Japadog — Restaurant in Richmond

Food options at any outlet mall are always hard to come by. For this outlet mall in particular, the location and foot traffic variability means that management has always struggled to attract quality food vendors.

Those who know Japadog from its street cart roots and have chowed down on one of their signature Japanese hotdog creations will be slightly disappointed with this restaurant outpost they’ve set up. On one hand, being at an outlet means that you’ll have to lower your expectations a couple of notches. But on the other hand, there are some basic things that still need to be crossed off.

Ordering is pleasant enough...picking up your food not so much. While there is a number system in place, the servers always have to call out the order number. A lot of times however due to the acoustics of this place, the server usually goes unheard and the order unclaimed. Now even a simple microphone system installed in the kitchen would be a huge help so that whenever an order number needs to be called out, it can be heard above the noise of the crowd. Or a system similar to McDonalds where you can see the order numbers that are in progress and the order numbers that are ready to be picked up on a tv screen. Something like this would not only improve the experience for people waiting, but also give the outward impression that at least they have everything under control. It’s easy to be a potential customer and go into the store, see the Pick Up line, and think: hmm, maybe they’re pretty slow since there are a lot of people waiting. I should probably go elsewhere.

Cleanliness is another issue. I can definitely say it’s not the best here at Japadog. Either they’re severely understaffed and being overburdened by management or cleanliness is not a priority... I mean, it’s not like there are rats crawling around the place. But when you see customers whipping out their own tissue and hand sanitizer to clean the tables, it certainly does give some pause for thought. At any rate, you’re probably better off sitting outside by one of the many benches and enjoy your hotdog there.

The thing with street carts and food trucks making the big step to owning an actual brick and mortar space is there are certain expectations that come with a sit-down restaurant. I’d give them a pass if this was their first rodeo. But the the thing is...it’s not. This Japadog outpost isn’t even the first of its kind. You would think by now that there operational kinks have been ironed out and that things run smoothly. That alone is pretty disappointing.

I don’t have many complaints about the food, but the menu could certainly be much tighter. As to be expected with a hotdog menu that big, there will inevitably be some hits and misses. The Oroshi dog with grated daikon on top used to be pretty solid...except they got rid of the bonito flakes so you’re just eating a wet lump of grated reddish on top of an otherwise snappy hotdog and pillowy-soft bun. The Croquette dog is good, but the dog seems a lot smaller compared to their usual offerings. Butter Shoyu fries were quite salty and fries in general were nothing to write home about. By extension, that meant their poutine was underwhelming.

One random thing I noticed while sitting outside is that their doors are not marked with a push/pull sign. So to my bemusement there would be people who would try to open the left door when in fact it should be the right door. It would’ve been fine if it was the occasional person doing it. But over the course of eating my hotdog I counted at least 10 or so people making the same mistake. If a push/pull sign is something you can’t even spring for, just how miserly are you? It’s small details like this that are missing everywhere.

At any rate, this restaurant is the poster child of what happens to a place when they overextend themselves with a menu that needs to be more curated. All other aspects of the restaurant from service, general cleanliness, to kitchen operations,...

JapaDog

Location: McArthurGlen Designer Outlet, 7899 Templeton Station Road, Richmond, BC

JapaDog has gained a cult following for its creative fusion of Japanese flavors and North American street food, turning the humble hot dog into a gourmet experience. With locations across Vancouver, this outpost at McArthurGlen Outlet Mall offers a compact menu featuring its signature hot dogs, fried snacks, and specialty beverages. While some items impress, the overall experience is inconsistent, with lackluster service and an ambiance in need of improvement.

Food

Kurobuta Terimayo Bratwurst

JapaDog’s signature Kurobuta Terimayo Bratwurst remains a standout. The juicy Kurobuta pork sausage is rich and flavorful, enhanced by the sweet and savory teriyaki sauce, fresh radish, and green onion. The bun is well-structured, providing the right balance of softness and support. This is a well-executed and satisfying option, staying true to what makes JapaDog a favorite.

Rating: 8/10

Assorted Takoyaki (10 pcs)

The takoyaki arrived warm, crispy on the outside, and creamy on the inside, offering a satisfying texture contrast. While the bonito flakes and takoyaki sauce added the expected umami depth, the dish felt fairly standard, delivering competent execution without exceeding expectations.

Rating: 7/10

Cheese Tonkatsu

The fried pork cutlet with cheese featured a crispy, golden-brown crust, but the overall dish lacked the depth of flavor or seasoning to make it truly memorable. The cheese added richness, but it didn’t elevate the dish beyond a basic fried cutlet.

Rating: 6/10

Chicken Tempura

The fried chicken tempura was light and crispy, but it offered nothing particularly distinctive. While the batter was well-executed, the dish lacked seasoning and character, making it pleasant but unremarkable.

Rating: 6/10

Beef Bacon Cheese Hot Dog

The beef hot dog topped with bacon and cheese was adequate but uninspired. While the ingredients worked together as expected, the flavors felt predictable, lacking the boldness or creativity found in some of JapaDog’s more inventive offerings.

Rating: 6/10

Drinks • Malibu Piña Colada – A standard take on the classic cocktail, offering a balanced blend of coconut and pineapple flavors but nothing particularly noteworthy. Rating: 7/10 • Japanese Yuzu Drink – Bright and refreshing, with a tangy citrus kick that cuts through the richness of the fried dishes. This was one of the better drink options on the menu. Rating: 8/10

Service

Service at this location was disappointing. The lack of basic hospitality was noticeable—staff at the counter did not greet customers, nor did they offer assistance or recommendations. The ordering process felt uninviting, creating an impersonal experience that detracted from the overall visit.

Rating: 1/10

Ambiance

The restaurant’s small, no-frills setup serves its purpose as a quick-service spot, but the interior feels dated and in need of a refresh. While not necessarily expected to be a full-scale dining establishment, an updated design and improved seating arrangement could enhance the experience.

Rating: 4/10

Price

Pricing is on the higher side, especially for what is essentially hot dogs and fried snacks. While some items, like the Kurobuta Terimayo, justify the price with premium ingredients, others fail to deliver the level of quality expected at this price point.

Verdict

JapaDog remains a notable name in Vancouver’s street food scene, but this location falls short of delivering a consistently strong experience. While the Kurobuta Terimayo Bratwurst and Japanese Yuzu Drink were standouts, other offerings felt uninspired, and the poor service left a lasting negative impression.

A convenient stop for those craving JapaDog’s signature items, but with noticeable shortcomings in service and ambiance, it’s not...

Wow what an experience. Japadog is quite famous and popular in Vancouver, and this is my first time trying it. We had a group of 6. To start with, the place was busy and unfortunately not enough staff to keep up. Placing the order took a long time and many errors made due to language barrier, in the end we still couldn't get the order right so I gave up and just went with what cashier had entered. Cashier did not give any receipt of items ordered or even payment confirmation, just a ticket with the order number.

When we received the items, the vegetarian hot dog had the wrong toppings on it, so we thought the pork hot dog was the vegetarian option. This is a serious mistake/error. We asked the staff and they acknowledged they made a mistake but just told us which the vegetarian one is, even though it had meat toppings on it and someone already started eating it. They didn't even offer to make a new vegetarian one until we asked for it

The place is self-service. I still gave 15% tips but the little service they had was really questionable. The ketchup was out, so we went up to ask for it and they just pointed at the empty ketchup bottle and we already said it's out.

The hot dog was okay. The fries were already a bit cool and stiff when we got it.

Overall...