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Schema interviewsJapa Dog | "perkily perfect" hotdogs | Vancouver
It is a rare sight to see a hotdog stand in Tokyo, let alone Japan. Which is odd, seeing that competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi of Japan has won the world record for downing hot dogs for nearly six years in a row.
Yet on the corner of Burrard and Smithe streets in downtown Vancouver, you'll find the JAPA DOG hot dog stand. The genius behind Japa Dog is smiling sensation Noriki Tamura, who used to be an ad salesman in Tokyo up until 3 years ago when he immigrated to Vancouver with his wife. He knows his hotdogs, after apprenticing at a traditional hot dog stand for a few months upon arrival. His red "Japadog" chef's hat? Rocks.
What makes Japa Dog hotdogs special are its Japanese fusion creations. Check out the "Japastyle Menu": Terimayo; Misomayo; and Oroshi ("grated"). The Terimayo satiates a craving with its all-beef hot dog smothered in Japanese soy mayo, thick teriyaki sauce, sauteed onions, and a generous sprinkling of nori (seaweed flakes). The Misomayo features a turkey hot dog dressed with miso-mayo, sesame sauce, and kaiware (bitter daikon sprouts that have a wasabi-hot "kick"). The Oroshi is a bratwurst frank loaded with special soy sauce, green onions, and grated daikon. Oh, shut up! It's all so gooood.
What's not to love? Especially when the website states, Japa Dog has "three perkily perfect versions." Japlish Forever!
Noriki Tamura with Ice Cube:
Japa Dog's Japastyle Menu:
Japa Dog's stand
Japa Dog Oroshi:
(Above photo credits: Ho Yummy)
Terimayo hotdog
(Photo source: Daniel Hsia - Flux Capatications)
Misomayo hotdog:
(Photo credit: The Ed-ition by Ed Lau)
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