Coney Island

My mom always took me as a child, after my appointments at Kalamazoo Optometry! I asked for 7 of them for my Birthday! After the strawberry whip I could only eat 6!! Every time I come back home I make sure I stop in and revisit this nostalgic place and order a Coney dog! Still delicious! Down to the very last onion!!

Classic dog house open for well over a century. The classic interior reminds me of visiting when I was a kid. The Coneys taste great like always but with inflation and all, it’s gotten expensive. I don’t blame the place but it’s gotten so I’ll only visit on rare occasions when it’s pushing a twenty spot for a couple dogs, fries and a drink.

OMG!! Talk about nostalgia, the best Coney Dog made to perfection and a great meal….I visited 50 years ago and it was a simple menu (still the same😊). The Coney Dog is made with a high end brand wiener that has a one of a kind flavor. One bite and you notice that it is quality. I’m not an onion or mustard fan but since this place is famous for their Coney Dog, I tried it. It has mustard and chopped onions on top of the famous “chili”. The chili is hard to describe…it’s their specialty and no other Coney Dog compares. It’s been their “secret” for generations. It has mustard that has a just right flavor and add the onions….mmm, mmm, mmm!!! The combination is PERFECTION 💕Wow! My picky husband and I went back and ordered two more😂. Onion rings were batter dipped and great. And not to mention the chili cheese fries were another great side. Even the fountain drink Pepsi tasted great. I can’t say enough how happy that we ate there. We are from out of town but we’re going to find excuses to come back often. We visited the downtown diner, the original one that’s been there for generations. They kept the original walk in feel….like a time in history. I’m rambling on, but I want to emphasize how special this place is and how they’ve kept the same menu and quality of food that you’ll rarely experience. A+++

HAPPY DOGS!!!! The BEST hot dogs made. Wow they just have that special flavor in their chili. Been going here since I was a kid. Every time I land back in kzoo this is a MUST go for me. Hot dog fan or not you gotta love Coney Island. Over 100 years and still going in the SAME location. Put this on your list of DO IT FOR THE DOGS!!!!

Great place to eat downtown kalamazoo. You can either pay to park behind building in a parking lot. Or you can park on side of road. Coney dog and cheese frys are great, the Chicago dog was ok but they use a sweet relish so not a fan.

The first time here so I decided I would try three different types of dogs they have. First off was the New York style hot dog, piled high with surprisingly good sauerkraut. I've never tried sauerkraut on a hot dog before, and if I come back to Coney Island I'm definitely having another one. Second what's the Chicago style dog, with a healthy portion of toppings that makes the hot dogs in Chicago look tiny :-) you earned a gold star on this one for sure. And lastly, is their namesake Coney Dog. I know a lot of people love this, but I was not a fan. To me it tasted like the beef that they had on top they had boiled and water when they cooked it to help it crumble, then they forgot to add seasoning... I think it would have been better off just as a plain hot dog, the extra meat really seemed like it had no flavor to me. And if I go back for another New York style dog, yes I will try another Coney Dog to see if my first one was just a fluke or if that's how it really is.

Very small and quaint. Dont take a large party because max seating is 4. Food is made upon order and a bargain for the price

For those who like boiled beef on their hotdog, I’m sorry. But this has to be the furthest from a traditional (Lafayette and National) coney we have ever had. It’s a one and done!!!

We absolutely love Coney Island. The hot dogs taste great, they're just a tiny bit crispy, the bun is lightly steamed and there is something about the original recipe coney sauce that they use that is just so good. I also love that they put the mustard on your hot dogs with a wooden dowel. I like mustard but I like the hot dog and coney more so using a dowel just makes it perfect. The onions are diced small and consistent and they also know exactly how many need to be on top. I love the feel of the original location downtown Kalamazoo. From walking up to the building and seeing the hot dogs cooking on the flat top, the black and white tile floor, the old original ceiling and watching the downtown traffic as you eat, this Coney Island is just a gem. The staff is always so friendly, patient and helpful.

We love this place, actually both locations. kids and wife love it. food is great and owner takes the time to converse. been coming way before i had kids and had a wife, will keep coming for a while longer! place has a comfortable feeling.

My family has been coming to this location for over 50 years! Their coney dogs are the best I've ever had, and I've traveled all over the world. Business is still family run today, with great staff and fast friendly service. I love this place!!!!!!!!

