No city prepares hot dogs quite like Detroit. From the classic coney to gourmet hot dogs wrapped in bacon, 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.
Note: Due to COVID-19, some of these shops may be temporarily closed or have varying hours. Check ahead before heading out.
American Coney Island
- Address: 114 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit
- Phone: 313-961-7758
- Hours: Open 24/7 daily
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. Plus, the joint is open 24/7 to satiate your munchies, no matter what time they hit.
Atomic Dawg
- Address: 2705 Coolidge Highway, Berkley
- Phone: 248-398-3294
- Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
The Dawg’s 100 percent, all-beef gourmet hot dogs will make your mouth water. Let your taste buds tour the world with your pick of Canadian slaw, Japanese cherry mayo or Russian dressings. Chase your top dog down with a shake, malt, root beer float or southern-fried apple pie.
Biercamp Meat Shop and Microbrewery
- Address: 1643 S. State St., Ann Arbor
- Phone: 734-995-2437
- Hours: Temporarily closed
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
- Phone: 734-485-2831
- Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday
Feening for a dog on the go? Stop by this shack that offers beef, Polish sausage, turkey and veggie dogs. Opt for the thick-cut onion rings on the side or on the dog! And don’t neglect the house-made barbecue sauce.
Bob E.’s Super Chief
- Address: 340 W. Walton Blvd., Pontiac
- Phone: 248-333-2028
- Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday
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. And don’t deny your taste buds a homemade dessert!
Bucharest Grill
- Address: Corktown, Rivertown, Milwaukee Junction and Avenue of Fashion – all in Detroit
- Phone: 313-965-3111
- Hours: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
With four locations all based in Detroit, this Mediterranean grill specializes in shawarma but assembles mean dogs too. Each one reminiscent of a big city – including The Chicago, The Detroiter and The Philly Dog knockwursts, The Berliner German bratwurst, The Hamtramck kielbasa and more – one of these tasty treats is sure to sate your craving.
Chili Mustard Onion
- Address: 3411 Brush St., Detroit
- Phone: 313-462-4949
- Hours: Noon-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Vegan’s rejoice! This Detroit spot offers vegan coneys, subs, gyros and hamburgers
Daly Drive-In
- Address: 31500 Plymouth Road, Livonia
- Phone: 734-427-4474
- Hours: summer hours 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; closes at 8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday the rest of the year
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 $6 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.
Detroit 75
- Address: 4800 W. Fort St., Detroit
- Phone: 313-843-3215
- Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday
It’s not just traditional hot dog restaurants on our list. Detroit 75’s humble food truck offers “an artisan experience,” sure to have you coming back for more. Stop by for lunch and try the Lafayette Knockwurst encased in a poppy seed bun with sweet pickled jalapenos, bell peppers, onions and house mustard.
Detroit’s Finest Coney Island
- Address: 25801 Jefferson Avenue, St. Clair Shores
- Phone: 586-777-4002
- Hours: 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday
This fine coney establishment offers the classic coney as well as others like the Woodward coney and a kraut dog. Other menu faves include the Flaming “OPA” Burger and Detroit’s Chicken Delight Salad.
Duly’s Place
- Address: 5458 Vernor Highway, Detroit
- Phone: 313-554-3076
- Hours: Open 24/7 daily
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.
Grand Trunk Pub
- Address: 612 Woodward Ave., Detroit (downtown)
- Phone: 313-961-3043
- Hours: kitchen: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday
Stop in for an evening bite before (or after) a sports game for tasty spins on old fan favorites. Lunch and dinner menus feature bratwursts – including The Foran made with Wigley’s corned beef, The Detroiter chili dog and the Plain & Simple.
Hippo’s Hot Dogs
- Address: 1648 Rochester Road, Troy
- Phone: 248-524-9778
- Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
Hippo’s brings a Chicago-style taste to the Detroit area. Try the fan favorite, “Hippo Dog,” dressed in the typical fixings, or double up with the “Great Scot,” double the size for the hungriest eaters. Other fare include the grilled “New York Dog,” Geno’s charbroiled Italian, and hot Cajun sausages.
