Hotdogray is an American hot dog brand in Taipei. It started as a street stall in Zhongshan District in 2017 and now serves inside AI DARTS in Da'an District. This is the story of how Hotdogray began, why we stick to American style, the signature pot of chili, and how to find us if you're hungry.
It Started With a Hot Dog Stand in Zhongshan, 2017
Hotdogray began in 2017 as a small stall in Taipei's Zhongshan District. The owner, Ray, knew a lot of foreigners living in Taiwan back then, and quite a few were Americans who loved hot dogs. A few conversations later, they decided to team up and run a stall, a small business selling American food. One little cart, a blue tablecloth, a pot of chili, and customers standing by the road eating hot dogs wrapped in paper. From that street stall to AI DARTS today, it's the same recipe and the same chili.
Why We Stick to "American"
Because Hotdogray's first customers were Americans and other foreigners. They wanted the taste of home: a big sausage, a steamed bun, and plenty of toppings. The crispy sausage with ketchup you often see on Taiwan's streets is a different thing. From the bun to the sausage to the toppings, Hotdogray does it the American way, so Americans in Taiwan get a bite that tastes "right."
Signature Chili: An American Chili With a Dozen-Plus Spices
Hotdogray's signature is its chili: pure pork, slow-cooked with a dozen-plus Mexican and American spices. Americans and Mexicans who know their food almost always recognize the flavor, and plenty of American customers buy it by the bag to take home. To try it, order a Chili Dog ($70) or the signature Seared Cheese Chili Dog ($100) with a side of Chili Fries. The full menu is here.
Now at AI DARTS: Eat While You Play
Hotdogray later moved into AI DARTS, a self-serve darts bar on Section 4 of Renai Road in Da'an District, Taipei. The dartboards are self-serve 24/7: when you get tired, order a hot dog, eat at halftime, then keep playing. AI DARTS also has its own gamified membership system where you complete missions and collect achievement cards by playing. If you're curious, visit the AI DARTS website.
When You Can Eat
The dartboards run 24 hours, but the Hotdogray kitchen keeps a schedule: Tuesday to Friday, 8 PM to around midnight, plus every other Saturday. If it rains or something unexpected comes up we may not open, so check the in-store notice or our LINE announcements. Address: No. 1, Aly. 15, Ln. 345, Sec. 4, Renai Rd., Da'an Dist., Taipei 106 (inside AI DARTS).
Can I Take Chili Home?
Yes. Plenty of regulars come in just to take home a whole bag of chili, to have with hot dogs, fries or over rice. Ask the staff about portions and prices, or ask on LINE first.
In one line: a pot of American chili we've been cooking since 2017, now served with darts at AI DARTS.
