Coney Dog

[Charles Pepper]

This is a new place that serves "Detroit style" chili dogs. They call them "coneys".
Whatever they call them, they're the BEST chili dogs I've had in Los Angeles, hands down. Really, really DELICIOUS.

The chili had this fantastic, kinda-greek spiced flavor. I also had the loose burger, which is fried up ground beef in a hot dog bun, covered with the chili. Sounds weird, but I liked it even better than the hot dog.

It's located on Sunset and San Vicente, on the Sunset Strip.

Anyone else try it?

[nosh]

Was driving west on Sunset today and spotted Coney Dog on my right. Saw the "free parking on roof" sign and negotiated my way to the easy lot. Sampled a coney dog sans mustard -- good. $3.85 + tax and tip w/ validated parking so a five-spot sufficed.

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Coney Dog
8873 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[Feed_me]

"Nosh" thanks for the heads up about parking on the roof. That's certainly a consideration in that area where the parking can cost more than the meal.

[Servorg]

Hey, street parking was a cinch when I went (3:45 AM on a Saturday)... (g)

[Norm Man]

Coney Dog Deal -- $20 Food/Drink for $12.50

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/8042...

You have until Wednesday, September 14 to BUY Vouchers.. And you can USE the Vouchers through December 7, 2011

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Coney Dog
8873 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[jesstifer]

FYI, I posted a lengthy same-day taste-test comparison of Coney Dog to both Pink's and Carney's chili dogs on another thread, here http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7937.... And there's a link from there to full blog post with pics, links, etc.

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Coney Dog
8873 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[silence9]

It is perhaps important to re-emphasize that while all coney dogs are chili dogs, not all chili dogs are coneys. For those who were 'underwhelmed' by the coneys at Coney Dog, were you comparing their product to other coney-style dogs you've experienced elsewhere, or merely to all dogs that fall under the generic umbrella of 'chili dogs'. A fair comparison would encompass the former designation, and not the latter. Compare the product at Coney Dog to a place like Lafayette's Coney or American Coney in Detroit; not to Carney's or The Stand...

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Coney Dog
8873 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[missmasala]

what exactly makes a coney dog different from a regular chili dog?

[The Professor]

Hard to answer, since like many things in the food and beer world, there is no one single definition for a it...there are so many variants of the coney dog, few of which (if any, really) have any roots in the actual Coney Island.
The coney dog I grew up eating at an infamous spot in Perth Amboy, NJ turned out in the end to be very much like the "Hungarian" hot dogs made famous in Toledo, Ohio. And it's nothing at all like other dogs I've had calling themselves a "coney".

[Servorg]

If you work your way through these videos http://wn.com/Lafayette_Coney_Island you'll glean a little bit from each one about the what the why and the where, but really it's just a chili cheese dog with mustard by another name...

[silence9]

For one thing, the spicing goes in a different direction than one's usual expectations; more savory, less spicy, less viscous. Also, the aforementioned beef heart amidst the ground beef creates an umami-rich beefiness in the simmered meat sauce. At both the renown Lafayette's Coney and American Coney (next door to each other) in Detroit, they also serve the meat sauce itself in a burger bun. The dogs themselves don't Have an over-the-top snappiness to 'em, more like a 4 on a scale of 10. Tons of raw chopped onion and yellow mustard are the go-to condiments, with shredded/melted cheese not often having a presence, Anyway, that's the coney known to my experience. I look forward to trying Coney Dog to compare with the above description.

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Coney Dog
8873 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[flowergirl]

I was anxious to try their Coney Dogs after the great reviews and I was underwhelmed - not awul but nothing special.

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Coney Dog
8873 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[Jimmy_Ike]

Excellent dog, enjoyed it and went back the next day for another. Good, tasty chilli too!

[Servorg]

They are a fine addition to the ranks of chili dog purveyors here in LA...

[Servorg]

I ordered 2 chili cheese dogs with onions. Both happily devoured. The only Coney I know is an island in NY...

