No Ordinary 'Dogs'

A quaint hot dog shop just re-opened its doors in Agoura. Back from a brief hiatus early this year, is back with bigger and better dogs, designed to titillate hot dog-loving palates. 

Hot dog lovers and partners

Owned by David Goad and Nick Donahue, who both used to work together as chefs at another local restaurant, Big Joe’s Hot Dogs exclusively carries Vienna Beef hotdogs.

The all-beef and all-brisket hot dogs are one of the best, if not the best, according to Goad. “We’re the only ones that have it around here,” he said. “Unless you want to drive all the way to Buena Park.”

A self-confessed hot dog lover, Goad used to be a customer of the old shop, before it closed. “I just put it out there, my services and my ideas,” he said, describing how he got on board. “Then Nick eventually joined us.”

The two banter relentlessly in the kitchen like old friends. One claims one recipe was his original creation, while the other claims it was his. Both put in 70 to 80-hour work-weeks, with no other employees on the payroll.

“We hope to hire more staff as we get busier and bigger,” said Donahue, who is happy to let his more seasoned partner take the lead with ordering and marketing.

Something for everyone

There are 15 hot dogs on the menu from $2.95 for a regular dog to $6.95 for the cowboy picnic dog, made up of two grilled dogs with coleslaw and other trimmings.

According to the two owners, the sky’s the limit with what can be ordered and mixed and matched. The dogs can be steamed, grilled or fried. For the more adventurous, there’s “savage-style,” a process that involves steaming, grilling, slicing up and pan-searing the dogs.

Fresh and homemade chili makes the chili cheese dog one of the top-sellers. The Chicago dog, topped with tomatoes, pickle spears, onions and sport peppers, is also a crowd-drawer, according to the owners.

Other fascinating choices include the Italian combo, an Italian sausage, grilled peppers and onions concoction. For barbecue aficionados, there's the Texas barbecue dog, oozing with barbecue sauce, grilled onions and cheese.

Not a big hot dog fan? There are sandwiches, too, and side orders of French fries, onion rings and beans. To wrap it all up, there are five kinds of desserts, including the funnel cake and deep-fried candy bars.

Not for the faint of heart

For the fickle-minded or the undecided, there’s “the wheel,” a wooden contraption that helps diners make a choice. Goad said it’s for people who come in and can’t decide what they want.

“I ask them if they trust us, and if they say ‘yes,’ then they spin the wheel,” said Goad. “It’s not for the faint of heart or the unadventurous.”

Among the six choices are the bacon-wrapped-deep-fried dog, the savage-style Polish dog and the pan-seared Italian sausage topped with sauerkraut.

“I know we’re pushing the envelope here,” said Goad, describing the “off-the-beaten path” choices on the wheel.

More than a hot dog stand

As part of its over-all promotional strategy, Big Joe’s Hot Dogs is on Facebook, Yelp and the . “Nothing beats word-of-mouth, though,” said Goad. “So we strive to be consistent, because we know that’s how we can successfully get the word out.”

And better yet? Mention Patch, and you'll get a free order of fries.

Success can also come in the form of selling 500 to 550 hot dogs a day, which the partners hope is in the very near future.

“We want it to be part of the neighborhood,” said Goad. “We want to be everyone's go-to hot dog lab and not just a mere stand.”