With just a glance around at all the burger joints in Victoria, it’s easy to see that this town has no shortage of love for meat-on-a-bun-based cuisine. In recent years, Victoria has experienced something of a burger boom, with new restaurants like Bin 4 and Big Wheel Burger attracting lineups of hungry customers with a hankering for everything from the basic burger to gourmet variations.
So it should come as no surprise that the burger’s classic comrade, the hot dog, is following along in the same footsteps, becoming the next big thing for comfort-food craving Victorians.
The rise of the wiener has been slow and steady. Years ago, pioneers like Japadog, specializing in Japanese-themed dogs, proved that a hot dog could be more than a vehicle for ketchup, mustard, and synthetic bacon bits. Many other carts followed suit, like Victoria’s own Dog Nation and Sea Dog, offering up worldly selections for those with elevated tastes.
Now, the humble hot dog has risen from the ranks of common street meat to become a popular item in sit-down restaurants around town.
The aforementioned Big Wheel Burger has a classic all-beef dog on their daily menu and regularly features souped-up versions like the Big Chop Dog, made with salsa, mozzarella, and bacon.
At local watering hole The Sticky Wicket you can get a super-sized tube steak for three times the price of one you’d get from a cart. But, this foot-long doggie comes slathered in smoked cheddar, onions, and the obligatory bacon, all with a heaping side of fries.
New downtown hang-out Cenote Lounge has a menu that includes sandwiches, salads, and desserts, but there’s no denying that the stars of the menu are the stuffed dogs.
These indulgent concoctions start with a hollowed out baguette, surrounding a wiener of your choice, which is then filled with obscene amounts of cheese. Other toppings include tortilla chips, chili, pastrami, fried onions, and, of course, bacon. And just in case your dog isn’t stuffed enough, you can double the meat for an extra two bucks.
Looks like the burger had better step aside while this latest culinary bandwagon rolls through town.