• Opened: 2005
• Address: 1022 17th Ave SW
• Kid Friendly:  (Smaller Menu Items & Juice)
• Tuesday: Tacos     Wednesday: Hamburgers
• Brunch: No
• Website: Nonfunctional
• Google Pics: Link
• The Globe and Mail: Article
• On The A Side: Article
• CBC: Article
• Food Network’s “You Gotta Eat Here!” Episode

Tubby Dog is a 17th Ave staple, an example of its eclectic and uncorporate vibe.  Inside Tubby Dog feels like an old diner, but with changes that have come with time, and nothing like a modern fast food joint.  To me Tubby Dog defines my idea of late night food. Maybe it’s because some of their hotdogs could only have been come up with after 2am.  Maybe it’s because they used to serve post-midnight lines from a walk-up window. Whatever it is, my past perception was that Tubby Dog was only frequented by a cool alternative crowd.  After all, not just anywhere gets the late night lines.

That may have once been true, but not today.  First of all there is no “too cool for school” vibe, just super approachable and friendly.  Stepping in, to your right and behind you is a counter along the windows, here a few people can eat while taking in some of the best people watching.  On the left side is the counter to order, with the grill and fryer behind. Running halfway to the back is a prep counter similar to Subway but feeling nothing like it.  On the opposite side are a half dozen arcades from the 80’s & 90’s all functioning and at their original prices. At the back are a few tables and most recently a few modern pinball machines, these machines seem to change out over time.  

Tubby Dog is a hot dog restaurant that specializes in crazy toppings, served with so many of these topping that they are spilling over the sides.  Before 2012 I’d never been to Tubby Dog, the only reason being I’m not much of one for hotdogs. However my perception that it was a cool alternative place got the better of me and I declared we weren’t too square to check it out.  I believe that first visit was in the afternoon, hardly a crazy late night eat, but I did enjoy a hotdog heaped with potato chips.

After our daughter was born I felt we were cool urban parents bringing her to Tubby Dog.  I’m sure that’s what all the parents there with their kids felt they were too. And why wouldn’t there be kids?  Kids love hot dogs, they are right at home in this place. In honesty the regular dogs are just too large for a kid, but you can get a simple and smaller hotdog for them.  What about Mom and Dad? Well there’s beer too, so you can pretend it’s a late night date like when you first met, until you have to clean up a ketchup accident.

Over the years Tubby dog has expanded their repertoire with poutine and Taco nights and Hamburger nights too.  Watch for the nights when they become a venue for live bands, then the spirit of 17th really comes out. Mellower but no less die hard are their Thursday night screening of the latest Riverdale episodes.  What’s that you ask? Exactly as it sounds, new episodes of Riverdale shot up on a wall about a 100”, grab a dog and enjoy the shocking teen drama. While that’s over for now, watch for its return in September when Riverdale returns.

My wife and our daughter decide what to order

This was taken a few years ago before the new pinball games came in

I told my daughter I played this back in the day

A picture form this year of the new pinball games

The back seating area

Just as a said lots of kids this day

Our daughter still practicing to take on Dad

“This is more my speed Dad!”

“Where’s the screen Dad?”

How about the food?  Well these are serious ⅓ lb hotdogs steamed to perfection or grilled on request.  With any and all toppings you could want.  My favorite is the “A-Bomb”, topped with cheese, bacon bits, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and them potato chips!  It’s delicious, a mix of textures and messier than anything!

But if that’s too pedestrian for you then you want the “Captain Dog” with peanut butter & jelly and Captain Crunch cereal.  The classic “Tubby Dog” has chili, bacon, cheese, onions and mustard.  Sorry, neither of these are pictured.

Again for the more adventurous try the “Sumo” Japanese mayo, seaweed salad, wasabi, pickled ginger and lightly toasted sesame seeds.

For options any dog can be made with a veggie dog, turkey dog, bacon wrapped dog or Ukrainian sausage.

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If you’d like a night with more options, come for Tacos on Tuesday night or Hamburgers on Wednesdays. Check out the Google pictures link for images of their tacos, hamburgers, and the hot dog with a fried egg!

This is a solid thumbs up!