Review: Disney World’s New “Hot Dog” Salad

Who among us hasn’t gone out to eat, and while perusing a restaurant’s menu, been overcome by analysis paralysis. Should I order the salad…or the hot dog?!? Like you, this happens to me on a near-daily basis. I can’t even think about eating without creeping salad v. hot dog dread.

Thankfully, Walt Disney World has the answer to our anxiety: the Chicago-style “Hot Dog” Salad. (Nothing makes me salivate quite like air quotes around the name of an already questionable culinary amalgamation.) This new dish is the biggest star on Sunset Boulevard since Norma Desmond, now ready for its close-up.

Recently debuting in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, this “interesting” dish consists of Romaine Blend, Plant-based Bratwurst, Sliced Sport Peppers, Tomatoes, Onions, House-made Dill Pickle, Sweet Relish, Mustard, and Poppy and Celery Seed Brioche Croutons tossed in Neon Green Relish Vinaigrette. Sounds “yummy!” Sometimes it’s interesting to see just how bad bad writing can be. This review promises to go the limit.

The Chicago-style “Hot Dog” Salad is one option on yet another new menu at Fairfax Fare, which is located in the Sunset Ranch Market open air food court between the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

In addition to Fairfax Fare, Sunset Ranch Market is home to Anaheim Produce, Rosie’s All-American Cafe, Catalina Eddie’s, and Hollywood Scoops Ice Cream. The sprawling market is loosely modeled after the Original Farmers Market on the corner of 3rd & Fairfax in Los Angeles. (If you’re in the area, the real thing is worth checking out for Du-par’s pancakes and pies.)

Fairfax Fare seemingly swaps out its menu lineup a few times per year. Pre-closure, the location was serving a southwest menu, with empanadas, fajitas, and rice bowls. That was a pre-Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge change that flew under the radar despite being shockingly good and ambitious.

Once upon a time in Hollywood Studios, Fairfax Fare was actually our go-to counter service restaurant. The location was highlighted by a half rotisserie chicken and rib combo meal, which tasted just fine, but was the best use of counter service credits on the Disney Dining Plan. That was pulled almost a decade ago, though. Here’s hoping it makes a comeback–err, a return. A return to the millions of people who have never forgiven it for deserting Disney’s food scene.

You’re not here to hear me wax poetic about the halcyon days of the Disney Dining Plan. Let’s be real, you’re not even here to learn about the Chicago-style “Hot Dog” Salad to determine whether you should add it to your list of things to eat at Walt Disney World. You’re here out of total schadenfreude, eager to see me get my just deserts for ridiculing Restaurantosaurus. However, it was Sarah who ordered the Chicago-style “Hot Dog” Salad.

When it comes to weird Walt Disney World food like this, it’s either an unmitigated disaster or against-all-odds good. This was neither. That was mildly disappointing, as a culinary abomination or an underdog success makes for a much more interesting story. Instead, we have something that was just fine; mediocrity is boring.

The salad’s components work better individually than as a cohesive dish, which is a challenge when you’re eating something like a salad that’s mixed together. However, the fake bratwurst was actually tasty and convincing, the veggies were quality, and the relish vinaigrette was fantastic.

Nevertheless, this would’ve been better as a plant-based bratwurst on a pretzel bun or a Chicago-style salad minus the fake hot dog. You probably surmised as much without even tasting it, but this should not exist as a single entree. That’s the trouble with you readers, you know all the plots.

For my entree, I ordered the California BLTA Dog: All-Beef Quarter-pound Hot Dog topped with Lettuce, Tomato, Avocado, Applewood Bacon, Crushed Ranch Tortilla Chips, and House-made Black Pepper Mayonnaise on a Brioche Butter Bun served with Pickled Vegetables.

The California BLTA Dog is solid. The hot dog is high quality and the toppings are a refreshing contrast to that. Arguably, this is the best iteration of a Hot Dog “Salad.” The only problem was that the toppings are insufficient and I wasn’t even remotely full after finishing this. Prices are big! It’s the portions that got small.

While I didn’t order it this time, the Truffle Bacon Macaroni & Cheese Hot Dog is actually a returning favorite at Fairfax Fare. The bun and sides are different this go-round, but otherwise it’s fundamentally the same dish.

This is rich and savory, and was fairly novel when it debuted. Since then, Casey’s Corner has added a substantially similar hot dog to its menu. There are subtle differences to that dog, with the most notable being that you can order it as a foot long for a couple dollars more. I’d definitely go that route if Casey’s Corner has reopened by your next Walt Disney World trip.

Ultimately, the Chicago-style “Hot Dog” Salad is fine. The other menu items at Fairfax Fare are fine. Pretty much everything about the whole Sunset Ranch Market is fine. There are better high-profile and unsung options around Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and we prefer pretty much any other counter service restaurant in the park to this outdoor food court.

However, Fairfax Fare and the adjacent options are totally passable, with both standard theme park standbys and fun twists on those concepts. It’s nothing special, but it’s far from the worst dining options at Walt Disney World. There’s nothing tragic about being a crowd-pleasing food court, unless it’s trying to be the biggest star of them all.

Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Does the Chicago-style “Hot Dog” Salad look appetizing to you? Do you hope Disney will offer more innovative culinary combinations? Perhaps hot chocolate and baked beans, or apple sauce and A1 steak sauce? Thoughts on the other hot dogs? Have you dined at Fairfax Fare in the past? What did you think? Worthwhile for the characters, for the food, or for both? Is this meal something you’d like to try? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Other thoughts or concerns? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!