No city prepares hot dogs quite like Detroit. From the classic coney to gourmet hot dogs wrapped in bacon to chicken and veggie dogs slathered in house-made ingredients — there’s an onion-bedecked and mustard-laced creation to elicit any craving for this simple yet iconic junk food. Because sometimes, just like a glazed doughnut or decadent scoop of ice cream, a treat is in order!
Check out these hot dog restaurants — from eateries in Detroit proper to locales all around southeast Michigan — to discover the best spins on this American classic.
A Taste Of Soul By Biggie
- Address: 1004 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti
Try Biggie’s chili dog, hot dog, slaw dog or red hot sausage. For dessert, try peach or apple cobbler, lemon pound cake or sweet potato pie.
American Coney Island
- Address: 114 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit
No one makes a mean dog quite like this family-owned Detroit original, satisfying customers since 1917. Many Detroiters attest that American set the bar for southeast Michigan coney achievement, from the secret family chili sauce recipe to the specially seasoned casings for natural hot dogs. Do you have a family member who loves coneys living in another state? You can order their coney kit online and have it shipped nationwide.
Bates Burgers
This family business opened in 1955. Although they are most known for their hamburgers and breakfast items, their coneys are good, too! Try with their chili cheese fries and a chocolate milkshake.
Biercamp Meat Shop and Microbrewery
- Address: 1643 S. State St., Ann Arbor
Biercamp crafts all eats by hand using in-house ingredients and work only with farms that raise animals organically. You can purchase small batches of pre-packaged meats or stop by for a sausage or bratwurst of the day and dine at the lunch counter, outdoors in the beer garden or take it to go. Be sure to top off your palatable experience with a microbrew.
Bill’s Drive-In
- Address: 1292 E. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti
Want a dog on the go? Stop by this shack to order a coney dog, hot dog or loose hamburger — loose hamburger meat on a hot dog with chili, mustard and onions. Quench your thirst with homemade root beer.
Caesar’s Coney & Grill
Choose from the New York or Chicago style hot dogs, Dorito hot dog, Caesar’s Hot Dog Special, Greek Taco in a bun and more.
Chicago Reds Windy City Hot Dogs
- Address: 312 S. State St., Ann Arbor
This restaurant serves Vienna all-beef hot dogs and sausages. Try a Chicago Style dog, Georgia dog, Ruben dog, New York dog, chili dog or classic dog.
Chili Mustard Onion
- Address: 3411 Brush St., Detroit
Vegans rejoice! This Detroit spot offers vegan coneys, subs, gyros and hamburgers.
Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ
- Address: 5800 Sheldon Road, Canton
There are plenty of craveable hot dogs to choose from such as “Cheesy Mac Dog,” “Loaded Baked Potato Dog,” “The Nacho Dog,” “Slaw Dog” and more. You can also build your own hot dog, bratwurst or hot sausage (gluten-free buns are available).
Daly Drive-In
- Address: 31500 Plymouth Road, Livonia
Going strong and bold in flavor since 1959, this Daly is the last joint open in a once-famed chain of top hot dog spots. A foot-long DalyDog costs less than $7 for that grade-A savor. For the kiddies and meager appetites, there’s a Junior Dog, “everything reduced but the flavor.” Peruse the retro dessert menu, featuring pies, banana splits, sundaes, hot fudge cream puffs and strawberry shortcake.
Dave and Buster’s Utica
- Address: 45511 Park Ave., Utica
This play center has some awesome food and play deals. Try their pretzel dogs, which are beef franks, pretzel-wrapped, served with spicy habanero sauce. They even have a kids size that comes with fries.
Duly’s Place
- Address: 5458 Vernor Highway, Detroit
An oldie but a goodie, Duly’s has been serving Detroit’s iconic chili, onion and mustard-topped coneys around the clock for nearly a century. For chili overload, try the chili cheese onion rings or the chili cheese hash browns. Stop by and taste why it continues to be a citywide favorite.
Dynasty Dogs and Tacos
- Address: 26645 Van Born, Taylor
This all-Michigan brand car hop features Dearborn all-beef hot dogs, Faygo, authentic street tacos and more.
