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    What Up Dogs

    5.0 (1 review)
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    Updated over 3 months ago

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    5 years ago

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    Destination Dogs

    Destination Dogs

    4.5(1.3k reviews)
    16.2 km
    $$

    I arrived in New Brunswick by train, which is to say I trusted the machinery of civilization to…read moredeliver me to lunch. It did. A short walk later, I found myself at Destination Dogs, a place I had seen in photographs that suggested capaciousness. In reality, it is smaller.  This is not a complaint, just an observation.  I remember once hearing something about the contents of small packages. At 12:30 the place was full. Packed with humanity and appetite. I was seated quickly, as if someone had anticipated my hunger in advance. From the bar came the sound of construction crews discussing their midday rituals. Apparently this is where they come on Fridays, to repair themselves while they repair the city. It explained everything. Service was swift and attentive, a minor miracle given the crowd. I began with a Scotch egg, an item that seemed to have wandered in from another story entirely. I ordered it for that reason. I had always imagined my first Scotch egg would be eaten in an English pub under low ceilings and older regrets. Instead, here it was. Perfectly crisp, warm, and generous. The universe does not ask for permission. Then came the main event. The menu is an atlas of hot dogs. Domestic. International. Proteins in tube form arranged like possibilities. There is even an invitation to build your own, which I accepted. I attempted to recreate a favorite from Crif Dogs, a thing called the Spicy Redneck. Bacon wrapped dog. Pickled jalapenos. Coleslaw. Simple in theory. Destination Dogs improved upon it in every way that matters. The bacon crisped with purpose. The jalapenos spoke clearly. The coleslaw behaved. The hot dog itself seemed proud to be there. All of this, plus a 16 ounce beer, cost me about twenty five dollars with tip. A small price for order in a chaotic universe. Five stars. Not because perfection exists, but because this comes close enough to make the argument.

    Listen, I have no real complaints. The food was great. The service was great. The atmosphere was…read moregood. But I am a fan of constructive criticism. I had the Gandolfi. It was delish but it could be improved with more or larger pepperonis. Also the sausage to bun ratio was off. Either make the sausage bigger or the bun smaller. Bottom line, you'll enjoy your food and beer.

    Photos
    Destination Dogs - Arcade area

    Arcade area

    Destination Dogs - The Oscar (LAX) - Chicken Sausage, avocado, tomato, red onion, chipotle mayo, microgreens

    The Oscar (LAX) - Chicken Sausage, avocado, tomato, red onion, chipotle mayo, microgreens

    Destination Dogs - Kansas City Beefs - all beef hot dog, BBQ pulled pork, coleslaw, scallions

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    Kansas City Beefs - all beef hot dog, BBQ pulled pork, coleslaw, scallions

    Monkey Thai Diner - Chicken eggplant

    Monkey Thai Diner

    4.5(31 reviews)
    4.4 km

    What Thai food dreams are made of…read more I first got hooked on Thai food about 20 years ago--grabbing takeout from random food carts and a tiny Midtown spot called Rain. One bite in, I was done for. Since then, it's basically a rule: if I see a Thai restaurant, I'm stopping. Over time I've graduated beyond pad Thai (growth), and I'm always on the hunt for the next standout dish. This past weekend, I found a hidden gem. And I mean hidden. Don't let the exterior fool you--it looks like the new owners took over a long-retired diner that last saw its glory days sometime around the Reagan administration. Inside doesn't do much to change your expectations either... very "vintage 80s diner chic," and not in the trendy way. Then you're greeted by a kid who looks like he's juggling high school algebra homework while simultaneously bussing tables, taking orders, running food, pouring drinks, and working the register. Absolute Swiss Army knife. Honestly, I've been to fully staffed restaurants that don't run half as efficiently. Now the food--this is where things get serious. I usually start with papaya salad, but I saw they offered soft shell crab for an extra $3 and thought, "say less." The crabs came out perfectly fried--crispy, not greasy--two generous pieces sitting on top of a bright mango salad with a light vinaigrette. Ridiculously good. For mains, I went with my usual benchmarks: beef pad see ew and duck in red curry. Both delivered. The pad see ew had a solid portion of Chinese broccoli, noodles cooked just right, and that perfect balance of savory flavor. The red duck curry? Rich, fragrant, and the kind of dish that reminds you why you fell in love with Thai food in the first place. No exaggeration--these might be the best versions of both dishes I've had in 20 years of eating Thai. And I don't say that lightly. I was just in Vegas and went off-strip to try a highly recommended Thai spot... this place beats it, easily. My wife agreed, and she doesn't hand out food compliments like participation trophies. At that point, we figured dessert was mandatory because clearly this place refuses to miss. Mango sticky rice came out and--shocking--also excellent. Sweet, balanced, and a perfect finish. Total bill was around $100, including a large Thai iced tea (also on point). Bottom line: this family knows exactly what they're doing. If they keep this up, they won't be "hidden" for long--they'll be packed with repeat customers who, like me, came for curiosity and left planning their next visit.

    Initial impressions, the interior is a lot nicer than the exterior. The thai iced tea was really…read moregood and you get a pretty large quantity for what you order. All the food came out hot and you could tell it was just made. However, items on the menu felt hit or miss. The tom yum soup, personally a miss, something about the smell of it was off which affected my taste. The roti in the roti thai style was really good and flaky, but the massaman curry was too thick. Drunken noodles were well made, and I had asked for spicy which the waitress gave us a warning that I might be "too much." However, it was quite the opposite and a bit below the spice level I was expecting. Also, felt like if you were ordering outside of their lunch special, the food is a bit expensive for what you get.

    Photos
    Monkey Thai Diner - Welcoming entrance

    Welcoming entrance

    Monkey Thai Diner - BBQ chicken

    BBQ chicken

    Monkey Thai Diner - Coconut rice and mango

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    Coconut rice and mango

    What Up Dogs - hotdog - Updated June 2026

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