You don’t have to go to Seoul to enjoy their famous Korean hot dogs. Save money on that plane ticket and mukbang at Myungrang Hot Dog on Sawtelle. As the name would imply, they serve hot dogs – which are dipped in batter, rolled in panko crumbs and then deep fried.

Somewhat hidden from the street, Myungrang is situated on the second floor of the mini mall anchored by Nijiya Market and Kura Sushi. This has got to be the cheapest place to eat on Sawtelle, even beating Kura and Sushi Stop, with their original hot dog costing a mere $1.99. The most expensive item on the menu is their tteok-baki (stir-fried rice cakes) for $5.49.

You can watch the orders being made, as the hot dog (or cheese or rice cake) is dunked into the rice batter (which looks like it has an almost taffy-like consistency), twirled and coated with panko crumbs before being plunged into oil. Myungrang also offer a potato hot dog, whereupon the hot dog is rolled into some potato squares before being cooked.

You will be asked the very important question – do you want sugar? The sugar option is highly divisive. Either you like it or you don’t. My daughter is a purist and got hers without sugar. She tried mine (which I got blanketed in sugar because that’s what makes them different) and declared that they were better without the sweet stuff.

Personally, I found the sugar outside the crispy outside elevated the hot dog from just being a crispy version of a corn dog to a whole new level. It was like biting into a crispy mochi donut wrapped hot dog. If you’re on Instagram, the mozzarella dog is a must, with a cheese pull made for posting.

Myungrang has sauces like your traditional ketchup, sweet chili sauce, cheddar mustard, honey mustard and cheddar cheese and powders like honey butter, cheese and parmesan to dress your dogs.  (I only tried ketchup because my daughter’s basic and can’t comment on the others.)

The hot dogs are on the small side, so you’ll probably need to order at least two. They’re inexpensive and a good bang for your buck – or maybe I should say, a good mukbang for your buck.

Location – 2130 Sawtelle Blvd. Ste 211, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Website – https://myungranghotdogus.com
Kid-Friendly – Yes
Kid’s Menu – No
Vegetarian Friendly – Yes
Vegan/Gluten-Free Options – No