[missmasala]

3 NYCers give Coney Dog the thumbs up. My son was intrigued by the discussion on this thread of beef hearts in the chili and insisted we go on our recent visit to LA. While I was dubious because the place is too newly spic and span, the food was good. Since my daughter is a vegetarian, we tried the vegan chili dog as well. She liked it, though I found it a pale, flabby imitation of the real thing. Son had the loose burger, which he loved. I had the basic chili dog, which was very good. We would go back, though I think Carney's wins for atmosphere—can't beat the train car!

[jessejames]

I agree. Nice steamed bun really held together. Dog beefy but not enormous either so room for the chili, sport peppers etc....ill be back. Tastosterone.

[Honeyman]

Born and raised in Dee-Troit city. I remember once when a cousin and I skipped out after a Passover seder to go to Lafayette Coney Island and have a couple coneys (I'm a very bad Jew). Live in Orange county and been wanting to try this place, but I despise Mike Binder.

I'm torn what to do

[Charles Pepper]

MIke Binder's movies are like Passover seders: boring, seemingly endless, with the aftertaste of bitter herbs.

Don't go for Binder. As you are from Detroit, go for your fellow Detroiters Sam Rami and Red Wing Kris Draper, who are also part owners in the place.

[Plato9]

very poor to fair ,quality of the meat and chili is not there, sorry

[Feed_me]

Not trying to be combative, but Plato9 do you have any favorites? Apparently you're not a big fan of Coney Dogs. I haven't been there since I"m only in that neck of the woods on rare occasions. I would give it a shot since it's generally gotten favorable mentions here.

[Plato9]

I love Coney Dog's,just not this place.They are passing off what people from Detroit,Mi. prefer.They have NO taste buds!!The meat in the dog's is poor,has beef hearts,fillers etc.The chili is not much better.This is supposed to be a meat sauce.Better take some guidance from the coney places in New York!! You have Marty's on Pico,the two locations of Carney's.The stand in Westwood,I could go on and on.

[Will Owen]

Ah, once more Eastern provincialism rears its stubborn head. Some of us like our dogs to have hearts and stuff in them, just as some of us think "Cincinnati" instead of "Texas" when the subject of chili comes up. No, Plato9, they are not "passing off" what people in Detroit prefer, they are striving for it and apparently succeeding. If you don't like it, go find your own gang. As for me - open to any dog, any burger, and late-night eats are icing on the cake - I've got this place noted for a visit next time I'm adjacent. Deepest thanks to the forerunners!

[reality check]

Carney's for chili dogs? No thanks. The hot dogs themselves are good. But, the chili is terrible.

Never had a chili dog at The Stand, but their hot dogs are good.

Marty's must be that hot dog stand that has the Vienna beef hot dog sign and next door to a gas station, maybe a Mobil or Shell. Driven by it tons of times, even got gas at that station next door, but never been there.

[kevin]

i like marty's home of the combo on pico, it's good though not great, yes, has vienna dogs and are next door to the fire station.

[Feed_me]

"I love Coney Dog's,just not this place.They are passing off what people from Detroit,Mi. prefer." The OP said the place was selling "Detroit style" chili dogs. I thought we were trying to find a chili dog similar to the ones sold in the urban Detroit (or Jackson) area. Sounds like Coney Dog is doing an okay job. Now I've never had a coney dog before so I'd not be a fair judge, but it sounds like it might be a tasty and interesting thing to try.

[Kris P Pata]

Went late last night for a post LA Film Fest snack with a handful of folks, among the group, two very giddy Michigan expats. Suffice to say, the two were over the moon and instantly bonded with our personable waitress, herself a Michigan transplant. The non-Motowners such as myself were generally impressed. The dog was tasty and the chili, as mentioned earlier, was a well-spiced compliment. I had a sample of the loose burger and liked it far better than I thought I would. The Faygo sodas tasted of carbonated Kool-Aid. All in all, we fully enjoyed the experience. The place was bright, clean and the staff were friendly without being cloying and sharply attentive. Beer is available and as a notorious night owl, I celebrate the late hours. If the momentum stays and the post-club alcohol-filled crowd doesn't ruin it, Coney Dog could well be a legitimate late night option.

