The Dapper Dog

Recently a friend and I realized that Dapper Dog was finally back in Philly! Their truck is now located on Girard and Frankford, near the other NoLibs bars and trucks. Being huge foodies and fans of the dogs during those late nights of warm weekends past, we knew we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to go grab mac n cheese dogs last weekend (He also got a 2^nd one, can’t remember which one). When we first got there, the first thing we noticed was the very short menu. Most of the popular items and additions weren’t there. Then, a few bites in, we both wondered if the truck was under new management. The food tasted different, it didn’t look the same, and definitely fell off of our favorites list immediately… It was actually pretty sad and disappointing. Maybe this was just one bad night and it will get better…

Noticed you came back after they made the garden a free private club. That’s a good start. Now lower the prices of your dogs a bit for locals that got your business rolling. I’ll show ID to prove I’m a local/​neighbor to get a discount. Even the piazza bars gave a 20% discount to the residence when you show your key card even though that place blows and was run by slumlords. It’s the least you could do for us after we have to pick all the trash created on our streets. Not trying to be mean just a suggestion. Any food truck could roll up and steal all your biz with $ 3 dogs any topping. Food for thought.

This review is about the food truck, which is run by the store. First, anyone can boil or grill a dog, and cooking it the right amount of time is not rocket science. I give little credit for a hot dog tasting like a hot dog.
So, they load it with some stuff that tastes good. I do that at home too. Not too hard. And, it’s hardly special. Nothing impressive about what they whip up.
On this alone, I would probably have given it 3 stars. But to add insult to injury, they charge way too much. Six bucks for an average dog is nuts. Stop the madness! Save your money!

Tried them for the first time at Love Park. Very good hot dog. I had the San Jose which is a bacon wrapped dog with BBQ sauce, onions, and cheddar cheese. Very crunchy and delicious. I’ll be back.

I love these guys. I usually go for the Chicago, but last time around I tried The Duke, which was topped with pulled roast pork, provolone cheese and special sauce. The sharp provolone paired nicely with the hot dog and pork. So nice that I had two of ‘em … which I paid for later. Along with Hot Diggity these are the best wieners in Philly.

Awesome hotdogs. I loved The Chicago, an all beef hotdog served with mustard, relish, peppers, tomatoes, etc. Plus the dapper dog himself is a member of the tribe. Sababa!

What happened to the New Jersey?
When they first started, it was interesting and fun… but I have to be honest, the dogs are over priced, luke warm at best and their menu has gotten pretty boring. I miss the days when they rotated the food trucks at that spot. I especially miss the guy that had the illegal chicken stand.

When the dogs were $ 3.50 each they were a good value. In a world of $ 5 coffees, yes, we even pay $ 3.50 for hot dogs when they are as good as Dapper Dog serves. Now that they are $ 5.00/dog, the value is just not as good and hard to justify paying $ 5.00 for a hotdog sold from a cart, even when they are very good.
The bigger problem with Dapper Dog is that they are not open regularly. Sure, I understand going to festivals a few times a year, but you can never be sure if they are going to be open on a given Friday or Saturday, or if they have a full menu or not.
Consistency is sorely lacking.
If the Dapper Dog was open consistent hours and went back to charging $ 3.50, even $ 4.00 a dog, they could easily get a 5 star rating from me.

Seriously — I think I love you.
Follow @TheDapperDog on twitter to find out location/​times/​specials.
Like the Jersey girl I am… my favorite is the Jersey Dog. Onions, Peppers, Hashbrowns with a perfectly split hotdog on a roll.
The crew there late night (in the 2^nd and Poplar) location is pretty rad.
Oh and the mac & cheese is so worth getting a side of… so creamy.

