First off, let me get a few things out of the way:
I definitely have NOT lived in Detroit, Michigan for my entire life. In fact, I moved up here from Florida in 2022, just a couple of years ago. However, immediately after moving up here, I felt so at home that it was like I’d lived nowhere other than the Mitten State for my entire life. Between the seasons, the weather, the food, the art, and – most importantly – the people, it’s the place I’ve felt most at home.
Nowhere has ever made me feel as welcome as the Mitten State. I now consider myself to be a proud Michigander.
It’s 100 percent true that I’ve never had a Coney Island, though.
Now, non-Michiganders might be wondering what the heck I'm even referring to when I mention a Coney Island in this manner. Is it a theme park?
No, however, the roots of this particular usage of "Coney Island" start here at Coney Island in New York. It was here in the late 1800s that a pie vendor sold frankfurters for 10 cents each.
So, yes, a Michigan Coney Island is more than a theme park. It's also more than a Taylor Swift song.
Firstly, Coney Islands are what most diners in the Mitten State are called. Secondly, a Coney Island is a hot dog. Not just any plain hot dog with some ketchup and mustard squirted all over it though.
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Here's exactly what makes up the Michigan Coney Island hot dog: a beef frankfurter in a steamed bun, topped with meat sauce, diced onions, and yellow mustard. All things I've eaten atop a hot dog before.
But never together - not yet that is. After living in Michigan for more than two years, I'm ready to try a proper Coney Island! Just thinking about the combination of the savory meat sauce, tangy yellow mustard, and spicy onions gets my tummy all excited!
So, I started to do my research, because if I'm finally going to try a Michigan Coney Island, I'm gonna make sure it's the most authentic one available, you know?
This took me on a trip down into the history books, where I learned that Todorofd's in Jackson Michigan was the original Coney Island, established in 1914. Unfortunately, that location is no longer in operation.
However, there is a Coney Island that opened in 1915 that is still in operation today. It's called Coney Island Kalamazoo, and is located in - you guessed it - Kalamazoo.
Then I stumbled across the story of the rival Coney Islands in Downtown Detroit and knew that's where I'd be trying my very first Michigan Coney Island hot dog.
Lafayette and American Coney Island were started by a pair of brothers in 1915 - as a single restaurant. In 1917, they had a falling out and the two dueling Coney Islands were born.
These two restaurants sit right next door to each other, making it easy for someone to try the Coney Islands at both in a single visit, which is exactly what I plan to do.
Rumor has it that a Coney Island can get so out of hand that you might even need to use a knife and fork to eat it! My mouth is watering just looking at this photo:
I'm not worried about getting messy, though, so I'll eat it in the traditional manner. Now the only question I have is...
Which one should I start with? From what I’ve read, each location has its pros and cons. One review I read likened American Coney Island’s, uh, Coney Island to a meal, while they considered Lafayette’s to be merely a snack. With that logic, it seems like I might want to start with a little snack at Lafayette Coney Island, and then settle in for a meal at American.
And then, I’ll have to find somewhere for dessert, of course. I’m thinking cupcakes.
Do you have a favorite Coney Island in Michigan? I’m going to be going on a Coney Island-tasting mission soon and I’d love to hear about your favorite spots! Tell me about them in the comments.
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