It is a corporation that has more than 20 national coney island locations in the metro detroit area. A lively and thorough history of detroits culinary icon. American is home of the original coney dog in detroit as stated by their website. Lafayette coney island greater detroit area american. The story behind the rivalry between detroits two oldest coney island restaurants. The keros brothers businesses competed side by side for the best coney dog in detroit for close to 100 years. How the coney dog became detroits signature food citylab. The real story behind detroits coney wars crains detroit business. However the shows host, adam richman, didnt manup and actually answer the question, who has the better coney island. The original coney island, todoroffs, was named after the coney island amusement park in new york, and opened in jackson, michigan in 1914. A brief history of american coney island eater detroit. Lafayette coney island menu detroit mi 48226 3 9648198. American coney island opened in 1917 at near the corner of lafayette and michigan.
Pair your dinner with a beverage from this restaurants full bar. After a long night of imbibing, a group of us went to lafayette coney island and i decided then that i would forever be a lafayette guy. Yet the coney dog name can be seen advertising hot dog stands. No, lafayette coney island is literally right next door to american coney island and has been since the day it opened. Lafayette coney island home detroit, michigan menu. Breaking news cannabis detroit economy book of lists. Owner gust keros opened american coney island next to lafayette in 1914, years after he immigrated to detroit from greece. Lafayette coney island a detroit michigan icon youtube.
A rich blend of lamb and beef seasoned to perfection with sliced onions and tomatoes. The reasons for the great popularity of the american coney island is the high quality, speciallyseasoned, natural skin casing hot dog from dearborn sausage and our own keros family secret recipe coney island chili sauce developed decades ago. Lafayette coney island is one of the original coney islands in downtown detroit. Detroit american coney island vs lafayette coney island. A very unpretentious diner location, but the food is delicious. In more than 150 mouthwatering photographs and informative, playful text, readers will learn about the traditions, rivalries, and differences between the restaurants, some even located right next door to each other.
They opened american coney island in detroit in 1919, serving up signature hot dogs in the heart of downtown. Downtown detroit icon american coney island turns 100 susan selasky, detroit free press published 11. Coney detroit tells history of detroits coney island hot dog. Little ones love the food and atmosphere at this restaurant just as much as their parents do. In coney detroit, authors katherine yung and joe grimm investigate all aspects of the beloved regional delicacy, which was created by greek immigrants in the early 1900s. The mega coney island chain sells both detroitstyle coneys, topped with a beanless meat chili, and. They have a common root, with the original restaurant having been established by greek immigrant brothers bill and gus keros in 1915. My son and i definitely favored the coney dog from lafayette coney. Jan 21, 2015 lafayettes story again starts with gus keros, who was the founder of american coney island.
American coney island is celebrating its coneyversary in detroit from 9 a. Eventually, his brother bill joined him in michigan, but the brothers could not work together for some reason. Coney detroit traces the history of the coney island restaurant, which existed in many. Coney detroit traces the history of the coney island restaurant, which existed in many cities but thrived nowhere as it did in detroit, and surveys many of the hundreds of independent and chain restaurants in business today. Detroits famous coney dog restaurants, american coney island and lafayette coney island, followed todoroffs original coney island in jackson, michigan. Nov 22, 2009 the rivalry between american coney island and lafayette coney island has been going on in detroit for decades. No place is more passionate about coney island hot dogs than detroit.
And the waitstaff, presumably to better serve their temporarily deaf clientele, bellow food orders to the. Jun 22, 2017 were in downtown detroit and were taking part in the classic lafayette coney island vs. Lafayette coney island, detroit updated 2020 restaurant. Near the intersection of w lafayette blvd and griswold stneighborhoods. There isnt even another building that separates these two warring sellers of detroits signature hot dog. Still the best in all of the motor city lafayette coney. Similar parties will also be hosted at the d las vegas hotel and casino on may 25 and the detroit zoo outpost on. Lafayette coney island, detroit from 101 best casual restaurants in america one of the culinary worlds greatest rivalries is between two neighboring downtown detroit hot dog stands. See uptodate pricelists and view recent announcements for this location.
Dec 31, 2018 owner gust keros opened american coney island next to lafayette in 1914, years after he immigrated to detroit from greece. Jan 30, 2019 the son of the founder of lafayette coney island, george keros, died thursday, jan. Home products lafayette coney island magnet lafayette coney island magnet. When visiting detroit the coney challenge between lafayette coney and american coney is a must. Lafayette coney blows american coney out of the water. The origin of the coney island hot dog is a uniquely. Website designed, developed and managed by restaurant web experts.
In 1917, gust keros, a greek immigrant, opened american coney island on west lafayette street in downtown detroit. The son of the founder of lafayette coney island, george keros, died thursday, jan. While no one knows for sure where the detroit coney dog originated, whats clear is that lafayette is one of two establishments serving the premier version. The menu is simple, chilidogs, with or without raw onions, a loose meat hamburger or a bowl of chili, with or. Later, in 1917 american coney island opened in detroit between michigan ave. I drove all the way from milwaukee to experience this place. The origin of the coney island hot dog is a uniquely american story. This is topped off with graces own special tzatziki sauce. The snap of the hot dog and the taste of the chilli left us wanting more. Lafayette coney island 118 w lafayette blvd, detroit, mi 482262609. American coney island and lafayette coney island, both in detroit, and todoroffs original coney island in jackson about. That story is told in coney detroit, a new book that serves as paean for whats.
Mar 15, 2020 when in detroit, you must visit lafayette coney island. Still the best in all of the motor city lafayette coney island. The story behind the rivalry between detroits two oldest. Metro detroit favorites as american coney island, lafayette coney island. From detroit and michigan are the capital of the coney dog nation. Keros was born and raised in detroit after his parents vasili and anastasia emigrated from. This best coney island in detroit story was recently highlighted on the travel channels man v. Both have been operating sidebyside, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for over 75 years. Lafayette coney island 118 w lafayette blvd, detroit, michigan 48226 rated 4.