Eddie’s Drive-In
This ‘50s drive-in has everything from old-fashioned food items to servers on roller skates going car to car. Try their regular hot dog, corn dog or foot long hot dog. They also have a Knackwurst on a bun, which is topped with chili, cheese or kraut.
Honey Wings
- Address: 2028 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills
Try one of the many corn dogs at this Korean-inspired American restaurant. They have an original, a double cheese dog, Cheetos dog, monster dog and rainbow dog.
Imperial
- Address: 22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale
Put a Mexican spin on your fare at Imperial, where the Sonoran hot dogs come wrapped in bacon and tasty deets, including guacamole, stewed beans, salsa verde, pineapple, chipotle aioli and more. The Biergarten-style sitting makes it easy for groups to mingle.
Joe’s Hamburgers
- Address: 3041 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte
Open for business since 2009, this spot, named for the owner’s grandpa, gets props for its sliders, of course, but also fresh-cut fries, homemade soups and hot dogs, too. Try a rocket dog, which is wrapped with onion rings or U.S.M.C. devil dog, which is topped with jalapeno relish!
Kerby’s Coney Island
- Address: Various locations
The lean beef, natural casing and a secret family chili recipe that’s nearly a century old make these a must try. The chain is known for expanding its menus beyond the traditional coney fare, but it hasn’t forgotten its roots. You can still find the classic Detroit original Coney Island at this leader among local hot dog restaurants.
Lafayette Coney Island
- Address: 118 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit
Pictures of famous people stopping by for Lafayette’s famous coney dogs bedeck the dining room walls — testaments to this Detroit icon and the city’s signature junk food. Stop in, take a seat at the bar and taste these simple, snappy and sloppy dogs to discover why the locals keep coming back for more.
Lefty’s Ann Arbor
Lefty’s coneys are topped with chili, mustard and onions on a steamed bun. Try their loaded fries with your dog, such as Nashville Hot, Brisket, Big Poppa, Buffalo Ranch and SouthPaw. They have a kids hot dog meal for your little one and cheesecake for dessert.
Leo’s Coney Island
- Address: Various locations
Leo’s offers one of the most extensive coney menus around and caters to the whole family. Order a Coney Island dog dressed in all the fixings or opt for a kosher, Chicago or New York hot dog. Other choices include Greek specialties, breakfast options and a kids menu for the youngest customers.
Lipuma’s Coney Island
- Address: 621 N. Main St., Rochester
A family-owned business that has been around since 1969. They have a variety of specialty dogs including the Texas dog, Flip Saunders dog, Chicago, Russian dog and more.
lov-a burger Fries & Shakes
- Address: 49660 Gratiot Ave., Chesterfield
Although this restaurant is known for its burgers, they are said to have great hot dogs, too! Choose from a coney dog, cheese dog, bacon and cheese dog, Chicago dog or even a loose burger, which has seasoned ground beef and all the fixings of a coney dog (minus the dog).
Mark’s Midtown Coney Island
- Locations:
- North Ann Arbor: 3586 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor
- Saline: 529 E. Michigan Ave., Saline
- South Ann Arbor: 3672 State St., Ann Arbor
The first Mark’s opened in 1985 and continues to expand under the premise of “getting back to the basics” serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, all day long, at affordable prices. Menus vary by location, but you can be sure to find the classic Coney Island smothered in chili, the “Sauerkraut Dog” and “Chicago Dog” laden with pickles and banana peppers.
Mercury Bar
- Address: 2163 Michigan Ave., Detroit
This Corktown bar has a hip diner feel and features four signature natural casing and all-beef franks. Order the Detroit, which is your typical chili cheese dog, Chicago dog tucked in a poppy-seeded bun, a “N.Y, N.Y.” smothered in corned beef or a plain dog. Eccentric, handcrafted shakes are on menu to satisfy your sweet tooth.
National Coney Island
- Address: Various locations
For 50 years, customers craving great-tasting, All-American classics including traditional Detroit-style Coney Island hot dogs have returned again and again to experience National’s famed service. Now, the company operates nearly 20 hot dog restaurants in southeastern Michigan. But the friendly dining experience combined with fast service and quality food at affordable prices continues to make this eatery a family favorite.
