Le Dog

Since restructured to only the downtown location — so really the one I used to frequent has closed.

I really do like the soup, but the staff is so rude that I usually avoid Le Dog. I used to love the soup so much that I asked if they sold containers that could be frozen. They told me that «you don’t freeze this soup» and refused to sell me more than two soups. They also do not let you get samples, even when there is no line. It’s a real life soup nazi.

ARMENIAN LENTIL — yes do it !! Its here right now this week — i waited and waited for it to take its turn again, this specialty homemade soup spot soooooo AMAZING !!! $ 6 CASH ONLY.
There is over 300 soups that rotate in and out — seems to me like the cheesy chicken tortilla is kind of a staple.
Monday thru Friday only 11:30 — 2:30 or til the soups sold out !
Best Lemonade too !!

I’m dumbfounded.
I’ve been to both locations, on and off, over the years, particularly when I don’t feel like cooking or hunting for parking again. There’s just nothing special here, folks.
Sometimes, I think I could doctor up a can of Campbells and make better soup. Actually, some of their tomato-​based ones taste distinctly familiar. And for the price, I better have some lobster in that dang bisque. But, oh, for a $ 10 lunch (cuz bread is obviously extra at a soup place!), you’ll even do one better and load me up a juicy styrofoam cup and ogle me if I take more than a napkin or two. The dogs are as equally unimpressive as the service.
For fun, I looked up your health department record. Shame on you! The same violations over and over again? If you’re not too concerned about temperatures, it might be time for me to reconsider our sporadic relationship anyway. I’m feeling generous so it’s 2 stars for now…

I finally tried the lobster bisque and I was quite disappointed. It was too thin, too salty and most of the lobster was claw meat with a rubber texture. With the rude service from an older gentleman and the only nearby dining option being with the colorful and pungent characters in liberty square park, I don’t see any reason to waste my dining dollars here.

Okay, yes, the lobster bisque is really good (so many chunks of lobster!). You can get it with a pretzel roll or bread loaf for another $ 1, and it makes for a light but filling lunch. I also got a hot dog with chili & cheese (which I know people have advised against!) & the bf got a Polish sausage, and they were both good!
Friendly workers!

Lobster bisque was fantastic! It’s still cold enough to appreciate a steaming bowl of soup (especially if you’re eating outside like I was).
I think I may have made a crucial error in not getting the paesano roll. Next time I’ll do better, and who knows, that may drive my rating up to five stars. We’ll see.

love it. seriously. i go there all the time and they always have something different. I have never had a soup there I was disappointed with. I can’t speak for the hot dogs, but I’ve been told that there are better in other places.
I have been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting for their winter closure to end. I wish it was open all year round :(

Whatever you do don’t get a hot dog at le dog!
The soup is always very, very yummy– spiced exquisitely. I really like the chicken tortilla soup and potato soup and pretty much every soup I’ve ever purchased from Le dog. If you’re visiting A2 on a weekday and want a quick bite, it’s a great option.
The reason it’s getting three stars is because, for what you get, it is overpriced. Six or seven dollars per soup and an additional dollar for a piece of bread. If I want to get their amazing lobster bisque and a slice of bread to dip into it, I need to pay eight dollars. I also have to cross my fingers and hope they ladle some lobster meat in there. Don’t let Ann Arbor’s hipster culture fool you, street food here is pricey! Also, it’s cash only, which I don’t understand. Get a square reader– it’s free and easy!
Anywho, Le dog is a treat. It’s very yummy. Also, tip: Their lemonade is made fresh and is delicious and, as of last summer, was only $ 1.50 for a large. Not bad, not bad.

Le Dog is the ultimate lunch place. It’s a small little shack that is only open for lunch during the work week, but if you can find the time to get there during its operating hours you won’t regret it.
I’ve never had a hot dog there (as far as I’m concerned… how good can a hot dog really be?), but the soup is wonderful. Today I got the curry chicken and I was totally delighted at the size of the portion (easily enough for two meals), as well as the quality of the ingredients. This was no cafeteria soup– the flavors were bold and the fresh vegetables, meat and potatoes filled me up within only a few bites.
My only complaint is that the lobster bisque sold out right before I got to the window! It’s only sold on Thursdays and Fridays… now I have to wait until next week to try :(

The King of soups as far as I’m concerned. Lobster bisque, mushroom n barley, cheese tortilla — all great hits. The bread they provide is a delicious edition (real fresh, soft inside with right amount of chewiness on crust).
Hotdogs are pretty good (3.5 stars?), but not something I’d get every time I go there. I don’t like a boiled wiener, so they already lose points with me there. The size of it though is huge. As big if not bigger than the newer large Costco dogs. The toppings are a win though (sauerkraut, cheddar cheese, chili, onions, mustard, ketchup all available — probably anything else in their kitchen if you ask, but I haven’t tried).

$ 8 for soup and a roll. And all the soups are exceptional.
Cabbage soup with ham, bacon, potato, and cream, or Oktoberfest soup with a pretzel, or pumpkin soup. The list goes on and on because they rotate soups every day.
Protip: Get something that sounds weird, because it is always delicious.

