Lacto
American
Fast food
Take-out
Non-veg

Serves meat, vegan options available. Has a customized veggie dog where you choose the sauce, a relish, mustard, and other options. Note the "secret sauce" contains butter - ask staff which sauces are vegan suitable. Relocated from 2360 Kiahuna Plantation Dr. Open Mon-Sun 10:00am-7:30pm.


39 Reviews

First Review by Hallie

Hallie

Points +74

Vegan
Owner
29 Sep 2010

Awesome dogs!

My husband and I went here a few times on our honeymoon. We just adored this place! The owner and staff extremely friendly and they just want you to love your puka dog! They will let you sample all of the tropical relishes--and the lilikoi mustard--until you are sure of what you want on your dog.
My husband and I recommend the veggie dog with mild secret sauce (garlic lemon sauce) + pineapple field (pineapple relish) + lilikoi mustard! It's amazing! I wish they sold lilikoi mustard on the mainland!
The relishes offered are: mango, pineapple, papaya, coconut, banana, starfruit, guava, and (typical) sweet pickle.
All dogs cost $7.
They only serve two dogs, one is vegan, the other is polish sausage. Polish sausage is the only thing they serve that is not vegan. All of the tropical relishes and condiments are vegan, as well as the chips.
They only have fresh lemonade and tap water for drinks. But consider yourself warned: the lemonade is made of water, one half (maybe one whole sometimes?) lemon, and a half a cup of sugar! I had the girl make one with only about a teaspoon of sugar, and I could barely taste the lemon; it was more like sugar/water! Although, in their defense, she was new, but she told me that they are advised to use a half cup of sugar in each lemonade.

Pros: unique tasty veggie dogs & sauces, great staff, affordable

kristienna

Points +676

Vegan
04 Apr 2026

What a Fun Treat!

I was so happy we got to participate in this iconic, Poipu Beach treat! Although the garlic sauces are dairy-based, the veggie dogs, buns, tropical relishes, and mustards are good to go! My husband liked the pineapple relish, while I surprised myself by preferring the coconut. The kids were appeased by their plain dog-on-bread, too. And the lemonades were great!

Updated from previous review on 2026-04-04

Pros: Vegans can participate in this iconic treat!, Tropical relishes and mustard are good to go, Location and convenience can’t be beat

Cons: It’s pricey, as expected from a beachside stand, Lines are long at lunch (get in line by 11!)

LilyRoseM

Points +171

Vegan
24 May 2025

Rude

Staff was rude from the moment we stepped inside. The hot dog was a small light life hot dog, which also wasn’t impressive. Wouldn’t go back.

Updated from previous review on 2025-05-22

Cons: Rude, Sauces not vegan

SpyceeBurritq

18 Sep 2025

solstys

Points +29

Vegetarian
28 Feb 2025

No good anymore for vegans

We used to love this place, but it seems they changed their ingredients and it's no longer great for vegans. Their sauces all have dairy now and their hot dog is just a Lightlife dog. They literally pulled it out of the package and dropped it on the grill for us. I'd stay away now. $12.50 for a slightly dressed up Lightlife dog is hardly worth it.

Cons: Lightlife dog and sauces now have dairy

Yaqui

Points +20

Vegan
10 Sep 2024

Great veggie dog

The veggie is a vegan brand. Love the toppings and location. To avoid long lines go before or after meal times. Always visit when I am in Kauai

GwendolynMontes

Points +16

Vegan
31 Jul 2024

Cross contamination

I absolutely love this place and have been coming here since a kid. Returning years later as a vegan I was excited that they have a vegan hot dog option. Only bummer is they cook it on the same grill as the regular hot dogs and I watched them cook mine right next to a regular hot dog. Didn’t eat it bc didn’t want to risk it. Much love tho to the business

lovebeachesandturtles

Points +108

Vegan
16 May 2024

Attentive staff

Appreciated having a vegan option available across the street from the beach. They need 10 minutes to cook the vegan dogs so it was nice the door attendant was able to get that started for us before we got to the cashier. Ordering the vegan dogs, the cashier was attentive to advise the garlic sauces moves it from vegan to vegetarian; we didn’t have to ask first.

jerojeri

Points +152

Vegan
07 Mar 2024

Not good.

Just not good - not really convinced their vegan option is vegan, too. If you’re at the beach and desperate, maybe. But Da Crack is another fast vegan option close by.

