tl;dr while some menu items are overly ambitious and gimmicky, the signature Terimayo Kurobuta and the unique dessert lineup are well worth a visit to this zoo of a location in the McArthurGlen Designer Outlets Across Vancouver's eclectic food scene, few restaurants are as widely recognized as Japadog. Here, the menu unsurprisingly focuses on Japanese-style hot dogs featuring ambitious toppings like nori, bonito flakes, and even yakisoba. Founder Noriki Tamura brought his first food cart to Downtown Vancouver back in 2005, and Japadog has since expanded to countless locations across Metro Vancouver (as well as a cart on the Santa Monica Pier). Over the years, Japadog has garnered award after award, as well as hosted many a famous customer (from Anthony Bourdain to Ice Cube). We spent our final meal in Vancouver at Japadog's airport-adjacent outpost within the McArthurGlen Designer Outlets. All of the shops at this outdoor shopping mall are consistently buzzing, and this indoor, table-equipped Japadog location is no exception. The color palette sports a muted black-and-white with occasional pops of red. Warm lighting is focused on the expanded menu (which, here, even includes alcoholic beverages and ice cream desserts), stretching nearly the entire width of the restaurant above the ordering counter. The whitewashed walls are decorated sparingly with framed accomplishments and large posters of Japadog's most popular items. Black plastic chairs are pressed up to plenty of worn wooden tables, but securing a seat still can be a dice roll. Pop music blends with sizzle from the kitchen and chatter across countless different languages. Across multiple visits, my partner and I had the opportunity to sample many of Japadog's greatest hits and beyond. Of the topping combinations, our favorite was the signature Terimayo, featuring a sweet-and-savory combination of sauces to glue the salty fried onions and seaweed onto the dog. The Okonomi dog (inspired by okonomiyaki, Japanese savory pancakes) was decked with a sweet Worcestershire-based sauce, fried cabbage, and bonito flakes, culminating in a stronger but less dynamjc flavor than the aforementioned Terimayo. Lastly, the Yakisoba featured noodles that created more mess than flavor, but the salty pickled radish felt uniquely complimentary to the hot dogs. The franks were half-sliced to facilitate bites and maximize surface ares, and the buns were lightly grilled to a sturdy texture. Between the two different franks, we were most impressed by the juicy and flavor-packed Kurobuta pork hot dogs. In constrast, the slightly larger Wagyu beef dogs reminded me of a sophisticated ballpark frank, but I didn't think they were worth the premium. Meanwhile, the knuckle-sized Wagyu Menchikatsu was a deep-fried meatball of sorts that felt wholly awkward to manage on a hot dog bun. For sides, we very much enjoyed the Butter & Shoyu Shaken Fries. These extra-crispy shoestring-style fries were definitely elevated by the well-distributed seasoning. In contrast, skip the Meat & Cheese Poutine, which sported a one-note gravy, boring ground beef, and melted deli cheese. Of desserts, I most enjoyed the Age Ice with Black Sesame. The donut component was rich and crispy, while the ice cream was pleasantly sesame-y without going overboard sweet -- just be prepared to down it before the bread get soggy. The Omatcha Parfait fetured a sweet matcha ice cream and a less exciting vanilla scoop, both of which were which were enhanced by the many other textures of corn flakes, mochi balls, and jellies -- few places offer such a unique dessert in fast-food form. Lastly, the intensely tart Yuzu Japanade was a worthy beverage, delivering on its promise of a strong yuzu flavor. Service was efficient and professional, and all of the food was made-to-order. Prices range widely, but expect the Kurobuta hot dogs to cost about $7, while the Wagyu varieties are priced upward of $10. At these prices, Japadog admittedly feel more expensive that a standard fast food meal, and I wouldn't expect to ever fit it into my routine. But the best items on the menu are worth an occasional splurge, and Japadog certainly warrants a visit if just for the shear novelty. read more

