MeatLiquor’s – Chilli Dog

One of the meals I have missed most during the pandemic is a Friday lunch trip to MeatLiquor for a Dead Hippy burger, and maybe even one of their famous grogs if the afternoon isn’t too busy.  So, I have been watching their DIY offerings closely to see if I could get one during lockdown but so far the closest they have come is their beef chilli cheese dog.   I know from experience their hot dogs are pretty good so definitely had to try, even if not quite a cheeseburger.  Read on to find out how it was…

What we have in store

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The Bun: 17/20

A really good hot dog bun.  Simple white bread with decent flavour, and firm, although I thought perhaps a little heavy.  The instructions don’t say to toast it on its own, but simply to put the whole dog in the oven to melt the cheese at the end and this worked a treat for the bun.  The toasted flavour was great, and the toasting lightened the texture too, but the bun held up to the chilli well without cracking or getting soggy.

The Toppings:  9/10

Really good beef chilli, a simple white onion (you need to chop) and some pickled jalapeños.  The chilli is more a meat sauce so not loaded with beans, which we liked, and had the perfect amount of spice.  Not too hot to eat but a lovely tingle afterwards.  The onions and jalapeños were easy to add to taste…in case you want to crank the heat up a notch.  All three worked very well together as complementing flavours.  

The Condiments: 7/10

Nothing fancy here, just a generous helping of French’s mustard in an adorable mini-bottle.  We love French’s in this house so it was fine with us, although it was perhaps a little lost in with the chilli, peppers and onions.  

The Cheese: 15/20

Simple grated cheddar.  Flavour was good, although perhaps a little light among other ingredients.  Decent amount of it and good quality as it was still reasonably moist.  It did offer a nice creamy texture when melted on top with the chilli, so no real complaints here though.

The Beef: 19/20

These 88g (3oz or so) all beef hot dogs were fantastic.  I don’t think I have cooked hot dogs in a frying pan with oil before, but will definitely try that again as they had a very nice outer texture and were juicy and flavourful inside, not like what you get with soggy boiled wieners or with burnt bits from the BBQ.  Well blended inside (no chunks of fat or gristle like you can get in cheaper versions).

The Taste: 18/20

Everyone absolutely loved these.   Chilli, onions, jalapeños and mustard all add gentle kicks to what is a really, really good basic hot dog, and the cheese keeps it all from just getting a little too carried away.  I did see a couple of people adding mayo after the first bites to help balance out the spiciness a little, but again that is personal taste. Meat Liquor knocked it out of the park with this Chilli Dog but how did their Dead Hippy Burger do? Check out the review here

Our Verdict: 85/100 

It does not quite take the place of the Dead Hippy we were craving, but there is little doubt this is one of the best hot dogs we have ever had.  It was pretty easy to cook as well.   My only comment is that without a substantial side dish, one isn’t enough.  But when they are this good, I am happy to go back for seconds.  If you do order, be sure to order one of their grogs on the side. The home version is not nearly as potent as the ones in the restaurant which I assume is down to alcohol sales rules, but still a great taste and pairs nicely with the spice of the chilli.  Just make sure you aren’t driving anywhere after. This Chilli Dog was a big hitter for Meat Liquor, the quirky restaurant, you should check out their website here