Pros: Close to the beach

kathleen_

Points +131

Vegan
04 Mar 2024

Would try once

It's nice there's a vegan option, although you have to pass on the lemon garlic sauces. The line was huge. I don't regret going once while in the area, but wouldn't go again.

BrightonMD

Points +1485

Vegan
03 May 2023

Good Vegan Hotdog

The vegan hot dog with the sauce was good. The vegan dog itself was not flavorful. A bit expensive for a normal-sized hot dog.

Pros: Good they have a vegan hot dog

Cons: Expensive for what you get

Robbielb

Points +146

Vegan
10 Feb 2023

Convenient location

The veggie dog takes about ten minutes to make, I wish it had been worth waiting for. The garlic sauce has dairy so for $10 a dog you get one with relish and mustard. I had to throw most of the bun away, it was so stale and dry I couldn’t bite through it. They place the hot dog through a hole in the middle of the bun and pipe in the toppings. I was hoping for a better lunch.

Pros: Unique relishes, Large size

Cons: Stale buns, Expensive

jessemcp

Points +554

Vegan
18 Dec 2022

No veggie dogs

They said they don’t have any veggie dogs and their supplier hasn’t sent them in a long time. They don’t know when they will have them again.

bavegan

Points +500

Vegan
14 Nov 2022

3 1/2 stars

I like their new location, right across from the beach. Lines are long so it is best to give them a warning that you will be ordering a veggie dog. The garlic sauce is not vegan but the relishes are! Have to get at least one Puka dog when we come to Kauai- wish they still had the Hanalei location!

Pros: Tasty relishes

Cons: Long line

tbdawson

Points +566

Vegan
14 Jul 2022

Hit the spot!!

So good! Always thankful when I can get the full experience at a super popular food spot! Went with classic ketchup mustard pickle relish since I'm not a huge fan of sweets on my savory and it was delicious! Also got a side of the pineapple relish just to TRY it and it actually wasn't bad! Definitely hit the spot after a fun day in the sun!

nathka1

Points +67

Vegan
24 Mar 2022

Yummy veggie dogs

Had the veggie dogs with lilikoi mustard and mango and pineapple relish (special sauce has dairy), very tasty!

Pros: Good veggie options

Cons: Long line

Eviedichter

Points +55

Vegan
01 Feb 2022

Delicious

This was SO GOOD! They’ll ask you what type of sauce you want, the sauces aren’t vegan so move to the next step which is relish choices, there are 6 different kinds like mango, pineapple….(I hade the pineapple) then choose plain yellow mustard and get yourself a lemonade (I had the mango lemonade) and go sit across the street on the beach and enjoy. I really liked this place!

Pros: Has a vegan hotdog option, Relishes are amazing , Really good lemonade!

Cons: The sauces are not vegan

reflynn

Points +55

Vegetarian
22 Jan 2022

Interesting sauces, but that's about it

A non-veg friend recommended we try out Puka Dog. We were in the neighborhood and had the time, so we went. There was a line out the door on a hot day. Eventually we moved up to the indoor portion of the line and then to the front. When we got to the order counter and told them we wanted the veggie dogs they asked if we'd told anyone so they could be warmed up. We thought we were telling someone. The lesson is that as soon as you get in line, even if you won't be to the front for another 10-15 min, go in and give them a heads-up. We ended up having to wait for the hotdogs to cook while others got their orders and left.

As previous reviews have noted, it's just a Lightlife veggie dog, but they do have a variety of interesting sauces. Some of the varieties of the base sauce have egg, so check. The fruit sauce was pretty amazing as was their special mustard. Be careful eating it as a lot of the sauce pools, and might explode through, the bottom of the special bun, making a bit of a mess.

Pros: Interesting fruit sauces

Cons: store-bought veggie dogs, Tell them to cook the veg dog upon entry

Sarah P

Points +9100

Vegan
21 Dec 2021

Not worth it IMO

We passed when we found out the hot dog was a Lightlife that it took 12 minutes to “heat up”. The sauces looked interesting, but the staff, who were all very kind, didn’t know what vegan meant.

Pros: Cool condiments, Quick snack by the beach, Friendly, welcoming staff

Cons: Super expensive for a dog, Generic vegan dog for lots of money

ratfingers

01 Feb 2023

how do you know it's lightlife? i can't find their supplier info anywhere

Sarah P

03 Feb 2023

Hi- they showed me the package when I asked about the vegan option.

