Cobra Dogs brings action sports flavor to Waterfront Blues Festival

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Hot dogs on the Fourth of July are quite the American tradition, and a local business is getting ready to serve up lots of them at the Waterfront Blues Fest.

Twenty years ago, Cobra Dogs started at an action sports camp called High Cascade.

Derek Lever, like so many others, made it a tasty tradition to grab a bite after snowboarding.

“It just was such a pivotal part of our summer. Such an important thing to go to get your dog after you snowboard and see your friends,” he said.
      
Then five years ago, he went from fan to food truck owner, now feeding people all over the region.

“We do the OG, that’s just build your own dog (with) ketchup, mustard relish or cobra sauce. Cobra style is our highest seller in signature classic. It’s cream cheese, cobra sauce and sauerkraut topped with a little bit of celery salt,” Lever said. “And the ‘bun me,’ my personal fave, it’s our little spin on a banh mi sandwich that is incredibly good. And then the western barbecue snake.”

He’s also working on a new hot dog that’ll be just for the blues fest.

“Selling hot dogs on the Fourth of July while blues music is playing sounds like a pretty good time for us. And we just want to make sure the customers are having a great time getting that weekend. Fourth of July food and have a smile on their face. That’s our goal,” Lever said.

What makes longtime Cobra Dogs fans smile is the food and the brand.

“We’re so rooted in skating and snowboarding and surfing, just action sports in general,” Lever said.
      
That fanbase helped grow a following for the merch — t-shirts, hats and even headphones.

“People love them. They freak out. They’re made here and we make them local over in Vancouver,” Lever said.

Lever just opened another cart at High Cascades to keep the tradition going strong for the action sports community at Mt. Hood.