Japadog - Terimayo Kurobuta (right) and Okonomi Kurobuta (left) - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Located in the food court section of the Richmond Outlet. The place can get really busy and wait times can go longer. The hotdogs were good. They've added some items on the menu that I didn't see from the last time I was here. They have vegan options as well. They just need a dedicated staff for table cleaning as most of the tables when we went were dirty. read more

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I like the food at this place. It's at the food row of the Designer Outlet Mall. It's hard to miss. There's enough table inside. Clean. Fast service! There's plenty of options on the menu with pictures. I ordered the tonkatsu dog with Japanese Misu sauce and Japanese Mayo. Flavourful! Im going to try everything one by one. They all look good. Ill have to try the side orders as well! Recommended! read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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We hadn't plan to have Japadog but then saw the outlet mall we strolled through had one and well you just can't pass it up for many good reasons! First off the each hot dog is a must have and this time we got the basic kurobuta terimayo version. This hot dog is a snappy kurobuta pork sausage filled with fried onions, teriyaki sauce, Japanese kewpie mayo and seaweed flakes. I prefer to opt for the combo which came with shaked fries with black pepper and aonori (seaweed and salt) plus a drink. We paid a bit extra to try their yuzu Japanade lemonade which was very good and refreshing on a hot day. The service is no frills go to the counter and order and pick up when your number is called. I liked the ambiance of this location with lots of inside seating and an outdoor area with more tables and seating. read more

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What is wrong with this place? Sent my daughter to get poutine and she paid with a $20 for something that's $12. Told her after the fact that if she pays in cash you get no change. She didn't say anything and came out to tell me. Refused to give me back my money and stood by their rule which isn't posted anywhere! You just robbed a kid jerks! read more

This place is terrible. They didn't tell me that they don't take cash, but accepted my cash and refused to give me change. Don't go here unless you want to become broke over small portions of food i would much rather watch skibidi toilet than put up with this bs read more

Great spot to grab a bite to eat while you're shopping at the outlets. We've been hitting up the outlets a lot lately and ate here twice in a month. The first time was on a weekday afternoon, when there was barely a line at Japadog. The second time was Saturday afternoon, and we had to wait a lot longer first to order and also for the food. Most of the menu consists of various combinations of hot dogs (including some veggie options!) and toppings, but they also offer yakisoba, karaage, and takoyaki as well as a variety of ice cream and parfaits. There's seating indoors as well as 2-3 tables outdoors. On our first visit, I got the #14 avocado dog ($7.99) and my friend got the #6 yakisoba with a veggie dog. Both were good. I've never thought about putting avocado on a hot dog before, but avocado makes everything taste better! The second time, the cashier accidentally charged me $229 instead of $22. I noticed the charge on my bank account a couple days later and called the store. I spoke with the manager and she was extremely apologetic and immediately refunded the full amount back to me. I was very impressed with how quickly she got back to me and was able to complete the refund. read more

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Pros: - A lot of different and unique options. Cons: - Overpriced for what it is. - A bit salty. - Small portions. read more

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The hot dogs here were good. It was a nice and quick place to get a bite to eat while we were shopping at the outlets. We got a side order of fries and two hot dogs. It wasn't the best, but it was good because I wanted a snack. read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

The Japadog location at the outlets near the airport. Has a few tables inside and a few outside the door. Not taking cash currently due to covid. Menu consists of their variety of hot dogs, so other items like yakisoba and sausage plates, and milkshakes. Two of us got the signature terimayo dog, a cheese bacon dog (limited time item), a small sausage plate, a mango milkshake and a black seasame milkshake. Total was around $40, so a little more expensive than say a McDonalds but not by much. Took 5-10 minutes for the order to be ready. This was the first time I had Japadog, and the signature terimayo was pretty good. Slightly sweet mayo with the juicy sausage was tasty. Better than most hot dogs I've had. The sausages, along with those on the platter, were closer to a German sausage than a regular hotdog. The bacon cheese dog was decent, although the dog was on the saltier side. The milkshakes were light, as they are not super creamy and the flavors weren't strong. Overall I liked the food, can see why Japadog is well liked in the area. read more

