A Hankering for a Haute Dog

poipu beach day in Kauai
Hawaii Aloha Travel > Blog > A Hankering for a Haute Dog

After a work meeting in downtown Honolulu, I had a hankering for a hot dog. Not wanting to settle for just any run of the mill Oscar Meyer, I headed over to Hanks Haute Dogs, the crème de le crème of dogs and a true wiener. I mean winner. Featured on hit TV shows, such as Man vs. Food; Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and named one of the “top places in the country to have a hot dog” by Bon Appétit Magazine; I knew I was in for a treat.

Chorizo dogs really get your heart pumping with excitement.

Henry “Hank” Adina isn’t your typical hot dog shop owner. For 12 years, he owned and ran the world famous and award-winning Trio restaurant near Chicago, serving up fancy fusion fare to hungry patrons. He then decided to take a more casual approach to dining and decided to move to Hawaii and open up a hot dog stand.

The man Hank, himself, serving up ono grinds, like these Duck Fat Fries!

Tucked away in the Kaka’ako business district, Hawaii residents and visitors can get an authentic taste of the Windy City’s finest beef in a variety of styles. Visitors can easily hop on a bus to this up and coming neighborhood or visit Hanks convenient Waikiki location, too. When I arrived, I ordered a “Fat Boy” and “Chorizo” dog for my boyfriend and I to share. The Fat Boy is wrapped in bacon, then deep-fried into crispy deliciousness before getting topped with mayo, tomatoes and lettuce. Trust me, the chest pains were well worth it. Craving a bit of spice, the Chorizo was a fiery, grilled dog topped with brown mustard, grilled onions and cilantro. We washed it all down with a refreshing and homemade liliko’i-lime soda.

A local favorite is the Hawaiian, consisting of pineapple relish, passion fruit mustard and grilled sweet Maui onions. The Daily specials are where things really get wild, though. Every day a special dog is featured, such as the Alligator Andouille, Buffalo Brat, Lobster Sausage and Duck Foie Gras, to name a few. Each dog is topped with its own tailor-made condiments and served in a fun take out box.

Hank illustrates where to find the good stuff in each haute dog.

I’m sure hot dogs aren’t the first thing on the culinary agenda when visiting Hawaii, but trust me when I say that this place is worth a stop. Whether you’re popping in after a surf lesson or taking your lady friend on a date, Hanks Haute Dogs will blow your taste buds away and leave you craving more.

HANKS HAUTE DOGS • 324 Coral St., Honolulu, HI 96813 & 2230 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96815 • www.hankshautedogs.com

TAGS CLOUD
No tags