Waka Dog Cafe — Restaurant in South Bend

Waka Dog

I had high hopes when visiting Waka Dog. However, my experience fell short of expectations, starting with discrepancies between the online and in-store menus. Items I had my eye on, like the Waka Burger, were nowhere to be found.

Opting for the Deluxe Burger, I was disappointed to find that despite claims of hand-pattied burgers, the taste suggested otherwise, with a distinctly frozen quality. Moreover, the burger lacked cohesion and flavor, leaving much to be desired.

Moving on to the Chicago Dog, it arrived cold, failing to capture the essence of this classic dish. The accompanying fries were a letdown—standard frozen fare with a noticeable absence of seasoning.

Even the mozzarella sticks failed to impress, appearing and tasting disappointingly cheap. Amidst these culinary letdowns, the only saving grace was the raspberry iced tea, offering a refreshing respite from the mediocrity.

Regrettably, the overall dining experience at Waka Dog left much to be desired. With subpar quality, lackluster execution, and unimpressive flavors, it paled in comparison to more budget-friendly fast food alternatives. As such, I cannot recommend Waka Dog and won't be returning anytime soon.

In conclusion, for those seeking a satisfying meal that hits the mark, I suggest exploring other dining options that offer better value and culinary delight.

REPLY TO REPLY While I understand that the menu items may vary, I must emphasize that the quality of the food remains paramount. Unfortunately, the burgers I ordered were far from fresh, despite being labeled as...

Waka Dog, smelling like bacon salvation and bad decisions. I had the worst case of the munchies I’ve had all year but I was lucid and on a mission for something wrapped in bacon that could fix my mood and my cholesterol.

Inside is cheerful chaos. Stainless counters, yellow walls, Lucille Ball on one TV, NCIS on the other. The walls are covered in kid art, sports stuff, and random “thoughtful gifts” like five dollar perfume bottles and Dum Dums with a sign that apologizes for what people say when they’re hungry. It’s somewhere between a college hangout and a cholesterol chapel.

I ordered the two dog special (11.99) with a Chicago and a Sonoran, added a smash burger (9), a steak taco (3), a cup of Mexican alphabet soup (3), and a Mexican Coke (3). The waitress was friendly and quick, and when my Coke was gone, she brought a fountain refill on the house.

The Sonoran dog was the star. All beef, wrapped in bacon and buried under pinto beans, pico, queso fresco, and sour cream. Salty, spicy, messy, perfect. The Chicago dog was all discipline and balance, the burger was hot and polite, the taco had punch, and the fries hit that crisp sweet spot without me even having to ask.

By the time I finished, my table looked like a crime scene and my hunger had turned into something close to peace.

Waka Dog is the kind of place where college kids, construction guys, and the chronically hungry all worship the same deep fryer. I came in starving and left full, greasy, and oddly enlightened.

Waka waka waka, baby. Just do it and bring...

Where do I begin… my boyfriend and I had been on a long car ride from Indianapolis traveling north to the dunes for a quick romantic weekend camping getaway. Morale was high as we stopped for a nice walk around Notre Dame’s campus, but of course we worked up a mighty appetite. That’s when we came across the local GEM that is Waka Dog Cafe. The establishment is cute, quaint, and cozy with lots of character. We had the Classic Smash Burger, the Chicago Dog, and last but certainly not least The Quesabirria tacos. My boyfriend and I knew this was love at first bite. Aside from the amazing food this place has a wall full of classic board games that are sure to keep everyone in your party entertained for the entirety of your experience. We ended up playing Guess Who which was quite fun even though my boyfriend lied multiple times about who he had chosen on the final round leading to an awkward 38 minute car ride to our campsite…. But I can’t emphasize enough how great the service was at this place! They really make you feel like family. 10 out of 10 would definitely Waka...