COCONUTS HOTSPOT — Few things are as iconic of American “cuisine” as a New York hot dog.
Just as with Bangkok’s Pad Thai, Florence’s Gelato and Singapore’s Chili Crab, location matters and these things are best eaten at the source. Case in point: There’s no way to recreate the experience of downing a hot dog and Brooklyn Lager on a bench outside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
When expat Jim Seymour came up short in his quest for the perfect hot dog in Bangkok he set out to make his own, and the NYC-themed Superbdog is the result of his efforts. The little stall on the BTS Nana platform could pass for a hot dog cart on a Times Square street corner, and his new Thong Lor location, with yellow and white walls, feels like the inside of a giant hot dog.
Bangkok is lacking in hot dogs made entirely of beef, and that’s where Superbdog truly wins. The franks here use all-beef filling and lamb casing, resulting in a dog that gives a satisfying snap when you bite in. The size of the dog is the standard six inches; all the dogs are boiled as opposed to grilled, so you won’t get any over-charred dogs with broken skin here. A standard beef hot dog will set you back THB70; double that and you get a drink, chips, and a slathering of chili and cheese for THB140. Or just top your dog with unlimited mustard (spicy and classic), ketchup, mayo, relish, diced onions and jalapeno peppers. Jim has nailed the New York vibe with a series of signature dogs named after landmarks in the Big Apple. The Broadway Dog uses a pungent red onion sauce, The SOHO dog incorporates a spicy guacamole, and the East Village dog receives the Far Eastern treatment of seaweed and teriyaki toppings.
The beef dog is indeed superb, but there is a pork variety available at THB60 for those who prefer white meat. There’s also bowls of mild, homemade chili at THB70 that include a gooey cheese mess on the surface of the saucy beans.
Be prepared to take the dogs away or hang around the BTS platform to scarf them down quickly because there really isn’t any seating at Nana’s Superbdog and the constant stream of people scuffling about the station can be annoying. Get the complete experience over at the Sukhumvit 53 location for ample seating and a selection of doggone-good American craft beers.
FIND IT:
Stand: BTS Nana platform
Restaurant: Soi Sukhumvit 53, near BTS Thong Lo