The sole off-putting thing occurred as we exited. The open, bay-windowed kitchen is quite visible to Sunset Blvd. We witnessed a kitchen staffer breaking apart a stack of chili bricks to make the next batch of chili -- far from the most appetizing visual. Thankfully we saw that after we ingested.

[chocolatetartguy]

Some Faygo soda flavors are better than others. I really like their root beer and the Red Pop has the strangely pleasing flavor combination of strawberry soda and cough medicine. If you like vanilla sodas, Rock and Rye is a vanilla cola. And I'm from California, not Detroit.

[silence9]

Right on, Faygo Red Pop! Your description is perfect. Gotta be in a glass bottle, though. Same with Rock and Rye Faygo (tastes like Dr. Pepper being violated by Dr. Brown Cream Soda). Tainted love...

[WildSwede]

I LOVE the Red Pop! Have some bottles at home. Delicious!

[WildSwede]

Thanks Charles! Can you compare the chili to any other type in LA? Just curious. Either way, I will definitely need to make my way over there soon!

[Charles Pepper]

Swede, the chili would fall in the same general category as Tommy's or Pinks or Carney's, but better spiced and more unctuous. The ingredients seemed to me to be better quality. In the loose burger, I could taste the freshness of the beef -- very "beefy" - which contrasted wonderfully with the more complex flavor of the chili.

[hotdoglover]

If you like a Detroit Coney, you would love a New Jersey Texas Weiner. Someone should open one in LA just like Fab's opened in Reseda. They use New Jersey's Thumann's frank made for deep frying and are a knockoff of the famous Rutt's Hut. Nothing like a Jersey dog!

[WildSwede]

Yum! Perfect! Thanks! I am going to a show tomorrow night in the area, so I may just stop in afterwards! ;-)

[Charles Pepper]

Let us know!

[Will Owen]

Following up on the fuss over heart meat, I looked up the brand of chili I'd been trying to remember, and here it is:

http://www.dolorescanning.com/canning...

This is the one whose owner said that heart is a vital ingredient, and the secret of the chili's rich beefy flavor. As I've noticed the Latino market up the road always has that, I'm inclined to add it to the next batch I make … although (just to stay on topic) I should go check out the coney place first!

[Steve2 in LA]

Frankly, I'm a fan of most organ meats. Can't quite do brains but it's a texture-thing, not a principled thing. I grew up eating (and enjoying) most offal including sweetbreads, liver, heart, tripe, kidney and tongue (although I don't know if tongue qualifies as offal).

Until you've had beef heart stew or a fried tongue sandwich, taco or burger, you've missed out on some "damned fine eatin'". I wasn't aware heart was an ingredient in chili but it not only makes sense but is something I intend to use in the near future.

[Will Owen]

As for any "Third World" connotations, anyone seriously eating his way through Europe will find both innards and feet gracing some very pricey (and non-pricey) menus. And let us not forget that any truly fine hot dog will be stuffed into intestines … gag on that, will you?

[westsidegal]

most folks who have grown up eating at new york delicatessens have been exposed to tongue sandwiches made with cured tongues.

[Plato9]

That is true but NOT everyone back there eats it!

[wienermobile]

They are open till 4am Thurs-Saturday (2am the rest of the week) and serve Sanders (from Detroit) hot fudge sundaes. oh boy!
http://www.coneydogla.com/
http://www.sanderscandy.com/index.php...

[Servorg]

Uh-oh, open till 4 AM 3 days a week....this can't good for my health... ;-D>

[Servorg]

Just back from consuming two Coney Dog's with cheese added (50 cents per dog for the cheese) which came to $9 plus tax. The Coney Dog comes with chili, mustard and onions. I call this a very delicious dog. While not a big snapper the dog is definitely good and the chili is quite meaty with just enough heat. Nice soft bun and they certainly don't skimp on chili or onions, with just the right amount of mustard, (bring plenty of napkins with you if you aren't eating them in house and you'll be in your car). I would gladly eat these any day of the week when in the mood for chili dogs and may replace Carney's as my favorite.

[kevin]

are these all beef doggers and is the chili all beef?

