Hank's Haute Dogs
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: No
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: No
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch
- Alcohol: None
21 Reviews for Hank's Haute Dogs
Update 6/08: Tried the rabbit veal special and chicken sausage. The rabbit veal one was on the smaller side and the sausage itself was a tad on the dry side, not enough fat in those meats I guess. The chicken was better, nice and juicy. The pineapple ice drink is great and the lime lilikoi soda is also refreshing. Fries are good too, nice and thin.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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01/31/2008
I found this hot dog spot on Chowhound. They feature Chicago style hot dogs, but also have a… Read more »
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I got the chicken dog. It was okay (fresh, not greasy), but the overall taste was just average. I don't think I'd go back again for the chicken dog. I should have ordered he Kobe dog, which everyone else seemed to be standing in line for. As for the ambiance, Haute Dog definitely looks a lot better (i.e. cleaner) than it did when it was Rainbows. It's also a convenient place to catch lunch if you have to wait for your car at Eurosport nextdoor.
Boos...
My friend and I shared an order of the french fries, which tasted like regular fries. Nothing special. Because of the restaurant's size, it gets pretty crowded fast.
yes, haute dogs! last week stopped by here. i've been wanting to try this place for a while now.
i got the chicken dog. it has bits of mango on it. it was SO good! my husband even got that after he ate the portuguese dog. my son of course had the kiddie dog. plain old hot dog which i should've just made and brought with us instead wasting money.
ah well... it's just the thing about eating out i guess.
it's a good thing we went on a friday because we got there about 5 and on other days they close pretty early. i guess it's mainly a lunch place.
if you get the chance during lunch check it out!
it's really a great place to get a quick bite then head off to the park across (kakaako) the street or even take with you.
we went to the ilikai and royal hawaiian to watch fireworks after hank's.
if you didn't know... you can park at the boat harbor for free and watch the fireworks at 8pm every friday. it's great for the whole family and something thats free too!
we're going again tonight. the fireworks don't last very long (10mins) but the kids will like it.
BUT first a stop at hank's to start the weekend off right!
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In Toronto hot dog's are known lovingly as "Street Meat". I can't remember exactly why, but I think its cause little foreigner run carts are all over the place (as opposed to it being a reference to urban roadkill).
"Street Meat" there, like the buck fifty deal at Costco, is cheap and tasty, but at the same time somewhat boring.
I'm sure many would prefer getting FOUR large dogs & drinks at Costco to ONE Haute Dog at Hank's and there's nothing wrong with that (especially for those with kids). But for the epicurious it's refreshing to see a time honored favorite like street meat get an innovative gourmet overhaul.
I loved the Chicago dog w/everything. The moist, perfectly cooked, flavorful sausage, paired beautiful with the load of garnishes. The Chicken dog served with little mango chunks was also delicious and the onion rings where quite good (I liked them more than the fries).
Don't expect to get full eating these things, portions on the small side.
The menu consists of Classic Dogs, Haute Dogs, and Daily Specials so check the website or call to see what's available.
Can't wait to go back and try the Crocodile, Rabbit, Lobster, Buffalo, and No dogs. The Truffle Mac and Cheese (TMAC as I'm going to call it), served Friday and Saturday evenings, is also on my "to try" list for this place.
Located at the former Tom's, former Rainbow express on Coral street (block up from Ala Moana Blvd.) Hank's is small, but doesn't feel cramped. If you're lucky you can sometimes get an umbrellad table outside or a seat at the counter. .
So if you want to get affordably stuffed go to Costco , BUT if you're culinarily adventurous and want something more than "street meat" then Hank's is a worthwhile investment.
btw for a fun review of this spot check out Anjelika J.'s http://www.yelp.com/bi...
--update 4/30/08--
tried the Lobster dog...it's worth the $10!
tried the Chili dog also delicious.
