Hot dogs in Grand Rapids, MI

Brace yourself, I'm going to say something positive about the food scene in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We now have two decent hot dog joints! One is Chicago Style Hot Dogs on 28th (in the strip mall where Qdoba is located). Decent dogs, great fries, and a hot Italian beef that is right up there with what you find in Chicago. The other is Grand Coney on Michigan Avenue between Fuller and College. Again, pretty good dogs, chili fries, and a very good Greek salad. Plus they serve Flint-style coneys too. OK, these places may not be in the elite class with joints like the Wiener Circle in Chicago or the Lafayette in Detroit, but they are vastly better than anything else I've tried in Grand Rapids. And for a town where I can name at best one decent Italian, Chinese, Indian, and Tapas place (with more steakhouses than you could imagine would survive, even here), having two good hot dog joints is a good thing.

Yesterdog in East Town has long been the best hot dog place in GR -- it's legendary. Check it out.

Yesterdog IS an institution and fun to go to because of it's atmosphere and the great Easttown neighborhood. But the hotdogs themselves are made of the lowest quality ingredients. The owner is notoriously cheap and has never invested in his food.

[prison chef]

chicago style hot dogs is gone. Grand Coney is ok but won't make you forget Lafayette in Detroit. Ritz on Ionia St downtown is ok too. Have been in the GR area for 30 yrs and have never made it to yesyerdog. Guess i need to add it to my list. Problem is that the Pita House is right across the street and I always end up in there *yummmmm*

I'm a metro Detroiter and I''m sorry to say I'm not familiar with the Flint-style coney. Can you give more info? Thanks

Never had one myself but I vaguely recall someone telling me that the chili part is more like hamburger. Also that there is one place in Flint that is THE place. I'll investigate and report back. Meantime, guess what, world? I'm in Cincinnati the week after next. Look out, Skyline.

The best coney's in Flint used to be Angelo's (still ok) but the best (quality and value) is Tom Z's corner of Grand Traverse and Court St. I-69 to Downtown exit; proceed straight from exit to Church St. (1 block), north to Court St. (about 3 blocks) and then west on Court 1 block to Tom Z's.

You have to go to Grand Coney on MI street and try them - you'll see the diff.

They are more meaty and dry than sloppy chili (but still oh so messy). :)
There is more meat.

Grand Coney does Flint & Detroit style and does them both right! Being from Flint we could never find someone to do other than "chili dogs" in West MI - this place does true coney dogs; it was great to have them again.