Did you just see someone taking a bite of their Korean hot dog with that incredible cheese pull shot on social media? You want one too, don’t you?
We live in a big city with a lot of great food options, but it can be hard to know where to find the best Korean-style hot dogs.
We’ll show you where to find the best Korean hot dogs in Toronto so you don’t have to go on a wild goose chase (or settle for a subpar snack).
What are Korean hot dogs called?
Korean hot dogs (people also refer them as Korean corn dogs) are called “gamja hot dogs” in Korean, which directly translates to “potato hot dog.”
Similar to other popular street food like tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes), eomuk (Korean fish cake), gamja hot dogs are sold everywhere at night markets in Korea.
What are Korean hot dogs made of?
The term “gamja” in gamja hot dog refers to potatoes, but there are many variations of gamja dogs that don’t actually contain potatoes.
Potato or no potato, the middle of the hot dog is always filled with delicious sausage and mozzarella cheese.
The sausage and mozzarella cheese are strung together on a skewer and then coated with a batter. Prior to being fried to perfection, the hot dog is topped with various toppings such as tiny cubes of potato, ramen noodles, and bonito flakes.
And to get that crunchy effect, the hot dog is covered with a light blanket of panko or breadcrumb. The extra layer of sprinkled sugar gives it that sweet and savoury taste.
The fun part is choosing your favourite sauces (ketchup, mustard, spicy mayo, and more) to make it your hot dog.
Chungchun Rice Hotdog
Chungchun is a huge chain in Korea and is known for bringing Korean hot dogs to places all over the world, including Canada, and they did not disappoint.
The hot dogs were juicy and flavourful, and the batter was crispy and delicious. They have an insane selection of sauces so you can customize the flavours to your liking.
Order the Double Cheese if you’re looking for that legendary cheese pull shot. The crispy potato on the Gamsung Hotdog will have your tastebuds asking whether you’re eating french fries or a hot dog (or both!). Check out our Chungchun review of their famous Chicken Nugget.
Their shops are always packed with hungry customers and foodies alike looking for the best snacks so be prepared to wait up to 30 minutes!
Arirang Hotdog
Image by @toronto.culture
This Korean franchise is a new addition to the Korean hot dog scene in Toronto. Although Arirang Hotdog is new to the city, they’re well-established in Korea and are not afraid to bring the hot dog battle to the doorsteps of their competitors. The North York store (5 Byng Ave.) is located just 3 doors away from Chung Chun!
For those of you that are trying their hot dogs for the first time, we highly recommend you to try their signature Twisted Bread Hotdog. It’s a bit more expensive than the Arirang Hotdog, but the crispy and crunchy potato fries are worth the experience.
Need another reason to stop by this place? They also have juicy croquettes that are filled with tasty bulgogi, red beans, and pizza that will tantalize your taste buds.
K Seoul Hotdog
Image by @todotoronto
For those of you that are looking for an alternative to the regular hot dog, K Seoul offers one of the best Korean hot dogs in Toronto. They have an insane number of styles and flavours to choose from. All of their hot dogs are handmade and fresh.
Some of their hot dog creations include the Ugly Potato and Ugly Yam (sausage, just mozzarella or cheddar, half sausage/half mozzarella or cheddar). We know, the names are a bit funny but don’t let that stop you from trying them! The Ugly Potato is super popular because it’s popping with sweet and savoury flavours.
You only get to select 2 types of sauces for your hot dog so don’t go asking for a squirt of each sauce.
If you’re ever in the mood for an extra snack, you can order a side order of tteokbokki!
Kordog Korean Style Hotdog
Image by @zmreats
Located in the World Food Market, right across from the Ryerson Student Learning Centre, this is the most convenient Korean hot dog spot. They’ve got all of the classic hot dog flavours like sausage, mozzarella, and potato at affordable prices.
The half & half hot dogs have a good balance of batter and sausage, not overly doughy, covered with a thin layer of breadcrumbs. The mozzarella hot dogs are oozing with cheesy goodness in every bite. The potato hot dogs are super crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside.
Go ahead and add some ketchup, honey mustard, or spicy mayo to your hot dog for that extra zing!
It’s the perfect way to get that afternoon energy boost to get you through the rest of the day.
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