Great food & cool vibe! The gyros are amazing & best coney dog ever. Chili cheese fries--yes!

I really wanted to love it, but it was ok. The flavor was pretty good, but the buns seemed cheap and a little soggy. The price tag was a little steep for what it was. $3 per coney dog is nuts unless the quality is unparalleled. It wasn't. I go to a place like Coney Island looking for 3 or 4 coney dogs, but there was no way I would drop $9-12 on that. All of that said, the restaurant itself was super cool. It is apparently the oldest restaurant in downtown Kzoo, and it has tons of classic charm. It would be a good spot for a lunch with a young family. Also, the staff are great! It's worth checking out, but it probably won't be a regular spot for us due to cost.

Love this place for a good burger and or the namesake the hot dog. I love the New York, I am partial to sour kraut and they make a good one. Their cheese burger and fries are quite good too. The staff take great care with COVID precautions and food safety. Makes it even better I can walk down from my office.

Excellent food! Love the coney fries with onions! This "Coney" deserves more than 3.5 stars. By the way "coney sauce" and "chili" are two different foods for all expecting "chili" on their dog!

Business isn't open, or if it is then it's not open past 6pm. Maybe that should be reflected online or maybe an answering machine when attempting to call.

The food was not as good as it used to be. I had a gyro and my husband had a chili dog. Neither one was any good. Won't be going there anymore.

We walked in today and were surprised that this historic building had been around since 1917. Simple menu which is always a plus for me. Plain dog with ketchup and mustard and my gf got a coney island dog with a side of fries and two root beers. A blast from the past.

I am not sure they understand the difference between dry, oily hamburger meat and genuine chili. Spent 12$ on two hotdogs and "chili fries". Barely got the dogs down and didn't even touch the soggy fries with a scoop of dry hamburger meat on top. Nice building, nice people but the food standards are abysmal.

Coney Island Hot Dogs in Kalamzoo is a staple of Kalamazoo. The food is to be expected, good. The atmosphere has an 1940's/50's feel to it. The staff is very helpful and friendly. The ambiance is nice with classic furniture and beautiful ceilings, with music gently playing over the speakers. They serve diner food, hotdogs, gyros, burgers and fries. Honestly one of my favorite stops in Kalamazoo.

Best coney ever. I thought nothing could top Lafayette Coney. This is the best chili ever. I go here on the regular Update 2021: moved back to Detroit area in 2018 and now i miss this place more than anything.

This review is from someone that has had a coney dog damn near everywhere in Michigan. Detroit / Jackson / Livonia. I even lived in Chicago and worked at a transplant restaurant from metro Detroit called Leo's Coney Island. I went into this location today. Thinking it was going to be like buying a coney from Sonic. I actually was pleasantly surprised. They put their own twist on the chili. Buns were soft. I see a few folks giving this place a bad review. Talking about how the chili is bad. You'll notice that not all coney place's do their chili the same way. Which in my opinion is pretty cool. Gives you something different. I'll definitely be going back here. You should at the very least support a small business.

Est'd 1915 in the original location, using the original grill, tin ceiling, porcelain-covered tables & booths w/coat hooks-an American Original....second Owner's since late '30's. Walk in during lunch & you'll find folks in three piece suits, nice dresses, painter's pants, Carharts with motor oil or drywall dust, then there's the kids in shorts & tee shorts. Great food for all. Best tube-steaks for thousands of miles, Coney, Chicago (a hot dog covered by a salad!....), among others & the burgers, gyros & some of the best fries ever...among the remaining tasty menu items await your approval.

It's called Coney Island but it is a New York System weiner. Found in Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. Look it up it's not your regular chili it meat sauce.

I have been coming here for years. I I Best hot dogs. Consistently good service. Nice and clean restaurant. They use good ingredients and make a wonderful finished product.

I wanted a hotdog and they gave me a hotdog. It worked. This is a local joint with a neat old timey diner feel. It is good for a lunch or a quick snack. Given that, the chili on the Coney Dog didn't really have a lot of flavor. Gyros look good but I did not have one. I would also like to try their Chicago Dog.