Japadog - mango and sesame milkshake, small sausage plate, terimayo and cheese bacon dogs - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Overrated and overpriced hot dog. Its nothing different from a regular hot dog you can get anywhere else. The only difference is that it's "wagyu" meat and that it has lots of other toppings on it. However $12 for a hotdog with jsut cheese and bacon on it IS NOT WORTH IT. I've always wanted to try this. But it's just a ONE time only visit for me. read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

This Famous Authentic Japanese dog stop are the best Hot Dogs in the world bar none . A must stop that all Celebrities experience and rave about . From chef Anthony Bourdain to Chris pine & NWA's ice cube . My go to favourite is the Bacon cheese dog with teriyaki mayo & the Kurobuta Terimayo Dog . Sapporo & Sleeman on Tap . Pepper fries always . Waiting for my picture to added to the wall of fame ( still ) read more

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Was out at YVR outlet getting some shopping done for Christmas and started to get hungry but didn't want a full meal. Saw Japa dog and decided to get one as it has been years since I last had one. I recall that the dogs taste better at the food stall on the street vs at their Robson Street restaurant but thought would give the YVR outlet location a try. Decided on the yakiudon japa dog without the ginger (yuck!). The bread was much like a regular hot dog buns, which was kind of disappointing. The pork sausage was nicely seasoned and the yakiudon was more like a yakisoba of thin noodles that was slightly too oily. It was a tasty dog but nothing really special that couldn't be created at home. For $5.75 it was a snack and not a meal. Very average dog so there must have been a reason why I haven't been back in years. read more

Japadog - Yakasoba japa dog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Good dogs, good service, the best kind of fast food. Impressive strides in hot dog science. Curry poutine is rad. Worth the trip to Canada. Five stars. read more

The service and the food is always sooo good! It's a nice place to drop by and grab a bite when you are starving! Always satisfies my hunger!!! We would always get the beef hotdog, but it seems to be new. The Wagyu Terimayo is the winner for us!! We'd drop by the outlet or even order and pick up from the Lansdowne location! Both places are always so friendly and service is quick! read more

Japadog - Beef hotdog (Wagyu Terimayo) - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Horrible service from the old man who was a cashier, he yelled at me. There was simply confusion over the payment method and he yelled at me for touching the debit machine when i was just confused that he left it there without asking me to pay. Never in my life have i seen a cashier yelling and arguing with a customer to the point where other customers and staff also say he is rude. Please do something (fire him). I also have seen other reviews saying that this guy was rude too so clearly he is not suited for a customer service job. I do think management handled it nicely after i went back to talk to them but i hope they take some action regarding this worker. read more

I didn't know hotdogs could taste like this. Wow. The flavors like okonomiyaki were SO good and really elevated the classic boring hotdog. I got the kurobuta termimayo and i loved the toasty buns with nice mayo sauce and seaweed. The bagged matcha lemonade was interesting to say the least. read more

People have been telling me that this is a must try place when visiting Vancouver..so try I did! This particular Japadog is located not too far from the airport - in a little outlet mall type of centre. Who would have thought a hot dog would cause such a stir? But as soon as we got our rental car, this is the first place we stopped at leaving the airport..lol So, firstly, I don't eat pork. Sadly, the menu here is mostly pork based (I noticed on their website, the menu features more non-pork hotdogs than this location had) Here, there are 2-3 options for non-porkies like me...so I chose the shrimp tempura dog (Ebi Tempura). I must say...it was probably one of the better shrimp tempuras I've had. Not oily at all, nice and crispy, not too much batter and of course it's Vancouver..the shrimp tasted fresh. The tempura fish is on top of rice and seaweed. At first I was like no way will this taste good...and surprise! It tasted good! The crunch, the saltiness of the seaweed, the rice...man../i wish I was having one right now! This location is not a cart, it's an actual restaurant. Free parking in the lot. read more

Japadog - Ebi Tempra (shrimp tempura) and meat lovers dog Side of takoyaki - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

When I visit Vancouver, I got to have at least one Japadog. Now my new love is their ice cream dog. What a genius idea! read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

