Japanese style hot dogs in Ctown: Fei Fan Eatery

[gourmaniac]

Frustrated by two ordering misses at China King's grand opening (petit opening really), I spotted a sign claiming Japanese style dogs outside the old Chinatown food court site (Beach at Harrison). The first floor is now a mini food court that includes Avana Sushi, which has been there for a while, a egg puff stand, and two new entries: Dumpling King and Fei Fan Eatery, both open a week or two. Dumpling king is inexpensive (12 boiled for $3) but they are just frozen bags of dumplings, which they also sell by the bag. They were giving free samples today (OK). Fei Fan however is intriguing. They offer 11 dogs topped with Asian ingredients (think Japadog in Vancouver) such as seaweed, bonita flakes, kim chi, black sesame, etc and a variety of sausages such as kurobuta pork sausage or beef sausage. I had the soba dog which was a 5 to the pound Asian pork weiner in a better than average roll topped with aonori, red ginger, mayo and teriyaki sauce and ...wait for it... stir fried soba noodles. The dog is not American and the mayo tasted like Kewpie. Also, noodles were freshly stir fried. The dog won't make you forget Speeds but its a nice change of pace for the neighborhood and they remind me of Korean street food. Also, they have okonomiyaki and takoyaki which would be great if they are well done. Now if we can convince Dumpling King to hire two nimble fingered grandmas to make their own.

[Science Chick]

With a nod to Kobayashi, do I have to eat somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 of them in 10 minutes? ;)

[mats77]

So for a hungry guy at lunch time: 1 dog or 2?

[Bob Dobalina]

Do you really need to ask?

[gourmaniac]

It's a good sized dog (5/lb or so) and with the toppings, one is sufficient for a normal (though perhaps not chowhound) appetite. This isn't a really great dog, just interesting given the Japanese toppings.

[lipoff]

Hi all,

Apologies for my absence from the board for a while, and the poor photo quality here, but I hope this gives you an impression of how large they are. They are pretty large indeed. I will admit to an unreasonable fondness for Japanese style hot dogs, so perhaps it will be no surprise that I really enjoyed them. I think it's an excellent dog, but the point of these hotdogs isn't the taste of the hotdog itself, but the taste and texture of all the toppings together. Think of like a Korean/Japanese-Chicago dog in that respect.

I was really sad when they were inexplicably closed at 9 PM on a Friday night last week, but they were open at that time on the Tuesday three days earlier.

Two hungry people could split three dogs (and try more toppings!) but I think one dog, especially when paired with a bubble tea from the Juice Bar around the corner, and a "wife's pastry" from Great Taste Bakery across the street, would satiate even a Chowhound. =)

[y2000k]

Can you or someone else enlighten me? We stopped by last weekend to check it out; we just ate lunch at Xinh Xinh so we didn't have room for a hot dog.

The woman at the counter told us that they're regular American hot dogs with Japanese-style toppings. Is that what a Japadog is too? I got an impression (from this post) that the hot dogs themselves are different than the usual american hot dog. (We conversed in Cantonese, so I don't think I misunderstood her.)

[tatsu]

That's what it is. It is not something people in Japan would be familiar with. The dogs themselves are normal dogs.

[bdachow]

I don't think Japadog is a regular American hot dog. I remember that one of them uses Kurobuta pork in the sausage.

[kobuta]

Yes that's what their sign claims when I had one in Vancouver, though admittedly with all the toppings, not sure I could tell either. But it sure was tasty as heck. The Japadogs are bigger than the one I recall getting at Fei Fan Eatery.

[gourmaniac]

I've not had Japadog in Vancouver. The one here is not a regular American dog. It has a much finer grind and is lightly spiced. I think it would be better with a good US of A dog like Pearl or Grote and Weigel. At this price point, it also isn't Kurobuta pork. By the way, Fei Fen has markedly dropped the price, now $3.99 (I asume for the hot dog only) which makes it more competitive given all the inexpensive alternatives in Ctown.

[kobuta]

Stopped by for a bite after a trip to ctown today, and had their #1 - hotdog with nori, mayo, teriyaki sauce and I think cabbage (?). I like the buns they used (not your typical hot dog buns), but the ratio of bun to dog/fillings was a off -- too much bun in this case. Maybe better with a dog that has heartier toppings.

Overall, it was tasty, though not quite as plump and well put together as a Japadog. The price included a drink and a side order of chips, so was pleasantly surprised, as it's not noted on the menu this is included. I literally had to squeeze into a table in the corner though, even with no other patrons, so wouldn't plan on sitting there unless you have to.

I look forward to trying other flavors, and I hope this place hangs around long enough. Even if it's not at Japadog level, I like the idea of something different like this, rather than another bakery/bahn mi/Chinese-seafood restaurant.

[barleywino]

It appears that regardless of whether you order a hot dog, the kurabuta sausage or beef dog, they give you a hot dog. Maybe this will change?

[gourmaniac]

Hope so. As they opened last Friday, I would give them some break in time. As mentioned, China King is a new place that opened this week and they lacked a number of ingredients. What did you think of the dog? RE sub city, it was not on the first floor at least.

[barleywino]

i liked the dog, it was large (not as large as Speeds of course), a bit softer and blander than most dogs around here (maybe from long cooking in the crockpot), with less of that casing snap that I like, but ok.

[y2000k]

Sounds great! I can't wait to try it out?

Off-topic, does that mean sub city is no longer there?

[lipoff]

Oh WOW, thanks for the tip! I'll have to check it out!

[tatsu]

Nice reporting, I saw a picture of their sign a couple weeks ago. There are a few articles on Japdog and a related stand in Portland or Seattle, can't remember. It is very much Japanese-Canadian food and not Japanese at all, but kind of interesting. I probably won't try it myself unless a friend wanted to have one and I was there. Still, it seems they are doing a good job of it from your findings and not some slapdash version of the original.

[gourmaniac]

The woman running it is of Chinese descent but from Japan. The weiner itself reminded me on ones I've had in Korea. It's really a small stand and a couple of tables. Agree that it is isn't Japanese. I'm hopeful for the Okonomi and Takoyaki though.

[cocoabrioche]

Serious Eats just had an article about Japadog in New York:
http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2012/0...