FAQs
The chili recipes, key to the Coney dog, differ: American makes it own chili which is said to be spicier than the beefier chili of Lafayette, made from a family recipe. The dispute has been featured on several food television shows, including Food Wars and Man v. Food.
Who owns American Coney Island in Detroit? ›
Grace Keros and Chris Sotiropoulos now own and operate American Coney Island. They've grown the business to include locations at the Detroit Zoo and at the D Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Keros is survived by his children Grace Keros, Angela Badra, Connie Keros and stepson Chris Sotiropoulos and five grandchildren.
What brand of hot dogs does American Coney Island use? ›
Coney Kit Customer Care
The reasons for the great popularity of the American Coney Island is the high quality, specially-seasoned, natural skin casing hot dog from Dearborn Sausage and our own Keros family secret recipe Coney Island Chili Sauce developed decades ago.
Why is Coney Island famous in Michigan? ›
The short answer. Coney Island restaurants started to smother the nation's car capitol in the early 20th century. Some Greek immigrants who arrived in the U.S. at that time passed through New York's famed Coney Island amusem*nt area and looked for work in Detroit's auto industry.
Why is Lafayette Coney Island closed? ›
The restaurant is back, and so are the diners. DETROIT (FOX 2) - Ten days after Lafayette Coney Island closed after health inspectors found rat droppings, diners filled the popular Detroit restaurant.
Who was first Lafayette or American Coney Island? ›
Each restaurant boasts it opened first, with American Coney staking a claim to a 1917 founding, Lafayette Coney to 1914.
How old is American Coney Island? ›
The American Coney Island was founded in 1917 by Constantine "Gust" Keros, who immigrated to Detroit from Greece in 1903. The American Coney Island Hot Dog has been a favorite with Detroiters and visitors for nearly a century.
What is the oldest Coney Island in Detroit? ›
Coney Island In Detroit
The first Coney restaurant in Michigan, Todoroff's Original Coney Island in Jackson, Michigan, was founded in 1914. Detroit's American Coney Island opened just a few years later in 1917 on West Lafayette Street in downtown Detroit.
Why are diners in Michigan called Coney Islands? ›
The coney island diner was born. Likely inspired by the coney dog that came out of Coney Island in Brooklyn, just a short distance from Ellis Island where many of the new arrivals first landed, these restaurants only sold a couple of items: coney dogs and drinks.
Are coney dogs a Michigan thing? ›
The Coney dog is a popular dish in Detroit and other parts of Michigan for a number of reasons. The reason that it has become a staple is due to it's orgin in the city. However, there are a number of other reasons why the Coney dog is so popular!
They might seem like different names for the same style of hot dog, but Coney Island dogs are smothered with a meat sauce that's not exactly chili—plus onions and yellow mustard. Chili dogs can be topped with meat and bean chili as well as cheese or cheese sauce.
What brand of chili does Coney Island use? ›
Detroit Chili is the original Coney Chili used by American Coney Island and some of the better Coney Islands throughout the city.
What is the difference between American and Lafayette Coney? ›
I just reviewed the Lafayette Coney Island and you can read my full report there, but to summarize My son and I visited both within minutes and agreed that the Lafayette has a slightly better tasting Coney dog with a distinct charcoal grilled flavor, but the American has the natural casing on its hot dogs that give the ...
What food is Detroit known for? ›
Living in Detroit means coney islands, square pizza, slow roasted shawarma, sliders, and corned beef egg rolls. It's lamb chops and baklava. Vernor's and Faygo, Better Made, and Boston Coolers. In other words, Detroit is filled with iconic dishes that speak to its global influence.
Why are there so many Coney Island restaurants in Detroit? ›
Why are there so many coney islands in and around Detroit? - Quora. Detroit's Coney Island Eateries were started mostly as hotdog places for Americans, but some owners also had Greek foods, then as time went on the menus expanded to be more general but still include greek foods.
Why are there so many different Coney Islands? ›
Since the owners of the first Coney Island restaurants did not trademark the name or business plan, many other restaurants began using the same name and formula. Coney Islands were opened throughout the city by Greek immigrants.
What were the three great amusem*nt parks at Coney Island? ›
Of these amusem*nt areas, Coney Island was the largest. At its height, it contained three competing major amusem*nt parks—Luna Park, Dreamland, and Steeplechase Park—as well as many independent amusem*nts.
What is the original Coney Island in Detroit? ›
Coney Island In Detroit
The first Coney restaurant in Michigan, Todoroff's Original Coney Island in Jackson, Michigan, was founded in 1914. Detroit's American Coney Island opened just a few years later in 1917 on West Lafayette Street in downtown Detroit.
How many national Coney Islands are there? ›
National Coney Island has been in business since 1965 and currently owns and operates 20 restaurants in Southeastern Michigan. The corporate headquarters are located in Roseville, Michigan, home of the original location!