Invite – click here.

American style chilli dogs have come to Cambridge! 🇺🇸

Just when you thought Cambridge had it all and it couldn’t possibly fit anything fresh or new in our foodie scene, along comes ‘The Chilli Dogg Company’.

Located in The Castle Bar on St Andrews Street (not to be confused with The Castle pub on Castle Street!). The Cambridge Chilli Dogg Company offers a range of American style chilli dogs but also smash burgers, chilli fries, mac & cheese, and a generous selection of vegan options. The Castle Bar also has a few decent beers, including one of my favourites, Asahi, so you can have a pint with your dog.

The Cambridge Chilli Dogg Company all started with a very experienced and passionate chef, Junior, who has been tinkering with his chilli dog recipe for ten years. In fact, it all started in his living room with his signature classic dog recipe. Now, he has concocted a range of different chilli dogs for his menu, inspired by styles from across the United States and brought to Cambridge.

Prices range from a very modest £6.50 to £10. There is even a kids menu for £5 which serves ‘half dogs’ and a selection of desserts.

As chilli dogs aren’t common in Cambridge, I was very excited to give it a try. I haven’t had much experience with chilli dogs over the years, even during my time in the states, so nearly every one on the menu was new to me. Being someone with absolutely no self control, I ordered 3 dogs and a side of chips. Luckily, I had Cambridge Foodies moderator Monique with me for support!

All hot dogs and chips are presented in a basket (as you would get in the states) and come with a selection of sauces, such as ketchup and mayo.

The sausages used are American style, similar to the Germanic Frankfurter where it gets its roots. They are mostly beef with veal and are allergen free.

We started with their signature dish, the chilli dog, which came with chilli beef ragu, American mustard, and chopped onion. My first thought was without cheese that it might be a little dry (though there is with cheese option) but it was nothing of the sort. The mince was a generous portion, giving it a succulent texture which also made it delightfully messy. Great fun!

Next up was the Carolina dog. This bad boy was the one I was probably least excited about by reading the menu but it turned up to be my favourite of the evening. Similar to the signature chilli dog, it was served with chili beef ragu and American mustard but also came with creamy coleslaw that was piled on top. Make no mistake, this is a messy eat but it is also part of the experience. Junior has also done a great job of selecting his buns as they hold together really well. Creamy, filling, and fun!

The last dog we tried was the Chicago style. This comes with American mustard, tomatoes, relish, white onion, dill pickle spear, sport peppers, celery salt and poppy seeds.

Thanks to the peppers and pickles, this had a very satisfying crunch on the bite and tasted that little fresher than the others. It also had a mild kick to it. I would love to see an extra spicy version of this one for the hot heads like me out there!

One of the highlights of the evening was the chili cheese fries. This is simple but incredibly bold and moreish comfort food that is perfect for those dark and cold winter evenings. In true American fashion, this was covered in powdered cheese…and it really worked! The ragu mince added pop of flavour and made sure everything was extra indulgent. The chips were medium cut making them crispy and fluffy at the same time. Lovely!

Monique and I left feeling full and happy. This is really fun food that is unapologetically trashy in all the right ways. It’s the true experience of America but also offers great value (especially for the centre of Cambridge). It isn’t likely to be a place you’d go out with the family for a formal occasion but it is perfect for a couple or some friends to grab something to eat while out in Cambridge. We were given a tray of sauces but none of them were required as all the dishes had the flavour and texture required to stand on its own.

Thanks for reading!