>>MORE: Zombie Dogz announces opening date for Brown Street restaurant
And based on the long line of those hoping to take a bite out of the restaurant’s decadent gourmet hot dogs, folks in these parts are very, very happy.
Zombie Dogz has been a Dayton favorite since it was founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Dave and Lee VanArtsdalen.
Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson
Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson
The couple’s staff was pumping out dogs featuring everything from crowd favorite Call of the Dead to the Germinator.
Beef, chicken and veggie hot dogs are plopped in hoagie-style buns and topped to order in an assembly line.
Each of the unique Zombie Dogz hot dogs are $6. Plain dogs are $3.
Diners can also buy orders of mac and cheese, tater tots, loaded tater tots, exclusive Cake Hope and Love cupcakes, and Dr. Pepper BBQ Baked Beans. There is a reason Zombie Dogz is making people lose their brains (see what I did there).
The food is delicious. I am happy to say that it tastes just good in the store as it does off the truck.
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We ordered three dogs on our recent visit to the restaurant. Despite being open less than a week, restaurant seems to have its sea legs.
Food was flying off the Zombie Dogz assemble line faster than we could say "brains."
MAC N CHEESE ON A HOT DOG
The Call of the Dead — housemade white truffle mac and cheese topped with Parmesan garlic cracker crumbs — has long been a favorite from the Zombie Dogz truck. It is simple, but oh-so-cheesy and delicious.
The lightly spiced sausage and mac and cheese is something you have to taste for yourself. It is comfort food in a bun.
BEEF AND ONIONS ON A HOT DOG
Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson
Credit: Photo by Amelia Robinson
The shredded beef on the hearty Germinator — garlic-crusted beef topped with local beer cheese and fried onions — was tender and melded well with the the fried onions. It is sort of like a cheesesteak and hot dog got married. It is not for a light eater.
SAUERKRAUT, CHILI AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON A HOT DOG
Victim 13 is a combination of things that you wouldn't think would work — mac and cheese, sauerkraut, chili, pickle, onions and yellow mustard.
Somehow the hot dog manages to capture the best of all those to create a memorable sandwich that's a little bit chili dog, a little bit comfort food and a little bit German picnic. You are going to need extra napkins.
Zombie Dogz, located at 1200 Brown St., seats about 50 in its 2,000-square-foot space. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, call 937-416-1065 or visit the Zombie Dogz Facebook page.
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