So my boyfriend and I are from the east side of Michigan and we LOVE coney dogs. It's the one thing I miss the most being over in Kalamazoo. So when we found this place we were super excited. We even looked it up and it appeared on many "best in Michigan" coney lists! We thought it was too good to be true...... and it was. I'm astonished by how many people love this place. It was slow, was reminiscent of eating in a dirty school cafeteria, and the hotdogs were fine (I mean it's a hotdog you can't really mess them up), but the chili.... isn't chili? It's just dry hamburger crumbled on a hotdog. People of Kalamazoo, we can do better than this!

They should rename their chili cheese fries to unseasoned beef fries with water pooling on the plate. Literally the beef has no season and its like an oil water mix on the fries.

Goes without saying the Coney dogs are great but I really love their burgers! Get serious cravings for them. Gotta' do it.

Not very impressed with the hot dogs. My son had a Coney and I had them put no onions and no mustard. The chili was very plain. In fact, it seemed like it was almost just ground beef with a little bit of seasoning. I wouldn't have considered it chili at all. I had the New York dog which was not bad at all. The grilled sauerkraut was actually perfect. Not too overpowering. In terms of price though, I'd say it was rather expensive. The use of styrofoam plates seems very wasteful. There wasn't a garbage anywhere in the dining area either. I wasn't told, nor were there any signs, whether or not trays and plates remain on the table and someone comes by to clean it up. So my son took our plates to the garbage that's right in the entrance of the kitchen and I handed the tray to someone. Worth a try though.

This is a hot dog joint. Nothing fancy (in fact, the total opposite). What I did find impressive was that this place has been around for 60 years or something like that! Once I made that discovery, I decided to come around to trying the place with no expectations due to the tepid yelp reviews. All I wanted was a hot dog with some sauerkraut and grilled onions. Honestly, I wanted nothing fancy, I just wanted a hotdog that is on par with perhaps a ballpark hotdog or even a hotdog you get at those traveling circus stops. It's family owned and its a little dive place (but definitely looks cleaner than a dive joint) with nothing fancy on the menu except for hotdogs and hamburgers, really. I ordered the New York dog (no mustard) with fries. Honestly, my meal was magical because it fulfilled a craving I've had for days. There's nothing particularly special about the hotdog itself (I wished it had the snap to it like true New York hotdogs do) but the combination of the fresh grilled onions and cold sauerkraut to top it on a 'hot' hotdog that is sandwiched between a soft bun, it elevates it from a ho-hum dog to a pretty darn good one. The fries were also fresh fried and were SO GOOD. My bf ordered the Chicago dog and it was good and spicy. We also got a Greek salad to share and that too was good and was dressed with the right amount of oil and vinegar. It's a very chill vibe and gathering from the other customers that were coming in and out, I have a suspicion it is a place where locals (downtown area dwellers) like to stop in for a quick non-fussy meal. The folks who work here are friendly and will chat with you as if you were a frequent customer of theirs.

I have always loved these coneys. My mother use to bring me here when I was little so fond memories are all that I have. I am 'gifting' a 3 stars because I told everyone how much I thought they would like these Coneys. Left our event early to get there before 11:00. On a Saturday night - It was closed Like 'we are not going to wait even to hit closing time and we do not want to serve anymore customers so we will close early'. Smh

Great Coney in Kalamazoo. Been around forever! You've never been to KZoo if you haven't been here.

This place has gone to the dogs. No sauce on hot dogs. Bun soggy not worth the time or cost. Will check out other places.

Decent service. However very poor food quality. Fake cheese, OK chili, makes for a average dog. Good ambience makes it a decent experience. However since I can make a chili dog 10 times better I will not be returning here.

This place is my favorite hotdog place, like it's probably the best, they have a lot of choices and the prices are pretty fair. They have nice atmosphere and it's right downtown. One of my favorite places.

Way overpriced and the coneys were not coneys at all. I can make a coney 20 times better. Very disappointing.

My boyfriend said I couldn't visit Kalamazoo without a stop to Coney Island. I don't like hot dogs but they had burger and gyro options. I went for the chicken gyro with ranch; the bread was soft and delicious and there was a lot of chicken. It was yummy. The hot dogs based on everyone else in my party said they were were just ok today. It's cool that they have been around for decades. The service was good and staff very friendly. Decent pricing at an average of 10.00 per person. I

Stellar food and great service. These people know how to do great food. Hot dogs there are Awesome. I think I gained 5 lbs. WOW. Even my wife enjoyed the food.