Added pictures
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So what the hell are two vegetarians doing visiting a hot dog joint, you might ask? Well, they do have the "no-dog", but I was really after the fries and onion rings! And I wasn't disappointed- the onion rings are awesome! The batter was nice and light and not too oily, and they use sweet onions. I just wish they gave you a couple more per order...I like the fact that they have a selection of sauces available for purchase- garlic aioli was great on the onion rings, spicy curry ketchup was perfect on the shoestring skin-on fries. The no-dog was okay. I like that the bun was grilled, but I was expecting the poppyseed bun. Maybe that's only for the Chicago style dog. I also wished the shredded cheddar was melted, it kept falling off. Next time I think I'll ask them if they can make me a no-dog Chicago dog, cuz I want the poppyseed bun and the "sport peppers." Oh, and we made the stupid mistake of ordering Pepsi before we realized they had hibiscus lemonade and lilikoi-lime soda! A little hasty in our ordering there...Oh and the workers were very nice. We sat at the counter/bar area and I just loved the view of the Volvo dealership across the street. We continued our culinary tour of Kaka'ako by walking over to This Is It Bakery. I'll let you know how the bagels are after breakfast tomorrow!
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Every now and then I get the craving for a simple cheat food. The kind of food I know that I really shouldn't be eating. The kind of food that riddles me with guilt immediately after consumption. Something as simple as a hot dog will do.
Up until now, the best hot dogs I've ever had were the ones sold by all the mexican vendors on the streets of the garment district in LA. They were bacon wrapped and grilled with peppers and onions. I've heard of the famous chicago dogs but never had the chance to try it. Even when "Pink's" hot dogs opened here in the Mililani Theatre, it really didn't impress me.
Yesterday I just discovered "Hank's Haute Dog" in Kakaako. I had the classic 'chicago dog' with peppers, grilled onions and tomatoes. The meal came in a cute little carboard box with the company logo on it. When opened, fresh steam flowed out. The peppers and onions were grilled perfectly. When I bit into the sausage it popped! Succulent juices flowed out. It was a winner. Absolutely the best hot dog I've ever had.
The cool thing was they serve all sorts of hot dogs. From the traditional to portugese to duck and foie gras. I even saw a lobster dog on the menu. The next time I feel like a guilty pleasure, you know where to find me.
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Hooray for Haute Dogs! The Chicago Dog was really good! While, I've never eaten a real Chicago Dog from Chicago, this takes the cake. They also have special hot dogs each day, which I need to go back and try. Also had the braut with sour kraut. The thin cut fries are also delicious!
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I was happy to partake in a real Chicago hot dog with the snap and the bright green relish with tomatoes, etc...
The owner's son is a nice kid.
I'm in HNL, not in Manhattan where I can go to Gray's Papaya and get two dogs with a papaya drink for less than I could get one Chi-town dog @ Hank's Haute Dogs, but that's okay...
I'm thinking about trying their only in house made dog- the lobster dog on friday...
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Good hot dogs, but a little on the pricey side.
The owner is very friendly.
They need a super spicy dog though. Like an equivalent to Top Dog's hot link.
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mmmmm.... haute dogs... mmmmm....
Ya know, I always complain about the fact that establishments like to charge you your one month's rent for a friggin' hot dog. A hot dog.
Yeup... and that complaint still stands for the "other" establishments cuz I ate at Hank's... he doesn't serve "hot dogs". No baby, it's a HAUTE DOG, dang it!
Their doggies are G-O-O-D! So good that they make you pay cash for them so if you don't have that cash on you and you didn't know that until you got up to the front of the line and read the sign but then you couldn't turn back and say "forget it", hellz no. Instead, there's an ATM at the corner mini mart but I don't know what the service fee is and don't bother asking them mini mart peoples cuz they don't even speak english. Anyway, after feeding the meter all of my coins, I decided that Hank's Haute Dogs was worth driving my big arse SUV down the street to Bank of Hawaii to pull some cash out. So I did. Although, now that I had cash, I had no more coins. Hmmm... Haute Dogs are calling... Haute Dogs are calling... What do I do? I dig throughout my dirty car for at least 1 dime!!!! JUST ONE DIME!!!! 8 MINUTES BABY!!!! THAT'S ALL I NEED TO PICK UP MY HAUTE DOG!!!!!!!!
