Happy Dog | Cleveland

Get your gourmet hot dog fix (for Clevelanders, such a thing exists) at the gritty, retro-hip neighborhood corner bar, Happy Dog. The interior remains largely unchanged since it was built in the 1940s; heralded by an oval wood racetrack bar and chrome barstools, outfitted with raised scallop paneling and dangling globe light fixtures. Downstairs at Underdog, pinball machines stand out against dim lighting and black fixtures. 

The kitchen offers locally made all beef hot dogs, veggie dogs (vegan Italian sausages), crispy tater tots and slender French fries. These are accompanied by a massive selection of toppings, all house made. The menus are designed as a choose your own hot dog adventure where you pencil in your order and are encouraged to get creative. Top your dog with a classic vodka sauerkraut, a zesty Caribbean coleslaw, perhaps a pimento mac-n-cheese or even Froot Loops cereal! The sauces range from traditional: house made ketchup, Bertman Original Ballpark mustard, sriracha sauce to intriguing: black truffle honey mustard and Alabama-Style white barbeque. All of them that we sample are excellent.

For those feeling daunted by the topping selection but still up for something wacky, I recommend you go for a suggestive wiener from the list of signature happy dogs. The East Meets West comes slathered in crunchy peanut butter, dressed up with Thai chili and garlic sauce, topped with do chua (Vietnamese pickled daikon and carrots) and garlicky escarole. A 1:45 am Special features apple wood smoked bacon, cheddar, chipotle hollandaise and a fried egg. Wash down your dogs and tots with a local beer on draft like the Bell's Two-Hearted Ale (Kalamazoo, MI) or the Fat Heads Head Hunter IPA (North Olmstead, OH). They offer a large selection of domestic and imports including some funky Eastern European beers. 

The East Meets West was my order and let me tell you, crunchy peanut butter on a hot dog is a revelation. Not to mention the rest of those toppings somehow all compliment each other in perfect harmony. 

Our CLE crew was in for lunch and the bar was relatively quiet. They have live music most nights and are open until midnight so I imagine an upbeat crowd. The Happy Dog is unmistakably authentic. This place makes me very happy, indeed. 

Happy Dog
Gordon Square Arts District / 
Detroit Shoreway 

5801 Detroit Avenue

Cleveland, Ohio 44102