An essential guide to metro Detroit's most delicious Coney Islands

By Metro Times editorial staff on Sat, Jan 26, 2019 at 4:43 pm

If there is one quintessential Detroit food item, it’s the coney dog. It’s obvious by the sheer number of Coney Island restaurants that inhabit the city and the suburbs that as long as you make a mean coney dog, you have a place in a Detroiters heart. We sought out to rank metro Detroit’s best Coney Island restaurants based on Google and Yelp reviews, as well as word of mouth reputation. See if your favorite cut the mustard.

Words by Mike Dionne

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7. U of D Coney Island

16126 Livernois Ave., Detroit
The favorite of the University District, Martin Park, and Franklin crowds since the 80s. This small, old school style diner boasts a great reputation without trying too hard.
Photo by Mike Dionne

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6. Zeff’s Coney Island

2469 Russell St., Detroit
Eastern Market’s coney is another Detroiter favorite. Maybe it’s just the location. Maybe it’s the magical nostalgic atmosphere combined with the chilli and mustard. The breakfasts are served anytime and many people come just for that. Added bonus: an Aretha Franklin mural currently graces the wall outside.
Photo by Hannah Ervin / Detroitstockcity.com

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5. Onassis Coney Island

1501 Michigan Ave., Detroit
Corktown’s coney king right across from the ghost of ol’ Tiger Stadium. They also have a location on the west side on Livernois Ave.. The locals swear by the Corktown location and say it contends for the best in the city.
Photo with permission from alluringchicago

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4. Red Hots Coney Island

12 Victor St., Highland Park
The darkhorse for best coney is Red Hots. Something about the family’s secret chilli recipe propels this little diamond in the rough up to compete with Detroit’s top dogs. They’ve been holdin’ it down in Highland Park since 1921 so they’ve obviously got the secret in the sauce.
Photo by Mike Dionne

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3. Duly’s Place

5458 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit
"Every time I visit Detroit,” the late Anthony Bourdain said on his show Parts Unknown, “somebody asks me if I've had a good Coney yet. Apparently, I never had a great one. I finally got one. I understand now." Bourdain was referring to a $1.71 coney dog from Duly’s Place. It is, in part, thanks to that segment that Duly’s has turned the tide of tastebuds to Southwest Detroit when searching for the best coney in the city.
Photo by Mike Dionne

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2. American Coney Island

114 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit
You’ve clicked this far. You knew this was coming. Now you already know what’s next. Democrats and Republicans. Dogs and cats. Howe and Yzerman. Death and taxes. American and Lafayette. American might be the best one day, Lafayette the next. Most people pick one and stick with it.
Photo via James R. Martin / Shutterstock.com

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