REVIEW| Let's Be Frank

Hot dogs have come a long way in the culinary world. Always the bridesmaid and never the brides at a family barbeque when paired with its hamburger counterpart, and sharing the spotlight with beer and other snacks at a baseball game, hot dogs have finally taken center stage.

Let's Be Frank, a newly opened hot dog bar at College and Spadina has finally given hot dogs the attention they deserve. You may have run into them in the past as they started off on a much smaller scale at festivals, food truck and even a pop up restaurant, they've finally settled down for good. 

So what exactly makes a hot dog gourmet? Some fancy mustard and high end relish? Definitely not... to turn a classic into something incredible takes some creativity and thinking outside of the box. That's exactly what Let's Be Frank achieved with their menu of hot dogs like the Dogfather, Mac Daddy and Katsu Dog just to name a few.

We were lucky enough to be invited to try a few of their hot dogs and while we wanted to eat everything off the menu, believe it or not... hot dogs can be very filling. The great thing about Let's Be Frank is that they offer all hot dogs in 3 sizes - a 3'5" slider,  6" regular and a 8" big dog. Personally we would recommend getting a few sliders so you can try more than one hot dog type.

Check out the photos below to see which hot dog speaks to you the most. Our favourite out of the bunch is probably the Katsu Dog - we aren't ones to ever turn down anything deep-fried. If gourmet hot dogs still give you some anxiety and you want to gradually ease into it, don't worry - just order the Naked Dog. 

 Korean BBQ Dog ($3.99 / $7.96 / $8.95)
Grilled frank glazed with Korean BBQ sauce, fried egg, kimchi, Sriracha mayo & green onions

 Super Steamie ($2.75 / $5.49 / $6.49)
Steamed frank, topped with yellow mustard, relish, diced onion & tangy homemade coleslaw

 Mac Daddy ($4.49 / $8.85 / $9.85)
Grilled frank topped with creamy mac & cheese, bacon bits & Dine Alone Foods Southern Blues BBQ sauce

 Pulled Pork Po'Boy ($3.99 / $7.95 / $8.95)
Grilled frank with pulled pork, tangy coleslaw, Dine Alone Foods Northern Soul BBQ sauce & hickory sticks

 Corn Dog ($2.49 / $4.99 / $5.99)
Deep-fried frank in special recipe corn batter with Dine Alone Foods Southern Blues BBQ sauce

 Tijuana Danger Dog ($4.49 / $8.85 / $9.85)
Bacon wrapped, deep-fried frank with aged cheddar & salsa verde

This dog has been around since they first started and that can only mean one thing - the people have spoken and the Tijuana Danger Dog is here to stay!

 Katsu Dog ($3.49 / $6.95 / $7.95)
Panko coated deep-fried frank with wasabi mayo, katsu sauce & green onion

They also have some not hot dog/sides that you can order like poutine, fries, mac and cheese and for those who are health conscious, salads not to mention a dessert that incorporates a deep fried banana with nutella, jelly and peanut butter!


Northern Soup Pulled Pork Poutine ($6.49 / $8.99)
Poutine with pulled pork, Dine Alone Foods' Northern Soul BBQ sauce & green onion

 Mac & Cheese ($4.99 / $6.99)
With bacon bits & Souther Dine Alone Foods Southern Blues BBQ Sauce

 Hot Dog Wings ($5.99 / $7.99)
Hot dog bites, breaded & fried and tossed in buffalo sauce

The Hot Dog Wings was slightly too salty for my taste so I would probably choose another side dish to try next time.

Ivana Banana ($4.49)
Deep-fried banana served with peanut butter, Nutella & jelly

Working in in the Bay and College area, it's always nice to have another option to turn to when we're trying to decide what to have for lunch and we're glad Let's Be Frank has joined our list. Even if you're not in the area, they open late on the weekends, which means if you're craving a hot dog after a night out, you don't have to travel far to satisfy your craving!

They also have special menu items that you have to see in person and even choose to vote for if you want it to become permanent so check it out and let us know what you think! 

  - This meal was complimentary but opinions are our own-