Detroit’s Two Most Famous Coney Islands Sit Side by Side on Lafayette Boulevard. Here’s How to Choose Between Them

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Detroit coney dogs on Lafayette Boulevard are a downtown tradition that started with two brothers. American Coney Island, at 114 W. Lafayette, and Lafayette Coney Island, at 118 W. Lafayette, share a wall. Each serves the same basic dish: a natural-casing hot dog in a steamed bun, topped with beanless chili, yellow mustard, and chopped white onion.

Here’s how to choose. Pick American Coney Island if you want a larger, brighter dining room, a family that has owned the place since it opened, and a chili with a little more spice. Pick Lafayette Coney Island if you want a small, no-frills counter, fast service, and a chili that tastes beefier. The best answer is to order one coney at each, side by side. One note before you go: Lafayette has been closed more than once by the Detroit Health Department, including a closure reported in 2026, so check that it’s open before you plan around it.

Metro Detroit has hundreds of coney island restaurants, by most counts around 500, but these two are the ones people travel to see.

How to Choose Between American and Lafayette

Both restaurants date their beginnings to the early 20th century. Constantine “Gust” Keros, a Greek immigrant, opened American Coney Island in 1917. His brother, William “Bill” Keros, opened Lafayette Coney Island next door, with 1924 the date usually given. Historians who have looked at old city directories have questioned both dates, but the basic story holds: two brothers, two restaurants, and a rivalry that has lasted generations.

Here’s how they compare today.

Ownership

American Coney Island is still run by the Keros family. Grace Keros, a granddaughter of the founder, has been the public face of the restaurant for years. The family has expanded the brand with a few other locations and sells kits so people can make coneys at home.

Lafayette Coney Island was sold to its employees in 1991, and it has stayed a single, independent restaurant.

The chili

This is the biggest difference and the one people argue about most. American’s chili is a little spicier, with more seasoning. Lafayette’s chili is often described as beefier, with a more savory, meaty flavor. Both are thin, beanless sauces made for topping hot dogs, not bowls of chili.

The dogs

Both use natural-casing hot dogs that snap when you bite them. That snap is a key part of a Detroit coney. Many coney islands in the area use locally made dogs, with Koegel and Kowalski being two names you’ll hear often.

The room

American Coney Island is larger, with red, white, and blue decor, more tables, and a more polished look. It’s easier for families and groups.

Lafayette is narrow, with a long counter, a few tables, and an old-fashioned look. Servers call out orders, and the food comes fast. Some people love it for exactly that reason.

The service style

At Lafayette, the staff move fast, and the experience is quick. At American, the service is more like a casual diner, with a little more space and time.

Hours

Both restaurants have long hours and have historically stayed open late, which makes them popular after games, concerts, and nights out downtown. Check current hours before you go, especially around holidays.

What to Order at Detroit Coney Dogs on Lafayette

The menu at both places is simple. Here are the main things to know.

• The coney: a hot dog with chili, mustard, and onions. This is the classic order.
• “One with everything”: a coney with all three toppings.
• Loose hamburger: a Detroit specialty, with crumbled ground beef and chili on a bun instead of a hot dog.
• Chili fries and chili cheese fries: good for sharing.
• Bean soup or chili: available at some locations, and good on a cold day.

If you don’t want onions or mustard, ask for your coney without them. The staff hear every variation.

Doing a Side-by-Side Taste Test

Since the two restaurants share a wall, it’s easy to compare them in one visit. Here’s how:

• Order one classic coney at each restaurant. Keep the toppings the same so the comparison is fair.
• Eat them within a few minutes of each other while they’re both hot.
• Pay attention to the chili’s spice and texture, the snap of the dog, and how soft the bun is.

This side-by-side tradition is part of what makes the block famous. The rivalry has been featured on national TV, including a 2010 episode of the Travel Channel show Food Wars.