With the Fourth of July coming up, my coworker and I were having an intense, highly intellectual conversation about hot dogs. That’s when it occurred to me that I need to review a really great hot dog I just ate!
I tried Dapper Dog at the Night Market at the Italian Market last week. I got the hot dog covered in Cajun mac n’ cheese. There is a little pool of drool accumulating on my keyboard as I write this, just thinking about the awesomeness of this dog.
While I really liked the toppings (obvi) and the price/​value of the hot dog (it was quite big and not badly priced at $ 5), it was the quality of the hot dog itself that drew me in. Most of the time I feel like I need to do a 30-​day cleanse after eating a hot dog. Not the case with this one. Tasted super high quality. I like that.

The hubby and I are hot dog fans in general, so this was a no-​brainer among the other food selections at ShadFest. I got the kielbasa and the hubby got the other hotdog they offered. Both had delicious toppings and they were reasonably priced for the location and all. I’m just glad this lunch truck exists and will def. be on the lookout for more delicious dogs at future festivals :)

Hot dogs! Late night hot dogs! Late night hot dogs wrapped in bacon and covered with cheese, chili and relish for only $ 5! Late night hot dogs wrapped in bacon and covered with mac and cheese!
Dapper Dog, I am so happy you’re back, and that you live in my neighborhood.

It’s hard for me to be totally honest in this review for three reasons.
1. I absolutely LOVE hot dogs
2. They are stationed in my hood.
3. I was pretty drunk when I ate my last dog there on friday night.
That being said, I really have enjoyed all the dogs I’ve had at the Dapper Dog whether they’ve been smoothered in chili and cheese, covered in pickles relish and mustard or covered in Mac and Cheese!

Before Dapper Dog I never thought I’d see a gourmet hot dog. And believe me when I say that I thought that food truck hot dogs would only be limited to the variety swimming around in hot dog water that you pick up for less than $ 2 on a quick fix.
At first I thought it was just the late night NoLibs appearances doing the talking. But seeing Dapper Dog at both Blocktoberfest and Night Market confirmed that their dogs have some serious bite! Can’t decide whether Chicago or New York style are the best? Get both and find out! Tired of all the ordinary hot dog toppings? Go with the Dolce Vita; or pile on some fried eggs, asparagus, or mac & cheese; and you’ll be feeling the bliss.
When it comes to getting your food fix, Dapper Dog does a good job a dishing it out big!

I must be missing something.
I finally got to the dapper dog during the trenton ave arts fest. I ended up going with a dog with cabbage slaw. Their sign didn’t list many exotic choices so I went with the thing on the top of the list. Maybe it was a limited selection due to them being inside the festival?
Anyway, the dog itself was good, but I know that I’ve had better. The slaw was crunchy and flavorful and I ended up adding mustard to it. Putting the dog and slaw on a Sarcone’s roll was what really made it for me.
I know I need to go back and try one of their more exotic choices. When I get back there, I’ll make sure to post a review update.

Somebody PLEASE give the DAPPER DOG the KEY to PHILADELPHIA?!
I’m serious, whoever is friends or sleeping with the Mayor of Philly (other than his wife) can you please tell him that Dapper Dogs is the BOMB DIGGITY!
FYI…
Urban Dictionary: Bomb Diggity -” Awesomeness in its purest form“
I only wish I could still drink alcohol (I’m diabetic), because I would have been able to seriously hog down at least 6 of these amazing Hot Dogs in a glorious drunken state… but even having these Dogs 100% SOBER was just as delicious!
— Chicago Style Hot Dog
(I have not been able to have one of these for years since moving from Chicago as a young child… My Childhood was in EVERY BITE)
— Mac and Cheese Hot Dog
(Sickly Good)
— Hot Dog MEAT itself (Tasted like meaty gold)
They have so many fun and funky options. My only wish is that they could open up their own little hot dog hut instead of their cart so I can fully enjoy their 5 star Hot Dog Meal in a warm and comfy setting in the winter time.
There is hope…
Totally worth the trip if your in the mood for a darn good Hot Dog!

