An Average Joe in San Antonio

On rare occasions I have a meal where I get so amped up that I have to blog about it immediately. Today I had one of those meals and it was completely unexpected.

Rocker Dogz is a food truck idea by Chef Kris Martinez, except it is not a truck at all.  Instead it is a grill that Kris hitches up to the back of his vehicle and takes to cook up some mean hot dogs. Not being a full sized truck, he has a wider range of flexibility where he can set up shop to sell his food.

There was an email on the company list serve today telling us that Rocker Dogz would be cooking out back. I didn’t bring my lunch so a friend and I made our way outside to be some of the first people in line.

The menu was simple and offered four unique dogs: Thai Kick Boxer Rocker, Chicano Style Rockero, Italian Stallion Rocker and The Bella Bleu Rocker. Due to my love of Mexican food, I knew I had to get the Chicano Style Rockero and I couldn’t pass up The Bella Bleu Rocker because who wouldn’t like a hot dog with blue cheese and bacon?

As I worked my way to the front of the line, I got a chance to visit with Kris. Originally from San Antonio, he told me that he was a chef on some of the hottest music acts in the country including the Vans Warped Tour in addition to rapper extraordinaire Jay-Z. He was asked to go on another big rock and roll tour, but decided to try to start up his business here in San Antonio.

While Kris was preparing the hot dogs, he told each customer a little bit about each dog they ordered and what makes them unique. I was impressed at his attention to detail and the freshness of his ingredients; I could only hope that the dogs tasted as good as they looked and smelled.

Chef Kris Martinez cookin' up some mean Rocker Dogz!

I decided to start with the Chicano Style Rockero and was blown away on my first bite. The homemade chili was complemented by the poblano queso that made for a really rich sauce. The pico de gallo raised up the heat and provided more of a bite to the lingering spice of the sauce. There was a little drizzle of Mexican crema on top that helped temper the heat. The hot dog itself tasted like one that you might get at a ballgame and was very juicy.

After having the Chicano Style dog, I was fully expecting the Bella Bleu Rocker to be a little bit of a let down. To my surprise it was every bit as good as the first but in a different way. It was chopped full with chunks of blue cheese that further helped to calm the spice from the previous dog. The saltiness of the bacon went well with the smooth blue cheese. Kris apologized that he was out of the spicy onion sauce, but the hot dog was no worse for the wear.

Make sure your momma ain't around when you eat your Rocker Dogz, otherwise you might be slappin' her!

After getting my food, the line had grown exponentially with more and more people going outside after they had heard everyone raving about it. Some folks waited in line up to 25 minutes to get their dogs, but they were glad to suffer through the heat after they took their first bite.

I wish I could tell you where to go to try out Rocker Dogz, but right now there is no set plans of where the cart will be. Since he has been in business for only for several weeks, Kris is working on creating a social media following on Facebook and Twitter where he can update his location for the day.

Don’t delay, follow them today and you’ll not only get one of the best hot dogs that you’ve ever had, but also some of the best grub in the Alamo City.

Value: 9/10 (I know, I know, I HATE to pay over $6-$7 dollars for lunch, and at a price of $4-$5/hotdog you would think I would be complaining about how expensive it is… the fact is, yes, it is a little expensive (I paid $11 for two hot dogs and a Mexican Coke), but you know what, it is freakin’ good)
Atmosphere: N/A (it’s a cart so this isn’t really applicable; however, Kris plays some pretty rockin’ tunes while you wait)
Service: 10/10 (such good service, the head chef will tell you about what makes your hot dog unique as he prepares it and is incredibly personable)
Taste: 10/10 (what can I say, the best hot dog I’ve had in town and some of the best food you’ll find)
Twitter: Follow @RockerDogChef
Facebook: Like Rocker Dogz

A business breathing life back into the St. Mary’s Strip is Kings Court Frankfurter Express.  A restaurant that serves inventive hotdogs, brats, and sausages in a funky atmosphere makes for a great dining experience.

Founded about a year and a half ago, Kings Court is a father and son operation.  I was able to meet Damien, the son, when I ate there recently.  He is very nice and engages customers as they walk into the restaurant, cracking jokes, and telling about all the different types of hotdogs they serve.  Don’t look to Damien, however, to give you a suggestion on what to order; he believes that choosing your dog is a very personal experience and a choice that you alone should make.

King’s Court Frankfurter on Juice in the City through August 9!

The inside is brightly painted with tons of original art and makes you feel more like you are in a restaurant on South Congress instead of one in San Antonio.  There is a patio where they will show a family friendly/artistic/concert movie once a week.  Patrons are encouraged to BYOB (they even have a little fridge where you can keep a few cold) so that that they can knock back some beers, socialize, relax, and eat good food.

The menu at Kings Court with Damien, the co-owner, to the the right and Frank at the back in the kitchen.

In addition to be able to order hot dog staples such as The Chicago Dog, The New Yorker, and The Brat, Kings Court offers crazy combinations from its tinkering chef James.  There are many varieties of dogs including My Cousin Vinnie (Italian sausage, pepperoni, onions, marinara, and jack cheese), Heaven (white Bratwurst, guacamole, grilled onions, and mayo), and even a dog especially for the 210, The Alamo (frankfurter, enchilada sauce(!), onions, cheddar cheese, and chili powder).

I loved eating at this place so much that I visited it twice before writing this article.  On my second visit, James was toying with ingredients and had a test run of a dog he called El Rancho.  It consists of a frankfurter, ranch style beans, cheese, and some fry sauce (a special blend of spices only known to James).  He made it for Damien to try (I got to sample it as well), and I look forward to it being on their eclectic menu soon.

My Cousin Vinnie, Onion Rings, and a Mexican Coke on the patio at Kings Court Frankfurter Express.

It was difficult to decide on what to order because so many things looked enticing (along with the fact that Damien wouldn’t tell me what to get!).  After much deliberation, I ended up going with My Cousin Vinnie with onion rings.

I really enjoyed the onion rings as they were hot and fresh. The Italian sausage was great and the marinara had a very nice flavor as well.  The bun was toasted and what really brought everything together were the sautéed onions.  Finally, be sure to order a bottle of Mexican Coke, the type of soda made with real sugar instead of corn syrup.

Kings Court Frankfurter Express is contributing to the rejuvenation of the St. Mary’s Strip with its own funky vibe and good food.  The friendly owners and crazy concoctions make this restaurant one of the top dogs in town.

Value: 8/10 (you’re looking at roughly $5 for a dog and will want to add on onion rings/fries and a drink so you will be around $10)
Atmosphere: 10/10 (way cool atmosphere in the heart of the funky St. Mary’s Strip; you can BYOB and they even have a fridge for you to keep a couple of your brews cold; there is even a movie night on the patio during the week)
Service: 10/10 (super friendly service with an engaging owner that likes to crack a bunch of jokes)
Taste: 9.5/10 (very tasty food; I had to go to it twice before writing this article)
Website: http://frankfurterexpress.com/
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