This place has one of the cheaper food options at the outlet. The line up is long and out the door. There is another line up to pick up food orders. This location offers a larger menu selection than at other Japadog locations. There are cocktails (yes alcoholic beverages), beer, wine, lemonade, shakes, hotdogs, poutines, ice cream and parfaits available. The line up to pick up food is quite a wait as well. Staff have to yell order numbers out because it is a loud environment. The tables were dirty and needed a good wipe. We ordered a wagyu terimayo combo ($11.19 for hot dog plus $4.99 for drink and fries). It was a good hotdog. However, I was not sure if anyone can tell it is a wagyu hotdog. The fries were overly too salty. The fountain drink machine was out of syrup for many of the flavours so only coke was available. I guess not enough staff to clean and refill supplies. read more

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A quick snack during your shopping! We ordered the oroshi and a side of fries. The oroshi was pretty good and not too salty. The fries were quite salty though. Had to ding a star for cleanliness in the store and that they didn't have a few items available (including the parfaits). Next time I'm in Vancouver, maybe I'll try another location! read more

The very first time I tried japadog when they first just had their food cart I thought their Terimayo was the BEST hot dog I've ever had in my life! Its very different than western style hotdogs and has a distinct taste from the ingredients and sauces that they use. I'm always open to trying their new creations, but till this day I still think the Terimayo is still my favourite. I thought the fries were okay, but not as stand out as their hotdogs. read more

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I had the terimayo hot dog with the shaken fries seasoned with butter and shoyu. The fries were quite tasteless, I could hardly taste any butter or shoyu. Such as a pity as I loved the shaken fries sold in McDonald's in Asia. You add the seasonings and shake it. Maybe they cheap out on the seasoning over here as the staff is the one doing it. The fries were also a bit limp and not crispy at all. The terimayo hot dog was ok. I like the seaweed strips topping. Other than that, it was not that memorable. I think the regular hot dog stands in downtown Vancouver has better hot dogs, as you can smell it being grilled and that somehow makes it tastier. The place gets very crowded as it is one of the cheaper food places in this outlet mall, plus it is easy to eat as take-out if you cannot find a table inside. read more

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My friend re-visiting Vancouver after many years was reminded of Japadog so we stopped by the outlet at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet -- which you can skytrain to for free from YVR airport. Just get out on the correct side of the station. Otherwise you might be confused by the map inside the station. After some agonized selection (we figured we could only try two between the two of us), she settled on the Menchikatsu Dog and the not-shown-on-the-website Okonomi. Together they came to $22.24 after tax. It was interesting to get my friend's take on the Japadogs because she's Japanese. For starters, she recommended eating the Okonomi first, because she estimated it would have a subtler flavour than the Menchikatsu Dog. [Okonomi Dog] -Inspired by the Japanese okonomiyaki pancake, what you think of this Japadog will probably depend on your idea of what an okonomiyaki should contain. If you start with a blank slate about this, then this Japadog will simply be special for having bonito flakes on top. -It is otherwise nothing really special. One thick and juicy sausage with toppings. If you can get bonito flakes yourself, then you can just make it at home honestly. After having tried it, I'd give it a pass for not being that special. There are surely more interesting Japadogs to try. [Menchikatsu Dog] -My Japanese friend's experience of menchikatsu is a very crunchy-on-the-outside beef patty with maybe a 60-40 beef-veggie ratio. The menchikatsu dog is basically that patty shoved into a hotdog. -I did not find the patty to be particularly crunchy. Sure, the bottom part might have been softened by exposure to the veggies and sauce, but the top should have been fine and we claimed our freshly made order from the counter promptly. Certainly no fun crunch to be had here. -The ratio of beef seemed quite high. Patty was reasonably juicy. Taste is okay but nothing special -- tastes like beef. Meh. -I think if you've had a crunchy menchikatsu before, this might feel mediocre. The shape of the menchikatsu is quite short and wide, almost a ball or egg. And shorter than the hot dog bun. You might want to grab a plastic knife and cut it lengthwise, then shove the patty around a bit so every bit of hot dog bun will have some beef. -Again I'd pass on this Japadog next time and keep looking for something more complex in terms of condiments/toppings. For an outlet at McArthurGlen, I feel the ambiance of this diner style Japadog is severely lacking. Feels dark, messy, and like some kind of low-brow dive you might find in a Gastown side street. The predominantly black decor doesn't help either. Feels very out of place compared to the overall style of McArthurGlen even if you consider only the other eateries. read more

