was hoping that the yakisoba would add flavor into it, but nope, it lacked some sauce that the noodle itself added to its blandness. The shredded ginger was nice, but it would have been better if the yakisoba itself had more sauce. As for the hotdog itself, being a Japanese hotdog, I should have known better that it would be smaller to what I am accustomed too. It was bland. The nice thing was that it was not too salty. But, I would rather have an American hotdog since it is usually bigger and more flavorful although they tend to be salty. But, nothing compares though to a German Bratwurst that is big and juicy. Thinking about it just makes my mouth water. Maybe Japadog can use a bigger hotdog, but I doubt it. Japadog was just born that way. As for the fries, it was really good. They probably used powerdered butter seasoning. I was just so tasty. There was another seasoning that I couldn't tell. It was unique. It was a new experience for me. The fries redeemed my visit here (hence the 3 stars). Maybe they should name this place japafries instead since I will surely return for the fries and not the hotdog unless they change their hotdog or add more sauce to their topping. So, Vancouver, if I ever come back, I will surely visit japadog to try out the other fries. I would probably skip the hotdog. read more

+ Kurobuta pork is super tasty ~ I like the Terimayo more than the Okonomi + Open late! read more

I think this place was over-hyped for me. I came here because of word-of-mouth recommendations, didn't even bother seeing what yelp had to say. Maybe it's a novelty for some people, but the actual food wasn't that good. I got a ebi-dog, signature japadog and the french fries flavored with butter-shoyu. It was just fries with some popcorn salt dumped on it. I wanted to give it a better review, but I got nothin'. Don't plan on eating in, even though it rains so much in Vancouver there are only about 6-8 tiny tables indoors and two small tables outside. read more

Good food just bad service and it's very dirty. I just hope they clean it up at least. My cashier was just plan rude to me and my boyfriend when we were ordering she gave a big sigh when we came in and sounded piss off it was unwelcoming. She didn't even gave us our order number and just kept yelling numbers so no one knows which order is which.... Don't go to this japadog if you want good service. read more

This review only goes for their Yakiniku Rice Dog. Before I start, I should mention that I love rice and if I could, I would live off of it. What I think about the rice dog? It could have been better. The beef was tender, juicy, and had great flavor, but it was too salty for me. The hot dog itself was delicious. Juicy with a nice skin. mmmmm.... The rice "bun" was a disappointment. It was rice mashed together so it was mushy/soft and the rice lost it's texture, which wasn't pleasant to the palette. I was hoping that they would warm up the rice "bun" by crisping up the outside, but that didn't happen. I guess I expected too much. read more

Japadog - Yakiniku Rice Dog - Japanese Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Good hot dogs with a variety of Japanese toppings. I had the terimayo and loved it. Beef dog with teriyaki, seaweed, japanese mayo, and fried onions. Good stuff! I'd avoid the fries, you've had way better, even w/o the novelty seasoning. Read the rest of the reviews for tips, but definitely walk in if you live in or are visiting Vancouver. read more

Good variety of unusual fusion favors. Would try again when if we visit Vancouver again.

Had the tonkatsu hotdog and the ice age with black sesame... Yum!!!! Couldn't try their original hotdog because I went there on my last day. Next time for sure im going back again. Or maybe in New York, since they also have one over there. Also it was pretty cool that there was a blank employee who spoke fluently Japanese. How awesome is that? :) read more