Hubba-​Hubba!
God, I love late night eats! There is nothing better than getting your hands on something delicious and greasy after a night of drinking. (ahem. get your mind outta the gutter already!)
The stretch of 2^nd street between Brown and Poplar on Friday and Saturday nights is slowly but surely becoming a late night haven for street food. With the arrival of Pork Dork, the mysterious BBQ chicken man with his homemade sauces, Dapper Dog is the one responsible for starting the trend around here, and for that I say: Thank you.
Delicious dogs. Scrumptious rolls. Toppings galore. Woot.
Chili? Mac & Cheese? Asparagus? Mashed taters? Egg? You’ve got it here. And you can have it on your hot dog.
and after 2 am, you can have anything you want on a roll. Now that’s late night style!

It was close to 3am, and I don’t even know how I ended up here. It’s been on my mind for some time so I guess my subconscious guided me here in the inebriated state. (Maybe the Dapper Dog guys hire Inceptionist).
I get there, see the cart right away, stare at it for a while until he asks «Can I help you?» I said, I don’t know… what’s good. He replies «Right, now… I’d say the Dolce Vita». I think he meant that’s all we have left because it’s almost 3am. I’m low maintenance, so I agree.
I recall the roll being nice and chewy, even though we were at the end of the shift. The wiener was a good quality kind too. Yes, I could tell this through the sauce, cheese, pepperoni and cloud of drunkenness.
I can’t imagine any of the dogs being bad, but I look forward to returning with a clearer head and better decision making abilities.

In the interest of full disclosure, Seth, one of the co-​founders and operators of The Dapper Dog is a friend of mine, but the following is an honest and true account of my first experience at this fine, mobile establishment.
Whether you serve cheesesteaks, hoagies, sandwiches, or hot dogs, it’s the bread that makes or breaks your product. The guys at the Dog chose to go with Sarcone’s rolls, a hoagie roll, and a wise choice.
On my first visit, I wolfed down three different dogs. Yes, three. First up, I went for the Anything on a Roll for $ 5 option which ended up being The Mack (a dog topped with mac & cheese) with chili on top. Second, the Chicago style served with a pickle spear, relish, and mustard. And finally, my favorite of the three: a dog topped with potatoes, a fried egg, onions, and hot sauce. One of the dogs would have been enough, but I couldn’t help myself, and my judgment was a little clouded from the $ 2 PBRs at Silk City.
Long after the last bar has closed its kitchen, The Dog is your best option for late night eats in NoLibs. The menu choices are fantastic, but the Anything on a Roll for $ 5 after 2am is my favorite option. It’s a great alternative to the late night slice of pizza – I can’t wait to go back.

The Dapper Dog is a new hot dog cart that opened last night at the corner of 2^nd & Poplar (opposite the Standard Tap) — great location! Owners Seth and Harry are great guys, nice as can be, and definitely passionate about serving up great hot dogs.
Last night after some drinks at Standard, I went over with some friends for a dog. I got the «Moe Green,» a hot dog with asparagus, provolone and Parmesan — just blew your mind, right? It was awesome. Both my friends got to the Coney Island dog which is topped with chili, banana peppers and shredded cheddar. They raved.
They also offer: a Chicago dog with onions, tomatoes, mustard, peppers and a pickle spear; the Jersey Special with grilled potatoes, peppers, onions, and American cheese; a veggie sandwich with grilled greens and onions (cheese optional); and, what I’m most excited to try next, the Dolce Vita. This baby comes piled with tomato sauce, pepperoni, provolone, and parmesan. All of these specialty dogs are a mere $ 3.50, while a regular plain ol’ boring hot dog is just $ 2.50.
How — you ask — can they fit all of this on a hot dog and expect people to comfortably eat it on the street? Mere hot dog buns are a joke to the Dapper Dog — these guys use half hoagie rolls instead. Genius. Sides of chili, rice and beans, grilled potatoes, and green beans are also available (all $ 2.00). Sodas and water can be obtained for just $ 1.00.
While talking to Seth and Harry, they mentioned wanting to get a picnic table or some tables and chairs so patrons can sit and enjoy their tasty dogs. And starting this Monday, they’ll be offering up breakfast in the form of a fried egg and cheese sandwich or a cheese omlet with add-​in options of peppers & onions, mushrooms, asparagus and/​or pepperoni.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up.