Japadog - menchikatsu dog, okonomi dog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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This place never fails me a yummy hotdog with an Asian twist. We were introduced to Japadog back in 2005 and we have been a loyal customer and happy to see their expansions. We are so glad to see them at the MacArthurGlen outlet and we usually get them for our quick bite when we go shopping there. We tried their takoyaki today and we're very happy as it has nice and crisp exterior, tender in the inside, delicious, and perfect for sharing. Our usual terimayo, with Kurobuta pork, grilled onion, teriyaki sauce+japanese mayo (hence the name "terimayo") and crisp seaweed on top. My oldest had his first terimayo (without the grilled onion of course), and he was delighted. The kurobuta pork is lovely, very juicy, and mild in flavor compares to a regular hotdog that you eat from a regular hotdog from the street vendor, but it works very well with the sauce. The staff at the counter is very courteous and efficient. The only downside of this joint is to be prepared to have to clean your own table and a long line up. Looking forward to return again to try their different offerings and their desserts read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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We got the karaage dog and the menchikatsu dog. Karaage dog is good but hard to eat since each karaage is too large for a single bite. It also has a miso sauce on top. The menchikatsu dog was very juicy and made for a hearty meal. We also got the matcha smoothie, which was arguably the best matcha smoothie ive ever gotten. Not too sweet, and not powdery like a lot of matcha drinks. We also got a kuromitsu kinako ice which was good as well read more

Japadog - Matcha smoothie, kuromitsu kinako ice cream, menchikatsu dog, karaage dog. - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Had to return an item at the outlets today and was starving so we grabbed a few of these because everything else was closed and I'm happy to say it's still similar or higher in price but tastes delicious! Maybe cause I was starving or something in the sausages? anyways glad we got the oroshi, croquette and cutlet one. The only issue the cutlet one didn't have a wiener so felt a bit ripped off. Will be back again! read more

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Corner of the outlet mall. Just wanted quick and cheap lunch. Packed but no lineup at the till. Pros: - plenty of options for dogs - can have turkey alternative upon request - ice cream scoop is only $2.25! - sausages are rlly good and cooked hot we got the small assorted order Cons: - no one rlly cleans and wipes down the tables bc they're all usually in the kitchen - sold out of fries at noon...? - long wait for food - plastic cutlery, dishes. idk how I feel about their environmental friendliness - chicken karage was on the drier side prob fried too long read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Very happy to find a Japadog in the outlets instead of your regular food court fare. Can't really go wrong with Japadog. The lineup wasn't long and there was no dine seating but that was okay. There were nice benches to sit outside. I had a oroshi dog and it was tasty! I love the mashed radish with green onion and soy sauce. It is great. The condiments were fresh and the dog was juicy. They cut it in half for me no problem. This is going to make me sound like a princess but they even supply gloves for me to eat it so I don't have to get my hands dirty! Love the Japanese thoughtfulness. Bonus star! Lol. They have matcha parfait for $6 which is way less than Tsujiri or Nanas. Def will try if I am ever there next time. read more

It was alright. Just alright. The food was hot, which was incredible, but I think the hype got us. Worth a try! read more

This isn't 5 star cuisine this is five stars for awesome hot dogs with a Japanese flair and with seating to boot! Located in the Macarthur Glen outlet Centre close to YVR and an adjacent sky train station for convenience. We had 3 dogs and fries, the Kerabuta terimayo, okonomi and Orishi, all were great. The fries had different seasoning you could pick from, can't remember which one I had, maybe nori seasoning, yum. Service was polite, enthusiastic and fast. Luckily came in before the noon rush so easily found a table. If it is rainy there are plenty of seats outside. read more