Imperial
- Address: 22828 Woodward Ave., Ferndale
- Phone: 248-850-8060
- Hours: 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Wednesday, noon-2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, noon-midnight Sunday
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.
Kerby’s Coney Island
- Address: various locations
- Phone: vary by location
- Hours: vary by location
The lean beef, natural casing, and a secret family chili recipe that’s nearly a century old, make these coney diners 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
- Phone: 313-964-8198
- Hours: 24/7
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.
Leo’s Coney Island
- Address: various locations
- Phone: vary by location
- Hours: vary by location
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.
Mark’s Midtown Coney Island
- Address: various locations
- Phone: vary by location
- Hours: vary by location
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
- Phone: 313-964-5000
- Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday
This Corktown bar has a hip diner feel and features five signature natural casing and all-beef franks. Order your typical chili cheese dog, Chicago dog tucked in a poppy-seeded bun, a “N.Y, N.Y.” smothered in corned beef, kraut and spicy mustard, or your one-of-a-kind “Murty-Bird,” an Aidells chicken apple sausage. Eccentric, handcrafted shakes are on menu to service your sweet tooth.
National Coney Island
- Address: various locations
- Phone: vary by location
- Hours: vary by location
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 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.
Ray’s Red Hots
- Address: 629 E. University Ave., Ann Arbor
- Phone: 734-998-3647
- Hours: 11-1 a.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday
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, the “Diablo Dog” stuffed with diced jalapeño peppers and cheddar cheese, the tofu vegetarian “No Dog,” or build your own. Dollar Dog Happy Hour makes this a favorite pit stop among students and sports fans
Stache International
- Address: 1416 E. Fisher Freeway, Detroit
- Phone: 313-974-6895
- Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday
Craving a twist on an age ol’ favorite? Dig into the Reuben Kay smothered in stache sauerkraut and Russian mustard, or “The Happy Drunk,” marinated in beer and butter. All sausages served with house chips. They deliver to Eastern Market, Midtown and Corktown in Detroit.
The Coney Grille
- Address: 50882 Romeo Plank, Macomb Township
- Phone: 586-412-7000
- Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday
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 $1.49 coney dogs on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Mean Weenie Food Truck
- Address: various locations
- Phone: 248-630-5737
- Hours: Consult the website for the latest
The Mean Weenie Food Truck and Teenie Weenie Trailer stay on the move and bring the dogs to hotspots around metro Detroit. Their standard menu offers tasty spins, like wasabi ginger cole slaw, apple cider braised leeks, mac ‘n’ cheese, homemade guacamole and more, to turn classic dogs into mean puppies. Chase it down with a shake made with Treat Dreams ice cream. Pit stops and hours change on the daily; consult the website or social media feeds for the latest.
Village Gourmet Hot Dogs
- Address: 449 N. Wayne Road, Westland
- Phone: 734-729-9555
- Hours: open 24/7
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
- Phone: 248-548-7711
- Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday (bar open later)
This former garage earns its spot among our hot dog restaurants picks with its “Classic Detroit Coney,” but there’s also “The Yeti Dog,” bacon-wrapped and deep fried and topped with pepper jack, and “The 3 a.m. Dog,” slathered in bacon jam, Sriracha mayo, sunny-fried egg, chives and topped with crispy, fried onions (gluten-free buns available). Top it off with a house-made milkshake.
Zeke’s R&R BBQ
- Address: 240 W. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale
- Phone: 248-206-7130
- Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday (bar open until 2 a.m.)
Zeke’s rakes in vast crowds looking to serve their palates a party. Order the “Zekewurst,” a house-made spicy sausage, split, grilled and topped with caramelized onions and pepper jack cheese. Add chili and to make it a coney.
This post was originally published in 2015 and is updated regularly.
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