CHEE HOO!!!! My last silver coin!!!!! Amen! Halelujah! Let there be peace on Earth cuz I got my dang Brat Haute dog and I ate it and it was friggin' delicious!!!!! Definitely worth one month's rent. Oh and my son LOVED his Chili Dog (with no onions... *word*).
p.s. the onion rings,hibiscus lemonade and the peoples who were working there were da bomb too.
*03/07/08 update:
tried the lobster dog... was ok. a little fishy tasting and the casing was really hard to bite through. didn't care for the alien green relish either. overall, it wasn't bad, just wasn't something I personally liked.
tried the "no dog"... ok... this was good. there's "no dog" but it's filled with all kinds of veggies and makes one hell of a veggie sandwich! I loved it!
tried the truffle mac and cheese... it was good. H LOVED it... I thought it was ok.
tried the lilikoi drink.... MMMMMMM...!!!! didn't wanna share!!!!!! and then SOMEONE, not naming names, dumped half of it down the sink!!!!! damn you, you know who!!!!
i heart hank's!
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The def have a good dog. Snappy and beefy! The staff is super friendly and helpful. It is a bit steep for a hot dog but they have some creative dogs you can't find anywhere else. Try it if you don't mind a $6 dog.
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i I LOVE the No Dog!
Avocado, cucumbers, cilantro, some spicy mayo, cheese, onions, tomatoes..
It's the cheapest one on the menu too. You should give this a shot.
My boyfriend, who is a carnivore, actually preferred my No Dog over his Brat.
LOVED my first ever Chicago style dog. I wouldn't know if it's authentic, but it was freaking good with "everything on it", including these tiny little peppers that were yummy, but a little tough. Not sure how to eat those peppers with the hot dog. I liked the box that the hot dog was served in. I had the urge to put it in my purse to save it, but I resisted. I have enough crap.
The service was excellent, the place was cute, and everybody in the joint seemed like they were happy campers.
The fries were great. They seemed to taste exactly like Kua Aina's fries (really good burger place in Ward and on the North Shore), but were not as consistently crunchy. Good for me because I like hot, mushy fries. I always eat the crispy ones last.
I must go back. If I ate seafood I would try their new lobster sausage that they make in-house, but since I don't I think I'll try their sort of asian-garnished dog. YES!
Bring change for the metered street parking.
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E and I really need to work on our beach timing. As soon as we returned from a lovely (yet super cloudy) swim in Kailua, the sun emerged.
Perfect timing for our lunch plans of hitting a tasty gourmet hotdog stand. (I know, I know, for being b-r-o-k-e I seem to eat out a lot...I swear this will stop, soon.) Not wanting to wander into Waikiki, Hank's Haute Dog's was the obvious choice (also, I think the name is adorable. so sue me.)
Tucked away on Coral, across from the Volvo station, the red and yellow umbrellas of their (limited) outdoor seating announced that we were indeed at a hotdog store. Parking was not a problem, but it was Sunday afternoon...so who knows? After realizing that it's a CASH ONLY joint, we wandered down to the corner store so I could get some cash. Money in hand I decided that as someone who cannot eat pork (bad tummy) the safest bet was the chicken dog with mango relish and a grainy dijon mustard sauce (5.25). E got the same. And fries with garlic aioli and curry ketchup (fries= 2.50, sauces are .50 each).
I thought it was, in a word, spectacular. There was sun, a brightly colored umbrella, fresh grilled tasty Danielle-friendly hotdogs, and some of the best fries I've had on this island. The special drinks sounded fantastic, but I am on a budget and will save that for a time when I'm not craving fries.
A special note about service: for being a restaurant where it is counter service only I was SUPER impressed. The staff was friendly, helpful, and willing to help me out with any questions I had (offering to refill my water while I waited...). I also got to speak with Hank, and he radiated a man who was happy and proud with his work. As someone who can not eat pork, I was super duper grateful for him to go over with me what hotdogs I can and cannot eat (I can eat the chicago all beef, the polish, the chicken, the no dog, and many of the special dogs).