EmmaPotter

Points +107

Vegan
18 Feb 2020

Good for your veg Hot Dog fix

Got a veggie (vegan, maybe light o life?) dog with mango relish and Hawaiian mustard. Special garlic lemon sauces are not vegan (staff made sure to ask me if I ate dairy), but they’re damn delicious if you’re just vegetarian. Overall it was good but the relish was almost sickly sweet, I’d get it on the side if you don’t like sweet or skip it all together. The fresh lemonade was to die for!

esiemsroberson

Points +121

Vegan
15 Jan 2020

Good vegan hotdog

The garlic lemon secret sauces aren't vegan, but the six different relishes are, as well as the Hawaiian mustard. Tasty, yummy cooked to order non-gmo soy hotdog. Do yourself a favor and get a jar of the Hawaiian mustard to take home. If you're still hungry, this place is right next to Island Taco and Bangkok Happy Bowl and both have vegan options.

Pros: Clearly labeled sauces, Non-gmo soy hotdogs, Tasty relish and mustard options

TXRhody

Points +556

Vegan
16 Mar 2019

I liked it

Pretty simple. They have polish sausage and veggie dog. All the hot sauce are non-vegan, but there are fruit sauces and mustards. Potato chips and lemonade round it out.

I got the veggie dog with mango sauce and Hawaiian mustard. It was a great combination of flavors. Very messy though. All the sauces drip everywhere.

Pros: Simple menu

Cons: No vegan hot sauce

CarleeBusby

Points +72

Vegan
29 Mar 2018

don’t go here if you have a choice

I went here based on a recommendation from a non-vegan friend and saw they had a veggie dog option, so I figured it would be decent at least. Not at all. Don’t eat here. First of all, it was somewhat hard to find. Then there was a really long line to order on a Tuesday afternoon, waiting maybe 15 mins in line. None of the sauces are vegan, so I had to just get it with a mango topping. I assumed being in Hawaii that they would use real fruit. This is not the case. The mango topping was some fake-tasting high-fructose corn syrup mango-flavored gooey stuff that I was a bit disgusted to be eating. The veggie dog itself was mediocre, not heated all the way through, and I would be really surprised if it were local or organic. The bun was just bleh—it’s a standard white bread hot dog bun—not a healthy option at all. I was a bit grossed out after eating this that I had to stop at the Kauai Juice Co on the way out. I should have gone there first.

Cons: unhealthy vegan food, long line, overpriced

soy_decaf_latte

Points +247

Vegan
09 Jul 2017

Tasty Dog, Chill Restaurant

Casual place, in an outdoor, patio setting, with interesting decor. The vegan Puka dog (hot dog) with mango relish was really good. Went back for a second one a couple days later.

Pros: Vegan hot dogs!, Outdoor seating

Cons: Also sells animals molded into shape of hot dogs

Forman

Points +7353

Vegan
06 May 2017

good dog

We had walk by this place a bunch of times and finally came back for lunch. The veggie dog with regular mustard and mango stuff was really good. The wife liked her polish dog too.

NickiPT

Points +211

Vegan
20 Apr 2017

fun!

No sauces are vegan but you can get the relishes/Hawaiian mustard. Glad to have the option for a veggie dog!!

Tsqui

Points +46

Vegan
07 Jul 2016

Great dog!

Sometimes I just to enjoy a vegan hot dog. This place has a great one ! Mango relish is my favorite - I tried the pineapple and banana too. Both good. Enjoy!

silverwhale

Points +80

Vegan
31 May 2016

Worth going for the relish

I had lunch here twice during our trip because it was right across from our hotel at Kiahuna Plantation. Based on the reviews I thought it would be an overpriced hot dog, but I actually really enjoyed it! You pick the veggie dog option, skip the special sauce (has dairy), and then pick from a variety of fruit relishes (pineapple, mango, coconut, banana, etc.). I had the pineapple relish one time, mango the next, and both were really delicious! Yes, it's white bread around the dog, but I didn't find it excessive and you can tear it off from the outside and dip it in the relish. Definitely worth trying while in Hawaii!

Pros: Fruit relish options are unusual and delicious, Staff knew what vegan meant (advised me that speci

Cons: Had to wait for veggie dog to be cooked (because i




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