OK, who has tried Puka Dogs in Kauai? Was it an over-the-top culinary experience or just weird? Which relish did you like the best? I'm a major hot dog fan and it sounds so intrigueing...

What is a puka dog ? A hawaiian hot dog ?

Indeed. Check out pukadog.com.

If you visit Kauai and you like hot dogs, you simply MUST go to Puka Dog!

Here's how to order in 5 easy steps:

Step 1 - Decide if you want a polish sausage or one of those hippie veggie dogs.
Step 2 - Choose a "secret" garlic lemon sauce - mild, spicy (not really), or hot (bordering on spicy)
Step 3 - Choose a sweet fruit relish
Step 4 - Choose a mustard (do not ruin this experience with katsup!)
Step 5 - Smile, say "Mahalo," get yourself a fresh squeezed lemonade, and enjoy!

I like the polish sausage with hot garlic lemon sauce, papaya relish, and hawaiian mustard. The relish is sweet - just like the pickle variety - but so much better. The dog is squeezed into the hole of a fresh baked loaf of bread bursting with your fillings of choice.

Between you and me - I *did* try my fiancee's hippie veggie dog and it was pretty darn tasty too... If they can make a veggie dog taste good - imagine what they can do with a polish sausage!

Someone recently posted a rave about Puka Dogs -- but noted that it's $6 each. Yikes!

When we went to Kauai last June, by the time I finally found a Puka dog stand in Poipu, I had already stuffed myself at Keoki's! GRrrrrrr! I WILL have one of those pricey dogs - someday - as God is my witness...

My parents went to Kauai in 2001 and STILL talk about the puka dogs. They happened upon the puka dog stand (I think a more rustic original stand than the shop at the mall at Poipu) and my mom has a framed picture of herself behind the counter with the owners. They insisted I try one but unfortunately they were closed when I went and we ate at Roy's instead...darn!