This is one of those places downtown Kalamazoo that makes you feel like you are really a local. Its a unassuming store front and when you walk inside, you get that amazing smell of roasting lamb for the gyros which is kind of funny considering they are famous for their hotdogs. My husband quite enjoys the hot dogs and usually doesn't waste his time on the fries. I always get the gyro and I am never disappointed. Its delicious and its fast. We have been going here for years and it seems like its always the same people working. I have always wondered if they are a family owned shop. The atmosphere is neat here because the building seems like it is true to its original asthetic. They haven't changed much since it was built in the early 1900s? I'm just guessing there, I don't realty know how old it is, but it looks old. But, it is in good repair! Its a nice quiet resturaunt and I recommend going there! The only reason that I did not give five stars is because, well... they serve hot dogs not filet mignon.

Menu doesn't include descriptions and when asked, one of the workers was condescending about pointing out the large menu as if we couldn't see. Workers were rude yelling for another co-worker who was in the back and muttering, "I'm not in the mood for this" fairly loudly for everyone to hear. Another worker rolled her eyes and muttered "oh my god" when plating our food. I don't know if it was a bad day or they were overwhelmed but either way, not professional. Food was ok but there wasn't "chili," just crumbled hamburger meat. Not the coney I am used to. The worker's attitudes really ruined the visit.

To be up front : my review is based off of food ordered and then delivered to me two blocks away : The fries were really good ! There the thin crispy type O fry. The hotdog was alright . It kind of tasted like a packaged hot dog , defiantly can tell they don't make them . I got the coney dog and it was sort of bland . I guess bland is better then over salted . The onions tasted fresh . Maybe a dine in experience would make it taste a little better .

Nothing like a coney dog from this Kalamazoo classic! If you grew up in Kalamazoo, Grandma and Grandpa probably brought you here, and there's a reason this place has lasted more than a hundred years. Food at the West Main location is equally good but the surroundings downtown contribute to a great lunchtime experience. Highly recommended!

I rarely eat hot dogs. But when I have a hankering for one, I head downtown Kalamazoo to Coney Island. Been going here for over 30 years and never disappointed. The menu hasn't changed, the dogs haven't changed, the chili hasn't changed, and the building is still the same place I love. Bill & Katherine are wonderful people who have owned Coney Island for ages. If you want a fast, no thrill hot dog, Coney Island is the best around.

I've been coming to Coney Island since before I could walk. Okay, that may or may not be true, but I definitely have been coming here for years. (My mom is a big fan of Coney and chili dogs.) In high school, my two best friends and I used to rock up here every other weekend or so (they were pretty accomodating as I usually paid in loose change). And home visits from college always meant a reunion at Coney. They are my favorite hot dogs (I always got ketchup mustard and onion), and the fries taste just like they smell: delicious! Especially the chili cheese fries! The place got a revamp a few years ago, with the opening of Ouzo's next door. Their style kind've spilt into Coney, and thank God. Cos while I love Coney, it was a bit drab/dingey. Avoid the lunch time crowd if you can, as seating is pretty limited. Oh Coney of Kalamazoo, there will always be a place for you in my heart.

Best Coney dog anywhere! Perfectly steamed buns, quality dog, homemade meat sauce (secret recipe) while soaking in the history and nostalgic feeling from the amazing location downtown. For all you east sider coney fans, do not compare. These are totally different style than the coneys you grew up with. Embrace this style for what it is. I came here as a kid and now my kids love it.

Update: Quality seems to be sliding. I'm removing one star.

Visited for lunch today. I had the coney dog and cheese fries. The coney dog was just ok. I thought the coney meat left a lot to be desired. The cheese fries were just ok, too...definitely over priced for what you get, in my opinion. My kids each got a plain hot dog. Our total for the 3 hot dogs and one cheese fry was $11.50. It was just an ok lunch. I wouldn't go again. I love coney islands but I guess I'm used to the east side style of coney islands.

Took my grandson yesterday to what I consider one of the best coney dogs there is. I love chilli dogs, I travel all over the US so I have opportunities to try them from many places and these are the best. Occasionally the owner still makes them for you and I can't imagine how many he's made over the years. My dad started taking me in the early 70s..

