This Houston Food Truck Serves Juicy Hot Dogs On Hawaiian Rolls, And We Need A Bite

To say that Houston is a culinary heaven is perhaps selling it short. Space City is a cultural melting pot, with hundreds of nationalities represented in its 2.3 million inhabitants, an extraordinary diversity that is reflected in the city's exciting culinary scene. From Viet-Cajun spots in Chinatown to family-owned Tex-Mex joints and Michelin-starred restaurants, there is just so much to discover and enjoy when it comes to dining in Houston. And now, the newly opened Dirty Dawgs food truck has captured the attention of residents with its gourmet halal hot dogs served on Hawaiian rolls. Barely a month after opening, this eclectic food truck has become a viral sensation, selling out of everything on opening day. 

The menu at Dirty Dawgs is short and sweet, featuring only six hot dog styles complemented by fries (plain or topped with chili and cheese) and shakes. But these are definitely not your ordinary dogs. There are a few things that make Dirty Dawgs quite special, starting with its choice of bread. The soft and sweet Hawaiian rolls are toasted inside and out to add texture, and the 100% halal beef franks are split open and fried on the griddle to develop a crispy texture. The toppings combine crunchy sprinkles and homemade sauces for extreme tastes and textures. Just looking at them on social media has our mouths seriously watering and considering a trip to Houston.

Serving hot dogs in Hawaiian rolls might not be a novelty, but it sure makes sense, and Dirty Dawgs has capitalized on the idea by making the pillowy sweet buns their signature. It also takes pride in their homemade sauces and toppings, which add a special gourmet touch. For instance, the housemade chili turns the Chili Dawg into an upgraded version of the ballpark classic, enhanced with grated cheese and crunchy Fritos. The Cowboy Dawg showcases homemade BBQ sauce, chopped beef brisket, crispy fried onions, and pickled red onions for an extra special Texas-style treat. 

Among the best sellers is the Mexicano Dawg. Inspired by the traditional Mexican street corn, this dog is slathered with creamed roasted corn, mayo, parmesan, fresh jalapeños, and a generous sprinkling of Tajín, served with a lime wedge on the side. Want a more outlandish take? Go for the Tokio Dawg, piled with crispy fried onions, gochujang sauce, fresh chopped chives, smoky beef bacon, and sesame seeds, or get down and dirty with the Dirty Dawg, a messy combination of cream cheese, crispy fried onions, sriracha, homemade curry ketchup, and honey mayo.

However, most Instagram reviewers agree that the Chopped Cheese is the winner — two seasoned beef patties chopped up inside the bun, covered in melted American cheese, grilled onion, bell peppers, lettuce, tomato, and a secret "dirty sauce." One described it as "each bite is messy, greasy, glorious chaos. This isn't just a sandwich ... it's a moment."  Call them comfort street food or the ideal meal after a night of revelry. Either way, we think Dirty Dawgs has found the secret sauce.