LOUISVILLE, Ky. — On Your Plate is a series of Louisville-area restaurant reviews conducted by WHAS11 staff. WHAS11 pays for critics' meals.
Louisville is known as the home of Muhammad Ali, the Kentucky Derby and the Slugger Museum. One thing that's picking up steam is the city's ever-growing food scene.
And in the spirit of Valentine's Day, I decided to take myself on a dinner date.
Last spring, I wrote about Kentucky's first mochi donut and Korean corndog shop opening in Louisville called Mochi Dog. I hadn't gotten a chance to try it yet, so I figured now was the perfect time.
Mochi Dog is located inside the Louisville Streatery, which is a food hall in the heart of the Beechmont neighborhood. There are a handful of vendors inside that each offer different cuisines.
As soon as I pulled up to the shop, I saw a black chalkboard sign in front of the door with colorful drawings of Korean corndogs, mochi donuts and a short list of what they have on the menu. It was very welcoming.
This was my first time inside of not only Mochi Dog, but the Louisville Streatery. The hall had a pop-up event earlier from noon to 4 p.m. in honor of Lunar New Year, and I arrived shortly after it ended.
Besides myself and the vendors, there was only a few others inside the hall.
The hall was very open and dimly lit. There were dark wooden tables scattered throughout the space, with Tiffany blue chairs tucked into each table.
This isn't your typical restaurant setting; it's way more casual. When you are ready to order, there isn't a server waiting on you hand and foot. You just walk to the vendor you wish to order from, make your selections, and they either call your name when your order is ready or bring it to you. I loved the convenience.
I walked over to Mochi Dog and was kindly greeted by a worker who told me to let her know if I had any questions.
As I perused the menu, I noticed that it was small but concise. You can customize your own Korean corndog with the filling and topping of your choice. They also offer eight different mochi donut flavors.
The shop has three options for corndog fillings including beef, cheese, or half cheese/half beef. They also have five topping options: panko breadcrumbs, hash brown, cornflakes, potatoes and hot Cheetos.
I ended up ordering a cheese and hot Cheetos corndog, beef and potatoes corndog and a half cheese/half beef corndog with panko breadcrumbs.
Mochi Dog was extremely quick with the food. It was out on the table in 10-15 minutes.
I first bit into the cheese and hot Cheetos corndog and was immediately transcended. The cheese pull was on another level. It had a small crunch from the Cheetos coating, but then I was met with the pillowy softness of the batter. I didn't know how I would like the cheese on cheese, but this item proves that there is no such thing as too much cheese. The hot Cheetos put this over the top, giving it the extra spice.
Name a better duo than meat and potatoes. I'll wait. The beef and potatoes corndog is a classic match made in heaven. The meat was hot and flavorful and paired well with the crispy potato topping and the sweet batter. It was the perfect ratio of savory and sweet.
If you are a first-timer, like I was, I recommend you try the half cheese/half beef corndog. It truly was the best of both worlds. However, I didn't care for the panko breadcrumbs. I found it to be very bland and one note. With all the toppings Mochi Dog offers, I would go with any of the other ones.
I didn't think any of these corndogs needed sauce, but if you like something to dip into, the shop offers wasabi mayo, spicy mayo, thai chili, and nacho cheese.
Overall, these are not your typical corndogs from childhood. They are a much-elevated version with each one carrying a different flavor profile that is delicious in its own right.
For dessert, I ordered a variety of mochi donuts including crème brûlée, brown sugar funnel cake, strawberry and cinnamon churro. For those who don't know, a mochi donut is a fusion pastry that combines traditional American doughnuts and Japanese mochi.
And Mochi Dog's are made fresh daily.
The standout from this group was the cinnamon churro. It was fluffy and moist with a satisfying chew. The dusting of cinnamon brought forth a sweet touch that wasn't too overpowering.
The strawberry and crème brûlée each had the same airiness as the cinnamon. The frosting on the strawberry coated the top of the donut nicely. It actually tasted like fresh strawberries, and didn't have that artificial feel. The crème brûlée had a caramelized sugar coating that provided a burst of flavor.
The one that fell flat for me was the brown sugar funnel cake. My donut was a bit undercooked on the inside, with part of it still being doughy. It had a strong oil taste and ended up lackluster.
I didn't realize that Mochi Dog and Da Tea worked together, so I also ordered a banana milk tea on my way out. It was silky smooth and just the right amount of banana goodness.
All in all, this nearly year-old shop is a fun-filled food experience if you are looking to try something new. I could see definitely see myself coming back to explore more of the menu.
RATING: 3.5 stars out of 5
ADDRESS: 304 West Woodlawn Ave, Louisville, Kentucky 40214
HOURS: Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
AVERAGE PRICE: $-$$
MENU: Here
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