What I Thought of It

Dairy Queen All-Beef Chili & Cheese Dog

As a fan of the Canadian TV series Corner Gas, I always enjoy watching Brent Butt devour a Chili Cheese Dog at The Ruby.

So it seemed a fun idea to “pull a Brent” by reviewing the Chili & Cheese Dog from Dairy Queen.

This hot dog is served on a white bun in a cute little box. Like a real hot dog done right, the condiments are placed on top (”dress the dog, not the bun”). In this case, the chili goes on top of the hot dog, and on top of that goes the cheese. By the time I got my Chili and Cheese Dog, the shredded cheese had already melted and almost become one with the dog.

The bun was fresh and the dog - which is made of all beef - was hot when I bit into it.

Taste-wise, the Chili & Cheese dog at the Dairy Queen in High River was pretty good for my first experience of a chili cheese dog. I can see why it’s Brent’s favorite food. The cheesy goodness is a tasty fit with the juicy, beefy hot dog. I will only note that while there was adequate cheese, there was not even close to enough chili. The chili part consisted of sauce, a few beans, and no detectable ground beef. Call me crazy, but I think a Chili Cheese Dog should have equal (and substantial) parts chili and cheese.

Now that I’ve tasted my first one, I’m keen to try the chili cheese dog in other places that sell it.

Last thoughts: With the Chili and Cheese Dog at Dairy Queen you get more than just a hot dog, but this also means an extra 62 grams and 180 calories (the difference between a regular hot dog and the Chili & Cheese Dog). This also means that if a normal hot dog is too small for you, then maybe the Chili & Cheese Dog will fill you up. I think I will continue to stick with regular hot dogs and just switch it up with one of these once in a while.

Nutrition facts: (from the DQ website)

Serving Size (g): 169
Calories: 460
Total Fat (g): 24
Saturated Fat (g): 10
Trans Fat (g): 0.5
Cholesterol (mg): 55
Carbohydrates (g): 40
Fibre (g): 2
Sugar (g): 4
Protein (g): 19
Sodium (mg): 1070

Dairy Queen, High River
1202 16 St SE
High River AB  T1V 1M4
Phone: 403 601 8420

You will find the Dairy Queen Restaurant in High River just next to Highway 2. It’s a fair distance from the center of the town but conveniently close to the hotels and other fast-food restaurants.

We dropped by this DQ on a Saturday afternoon, when there was a steady stream of customers.

The staff respectfully stood back while we pondered the menu and readily stepped forward when we wanted to order.

The food was not ready right away but would be delivered to our table.

The restaurant was spacious and decorated in soft colors. There were booths against the windows and walls, and tables and chairs in the center. The look of this DQ evidently has not been updated in a while, but it was well-maintained and the old-time feel made for something unique rather than generic.

Our food came, though napkins were missing. No big deal, because there were plenty at the condiments station nearby.

The food was hot and fresh and tasted pretty good for fast food. Stay tuned, for I’ll write more about the food items in later reviews.

Last thoughts: The DQ in High River doesn’t look like much on the outside, but once inside you’ll be happy you dropped in. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back the next time I feel hunger pangs in the vicinity. It’s a shame that Dairy Queen’s prices are higher than its competitors’, as I opt for the more affordable fast-food joints nine times out of ten.

Food ++++
Service ++++
Ambiance ++++
Washrooms +++