Find Vegan Hot Dogs at a Tiny Cart in Kaimukī

Photo: Tracy Chan

Muki Dogs, a tiny hot dog stand with a neon pink-and-black theme at the corner of Wai‘alae and Koko Head avenues in Kaimukī, serves one thing: flame-grilled vegan hot dogs. Yes, vegan hot dogs. And they are flavor bombs with a following.

As an alternative interpretation of a working-class street food that celebrates processed meat and meat byproducts, these surprisingly hearty, plant-based dogs can stand on their own. Owner Gene Marques uses Beyond Sausage original bratwursts: Made primarily of pea and faba bean protein with coconut and sunflower oil, they contain no soy or gluten. At $6.50 a dog, they’re reasonably priced enough to scarf down two, after you find out how delicious the first one is.

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Ask for “The Works” and Marques will load up your dog with ketchup, mustard, relish and vegan Sriracha for plenty of flavor and a little bit of spice. Top it all off with some crunchy Spanish crumble for a gourmet dog that impresses even meat-lovers.That makes Muki Dogs a fresh dining option for the Kaimukī lunch crowd, but members of the vegan community have been coming out from all over the island, Marques says.

Photo: Tracy Chan

After 21 years with the Air Force, Marques retired as a master sergeant in January with a few different business plans. When the pandemic hit, those plans got put on hold. A low-key hot dog stand seemed like the next best option. “When I wanted to start the business, it was like this other side of me,” he said. “It’s a little retro, kinda wild … but it’s about just having fun.”

Multiple locations, @mukidogs