Review: Sonic - Lil' Doggies

Sonic's Lil' Doggies are 4" mini hot dogs that come in three varieties: Original, Chili Cheese, and Baja Jalapeno & Chili.

The Original was $1.29, while the other two were $1.49 a piece at my local Sonic, but I received these courtesy of Sonic.

The Original comes with mustard and ketchup; the Chili Cheese comes with chili and shredded cheddar cheese; and the Baja Jalapeno & Chili features chili, a spicy cheese sauce, and jalapenos.

On all three Lil' Doggies, the hot dogs had a nice flavor and consistency, and were just the right length for the bun. The buns were soft but also hearty.

My particular Original Lil' Doggie came almost completely covered in yellow mustard and ketchup (mostly mustard). As you might suspect, it was very messy to eat. It's actually fortunate that it was mostly mustard rather than ketchup as ketchup has a much stronger flavor whereas yellow mustard is very mild. The excess amount actually lent just a bit of that mustard bite that's usually missing from yellow mustard. I typically wouldn't order this one since it's the most easy and common to make at home. It actually might be nicer if they just gave you a plain hot dog with packets of mustard and ketchup by default.

The Chili Cheese is more or less the same as Sonic's regular Chili Cheese dog. You get the same tasty blend of meaty chili and melty cheese. I recommend it with a bit of mustard and onions.

The Baja Jalapeno & Chili is the only flavor combination that isn't a miniature version of Sonic's existing hot dog line up. The spicy cheese sauce has a bit of heat and a tangy funk to it. It's not a flavor profile I care for and it doesn't quite mesh with the smoky chili. The jalapenos add an extra layer of heat and tang.

Overall, Sonic Lil' Doggies are pretty enjoyable if you like their regular hot dog flavors. I didn't much care for the spicy cheese sauce on the Baja Jalapeno & Chili version, though, and would have been pleased if it just came topped with warm nacho cheese and jalapenos. For the other two flavors, it really comes down to whether you want a mini hot dog for $1.29 to $1.49 or a regular-sized hot dog for $2 or so. Although, like the Lil' Chickies, the mini version let you grab a bit more variety without filling up too much.

Nutritional Info - Sonic Lil' Doggie - Original (89g)
Calories - 210 (from Fat - 90)
Fat - 10g (Saturated Fat - 2.5g)
Sodium - 890mg
Carbs - 19g (Sugar - 4g)
Protein - 10g

Nutritional Info - Sonic Lil' Doggie - Chili Cheese (97g)
Calories - 240 (from Fat - 120)
Fat - 14g (Saturated Fat - 5g)
Sodium - 930mg
Carbs - 18g (Sugar - 2g)
Protein - 12g

Nutritional Info - Sonic Lil' Doggie - Baja Jalapeno & Chili (104g)
Calories - 260 (from Fat - 140)
Fat - 16g (Saturated Fat - 4g)
Sodium - 970mg
Carbs - 18g (Sugar - 3g)
Protein - 11g