Muki Dogs Waikiki
★★★★★ 4.9 (11)
"I had been scrolling through Instagram on my lunch break yesterday when I happened to come across a post that indicated that Muki Dogs' Waikiki location had temporarily (?) relocated to Kaka'ako for the time being. And not just anywhere in Kaka'ako, but Mother Waldron Park to be exact, which is literally within walking distance from my workplace. Since I never have the chance to go by Waialae Ave. (their first/main location), I figured that now would be as good a time as any to stop by and see what the hype was all about. I walked over around noon with my boss and coworker and initially, I had panicked as I thought I had misread the post, but for those walking on foot, especially from Punchbowl area, Muki Dogs will be located at the farthest end of the park (adjacent to the food trucks). Just keep walking and you'll be able to spot Gene (the owner) as we had. Once we got to the stand, I had promptly ordered 2 Miso Kake and 1 The Works, to which Gene had jokingly asked if they were all for me. I clarified that 2 of the 3 were mine, so he wasn't completely off the mark, but I felt bad as I have RBF and face masks only serve to increase the severity of said expression, so Gene must've took my response as offended when I was just hangry. But if I had to be perfectly honest, I could easily eat four of these in one sitting and not be sorry lol. In any case, once I had ordered and paid for my dog, my boss and coworker also ordered as well, and Gene went straight to work on our orders. For those visiting for the first time, they currently have two options: 1) The Works, which is a very traditional hot dog with relish, sriracha mayo, ketchup, mustard, and Spanish crumble, and 2) Miso Kake, which is an Asian inspired hot dog full of umami flavors, with pickled scallion, sriracha mayo, miso paste and furikake crumble. I ended up getting one of each for myself since I wanted to see what the difference was in terms of flavors. Gene is really quick too as I believe it only took about 5-10 minutes, if even that long, to prep our orders, and my boss had even commented that Gene had some Top Chef moves when it came to our orders. Before we knew it, Gene thanked us for waiting and gave us a bag (no charge) full of our hot dogs and we headed back to the office for a taste test. So for those short on time, this would be a perfect place to stop by and grab a quick bite. I wasn't sure what to expect from a vegan hot dog, but I know one of the things that stood out to me about most of the reviews for Muki Dogs was that it didn't actually taste like a vegan hot dog. So with that in mind, I dug into The Works first and absolutely loved every bite I took. I think what's great about The Works is that because it mimics a traditional hot dog with the ketchup , mustard, and relish, it's almost as if your mind automatically makes the connection, and with the addition of the sriracha mayo and the Spanish crumble, there's an additional creamy, slightly spicy, and crunchy component that only emphasizes how delicious the hot dog is. In fact, I can very well see how someone could easily not even realize they were eating a vegan hot dog (it was that good!). The Miso Kake was also a good option and a perfect alternative for someone looking for a different type of hot dog. The miso paste and the sriracha mayo lend a nice creamy/salty flavor base for the pickled scallions and the furikake crumble, and the texture you get from each bite is absolutely divine. However, I do think that if you're not a fan of umami flavors, that this might not be the hot dog for you as it does somewhat emphasize the vegan hot dog more so than The Works. Overall, if you happen to be in the area or are interested in trying out a vegan hot dog, I would highly recommend visiting Gene at the Muki Dogs stand, especially as they are now stationed in Kaka'ako, which is quite convenient for anyone who has wanted to visit but never found the time to do so. The hot dogs are a little on the pricier side, but nothing like Hank's Haute Dogs nearby, and you will be left feeling full and content without the regret. Plus, Gene seems like a really nice guy who cares about the food that he makes, and it shows not just in the way he makes the hot dogs but also in the way that the flavors come through. And if that doesn't sell you, well...aren't you at least a little bit curious as to what a vegan hot dog tastes like? Best stop by to find out!"
"Halo halo taste just right! With Ube halaya, Ube ice cream macapuno, leche flan, nata de coco and banana..so goood! Worth the price."
"There are a million places to get a "plate lunch" in Oahu, but this was my first time eating "Guava chicken"... They host a stand towards the south edge of the Swap Meet close to the dining/seating area... Just follow the smell of the grill and you will be sure to find it!PRICES:Guava Chicken Reg Plate $7.00 2 scoops of white Rice and Macaroni saladMini Plate $5.50 Single scoop 1 scoop of white Rice and Macaroni saladKalbi Regular Plate $8.00Mini Plate $6.00Everything is cooked on the spot and your food is served fresh and hot! The macaroni salad is good and not bland in flavor like some other plate lunch joints!The texture of the chicken is so tender... the Guava marinade is amazingly good... I destroyed the chicken in under 20 minutes!The kalbi had a lot of meat on it... again, amazing marinade! Tender and not too much fat... MORE MEAT THAN BONE!I definitely recommend the Chicken if you haven't had Guava-Chicken yet!"