The only reason it gets four stars is because it IS expensive for hotdogs, even super tasty ones with mango relish- but I will certainly, certainly be back!
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Haute? I think Naute.
Let's face it, Hawaii is a dog-starved place, so when I heard about Hank's Haute Dogs I was immediately interested. A friend and I went there for a weekday lunch based on the splash created by newspaper articles and the grapevine.
Situated on a broiling side street in the semi-industrial district of Kakaako, Hank's presents quite well. It's in a clean building, has smart Starbuckian branding and New Yorky black t-shirts on the help. Faced with tangential dog picks like Andouille, Wild Boar and a vegetarian "no-dog" (explained as salad on a bun) we opted for their primal offering the "Chicago Dog." Those familiar will intuit that "Chicago-style" means it has been "dragged through the garden" i.e. it was a dog with mustard, ketchup, a kelly green-colored relish, a dill spear, small hot green peppers, lettuce and sliced tomatoes (whew). We also ordered french fries and a drink.
Underneath "the garden" was a dog, but not a noteworthy dog in my opinion. And it did not have a "snap" when bitten, a characteristic of my favorite dogs. The meat, was advertised proudly by signage in the store as "Vienna Beef" (hopefully this has no relation to the lowly Vienna Sausage). It was was middling at best. In fact this eater was hard pressed to notice a difference between a haute dog and a $1.50 COSTCO dog, which includes a drink. Hank's fries were a size up from shoestring with the skins left on, and started out crisp but quickly faded. Total for two dogs, two fries and two drinks about $17.
We didn't try any of Hank's exotic dogs, so our next visit may include that, but the net-net for now is that I can't see this place lasting past it's first lease agreement. A "Teddy's Bigger Burger" for the dog set it's naute.
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heard people rave about this place, so i had to check it out, especially since there aren't a lot of places that are known for their hot dogs on the island. i loved the nifty name for the place. haute dogs. very clever!
the place was easy to find and is situated right across from the volvo dealership and next to eurosport. the atmosphere is small yet cozy with seating inside and umbrella table seating outside.
maybe i had a lot of high hopes for the hot dogs or i was just too darn hungry . i ordered the polish dog and although it was "tasty" enough and grilled, for the price, i was expecting it to be a "little" more in size. even the polish dogs at costco are bigger...and frankly, tasted better. the poppy seed hot dog bun was interesting though and they do have a variety of toppings you can add on. not bad and not spectacular and just "okay".
what i will rave about is that their drink menu includes an iced ginger drink which is so clean and refreshing. it's made with fizzy water, the ginger stuff with an add of lime. simple stuff but is so good. it's the same stuff that is sold at KCC's farmer's market every saturday. i also noticed that they also have other tropical-like drinks such as hibiscus lemonade and lilikoi punch. there was this old guy who was kind of fussing at the counter about wanting to have "provolone cheese" on his hot dog (which they don't have or do), who suddenly became a pussy cat after drinking his lilkoi drink. so far, the drinks are aces.
i'll give the place another go (especially since it's not too far from where i park for work) . it deserves one more try...and i deserve another one of those wonderful ginger drinks.
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I give 5 stars bcoz their dogs are so good. 8-)
I've been there 2 times.
I tried hanks rabbit hotdog last wednesday, my first time ate rabbit meat.
It's super ono, just dont think about rabbit when you eat it. 8-)
I'm going there again maybe this weekend to try their ducks and kobe beef dogs. Can't wait for their lobster sausages.
If you don't mind paying upwards of $6 or $7 for a hot dog, then Hank's Haute Dogs is for you.
Owner Henry Adaniya moved to Honolulu and opened the shop this month after a successful restaurant career in Chicago (his parents were originally from Hawaii).
Menu items include:
Hank's Frank (genuine Chicago Vienna all-beef hot dog)
Polish
Portuguese (choice of mild, spicy or kim chee char-grilled local Kukui Sausage)
Chili Dog
Italian (simmered in tomato sauce with roast pepper and grilled onion)
Bratwurst (Usinger, Milwaukee's finest, steamed in beer)
Chorizo
Andouille
Chicken
Seafood Sausage
Duck and Foie Gras
"No Dog" (local avocado, tomato, onion, cucumber, Chinese parsley, spicy chipolte mayo, cheddar)
I've only been there once, and the brat I had was just average. Then again, I haven't been able to find a decent brat on this island after trying a real one in Wisconsin back in the day.
