I love hot dogs. Korean hot dogs on sticks are no exception.
One nice thing that happened during this pandemic was my introduction to Chungchun Rice Dogs. I visited its first store in North York during our first lockdown and got so addicted that I returned three weeks in a row.
I was thrilled that another Chungchun store opened in Scarborough, which is still my closest location to get my fix. This store was larger and had new branding.
This past Saturday, I went grocery shopping at Sobeys Extra. Sadly, Sobeys stores are disappearing in York region, including its latest casualty in Vaughan. I had the option of going to its Richmond Hill or Aurora location, so I chose the latter.
After completing my grocery run, I was ready for grub. I was saddened to look across this plaza to find out that Wimpy's Diner had shuttered for good. It did not hold up during this pandemic. I have fond memories grabbing a bite to each before or after taking in a movie at the Cineplex next door.
Chungchun Rice Dogs caught my attention. I hadn't been to this plaza for quite some time. I have no idea how long this eatery has been open. I headed over to check it out.
There are parking spots where you can park for 15 minutes for fast pickups. Since I was placing an order for multiple hot dogs,. I knew that I needed a non-time-restricted spot. I found one and backed into it.
I always find it amusing when there's a Goodlife Fitness or some gym next to a bunch of eateries. You will never see me take out a membership and call a gym in this environment my local one. It is counterintuitive to work out and then want every food offering in the vicinity post-workout.
Chungchun is next to Philthy Philly's. I have been to the latter before. Had Chungchun not been open, I would have got a Philly cheesesteak with a side order of poutine.
I walked in. There was a woman off to the side waiting for her order. A man was ahead of me ordering. I was thrilled. It allowed me to look at what hot dogs I wanted.
When it was my turn, I got a helpful, friendly woman who took my order.
I got the following dogs and drink:
- Original
- Ramen chip
- Squid ink cheese
- Sweet potato
- Pineapple ade
I paid with a credit card. The machine worked fine. I also added a tip.
It was my first time getting the last two items. When I mentioned squid ink cheese, the woman's voice became louder with excitement. I've never had that reaction before. Maybe folks don't order it as much, but it's one of my favourites. The ramen chip is also up there.
I got my pineapple ade first. It smells so good. It comes in one size. It looks small, but it was the perfect size to wash a couple of hot dogs down. I waited till I got my order before consuming it.
It didn't take long for my order. The place calls your order number out, so you need to keep your receipt handy.
As for seasonings and sauces, I got sweet garlic seasoning on top of all my hot dogs. I love the subtle garlic seasoning, so it was a no-brainer. I got sweet chili and sweet mayo sauces on the side.
I thanked the woman, wished her a great day, and I walked out with my box of hot dogs and drink to my car to chow down in my car.
I had the sweet potato hot dog first. It was a first for me and I loved it. Think small sweet potato fries stuck on a Korean hot dog and deep-fried to perfection. Delicious! I dipped it in both sauces and each bite was yummy.
I then had the ramen chip hot dog. From the first time I ordered it, it has been one of my favourite hot dogs. I love the ramen bits on the outside that are deep-fried with the whole hot dog. The crunchiness contrasted with the plump hot dog is brilliant.
The pineapple ade is so good. It was sweet, but not so sweet that it's gross. It was refreshing and delightful. I loved it.
I had the remaining hot dogs today. I don't recall getting the original in my Korean hot dog journey, so I did just that. If you want a plain Korean hot dog without the bells and whistles of toppings, go for it. I thoroughly appreciated the rice coating around the hot dog dog. I dipped them in both sauces, so it was far from being plain taste-wise.
The squid ink cheese is so fun to eat. It looks like a squid when you hold it. The squid ink colour is cool. You get half a beef sausage and half mozzarella cheese in it. It's the best of both worlds. Yummy!
Depending on what you order, the hot dog can be beef only, a combination of beef and chicken, or a mix of pork and chicken. The menu is great in pointing out what proteins you get.
There are also vegetarian options. The last time I had one, it was the chocolate hot dog. The place now features mozzarella, marble cheese, and veggie hot dog varieties.
Aurora is becoming a hotbed for Asian good eats. If you're in this area, come here. The hot dogs are yummy and staff are super nice.
If you don't feel like ordering at the counter and waiting, this place is on Uber Eats. You can always order ahead and drop by to pick up your order.
(89) read more