Nu New York Deli
- Address: 2421 14 Mile Road, Sterling Heights
Try their plain hot dog, coney dog, NY coney taco, loose burger and New York hot dog. Pair with Brooklyn fries, which are topped with corned beef, chopped bacon, house gravy, Swiss cheese and homemade Russian dressing.
Perry Street Grill
- Address: 756 Perry St., Pontiac
Choose from a regular hot dog, coney dog, loose coney burger, coney taco or a hot dog with sauerkraut.
Phoenix Coney Island
There are plenty of different coneys to choose from at this restaurant. Choose from a Phoenix Coney Dog, Vienna Fire Dog, Chicago Coney Dog, California Dog and many more. Top it off with a milkshake or float.
Pontiac Super Chief
- Address: 340 W. Walton Blvd., Pontiac
This tiny place is packed with quirky charm, from the retro prints on the walls to the friendly staff. Order the foot-long coney served on a buttery, toasted bun, slathered in a thick chili sauce.
Portillo’s Hot Dogs
Chicago street food known for its unique hot dogs and sausages. Toppings include pickles, tomatoes, peppers, grilled onions, relish and more.
Ray’s Red Hots
- Address: 629 E. University Ave., Ann Arbor
Get your ballpark-frank style dogs at Ray’s Gourmet Dogs and Sausages. Try “Ray’s Red Hot,” Chicago-style dog made from 100 percent Black Angus beef or “Ray’s Red Hot Hawaiian Style” dog with Applewood bacon, grilled pineapple, diced onions and BBQ sauces.
Shake Shack
- Address: Various locations
This hip hamburger and shake restaurant got its roots as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in Manhattan and has expanded to 262 locations in the U.S. Their hot dogs are 100% beef and can be topped with cheese sauce and bacon to spice it up. Try their many flavors of shakes, floats and frozen custard. They have non-dairy shakes and frozen custard, too.
Taystee’s Burgers
- Address: Various locations
Taystee’s has so many amazing burgers to choose from, but they also have some pretty great hot dogs, too. Try their Taystee Dog, Taystee Coney Dog or Taystee Knockwurst. Add a side of mac and cheese bites, Midwest or Coleslaw Fries and a milkshake.
The Coney Grille
- Address: 50882 Romeo Plank, Macomb Township
The Coney Grille, which opened in 2005, is a community favorite. It’s a family dining restaurant known for its signature coney island hot dogs, but it offers more than just coneys, including daily homemade soups and Greek specialties like spinach pie and rice pudding. Look out for $1.99 coney dogs on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Wurst Bar
- Address: 705 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti
This restaurant features many different kinds of brats including chorizo, sweet Italian, Philly style, breakfast brat and a brat made with Impossible meat and wurst spices.
Two Hands Fresh Corn Dogs
- Address: 728 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy
Try their wildly popular Korean-style corn dogs such as “Two Hands Dog,” “Spicy Dog,” “Classic Dog” or their “Potato Dog” or “American Classic Dog.” Pair it with dirty fries or Kimchi seasoning fries and a slushy to drink.
Village Gourmet Hot Dogs
- Address: 449 N. Wayne Road, Westland
Get your grub on with the Village’s wide range of gourmet hot dogs, including chicken, spicy Mexican, encased in pretzel buns, taco, sausage dogs and more. Top it off with a tasty shake.
Vinsetta Garage
- Address: 27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley
This former garage earns its spot among our hot dog restaurants picks because of its “3 a.m. Dog,” slathered in bacon jam, Sriracha mayo, sunny-fried egg, chives and topped with crispy, fried onions. Top it off with a house-made milkshake.
Wiseguy’s Bar and Grill 2
- Address: 37208 Harper Ave., Clinton Township
This bar is known in Macomb County for having really great food and their coney entrees are no different. Have a classic coney or try their Coney Island Pizza, which has hot dogs, cheddar cheese, chili, mustard and onions.
Zorbas Family Dining
Choose from a plain hot dog, Michigan Coney Island dog, New Yorker, Carolina, Illinois, Tennessee or New Mexico style hot dog. Pair it with a side of onion rings, sweet potato fries or seasoned waffle fries.
This post was originally published in 2015 and is updated regularly.
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