Dan Washburn's Shanghai Diaries: The best hot dogs in Shanghai

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The best hot dogs in Shanghai

Best of Shanghai is a new category on the site that will be updated from time to time. WARNING: This is one man’s opinion — but it’s usually right.

I broke a longstanding personal maxim over the weekend: Never utter the word “dog” while ordering at a Chinese restaurant. But at Orange Dog, a snack shop in the basement of Jiu Guang City Plaza, the big new mall on Nanjing Xi Lu next to Jing’an Temple, it’s hard not to — hot dogs are their specialty. And I’d rather eat a phallus of ground up pig snouts than poor old Rover any day. (Actually, according to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council, hot dogs are not made of snouts and other sundry swine parts. They are made of “specially selected meat trimmings of beef and/or pork.” And I can’t think of any reason why the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council would lie about something like that. Oh, wait — yes I can.)

The best hot dogs I’ve had in China were cooked by my friend Luis at one of his famous back porch barbecues, which always include — curiously — several boxes of Kittyland cookies. Don’t tell Luis I told you this: His hot dogs usually come burned. But, in China, you take what you can get. I once ordered a hot dog in Lanzhou (I know, I know) at one of those Western knock-off restaurants where everything looks kind of Western but ends up being really weird. I got a big bun that looked even bigger because of what was inside it. It was a small Chinese sausage. You know, the reddish, kind of sweet ones. It was about the size of my middle finger, ironically. They sliced it in half length-wise and placed the two pieces end to end. Even then it didn’t fill up the bun. Making things worse, the meat was lathered in mayonnaise. Mayonnaise! Where was I? Britain?

So, I was excited to stumble upon Orange Dog, where everything looked and tasted normal.

The hot dogs are plump and juicy and they actually end up looking like the photos featured on their wall. I ordered a Chicago Bull (pictured) that came smothered with dill pickles, mushrooms, onions and a couple slices of tomato. They served it to me on a tray with squeeze bottles of ketchup and mustard and a jar of relish — the way a hot dog should be served. (And, yes, they also gave me a squeeze bottle of mayonnaise. Lots of Brits in Shanghai.) Other dogs on the menu include the Texas Ranch Smokies, the Mexican Fire Breather and the Orange Dog Classic. The Fire Breather is the most expensive, coming in at a very tasty price of RMB 14.80 (less than $2).

Orange Dog is kind of similar to an Orange Julius, if you are familiar with the chain common in American shopping malls. They have a nice selection of smoothies that are well worth their RMB 14.80 price tag. The menu also includes some set dinners — like curry chicken — and other sandwiches, like a French Style Tuna Sandwich and a Philadelphia Style Steak Sandwich (being from Pennsylvania, I’m always wary of such claims from anywhere beyond the Delaware Valley — for me, nothing is better than Jim’s Steaks on South Street). I can recommend Orange Dog’s Potato Wedges (RMB 8 per box), as well. Unfortunately, I have nothing to report on their BBQ Hot Wings (RMB 6.80 per pair) — the fact that they are sold “per pair” scared me off. Orange Dog also claims to have “fresh” lemonade — and they serve it hot.

Orange Dog, Jiu Guang City Plaza basement, Nanjing Xi Lu, next to Jing’an Temple, across from Jing’an Park. Free delivery for orders over RMB 50. Call 021.62883212.

Agree? Disagree? Have a Best of Shanghai tip or suggestion? Leave a comment below.

12.07.2004, 8:07 PM · Best of Shanghai, Food

19 Comments

On Dec 8, 2004 12:29 AM, JoyMocha said:

Your writing in the food category always made me laugh. Hot Wings sold in pairs? Hot Lemonade? Everything with a Chinese twist. Growing up in Shanghai, I take everything for granted. If I haven’t come to the US, I won’t have a second thought of the idea of selling the chicken wings in pairs. Now something is definitely wrong there. Though it is ok ,which makes the world a more interesting place.
BTW, I love Hotdog, my favorite one is the hot dog in CostCo wholesale chain. I have yet to find the perfect Philly Cheessesteak…
On Dec 8, 2004 6:15 AM, chengb02 said:

Curious to see the rest in your “Best in Shanghai” series…
On Dec 9, 2004 10:12 PM, cindy said:

“best hamburger” in Shanghai…
On Dec 10, 2004 2:21 AM, dan said:

Hamburger — good idea. Guess I’ll have to do some research. My early favorite for price and quality would likely be Rendezvous Cafe down in Xujiahui. But I am open to suggestions.
On Dec 10, 2004 7:24 AM, margimello said:

I always thought it was strange that Pizza Hut was a fancy sitdown place in Shanghai.
On Dec 10, 2004 10:55 AM, dan said:

Best Pizza in Shanghai is also on my list. Here’s a shocker: It’s not found at Pizza Hut.
On Dec 10, 2004 12:28 PM, cindy said:

rendezvous was the first place i tried with good burgers too. but “arch bar” on wu kang rd. has a really good burger and “blue frog” on maoming, although pricier, has a wider selection and by far best burger.
On Dec 10, 2004 2:34 PM, newton said:

Well, hot dogs are differnet in places like Syndey, Singapore, Hong Kong, New York City, London, Paris, Munich. I was in Sydney recently. Their hot dogs use different type of buns, almost like French bread. Their dogs’ meat are soft and mushy. But, I love it though. The best hot dogs are still the ones from the street vendors in NYC.
On Dec 10, 2004 2:38 PM, dan said:

… or Yankee Stadium.
On Dec 10, 2004 4:15 PM, a different cindy said:

i’m curious, where do you think the best pizza is? i’m in love with good ol’ papa john’s, but open to suggestions. write about pizza soon! please!
On Dec 10, 2004 5:12 PM, dan said:

Best pizza? That’s easy. Read the story about my new toilet seat.
On Dec 10, 2004 7:06 PM, scottish lowai said:

Heh thats belgium that uses mayo.
Not the uk, they prefer brown sauce up
here thanks.
On Dec 10, 2004 7:14 PM, dan said:

Brown sauce? What is brown sauce?

And I think I was thinking about french fries. It’s french fries that Brits put mayo on — and that’s probably worse than putting mayo on a hot dog.
On Dec 10, 2004 7:53 PM, John said:

I had an Orange Dog at that same restuarant not too long ago, and I, too, was pleasantly surprised. You can really load up those dogs, but you can pay quite a bit for what is actually a very simple food.

I think the best hot dog deal in Shanghai is in Ikea. 3rmb for a nice big hot dog. Condiments are ketchup, spicy mustard, or mayo.
On Dec 13, 2004 5:40 PM, dan said:

John,

Was at IKEA yesterday, and you are right — those are good, old-fashioned, no-frills hot dogs. The kind you would find at a football stadium … an American football stadium. And the price — 3 kuai — can’t be beat.

But I’m not sure if I’d want to schlep all the way over to IKEA just for one of their hot dogs. It can be a madhouse in there. These dogs are the kind you inhale on your way to a taxi after an afternoon of shopping.

And that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Dan
On Dec 15, 2004 3:55 PM, John said:

Dan,

Well, I guess whether or not the hot dogs make the trip to Ikea worhtwhile depends on how many hot dogs you can eat…

10 hot dogs for 30rmb? Yeah, I could do that… :)
On Dec 29, 2004 4:40 AM, Nicole said:

I never heard of that place. Probably because I rather stuff myself on good Chinese dumpings. Now, I get mildly sick eating McDonald’s or any other American food other than In-and-out. *sigh*. TO think I use to order chicken nuggets all the time.
On Jan 6, 2005 5:03 PM, Trever said:

Dan,
I would like to invite you visit my small restaurant “Catch”,it will open at next week,we offer Hawaii style burgers and curly fries..
I have a same restaurant in kunshan now,most foreigners who living in kunshan love ours burgers.
Here is our address: 36,ziyunxi rd,changning(near zunyi Rd and xianxia rd)
TEL:62343003
See you then.

Trever
On Sep 16, 2005 1:23 AM, Dave said:

Trever,
What is you bar’s name and address in Kunshan? I would love to visit. Anyone know where there are good expat bars in Kunshan?

Dave