The Coney dog, or Coney Island hot dog, is all beef, and has beanless chili, white onions, and yellow mustard. This famous local dish started in New York, but it’s very popular in Highland Park and the rest of the Detroit area. The Detroit Coney dog has different toppings than the ones you can find in New York. Here are some of the best places for Coney dogs near Highland Park.
1. Red Hots Coney Island
Red Hots Coney Island has been serving customers delicious Coney dogs in the Highland Park area since 1921. They make their chili from scratch, and they always use fresh, high-quality ingredients. In 2015, the Food Network featured this restaurant on their show, ‘American Diner Revival.’ The whole place was remodeled with a fun retro style, and several new items were added to the menu.
Coney dogs are available all day long. For breakfast, you can also choose grits, hash browns, eggs, and other traditional fare. Other lunch items include chili fries, chicken tenders, and sliders. Domestic and imported beers are also available to enjoy with your meal. You can visit on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. or on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
2. American Coney Island
American Coney Island celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017. Constantine “Gust” Keros opened it in 1917 after coming to Detroit from Greece and operating a hot dog cart. The Keros family still runs this restaurant, and the hot dogs are made in Dearborn with a specially seasoned, high-quality natural skin casing. The chili also uses a secret family recipe.
You can also try a gyro with lamb, beef, tomatoes, onions, and special sauce. Greek salad, spinach pie, grilled chicken pita, tuna salad sandwiches, and other delicious options are available as well. This excellent restaurant is conveniently open 24-hours a day. You’ll love the patriotic red, white, and blue decor inside the restaurant.
3. Lafayette Coney Island
A few years after American Coney Island opened, Keros’s brother, Bill, opened Lafayette Coney Island right next door. This place uses different hot dogs and different chili, and it has a simple menu and an old-school atmosphere with friendly employees.
Both restaurants are well-known for their rivalry, and Bill’s family sold Lafayette Coney Island to its employees about 30 years ago. The Food Network has talked about both restaurants on its shows, ‘Man vs. Food’ and ‘Food Wars.’ Lafayette Coney Island is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Friday and Saturday until 4 a.m. On Sunday, it’s open from 9:30 a.m. until 3 a.m.
Many people call trying a Coney dog from both Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island the Coney Challenge. The hardest part is deciding which of these delicious places is better. If hot dogs aren’t your favorite food, you can still find a menu item you love at one of these three restaurants. They even have their own hats, T-shirts, and other merchandise available for purchase.
Photo by Caleb Oquendo from Pexels
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