This CBD '50s Hot Dog Joint Comes With Just About Everything But the Fonz
“Hot diggity dog!" This is one throwback diner. It's also yet another restaurant where it's probably best to look past the name in order to enjoy it fully (Hotties, anyone? Or Bubble Dogs & Bowtie, for that matter). Where 18cm Champion Mountain differs, is that this CBD venue looks like a set piece from Happy Days, thanks to a retro, bubblegum atmosphere and a repertoire of old-fashioned American grub.
The name apparently refers to the length of its dogs and not, as we'd hoped, a mountaineering course for ultra-competitive mice, and with its checkered floor, neon lettering, plush booths, and antique jukebox in the corner (no, it doesn’t work, but it does add to the playful atmosphere), there's plenty to like at this charming diner throwback.
However, when it comes to the actual 18cm hot dogs, there is room for improvement. The RMB 58 crab hot dog seemed too gimmicky and expensive for our liking, while the RMB 28 classic hot dog looked too plain. We settled on the RMB 15 New York chili-topped, bang-for-your-buck dog from the midsize hot dog menu (which also has an RMB 22 baked beans-topped hot dog, an RMB 18 sauerkraut dog, and an RMB 25 veggie dog, among others). It certainly doesn't look like much but for 15 rambos (do the centimeter to cost math!) there's little to complain about.
Champion Mountain may have a lot of different options but they still lack the creative toppings of neighboring Funky Dog. They'd also benefit from branching out and offering burgers, milkshakes, and other such USA diner mainstays. Despite those quibbles, the tasty dogs and fun throwback digs nevertheless make it a winner overall. Now if they could only get Fonzie to stop by and kickstart that jukebox with one of his famous jabs, well then they’d really be rockin'.
18cm Champion Mountain
Daily 11am-9.30pm. 1/F, Floor E, Block E, Zhongjun World City, 8 Jinhui Road, Chaoyang District (5720 4916)
朝阳区金汇路8号中骏世界城E座一层底商
READ: We Dig the 'Dogs at Funky Dogg, Chaowai Soho
Photos: Kyle Mullin
