New Robson eatery the latest from Japadog

[Spork]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

since i was laid off i was thinking of opening a hot dog cart - apparently its a huge thing taking off amongst laid off people in the states - anyway i was thinking of doing bollywood style hot dogs it could be a good niche

Oh god yes. Dooo it! I don't know if it's just me, but Indian food seems to be taking off quite steadily. I know that I love it myself!

[Yume-sama]

I predict Indian food is the next big thing.

[raggedy13]

I noticed there is going to be a new Japadog eatery on the south side of Robson, between Granville and Seymour. I took this pic of the outside a month or so ago but didn't know what it would be at the time. I walked by today and saw that the lettering on the window was finished and it spelt "japadog" down the left side:

[hollywoodnorth]

that's actually the 500 block of Robson. its between Richards and Seymour

[raggedy13]

My bad, you're quite right.

[Yume-sama]

Oh my God. It's like my prayers have been answered. I won't have to walk like 6 blocks anymore.

[Vancity]

Originally Posted by Yume-sama

Oh my God. It's like my prayers have been answered. I won't have to walk like 6 blocks anymore.

LOL

[SpongeG]

it looks like two spaces - walked past it last night

[delboy]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

it looks like two spaces - walked past it last night

okay i have to ask. What the hell is a japan dog?

[deasine]

Originally Posted by delboy

okay i have to ask. What the hell is a japan dog?

Japanese style hot dog. I don't know how else to explain it. Let's take one of their hot dogs for instance, they add Japanese mayo and all sort of other ingredients. Incredibly delicious.

[raggedy13]

Here is a pic, delboy. I highly recommend you try it sometime.


by stephenccwu at flickr.com

[raggedy13]

I wonder if this will come to be known as a signature Vancouver food icon, like what the cheesesteak is to Philadelphia, deep dish pizza to Chicago, smoked meat to Montreal, etc.

[gassho]

Delurking for first time post. Relocating to Vancouver next summer and a Japadog will be one of my first city-specific food forays. Can't wait to move!

[mr.x]

They were at UBC earlier in the week, these hot dogs are AMAZING!


BTW, they are opening a Japadog Restaurant next month at 530 Robson.

[deasine]

Originally Posted by mr.x

They were at UBC earlier in the week, these hot dogs are AMAZING!


BTW, they are opening a Japadog Restaurant next month at 530 Robson.

Not unless you had to wait an hour in the pouring rain... it's better when you don't have to wait =P

[Rusty Gull]

Am I the only one who is less than enthusiastic about Japadog these days? Prices seem to be on their way up, and the quality is iffy on some days. I had a very mediocre Japadog at their Waterfront Station cart yesterday - hugely overpriced at $7.

The menu at that cart only had three types available, and they were literally scratched onto a make-shift menu that was essentially a torn piece of cardboard. Very bush league.

I've also noticed that they have taken plain hot dogs off their menu (which was good for little kids who hate most condiments outside of ketchup, Japanese or otherwise). There was a bit of a xenophobic sign saying "please respect our Japanese hot dogs"...I construed it as a shot against American tourists who might be confused by the essence of Japadog.

Additionally, rumours about that the employees (mostly ESL students from Japan) are over-worked, underpaid, and generally unhappy.

I've said it once, and I'll say it again, people: The Olympics were the ultimate jump-the-shark moment for Japadog. This franchise is now in serious decline.

[sono65]

I would have assumed the exact opposite. Have you checked out their store location on Robson st.? I've been 3 times now, and it's been packed every time with enthusiastic customers. The employees were cracking jokes with each other and seemed to be having a good time. Doesn't look like their slowing down in the least.

[Yume-sama]

I've not been to their Waterfront stand. I wouldn't pay too much attention to any signs with questionable English... that's surely not what they mean, as they speak very little to no actual English, and probably meant something completely different. It's strange their menu would be limited, though I think the Waterfront location was supposed to have more of their "specialty" items like the Ume dog. They have quite a lot of copycats around town now, too! I've seen two carts selling "Japanese style hotdogs" and at the Calgary Stampede this year there was one lol. You can always order a plain hot dog, even if it is not on the menu. Yeah, they'll probably giggle at you, but so is the risk Like going to a seafood restaurant and ordering chicken. The Robson Store is always extremely busy, I almost feel bad for the people working there...! I have heard their pay is $12 - $15 / hour. You can make up your mind whether that's good enough or not.

Most of their employees definitely are pretty FOB Japanese Though they have a white girl working at Robson St. That was strange.

BTW, I have a hunch "respect" was meant to be "enjoy", lost in translation. Depending on how you write it in Japanese and type it in to Google Translate~ lol

[SpongeG]

the waterfront one is probably a franchised one, they've been offering franchises for a while now as a way to expand

[Yume-sama]

I don't know about that, but it is seasonal in that it's only there during the Summer.