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| - Ashamedly, my foodie side and healthy side are at war one million times a day. 98% of the time my healthy side chooses veganism. But rarely, my foodie-ism completely smacks my desire to maintain a healthy lifestyle and the veganism in the face. Today was one of those days. I've been looking at Mojo's longingly on Yelp because unlike most vegans, I actually still crave meat and think it smells delicious even if it makes me sick as all hell when I eat it.
Moreover, I'm a sucker for certain meats when executed flawlessly, namely ribeyes, Eastern NC barbecue and hotdogs especially when the weather breaks. I'm such a summer baby and these are foods I nostalgically associate with summer cookouts, GOOD potato salad, strawberries , and watermelon ! Yummy !!
So today, the combination of 73-degree weather after four rainy days, end of semester stress, geographic location and timing finally broke me/smiled on me and I was able to visit Maurice aka Mo at Mojo's right as he was about to pack up for the day. There on the grill sat a beautiful red hot dripping in oily, juicy goodness and shining like a diamond in the sky . After chatting with the congenial Mo, I opted for the beef smoke with homemade chili, mustard and a sprinkle of diced grilled onions, per his suggestion.
My rule of thumb is, "If I'm going to commit a transgression against the plant-based lifestyle, it better be damn worth it." And this juicy, beefy, chili-smothered delicacy was DAMN WORTH EVERY BITE times 1000. This thing was so damn good that I picked up the paper and licked up every chili and onion crumb. I almost ate the paper just because of the residual, unclaimed deliciousness left but I figured it wouldn't be a good idea, even if it is plant-based.
I would venture to say this is the most well-executed hot dog ever. I've eaten all styles of hot dogs from a lot of places. Admittedly, it rivals The Big Apple's signature dogs that are so good all they need is a strip of mustard. It really is that good. Mo thought of every detail down to the ratios of each ingredient. The bun was New England style and fluffy. The smoke was perfectly grilled and juicy with the perfect amount of "snap". The chili was a flavorful, tender all beef mixture with just the right amount of sauce.The onions were perfectly grilled and the perfect size and the perfect amount of yellow mustard topped it off. All of the ingredients formed a beautifully, perfect marriage of flavors.
This place is worth a trip (even from out of town to try). As the previous reviews stated, Mojo's is located in front of a vacant brick building in a pothole-filled parking lot on Statesville Ave (two doors down from Bojangles headed away from I-85 toward Cindy Lane) but the quality and service are worth all five stars and a few extra . If you're going to go off the rails with your diet or lifestyle this place is worth it. Don't miss out on this gem. It just may be the best hot dog you will ever eat.
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