New I-Drive stand serving up Hawaiian-style hot dogs
You may not have thought about putting fruit sauce on your hot dog, but there’s a new food stand along International drive that is doing just that – and getting rave reviews. Hula Dog serves authentic Hawaiian-style hot dogs.
There’s a similar hot dog served in Hawaii called Puka Dog, but the new stand in Orlando is the creation of owner Doug Trovillion. Doug is a contractor by trade, but with the construction business in a slump, he started thinking of ways to boost his income. He and his wife travel to Hawaii frequently and love the fruit sauces the Hawaiians put on their meats and the soft Hawaiian breads. “We just came up with the concept and figured International Drive is always looking for something different,” said Doug.
Hula Dogs are served in a cylinder-shaped soft bun with one opening to slide the hot dog in. Then your choice of sauces are poured in. First you pick a hula sauce (garlic lemon, jalapeno or chili pepper), then a fruit sauce (coconut, mango, pineapple or banana), then top it off with your choice of mustard (including a pineapple or mango mustard).
“My wife makes all the sauces, our breads are from a local baker and our meats are the best in town with Boar’s Head,” added Doug. “We figured, give them a good quality product with a good price on International Drive, and I think people will enjoy it.”
In addition to the fruit sauces, all the usual hot dog toppings are available as well as sausage and veggie dogs. You can even order a regular hot dog, but why would you want to do that?
Hula Dog is located just south-east of Wet ‘n Wild on the same side of International Drive. They are open for lunch and dinner. You can reach them at 321-229-2585.
UPDATE: Hula Dog has changed their name to Kona Dog. The reason for the change was the owner’s desire to make it a franchise and there are other companies with different products under the name “hula dog”.
This was the best hot dog i mean HULA DOG i ever tried in my LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So glad to hear they have veggie dogs! I’m there!
Enjoyed building the cabinets for the Hula Dog. Got to go try a Hawaiian dog sometime soon. Good luck Doug!
Loved the dogs! Just had one a few mins. ago, and well worth the 10 min. drive from WDW. Took Apopka Vineland Rd to Sand Lake Dr, then a short drive to International Dr. If you have a vehicle and have a little time, check it out. Bread is amazing, sauces tasty, and good , quality dogs(Boars Head)to round it all out. Go hungry, cause they are huge! Not your run of the mill chain, just a local trying make a living.
Tried them for the 1st time today. Yummy!!
you must be insane to be calling it “authentic hawaiian style hot dogs! Theres nothing “Hawaiian style” about hot dogs of any kind. Puka dogs in a citchy restaurant started by mainlanders who moved to hawai’i and decided to open a tourist spot, calling it local and knowing that would get tourists to stop by. tourists are alway wary of eating foreign food, so call a hot dog Hawaiian and theyre more then happy to have an excuse to eat something theyre familiar with (in this case hot dogs) and still walk away with the feeling that they tried foreign cuisine. guess what… you didnt! puka in hawaiian means hole, the only difference about puka dogs and regular hot dogs are the fact that theres a hole to insert the dog, not a slit. you think cutting the bun differently all of a sudden makes it “hawaiian style”? mainlanders are forever naming things “hawaiian” for the sake of sales. Hawaiian pizza? Are you serious? sweet breads are not hawaiian, theyre portuguese. tiki bars lol ..really? and dont get me started on all the L&Ls around the world who are made and run by ASIANS using the hawaiian name to make a quick buck. im so over it, how can so many people fall for this BS?