Lafayette coney island menu detroit mi 48226 3 964. Former lafayette coney island owner george keros, 87, died. Coney detroit tells history of detroits coney island hot dog photos. But the real story behind detroit s coney wars skip to. Aug 03, 2012 how the coney dog became detroits signature food. But city directories tell a different story than family and business oral history. Two of the bestknown coney island restaurants are the lafayette coney island and the american coney island, which are located in adjacent buildings on lafayette boulevard in downtown detroit. Jan 01, 2012 detroit is the world capital of the coney island hot doga naturalcasing hot dog topped with an allmeat beanless chili, chopped white onions, and yellow mustard. Coney detroit traces the history of the coney i detroit is the world capital of the coney island hot doga naturalcasing hot dog topped with an allmeat beanless chili. Keross brother opened lafayette coney island when space opened up next door. Jan 03, 2010 a landmark in detroit, lafayette is renowned as one of the areas best coney islands. Coney detroit tells history of detroit s coney island hot dog photos by kate abbeylambertz a michigan food tradition finally gets the memorial it deserves with this weeks official release of coney detroit, a mouthwatering coffee table book by authors katherine yung and joe grimm. American and lafayette coney islands, flintstyle coneys.
Soon after his brother, william keros, opened up lafayette coney island right next door. A few years later, in 1924, he brought his brother william to detroit to help. Coney islands are a way of life in detroit and while the city has gone through a lot of changes over the years, lafayette coney island remains one of the few constants. Detroits famous coney dog restaurants, american coney island and lafayette coney island, followed todoroffs original coney island in jackson, michigan, which dates its beginning to 1914. Detroit is the world capital of the coney island hot doga naturalcasing hot dog topped with an allmeat beanless chili, chopped white onions, and yellow mustard. May 18, 2017 one hundred years ago this month, american coney island in downtown detroit opened its doors to the public selling a simple recipe a hot dog on a steamed bun with loose chili, mustard, and chopped onions.
Max ortiz the detroit news buy photo story highlights. Coneys are everywhere, but the most conspicuous evidence of the motor citys obsession is a pair of rival restaurants that are right next to each other. There, lafayette coney island and american coney island have carried on a sibling rivalry. Lafayette coney island in detroit lafayette coney island. According to a 2012 book called coney detroit, the dishs history goes back to the 1900s, when greek emigrants coming into the u. Coney detroit by joe grimm, katherine yung, paperback. The cult of the detroit coney dog, explained eater. Were in downtown detroit and were taking part in the classic lafayette coney island vs. Fisher building guardian building gm renaissance center midtown strathmore tcf center belle isle aquarium.
Restaurant menu, map for lafayette coney island located in 48226, detroit mi, 114 w lafayette blvd. Two hot dog joints sit side by side on lafayette boulevard in downtown detroit. After a long night of imbibing, a group of us went to lafayette coney island and i decided then that i would forever. Basically, its presence was a result of a family feud that has gone on for nearly a century, although lafayette is apparently no longer owned by its original family.
Lafayette coney island downtown detroit the infatuation. Detroit was booming with auto workers in need of a. In the book, she and grimm trace the coney dogs history in detroit back. As it turns out, american coney island is one of the oldest family owned and operated businesses in downtown detroit. The american coney island hot dog has been a favorite with detroiters and visitors for nearly a century. Lafayette coney island is somewhat of an institution in downtown detroit. Lafayette coney is best for for purist singles or couples who want to savor the original detroit atmosphere and flavor. The menu is simple, chilidogs, with or without raw onions, a loose meat hamburger or.
Sorry food network, lafayette is the best coney island in detroit. Jul 15, 2011 squabbles between stands and manufacturers aside, i think the detroit coney should be considered one of the great american heirloom hot dog styles that has stood the test of timeas important a part of hot dog history as the chicago dog and new york kosher style, and just as delicious. They are the oldest and most famous places in the city to grab a coney island, the citys specialty hot dog loaded with chili, yellow mustard, and onions. I chose my coney allegiance early on in my move to detroit. Lafayette and american coney islands both sell the chilitopped coney dogs. The mega coney island chain sells both detroitstyle coneys, topped with a beanless meat chili, and the flint. Pure detroit has 6 storefronts in the city of detroit. When i was there, the hot dogs served at lafayette coney island were winters sausage l901 coney wieners, supposedly only sold to lafayette, while american uses dearborn sausage companys natural casing viennas. A landmark in detroit, lafayette is renowned as one of the areas best coney islands. Coney detroit tells history of detroits coney island. Many latenight music lovers head here for tube steaks after leaving concert venues. Lafayette coney island serves food that not only tastes great, but is low in fat and glutenfree.
According to a 2012 book called coney detroit, the dishs history goes. In more than 150 mouthwatering photographs and informative, playful text, readers will learn about the traditions. Detroit is hundreds of miles from the beaches of new yorks coney island. Detroit s american coney island and lafayette coney island have both been featured on episodes of travel channel shows man v. American coney island, detroit updated 2020 restaurant. Established in 1917 by constantine keros, it was actually his brother, william, who opened lafayette. Why michigans favorite hot dog has a new york name. Its a downtown dive institution that serves the best detroitstyle coney dogs in the world. Nofrills menu of chili topped dogs, burgers and fries. So bill decided to open up his own coney island restaurant next door to american, calling it lafayette coney island. The rivalry between american coney island and lafayette coney island has been going on in detroit for decades. Lafayette coney island, restaurants business in detroit.