I'm told the french fries are really good here, since they double-fry the potatoes, Belgian-style.
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I first read about Hank's Haute Dogs in The Chicago Tribune's "The Stew" food blog in mid-July. As luck would have it, I was headed to Honolulu just a couple of weeks later, and I was sure to make it a stop during my careful visit to avoid Waikiki (heh).
Anyway, as you would guess, as a regular of Chicago's gourmet stand, Hot Doug's*, it's easy to make the comparison between the two sausage slingers. For one, they make encased meats something of an epicurean adventure, pairing unusual meats with creative condiments. Both hot dog stands have frustrating hours (only open from 10a-4p -- which means no post-work dinner ... wah) and are situated in unassuming industrial corridors (or in Hank's case, nestled between auto dealers and mechanics). Perhaps most noticeably, though, is both men seem to be a constant presence in the restaurant. During my visit, owner Henry (who was also the executive chef of the late Chicago destination Trio) was behind the grill, chit-chatting with customers when his hands were free.
What makes Hank's different than Doug's however, is Henry's use of local flavor on his simple, yet effective, menu. Pineapple and mango relishes are sweet compliments, while the Portuguese sausage (which we ordered, and it was perfectly charred with sauteed, sweet onions and mustard) is also made locally. You can also order a hibiscus lemonade or a ginger soda (one of the freshest I've ever tasted!) to wash down your lunch. For sides, you can get fries, but we instead chose the Maui onion rings, which were yummy, but I only wish for the price the order could be a little bigger, so it could be served as more of a family-style side. There's also a weekly special -- when I visited it was a rabbit and veal sausage. And, of course, there's the old standby, the Chicago dog, which is always available.
Yeah, you're gonna pay $5-6 for a "hot dog" here -- but anyone who's a regular of Hot Doug's knows that you're getting exactly what you pay for. At Hank's, you're getting a taste of local flavor, paired with a taste of Chicago. And, if you can elevate the art of the hot dog as Henry and Doug are able to, then it's easy to get my dollar.
* Hot Doug's: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Hank's is fine. I can't say good or bad, just fine or OK.
I agree with Roger Y's earlier review. Hank's had a lot of hype and I was pretty excited about going to check it out. I saw their menu on line and was excited to taste several things.
When we walked in, the decor and atmosphere didn't disappoint. Hank has a real good shtick goin' for itself. The menu is cool and the whole place is very clean and hip. The dogs come in cool little individual boxes and everyone has nice logo shirts on.
Anywhoot, the dogs were just fine. Again, as Roger Y mentioned before, they were average. At a place like this, you expect more. The dogs aren't cheap either so you are expecting more on that end too. I guess the poppy seed bun lets you charge another 3 bucks a dog?
Long story short, I wanted to like Hank's. I liked it OK but no more than that.
Nice vibe, alright food.
had this place for lunch today. finally! couldn't wait to get back to the station and tell everyone i ate a HAUTE dog! couture even...
anyway, i had the chicago style with everything and a chili dog then split each with my lunch companion. we also shared an onion rings and an order of fries-- both made fresh that day and BOTH SO DAMN GOOD! you can really taste the maui sweet onion and the fries are the shoe string sort. yum yum frickin yum.
the dogs were also good. not as big as i was expecting but come on, piggy. it's as it should be. i am actually still full. chicago style comes with a yummy pickle and these weird spicy little pepper/caper things. the bun is magnificent-- melts in your mouth. it's like this poppyseed thing. OH MAN!
the chilli is what you would expect, fresh grated cheese and onions and the dog itself has a nice crisp snap to it. i usually don't even eat all of the dog part. this time i did.
OH! you can order a dog without the dog too so you vegetarians
GET OVER THERE. um, i mean... i highly recommend you check this spot.
this place frickin rules. haute!
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