When I'm studying for exams, it's inevitable that I succumb to stress and start a search for some good eats to calm my nerves and provide what little comfort that can be had during cram time.
I was at a friend's house again so I took to my yelp app and Buldogis came up. Something I always meant to try but never actually knew where it was. Less than 2 miles away, the decision became really easy.
When it comes to fusion dishes, Korean cuisine does a really good job of
adding great flavor and flair to other cuisines. When I came upon Buldogis Gourmet Hot Dogs, I knew instantly that the relationship between plain gourmet hot dogs and Korean food would be nothing less than exciting. This was very apparent when looking at the specials board.
It's hard to stay objective and try a regular item off the menu with such great choices in your face but cooler heads prevailed and we ordered the Beef Bulgogi Dog and Angry Dog.
When I usually order Korean food, I get Bulgogi, a thinly sliced marinated beef. This becomes my gauge as to the quality of the food to come, so getting the Beef Bulgogi Dog would of course be my measure of the quality at Buldogis. The dog itself had all the qualities I crave, great casing for bite with a well seasoned filling that was slightly spicy. It really lived up to the 100% all-beef gourmet description. The slaw was hidden somewhere in between the meat but can be classified somewhere between filler and vegetable contrast to the flavorful meat. The next layer was the Bulgogi. The meat was well marinated and had great flavor, maintaining a tenderness that stood it's own on the jam-packed hotdog. Although I stuck to a regular fusion item, I couldn't help but add Pork Belly Bacon. Call it my weakness. The pork belly were cut into squares with a good amount of thickness and had a slightly smoky flavor. I'll admit it was a little out of place, but I will never admit regret :)
The next dog I tried was the Angry Dog. Why soo angry you ask? Well it must be the spice, which coincidentally made ME soo happy. My personal favorite Korean meat to order is the Daeji-Bulgogi, a thinly sliced marinated pork. Again the 100% all-beef gourmet dog was perfect. The Daeji-Bulgogi was no different from the beef Bulgogi, marinated well with great flavor and tender meat. The slaw was again lost in the awesome flavors of meat but that's ok, we've gotta get all the food groups in after all! What I found different was that the spice from the Bulgogi and the spice from the beef dog actually played off each other and made the whole thing even more cohesive and spicy. Because I added the pork belly to the beef bulgogi, there was no doubt that I also wanted to add it to the spicy pork. You might think that it was too much pork but luckily they paired well together, two kinds of pork, one adding a little bit of fatty meat and the other lean marinated flavor. The spicy mayo and fresh jalapeno slices made an excellent addition over top, adding another kick of spice and contrast to the meat.
What are hot dogs without fries right? So we decided to order the angry kimchi fries. They were sweet potato fries covered in spicy bulgogi, kimchi, five cheese blend, a fried egg and fresh sliced jalapenos. As much as I loved each component of the dish, as a whole it never really came together. The sweet potato fries were a little soggy but overall were a nice change over the plain potato fries. The spicy pork was as good as on the angry dog and the cheese had great flavor. The Kimchi was a little more fresh than I prefer, but not everyone likes that sour taste you get from an older Kimchi, so that was understandable. On top the egg was a nice addition, I mean who doesn't like a little golden yolk mixed in here and there for some added richness? The elements of each layer kind of blended into a big mess, although a flavorful mess. Overall this wasn't a failure for me, maybe a bit disappointing after such amazing hot dogs...definitely ambitious though. They also have a Euro special with pork belly bacon, fresh herbs, cheddar cheese and garlic mayo. I will be more than happy to give that one a try next time!
If served alone, I would be happy to order a plain hot dog at any hot dog stand or marinated meat at any Korean restaurant. The fact someone thought of combining the two and presenting them in such a unique way with such great flavor just knocks it out of the park for me. Buldogis doesn't stop there either, they have a Vietnamese Banh Mi dog, and a Teriyaki dog, even a more traditional chili cheese dog, plenty of fusion to choose from. For less than $5 most items, you won't be break the bank and the servings are more than generous. I will definitely be back for more, mixing and matching meats, toppings and one of their many house-made condiments. A place I would be more than happy to Nurse that craving.
Buldogis Gourmet Hot Dogs
2291 S. FORT APACHE RD. #102 LAS VEGAS, NV 89117
(702)570-7560