Le Dog is my jam for lunch. I get filled up on one soup .and 3 glasses of water. (I’m trying to diet over here)
I had the pleasure of eating their Lobster Rolls, which apparently they only feature 2X a year! That’s correct. you heard right. 2X a year. I’m told these rolls are not authentic per Maine & NE standards. BUT they were still the bomb.
soups are all delicious; you can’t go wrong here. I always seem to run out of bread. The crusty bread to soup ratio could closer to 1:1… but hey, you can always BYOB right? :)
Prices are on point, standard AA pricing.
Staff is outright surly and impatient with out-​a-​towners AND douchebags on their phone. but this is a hallmark of Ann Arbor institutions

In this frigid Ann Arbor weather, what screams «comfort food» better than a big, warm bowl of soup? Lucky for us, Ann Arbor boasts one of the most authentic places to get the perfect bowl of soup that is sure to cure any Winter woes. This tiny red hut with its sign reading «Le Dog» may not look impressive, but you’ll be impressed once you taste one of their homemade, original soup options. Whether you’re craving lobster bisque, butternut squash, or even pizza (yes, pizza!) soup, Le Dog is the place to go. A word to the wise– don’t think you can waltz in asking for Lobster Bisque any old day of the week. Le Dog has its schedule, and it sticks to it! With rotating soup options every day of the week, it certainly keeps its regulars coming back for more.
Le Dog has a system that’s been working for years. You don’t like it? That’s your loss. No credit cards, no samples, and no longer open for business once they run out of soup for the day. This knowledge has people lining up for soup before midday approaches, in fear of missing out. I know it’s cold out, but Le Dog’s soup is an quick fix. I’m getting warmer just thinking about it…

1. The Peanut Udon is rare, but is by far the best soup. Other delicious ones include the Bavarian Potato, the Italian Wedding, the Cheesy Chicken Tortilla, and the Lobster Bisque.
2. I wish they’d drop the charade of selling hot dogs — very few repeat customers go to Le Dog hoping to get a hot dog. As always, it’s about the soup, and boy are they good at it.

I was in town briefly to pick up my brother-​in-​law and bring him home for the holidays. I’ve eaten a bunch of great food over the years in Ann Arbor, and figured as cosmopolitan of a small town as it is, I could trust the Unilocal 4.5 stars. 4.5 stars!?!
This place was a real disappointment. The only reason I am not giving it 1 star is because I’ve only been once, and I suppose it’s possible something horrible happened before I got there and I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. That said…
I am disappointed in you, Ann Arbor Unilocalers! I can imagine the stars are mostly a function of drunken stumblers, but I assumed plenty of the inebriated would be from a city with a decent enough hot dog base line to know that these hot dogs are terrible. And yes, I saw all the reviews about the lobster bisque, but I was there on a Wednesday and just figured the hot dogs had to be ok.
And were that to be it, I suppose I would be only so disappointed. Except as a back up to the fact I didn’t see anything about the dogs when quickly skimming on my phone, I asked the guy at the shack about the dogs: were they good, were they all beef, were they Vienna or some other well known high quality brand? «Yeah, they’re good» with the dismissiveness that I clearly mistook for the arrogance of one who is disappointed in a doubter (4.5 stars!?!). I guess it was just the laziness of someone who wants to go home for the holidays. That’s cool dude, but I definitely should have chosen the noodle shop across the street.
I rarely do a review like this, but seriously Le Dog and Ann Arbor people — step your game up. The hot dog is nearly flavorless — I’d say a 2 out of 10. There has to be a better dog for the same cost out there for you to use, unless you are actively choosing the cheapest hot dog possible (which very well may be the case, and given that people keep reviewing you well, I guess you may be run by a MBA who got an A+ in capitalism class).
Oh, and the polish sausage, which I also ordered, is awful as well.

Finally. I tried the lobster bisque on Friday and yes, it is as good as rumored. What do they even put in it to make it so good?! The spices, the texture and viscosity, the lobster itself… That’s a good bowl of soup. Especially when you pair it with a pretzel roll.
I’ve also tried the white bean chicken chili, and it deserves two thumbs up as well. The only thing that pains me about Le Dog are the limited hours and that I can’t satisfy my lobster bisque craving on any days but Thursday or Friday. And cash only, too.

I’m giving 4 stars for the Lobster Bisque only… since that’s the only thing I tried… so, I had lunch and was walking by and they had Lobster Bisque and it was only Thursday… they now offer it for Thur and Fri… so not knowing when I be back in downtown, decided to try it… but I ended up taking it home and giving it to my brother-​in-​law… but I was able taste it and decided that I MUST have my own…
So, on my way to work, I stopped by with 3 minutes to spare before they closed and ordered two, yes TWO lobster bisque… I enjoy it very much… I love the rich creaminess of the soup! a winner in my book and something worth trying.

I am a soup fanatic and for $ 6 I can satisfy my cravings with some of the best soups I’ve ever had!
I also love how efficient this hole-​in-​the-​wall is. It is a model for what it takes to be a successful business. There is always a line at lunch, but the two workers inside the small red box keep waiting to a minimum.
My only complaint is the hours. They are only open week days for lunch. If you share a similar love for soup, you are extremely limited to this experience if you can’t try it out between 11:30am-2pm.

Mmmm. What’s the best soup you can get in Ann Arbor on a cold blistery day? You got it, Le Dog.
I was a little skeptical of this place at first. I mean, c’mon, it’s this little red stand on the side of Liberty Street, with a dog on the sign. It didn’t even LOOK like a place I wanted to go into. Yet, my brother raved about the soup there, so my friend and I decided to give it a try.
The first time I tried to go here, I was a little stumped about the hours. Seriously, only open for 3 – 4 hours of the day? How do you even stay in business? In between classes one day, I finally made it to this stop.
It was a Friday and of course, I had to try the classic: lobster bisque. My friend and I split one (it was pretty large) with a big hunk of bread and ducked into a building to eat it. Oh man, it was perfect for the cold day. Rich, warm, creamy, satisfying. And it actually had STUFF in it. (I always hate it when soups never have substance to them). I did think though, it was a tad too salty? (the second time I tried it, I thought the same), so having a hunk of bread to dip in it, is highly recommended.
I later tried the tortilla soup which was good as well, but honestly, I would just go back for the lobster bisque. Who knew, this little red shack had such amazing soup. Mmm. I don’t want to try the hot dogs; I’m happy with the soup.