A Note on Lafayette’s Health Inspections

Lafayette Coney Island has had several health-department closures over the years, including closures tied to pests. It has reopened after making repairs each time, but the restaurant’s status can change quickly. Before you go, check recent local news or call the restaurant. If Lafayette is closed when you visit, you can still try American Coney Island and visit another coney island in the area to compare.

When to Go

Downtown Detroit’s busiest times are evenings and weekends, especially when there’s a game at Ford Field, Comerica Park, or Little Caesars Arena, or a concert at a nearby venue. The lunch rush on weekdays brings office workers.

In late November and December, downtown gets busier with the holiday season. The Detroit Christmas tree lighting at Campus Martius Park, the skating rink there, and the downtown holiday market draw crowds a short walk from Lafayette Boulevard. America’s Thanksgiving Parade, Detroit’s big Thanksgiving morning parade on Woodward Avenue, is another busy time. A hot coney after the parade, a game, or ice skating is a classic Detroit way to warm up, but expect lines.

For the shortest wait, go in the midafternoon on a weekday.

How a Coney Got to Detroit

The name comes from Coney Island in New York, which was famous for hot dogs in the early 20th century. Greek and Macedonian immigrants who came through New York brought the name to the Midwest and opened hot dog stands in industrial cities. In Detroit, the coney island became a type of restaurant: a casual, Greek-owned diner open early and late, with coneys alongside gyros, Greek salads, and breakfast.

That’s why “coney island” in Detroit means both a hot dog and a place to eat. The style also spread to other Michigan cities. Flint and Jackson have their own versions, with Flint known for a drier, meatier topping.

Getting There

American and Lafayette Coney Islands are on W. Lafayette Boulevard near Michigan Avenue in downtown Detroit, a short walk from Campus Martius Park. The QLINE streetcar along Woodward Avenue and the People Mover are both nearby. There are parking garages and street parking downtown, but spots fill up on event nights.

How to Order Like a Local

Coney islands move fast, especially at lunch and late at night. A few habits help:

• Know your order before you reach the counter or the server. “Two coneys with everything” is all you need to say.
• Say “no onions” or “mustard only” if you want changes. Don’t ask for ketchup on a coney unless you’re ready for a look.
• Order a loose hamburger if someone in your group doesn’t eat hot dogs. It’s the same chili and toppings on crumbled beef.
• Pay attention to how each place handles the bill. At busy times, staff may want you to pay quickly so the next group can sit down.
• Tip your server, even if the meal was quick and cheap.

Coneys Beyond Lafayette Boulevard

The two downtown restaurants are the most famous, but coney islands are everywhere in Metro Detroit, from small neighborhood diners to regional chains. Two names you’ll see often are Leo’s Coney Island and National Coney Island, both of which have many locations around the suburbs. These chains are good if you want a coney near your hotel or the airport, or if you’re traveling with a group that wants a bigger menu with breakfast, salads, and Greek dishes.

If you’re visiting family in the Detroit area for Thanksgiving or Christmas, a coney island is also a reliable option on holiday mornings, when other restaurants may be closed. Many locations keep long hours, but holiday hours vary, so check before you go.

Making Detroit Coneys at Home

American Coney Island sells kits with its chili, hot dogs, and buns that it ships to people who want to make coneys at home. You can also buy Detroit-style coney sauce in some Michigan grocery stores. To make a coney, steam the bun, grill or boil a natural-casing hot dog, and top it with warm chili, a line of yellow mustard, and chopped white onion, in that order.

Visiting From Out of Town

If you’re in Detroit only briefly, the coney block works as a quick stop between other downtown sights. It’s about a five-minute walk from Campus Martius Park and close to the Guardian Building and the Detroit Riverwalk. Many visitors grab a coney for lunch, walk to the river, and then head to the holiday displays at Campus Martius in the evening. In late November and December, dress warmly for the walk, since the wind off the Detroit River can be strong.

The Bottom Line on Detroit Coney Dogs on Lafayette

American is bigger, family-run, and a little spicier. Lafayette is smaller, faster, and beefier. Both serve the same essential Detroit dish. If you can, order one at each and decide for yourself. Just check that both doors are open first.