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Before visiting Vancouver, it seemed as though this was a MUST VISIT type of food joint. Ate 3 different dogs and they just weren't anything too special! Definitely overhyped in my opinion. Looking for something foodie? Try Chung Chun! Now that place should be more hyped up! read more

I understand for foodies, Japadog is now over hyped, but come on, it's still fairly unique to anyone who doesn't have one in their town. Is it mind blowing? Well it's a hot dog. But these bundles of umami bombs are still tasty at the end of the day. I'm not a local, so I'm sure it'll be different for those who can access it all over Van City. read more

1st time trying the Japadog. I must have chosen the wrong one because I was extremely disappointed with the #5. I see Japadog in many areas and always filled with people.... so what do they order? I'll have to give them another try next time, but for now... disappointed. read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

Definitely not the greatest location; seating is tight and food selection is mediocre. Almost half the menu was sold out when we visited. When we finally got our food, the fries were over salted, the hotdogs were loaded with mayo to make up for their blandness and the hotdog buns tasted stale. Japadog has definitely gone downhill since their original hotdog cart locations in Downtown Vancouver. read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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Love it here and have been returning since their cart days. Their original terimayo is a good one to start with if it's your first visit. They offer vegetarian dog options for your veggie friends. Their garlic shoyu fries make a nice side. I'm slowly making my way through their menu and looking forward to the next visit at the McArther Glen location which offers comfortable seating. read more

Japadog - 11. Croquette (dog is underneath) - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

We went to look for some good deals in the outlet and Japadog is part of our plan,Its my first time to eat in this Japadog location... The store was located at the back of the outlet almost near the skytrain but far from the main parking,its not a big place to eat,when we came most of the crews were japanese and i can tell it with their accent most of them were young and friendly. Still a new place but its not very clean though,,the floor where we got the table was a bit sticky,not very busy but i cleaned our table and dumped few plasticcups,.no one doin the buzzing right away......disappointing....the corner table where you get catsup,napkins,and the soda dispenser olalah wet..sticky and dirty..theres like 2 huge plastic container of catsup both close to empty,theres straws on the floor.....no body seems to care.... The ceiling is extra high which i love it makes the place looks big and with the concept of open kitchen it was a brilliant idea.One of the wall you can find a file of buns from almost floor to ceiling...i love that one again...un able to take pictures of that coz there was a group of people sitting on that area.... For our food i wanted the #11 combo the karage but it was sold out so i tried the kurobota hotdog,it comes with a shaked fries and a drink.I have no single compliants with the foods... they were good,the store offered draft beer and dessert aswell its called the age ice it comes with different flavors,theres vanilla,strawberry,black sesame,maccha and mango. Noise level is average,washroom is by the outlet washroom actually one is near Japadog,decors are typical japanese eatery nothing fancy.good for family and kids,,theres lots of kids actually when we came.Accept cash,credit and debit card.Huge free parking courtesy of the outlet wifi is free but goodluck if you can use it properly...... read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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Taste: 6/10 Value: 5/10 Service: 7/10 Ordered: Shoyu fries: I've had these before and they were very good last time, but today they were very bad. Soggy with no crisp and flavouring was off as well. Very disappointed today. Kurobuta terimayo japadog: tasted pretty good, $6.99 so quite pricey for a hot dog. I would get Costco hot dog next time and add some mayo myself read more

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Awesome food, it takes a while to make but it tastes amazing. I ordered the avocado flavoured japadog it's so delicious I thought it deserved 5 stars but I had to wait longer than expected so I took off 1 star. You really should try avocado flavoured japadog instead of your everyday hotdogs. So in conclusion you should really try japadog because it's tastes super good and it's healthy. read more

Maybe I should've tried a different location? All my friends told me if I go to Vancouver I must have a japadog.. they hyped it up wayyyy too much. It's cool they have unique twist to hot dogs but I didn't really like the flavour... it was rather odd... the curry poutine was also meh.. they use skinny fries which aren't too great for poutine.. I'll stick to my regular street meat... not a fan read more

Japadog - Food Stands Near Me - Richmond, British Columbia

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