buldogies: Gourmet Hot Dogs To The Max

CONROE, TX -- It may be a small operation, but they have a big impact when it comes to taste, and if you are in the mood for a Gourmet Hot Dog, the year round carnival fare offered at buldogies (all lower case), located at 14543 SH 105, will take your taste buds to heights they have never seen. I’m in the eastern portion of the Lake Creek Settlement this week, checking out and charging headlong into the reality of what a top of the line hot dog should actually taste like. And just like always, I found out I’ve been eating hot dogs the wrong way, my entire life.

I didn’t know what to expect when I entered buldogies, but as always with each of these endeavors I came prepared to loosen my belt, and digest like an alligator. And any place that has a large picture of Clint Eastwood, license plates, and bull horns hanging on the walls, you know it’s gotta be good. And get that knife and fork ready. Yes, you heard me right, It’s time to eat. And at ‘dogies, you write your order out, with either an all-beef Nathan’s or Hebrew National dog, then you hand it in. That is, if you want your … buldogies UP!!

I first tried the Mac Wild, and OMG!! You gotta try this. I never thought dog and mac would go together. This item is on the smaller menu insert, but you won’t even need that to order after I give you the low down. When I first received this piece of art, my jaw dropped. First off, there is no freshly baked bun associated with it. It’s an all-beef house dipped ‘Corn Dog’, with the stick and everything. After frying, the stick is surgically removed and it’s opened to form its own version of a bun. The MW is loaded with chili and buldogie mac and cheese, and topped with a chipotle ranch dressing. I loved the texture of this opened face corndog, and it proved no problem to slice into and devour. The dog is nice and juicy. Flavorful, with a hint of smoke, and when combined with the chipotle ranch and mac, you’ll be wondering where this buldogie has been all your life.

The Philly the Kid, or ‘The You-Hoo … I’ll Make You Famous’ dog, is buldogies version of Philly's cheesesteak. It too is a hot dog with attitude, sporting toppings of thin sliced steak, grilled peppers and onions, a choice mayo (regular, chipotle, or horseradish), and a choice of cheese (mozz, american, or pepper jack). You will appreciate the hot dog and the steak as much as I did, and be expecting Sylvester Stallone to come marching through the door. Who knew that these flavors paired so well with each other. And the bun held its own, with everything staying together as it should to the end.

buldogies creator s ’ Breian Majko and Jamie Mancil, started in January 2017, with just four city crafted hotdogs on the menu, and through experimentation have created a menu that marks it as the best hot dog and carnival food themed restaurant in Montgomery County. I love their ‘in your face attitude’ in taking hot dogs to the next level. I mean, that’s where you want your hot dog, isn’t it? It’s another place, where you are a name, and not a number like at the stadiums, or ball parks. And you gotta give Breian and Jamie credit. They risked a lot opening buldogies, and the investment has paid off. Heck, I’d recommend them getting a food truck crew, and going through neighborhoods. I’d insist they come to my area every week.

I next tried the Sriracha Fries, a proportionally covered dish of fried thick cut curly fries, topped with lines of their house made chipotle ranch, bacon, chives, spicy sriracha, and saddled with a secret sauce. And despite being covered with all that, it still allows the fries to be the star in the dish. It’s very addictive, and while writing my notes on my reMarkable tablet, I looked down to find that I finished everything. For those who appreciate just a little spice and ooey gooey deliciousness with their fries. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 20. And when it comes to those MHS linebackers, I’d recommend 7 baskets of fries, along with 3 each of the hot dogs mentioned.

The buldogies menu has a little bit for everyone. Besides hot dogs and differing fries, the carnival and county fair treats are bound to please. I tried the funnel cake, and a chocolate shake, and again my blood sugar monitor said “Are you crazy,” but I tried to counter it with a little serving of bacon mac and cheese on the side. It didn’t work, but ‘dogies mac and cheese, is another one of those places I recommend for dinner party orders. But please call ahead to make sure they have enough.

buldogies is no ordinary place. You go there to be impressed, or have others be impressed with you for recommending the place. They’ve come a long way since that 4 dog menu. For those with cravings for great hot dogs and carnival fare, you will not be disappointed. I wasn’t. I left the place with a loose belt, and the beginnings of digesting like an alligator. And like owners Breian and Jamie say buldogies are … hotdogs with attitude. buldogies UP!!!

Ruben can be reached at: ruben@montgomerycountynews.net