Sumo Dog Makes Debut in City of Indio

Sumo Dog is a perfectly grilled hot dog with ultra-Japanese toppings

INDIO — As of 10:30 a.m. today, the Coachella festival’s hottest food stand — Sumo Dog — has gone brick and mortar at 49-830 Jefferson St. Suite 106.

That’s when the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening for hot dog shop “Sumo Dog,” the latest in a string of unique restaurants to join The Canopy in Indio.

Sumo Dog redefines the classic American hot dog with Japanese ingredients, such as the “Miso Katsu” dog complete with a katsu-fried dog, miso mustard, coleslaw, tonkatsu sauce, mayo, furikake and scallions. The hot dog shop is the brainchild of Jeffrey Lunak, a veteran of “Iron Chef” Masaharu Morimoto’s Restaurant Group.

The spirit of celebration extends throughout the bustling Citrus Plaza, which has recently welcomed many vibrant eateries and shops, including locally owned Cork & Fork, Coral Sushi & Sake Bar, and Lunas Pizza Bar & Grill, with Keedy’s Fountain & Grill on the way.

Another location is scheduled to open this year in Riverside. Yankee Stadium hosts three locations in its Bronx, New York stadium.

If you’re still wondering what the Sumo Dog is. We’ll let it tell its own story.

“We are the American band who just got back from touring Japan. We are the All-Star Baseball team who mastered Karate. We are both a dragon dipped in mustard, and an eagle topped with nori. We are all things stars, stripes and big red suns. And we are here to fill your belly, warm your soul, and make you smile.”

The eatery serves hot dogs, sausages and burgers. It also boasts a vegan dog.

Sides include French fries, tater tots and Sushi rice tots.

Prices range from $10 for a plain dog to $12.50 for a Godzilla Dog.