I had been aware of Monte Williams and Monte’s Gourmet Dogs for a while—back when he was serving up hot dogs from a stationary cart all over Oklahoma City and its surrounding areas. His cart offered the best selection of wieners, franks, and sausages this side of the Red River, and I made sure to get my hands on a few.
But, for one reason or another, I never got around to formally reviewing them—mainly because tracking down the truck was easier said than done.
That changed last week when I saw on social media that Monte’s Gourmet Dogs was opening a storefront at Parlor (11 NE 6th St.). Soon, all of Monte’s signature hot dogs would be available in one place, making it the perfect opportunity to finally give them the proper review they deserve.
In that first week of operations, I made it a point to get to Monte’s Gourmet Dogs. With Black History Month in full swing, I hightailed it to Parlor without hesitation, eager to celebrate the occasion with a steaming hot dog or two.
Or three.
And some onion rings…
It was the middle of the week, cold and wet, the kind of weather that seeps into your bones and makes you appreciate the comfort of an indoor food hall. Climbing the stairs to the second floor, I found it—Monte’s Gourmet Dogs—standing proudly, with Monte himself at the grill, a sous chef handling the onion rings, and a woman working the register.
After scanning the menu, my fiancée and I picked out our hot dogs—or “doggs,” as Monte calls them—along with their highly praised fried onion rings. But before I could finish my order, the woman at the register insisted I had to try their award-winning cheesecake. Naturally, I said yes—because “award-winning” and “cheesecake” just so happen to be my safe words.
A few minutes later, with our craft sodas in hand, we were ready to dig in…
We split the dogs as fairly and evenly as possible and started with The Houstonian ($8.00), a full-sized beef wiener piled high with onions, relish, mustard, chili, and cheese. The dog itself had that classic, satisfying snap, while the chili and cheese were top-notch, bringing just the right balance of richness and tang. A well-positioned beginning!
Next up was The Drunken ($9.00), a beer brat loaded with sautéed onions, sauerkraut, and stone-ground mustard. The brat had a rich, smoky flavor that set my taste buds humming, with the tangy kraut and sharp mustard cutting through the savory goodness. Though it was the only beer brat in the lineup, it didn’t need any competition—it was already the best.
Taking a brief intermission from the doggs, we dove into the Gourmet Hand-Made Onion Rings ($7.50)—and they did not disappoint. The onions were fresh and aromatic, with just the right amount of bite, while the homemade batter struck a perfect balance of sweet and salty with a subtle spice. Crispy, golden, and undeniably top-notch.
With my dogs raging, I ended our run with the Pit Bull ($10.00) Hot Link. A Fire-Engine Red Hot Link, it's a beast of a dog topped with onions, relish, spicy mustard, chili, cheese, and the hottest jalapeños I’ve ever encountered on a wiener.
One bite in, and I was practically melting in my seat. This wasn’t just a spicy dog—it was a burning dog, the kind that makes you chug your soda and then some.
To cool things down, I took our waitperson’s recommendation and went for the Banana Pudding Cheesecake ($5.00), which apparently boasts an award-winning pedigree. True to form, it was incredible—smooth, rich, and the perfect sweet ending to a fiery meal.
Even though I’m not usually one for gourmet hot dogs or other fancy tubed meats, I know what I like—and I really like Monte’s. My usual hot dog might come from a 7-Eleven roller grill, but I have no problem saying that Monte’s serves up the best frank in town. Do yourself a favor and grab two or three for me.
Cómpralo ya!
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Follow Louis Fowler on Instagram at @louisfowler78.
