These Michigan Hot Dog Joints Ranked Among America’s Best

Hot dogs and coney dogs are a staple in every Michigander’s diet, but summertime gives even more reason to savor the delicious dogs as a quick, filling bite.

It’s no surprise that the good folks over at The Daily Meal say Michigan is actually home to several of America’s 75 best hot dog joints. But which ones are superior?

Here are the best hot dog joints in Michigan how they rank and where you can find them, according to the report. See if you agree:

Shake Shack, Multiple Locations

National rank: #45

New York may be the home of Nathan’s and Gray’s Papaya, but anyone who has sought out the nation’s best hot dogs knows the unfortunate truth: New York City, for all its sidewalk hot dog carts, is not really a hot dog town. So it is that one of Gotham’s best hot dogs is Shake Shack’sChicago-style Shack-cago dog. "A hot dog from a burger joint?!" Actually, as Shake Shack’s own site notes, the burgeoning burger empire "began as a humble hot dog cart." This dog is "split and dragged through the garden with Rick’s Picks Shack relish, onion, cucumber, pickle, tomato, sport peppers, celery salt, and mustard." The bun is even soft, just like in Chicago.

Yesterdog, Grand Rapids, Mich.

National Rank: #36

There’s a rather strict ordering system at the cash-only Yesterdog, which has been serving Grand Rapids’ best hot dogs since Bill Lewis opened it in 1976: You start at the far left end of the counter, where someone takes your hot dog order. Then moving to the right, you place your drink order, then your chips order. Then you pay, receive your full order, and find a place to sit. It can get a little complicated, but you’ll be amply rewarded with a dog that you’ll wish never ended. Opt for the Yesterdog, which is topped with chili, onion, mustard, ketchup, and diced pickles, and you’ll be craving another one as soon as you’re finished. At just $2.20, you can spring for it.

American Coney Island, Detroit

National Rank: #25

In Detroit, there’s an epic rivalry going back decades between two neighboring hot dog stands, American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island, but both belong on our list for serving legendary hot dogs. Family-owned and -operated since 1917, American’s claim to fame is the classic coney-style dog. A custom-made natural-casing hot dog gets placed into a warm steamed bun, then topped with a Greek-spiced chili sauce developed by founder Gust Keros, a heap of diced onions, and a squirt of mustard. No trip to Detroit is complete without a Coney dog.

Lafayette Coney Island, Detroit

National Rank: #5

One of the culinary world’s greatest rivalries is between two neighboring Downtown Detroit hot dog stands: Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island (No. 25). While the battle over which hot dog tastes better is on par with the fight between Pat’s and Geno’s cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, most locals will tell you that it’s Lafayette all the way, for several reasons. The hot dog has a juicy, salty, smoky snap, the Coney sauce is spot-on, and the fries are crispy, but it’s the experience that puts it over the top in our book: While American is shiny and a little charmless, Lafayette is a divey, weathered, eccentric sort of place that hasn’t been renovated in many years, but the charm is palpable, especially in the staff, who’ll most likely bring you your order in less than 30 seconds. In short: the perfect hot dog stand.

Chicago, where hot dogs are a religion, dominated the list with 11 mentions — the most of any city — including two in the top 10. But the king of the wieners is Katz’s Deli in New York City’s Lower East Side neighborhood.

“Made especially for the restaurant by Sabrett, these garlicky, natural-casing, jumbo-size all-beef dogs spend such a long time on the flat-top grill that the outside gets a nice char and snaps when you bite into it,” the authors note. “A smear of mustard is all that’s needed, but a little sauerkraut or stewed onions certainly won’t hurt. It’s a perfect hot dog, from a perfect deli.”

Photo credit: Shutterstock

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