Hot dogs are a staple of carnivals and baseball games, but Doug and Jacqueline Murray’s traditional and international flavors atop an all-beef hot dog have made The Wiener Shack & Grill’s offerings a sought-after entrée any day of the week.
You can always get a traditional hot dog with ketchup and mustard, but the specialty dogs are the real customer favorites. The Asian Style hot dog has the all-beef hot dog wrapped in bacon, topped with roasted red peppers, fresh pineapple, onions and jalapeños (if you want them) and drizzled with a sriracha hoisin aioli. Another specialty dog features bacon three ways, including a housemade smoky bacon jam, alongside smoked garlic aioli, Parmesan cheese, and grilled onions and jalapeños.
The Wiener Shack gained popularity as a hot dog cart during June 2009 First Fridays in Goshen, IN, and, soon after, made a downtown corner its usual lunchtime location through the warmer months.
“People were very receptive to the concept, and the concept has really evolved over the last 10 years,” says Jacqueline.
Four years ago, the Murrays invested in a food truck, allowing them to serve far more customers and offer a wider array of menu items, including Angus burgers, bacon-wrapped tater tots and a variety of seasoned fries. In 2016, they purchased a building in Osceola to serve as their kitchen and prep space for the food truck, cart and catering.
For a time, they served carry-out orders from the building. They may consider selling there again, but for now are focusing on the mobile side of the business. The Murrays are also hoping to have the hot dog cart in downtown Goshen more regularly this year.
During weekday lunchtimes, the Murrays are usually serving up hot dogs, burgers and fries outside recreational vehicle companies and other businesses in the area that invite them to park nearby. Because the Murrays don’t have a set weekly schedule, the best way to find out where to get your hot dog fix is to follow The Wiener Shack page on Facebook.
Serving up hot dogs across Elkhart and St. Joseph counties means the Murrays see how tastes differ throughout the region. When in Middlebury, The Wiener Shack sells more of the Mama Mia—featuring grilled onions, roasted red peppers, pesto and Parmesan—and the chipotle chili and cheese dog; while in South Bend, the Curry Fusion—starring a smoky curry-lime aioli—and Asian Style hot dogs are popular.
Doug says they have had about 100 hot dog variations through the years, but have narrowed it down to five or six regular offerings and a few rotating flavors. The Murrays prepare their toppings the day they sell and make their own small-batch sauces.
“We wanted the nostalgic aspect of a hot dog cart,” Jacqueline says, “but we didn’t just want to serve a typical hot dog.”
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