[reality check]

If you're asking about Carney's, yes the hot dogs are all beef. I'm not a fan of Carney's chili, but the hot dogs themselves are very good.

[Servorg]

According to the to go menu I picked up at Coney's this morning they serve a dog that is "80% pure ground beef and 20% pork with no added fats, parts, fillers, thickeners or anything else associated with the making of hot dogs or sausages."

It also says their chili is 100% ground beef (if I am reading this right) - it's a little vague if the information they are providing about "loose meat" covers all of the chili or not.

[reality check]

Coney's online menu says they have veggie chili and veggie dog, along with a turkey dog. Has anybody tried any of those items?

[Servorg]

Right. Their take home menu shows that and talks about their veggie chili too.

[Plato9]

Better check again,they use "hearts",that's a filler to me, and YUCK!!

[Plato9]

No ,pork and beef in the dogs...beef and beef hearts in the chili..Yuck!!

[QualityMart]

Hearts are *extremely* common in chile recipes, much more than you would think. Especially in restaurant chile. It gives it a certain unique meaty richness. It's not the same as just using a bunch of offal as filler.

If you like how it tastes, who cares? Heart is a muscle. No more or less healthy than any other average piece of meat.

[Plato9]

Common,I doubt it.Maybe in lower grade foods.No organ meats should be in this period!!

[New Trial]

Actually, to be a true "Coney Island Dog," you've gotta have heart (miles and miles and miles of heart), at least according to that estimable research tool, Wikipedia [so take with a grain of salt...and maybe a dab of yellow mustard]:

"The Coney Island Dog was invented by George Todoroff in Jackson, Michigan, when he opened his restaurant, Todoroff's Original Coney Island, in 1914.[3][4] What makes Todoroff's Coney dog unique from a hot dog, a Michigan hot dog, cheese dog or subsequent Coney dogs, is its beanless chili, typically utilizing beef heart. The grilled hot dog is topped with this thick chili, as well as yellow mustard and chopped white onions. The hot dog itself is never boiled or steamed.

The Detroit and Flint Coney Dogs were introduced three years later by American Coney Island and later Lafayette Coney Island, both of Detroit. Flint style Coneys are closely related to the original Jackson dog, and are characterized by a dry chili more similar in consistency to ground beef than chili. The Detroit style is more soupy, heavy with chili and cumin powders. The hot dog of choice for both is generally a Koegel Vienna made by Koegel Meat Company in Flint. Many in Michigan make the claim that in order to be an "authentic" Flint or Detroit Coney, the hot dog must be a Koegel Vienna.

"Both Detroit restaurants and Todoroff's in Jackson remain Michigan dining institutions to this day."

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Coney Dog
8873 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069

[Plato9]

Thanks for the history of the coney dog.It is still DISGUSTING to use organ meats as fillers in food.Whoever serves this should post a sign warning people.

[westsidegal]

if you eat any sausage other than homemade sausage on a regular basis, you have, more likely than not, been eating all sorts of organ meats.
ignorance is bliss.

[Will Owen]

And what do you think the sausages are stuffed into? Including, of course, Boar's Head natural-casing hot dogs …

[Plato9]

That is fine.If it is some kind of casing that I am aware about beforehand!

[Louisiana Mouth]

I couldn't agree more Servorg - hearts - chicken, duck, turkey, beef etc are delicious. Absolutely one of my favorite foods! I had a duck heart salad at St. John's in London that was one of the best things I ever ate. The beef heart at Picca is excellent - I was delighted to see it on the menu. And the grilled chicken hearts - though tiny - are delicious at Robata-ya on Sawtelle.

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Picca
9575 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

[trojans]

The chicken hearts at M Grill are fantastic! when you get seated request them and you will have a large skewer of them 15 minutes later.

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M Grill
3832 Wilshire Blvd Ste 202, Los Angeles, CA 90010

[reality check]

That other food review site, says their "grand opening" is this Sat. Maybe I'll give them a try. $4 for a coney.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/coney-dog-wes...

They are about a mile west of Carney's.

[Charles Pepper]

reality check, I think yelp has some bad info. It already opened. I was just there.