This is the second time I'm eating here. The first time it was ok but today, I have the Gyro meal and the fries were extremely salty, when I asked the staff about them, the guy at the counter offered me to put them back to the frier????? That way the salt will come off he said. 1.- I don't think that's hygienic at all. 2.- They could offer a fresh order. 3.- I AM PAYING FOR IT, THEY AREN'T FREE. 4.- The girl that was preparing the orders commented: "if you don't want salt you have to ask without salt" in a very rude way. So they just starred at me like I'm a freak because I I refused to eat fries with lots of salt. Then this guy offered me fries from the same batch, just less quantity and way greasier. He said these are a little better. At the end he came to remove the tray and asked me if everything was ok, I told him not, the way you managed the fries issue is not the correct one. He stated: I couldn't do anything since the manager is not here and we can't give anything for free. I said: free? I PAID FOR THEM! Then he was like...you are right...is there anything I can give you? Do you want a couple dogs to go? I can take your name so next time your fries will be free...... No thanks.....there will not be next time. I had a good portion of contradiction at this place.

The West Main Coney Island needs some serious attention by the owner. My feet were sticking to the floor in the order area. The carpet in the dining room is filthy and badly stained. It needs to be replaced. When you are entering a restaurant and your feel stick to the floor and then you enter the dining room and look at the carpet, it makes you wonder what goes on cleanliness wise behind the scenes. Hot Dogs and Fries were good. Just can't get past the decor issues.

You have to understand what you're getting. It's a ground beef coney. If you're used to the paste type bean chili, you'll probably be disappointed. However if you like fresh hot food they'll satisfy. Burgers are great, fries are fresh, and thier coney is my favorite in Michigan by far. The DTN location is historic, thier W Main store is convenient. Both are good to go.

Just a sorry excuse for a hot dog place. Tiny flavorless dogs are not what I expected.

I love Kalamazoo Coney Island! I hear it is actually the oldest Coney in the state of Michigan. They have been operating since 1915, making this the oldest restaurant in Kalamazoo! My favorites are the Coney dogs and Gyros. They make their tatzki sauce homemade and fresh every week. And they always have fresh onions and tomatoes. The fries are the best, however, my favorite thing for a side are the fresh chips! The chips are not in the menu but they do have them and are the same price as the fries. The hotdogs are always fresh and hot! They steam their buns and make sure everything is fresh! The chili there is the best flint style chili in the State! If you are hungry this is the best place to be!!

Over-rated!!!... and a huge disappointment! Heard great things about a supposed "legend" of K'Zoo but what a let down. The service began as poor-to-worse. The patriarch seemed ready to serve but his staff was lethargic and bored when it came to guest service. Sure...they are a k'zoo legend but...it sucked. The service set the tone for very low level of expectations and the coney soon followed with awful taste and quality. I get it...you are a fan favorite for your locals but you need more than the standard crowd to be a legend. It would be easy to pour a cup of Wendy's chili and call it a better dog. Huge disappointment here, save your $ for something else!

I have a strange fascination for places that adopt the persona of another geographic locale and adopt it as their own...Philly cheese steaks in Los Angeles, New York style pizza in Florida, New England Clam chowder in Oregon...so it was much to my bemusement while driving from Connecticut to Chicago to stumble across Coney island in KALAMAZOO! Having frequented the New York beach-side Wonder Wheel-touting real deal, and had a Nathan's Famous dog or two in my time, I just had to pull right over and get my scoff on. Well, lo and behold...they've outdone the real deal! It has the air of a local fixture, without the haughtiness...and the hot dog was perfect with a toasted bunand no fixin's snobbery...you want to put ketchup on it? Go right ahead! The fries made a nice buffer on my plate for the dog, now burdened by "the works", to lean up against lazily, and on the way out I noticed the most pleasing thing about the whole experience..the hot dog in tails and a top hat bidding me "adieu"..or "howdy" had I noticed him on the way in!

Sent my husband in for hot dogs tonight and he came home with dogs on stale buns and a story of how rudely he was treated by the 3 employees there. Apparently he went to the wrong end of the counter after walking in to zero greeting and all 3 employees looked at him and either went back to their conversation or turned their back on him. Pretty bummed out about this since we frequently patronize downtown restaurants.

The hot dog itself was not. However the story from they call coney sauce is nothing but over salted meat and grease. The fries were soggy at best. Compared to any of their competition from price and food quality, these guys are way behind. We didn't even finish our food. I have no idea how this hot dog shop stays in business.