Food truck review: “Fun with meat” says it all at Lucky Ducky Dogs

by Terry Eddington of Food Truck Connection

Where "Gator Eats Pig" isn't (just) a Louisiana headline.

Photo by Terry Eddington

DALLAS — Just when you think that the last thing Dallas needs is another hot dog/sausage truck, some guy (that would be Marshall Hays) comes along and gets the idea he can do it better!

After reading the menu, we went for the gold. I am still trying to figure out how you go from car wash to food truck owner, but Marshall has done it well. As we were siting in the back of our Jeep eating our dogs, Marshall had a break and came to check out what we thought about his food. Marshall had no idea who I was, he was checking with everyone who had ordered from him. And other than biting into the Obnoxious Dog of the Day and the egg yoke squirting out, I could offer him no suggestions of how to make it better. That would be because he got it right. I don’t think you could squeeze another ingredient on any of these dogs: unique, great tasting, an adventure with an accent on taste.

Photo by Terry Eddington

Gator Eats Pig isn't (just) a Louisiana headline. It's a blissful blend of alligator and pork sausages, strips of bacon, fried egg, wasabi mayo, and Sriracha sauce.

Fresh bread baked every day and gourmet meats make for great dogs. Sorry guys, but classic dogs are fine for the kids, but for me, they are boring. I am going for interesting!

What do you have when you load up alligator and pork sausage, strips of bacon, fried egg, all topped with wasabi mayo and Sriracha sauce? You get Gator Eats Pig aka an Obnoxious Dog ($10)!! To be honest, we should have saved this one for last, but we ate it first. It is a beast. The sausage is a blissful blend with the perfect seasonings. Then bacon, an egg over-easy so you get that warm runny golden center (which is a heavenly sauce in itself), then they spice it up a bit (just a little – not too much) with both wasabi and Sriracha sauces. This is one dog I will be back for … unless Marshall comes up with his second Obnoxious Dog creation first! Yes, Marshall says there are more Obnoxious Dogs taking form in his imagination that are sure to follow Gator eats Dog.

Photo by Terry Eddington

The Thai'd Up Chicken Dog's chicken sausage with Asian carrot and cabbage slaw starts out mild, but then pops with Thai peanut sauce.

Lucky Ducky Dogs passed the "toe in the water" test with flying colors and we were back to sample more of the menu just a few days later. Time to see what the gourmet dogs had to offer.

Up first, Thai’d Up Chicken Dog ($8)- Chicken sausage with Asian carrot and cabbage slaw, topped with Thai peanut sauce and I added some Sriracha sauce, too. This one is all good. I find the chicken sausage to be very mild at first, then you get a pop of flavor with Thai peanut sauce -- and how can you go wrong with some fresh slaw on the top? Are you getting the feeling yet that this is not your average hot dog truck?

Photo by Terry Eddington

Unique doesn't begin to cover the Duckin Apple Dog, which is perfect for the discerning, mature palate. It's duck and chicken sausage with rosemary balsamic glaze, caramelized onions, apples, and wilted spinach.

Then comes Duckin Apple Dog ($8) – Duck & chicken sausage with a rosemary balsamic glaze, caramelized onions, apples, and topped with wilted spinach. Perfectly wilted spinach on a dog! This is a very unique and special dog. The sausage with the balsamic glaze and then with the onions and apples and spinach makes this dog perfect for the discerning, mature palate.

So I admit, no matter how fancy you make them, dogs are never going to be high-brow food. That’s all good with Marshall. Even the wrap on the truck is designed to break down your inhibitions and lure you in for your own fun with meat!

Now I am sure that you will want to track Lucky Ducks down. You can find them on Twitter, or on Facebook, and of course on their website.