Founded
2019
Mission
A spot where we elevate the venerable sausage and bun. We take great pride in making the accompaniments that go on the dog including house-made buns and corned-beef. Not one step is overlooked in making a tasty experience. We sincerely hope that when you bite onto that hot dog at Barndawg’s you can say “that’s a great dawg.”
What They Do
- Gourmet Hot Dogs
- Burgers
- Gluten-Free Items
- Fries
- Mac n Cheese
- Cole Slaw
Hotdogs are the perfect dish for the summer, but at Barndawgs Gourmet Hot Dogs; Barney Flores gives them a new high end twist on an american classic.
Although he first started his education in sports medicine, Barney decided to switch industries and attended culinary school after he graduated. He started his culinary training in Miami, working for a tennis tournament. During this time, he met and joined a team of chefs who were cooking for the 132 running of the Kentucky Derby. Flores then went on to cook for NASCAR and the PGA Tour. Despite these amazing and unique experiences, he decided to go back to his medical roots and began working as a paramedic. However, food was always his calling.
The idea for the gourmet dogs came about while spending time in New York. He was invited to cook at the James Beard House, and on a day off, Flores attended a Yankee game. While at the game, he bought a hot dog & beer and it was during this classic meal that Flores was inspired.
“It hit me like a two-ton brick,” he states of his gourmet hot dog concept.
Flores put together a few custom hot dogs and began serving them at local events and festivals. With great success serving his gourmet hot dogs, Flores knew he was going to open his own brick & mortar. After months of hard work, Barndawgs Gourmet Hot Dawgs opened in November 2019. “The opening process was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears,” says Flores.
For his hot dog selection, Flores used inspiration from his time in New York City where he visited over 10 eateries and read countless cook books to build his dogs. Barndawgs offers national classics like the Chicago Dawg and Chili Dawg as well as other unique dogs such as the fan-favorite, Downingtown Destroyer Dawg. This hot dog is made with Pennsylvania kielbasa, spicy brown mustard, house slaw and pickled red onions. Other popular dogs are the Cuban Dawg, Texas Tommy and number one seller, the Brisket Beef (Braised for 24 hours and topped with house made pico de gallo, shredded cheese and hot sauce!). Flores’s personal favorite hot dog is the Chicago dawg and each hot dog comes with a side of fries.
“We took ingredients and elevated them to make the dogs better and tastier,”.
Every item at Barndawg’s is homemade, with the sausage sourced from Brooklyn Hot Dog Company and the buns baked fresh, everyday. In addition to hot dogs, this local gem also serves burgers, gluten-free arepas (Venezuelan corn patties), and sides such as mac & cheese, onion rings, and home-made coleslaw.
Barndawg’s is a BYOB establishment that also provides pop-up opportunities for the local bars and breweries in the area like West Chester’s Levante Brewing.
“As a handcraft crafted product, why not showcase a handcrafted beer?” Flores says.
Barndawg’s Gourmet Hot Dogs were welcomed into the community, connecting with many local business owners and families in the area. This connection drove Flores to dedicate a wall to showcasing photos of Downingtown.
In the future, Flores hopes to offer monthly specials and expand the menu to include hot dogs from around the world.
Learn more about Barndawg’s Gourmet Hot Dogs at their website and social media pages. They are currently offering delivery and curbside pick-up in addition to outdoor seating options.
“Come for the experience and try a great dog”!
