Sonic milkshake and cheese coney dogs stand with carhops on roller skates by the roadside. — Sonic Coney Dog mascot | Lori Van Buren/Albany Times Union via Getty Images

Did Sonic Drive-Ins Steal Their Signature Entrée From the Motor City?

Here's the truth about Detroit and the restaurant chain

by Henry Cesari

Published 2 hours ago

2 min read

Drive-in restaurants are quintessentially American. And Sonic is a classic. What better way to celebrate the great tradition of motoring than to pull up to a Sonic, give your order to a “carhop” on roller skates, and enjoy your milkshake and Chili Cheese Coney in your car? But you might not know that hot dog is in and of itself an auto industry tradition.

Historians debate the origins of the “Coney Dog.” But it’s not from Coney Island, New York. It was invented by Greek immigrants, likely in Michigan. The first “Coney Island” diner was likely in Jackson, Michigan, in 1914. The Smithsonian magazine names Detroit the “ground zero” of Coney hot dogs.

Detroit’s famous Coney Island hot dogs

Detroit’s most famous Coney Island diners are fixtures of downtown. Brothers William “Bill” Keros and Constantine “Gust” Keros opened Lafayette Coney Island together in 1923 to serve auto factory workers. After a falling out, Gust opened American Coney Island next door in 1936. The restaurants are still rivals with opposite vibes, and many Detroiters are fierce fans of one or the other.

Metro Detroit has around 500 Coney Island restaurants. Most still serve Greek food, classic American diner fare, and Coney Island hot dogs. The traditional recipe includes a Dearborn Sausage Co. hot dog topped with beanless chili sauce, mustard, and diced raw white onions. Some Coney restaurants offer a “Cheese coney” variant topped with shredded cheddar, but always label it as a variant out of respect for the original recipe.

The Sonic drive-in chain didn’t originate in Detroit. Founder Troy Smith opened the Top Hat Drive-In in 1953, renaming it Sonic in 1959. Today it is known for the “Chili Cheese Coney,” describing its signature entree as “a hot dog topped with warm chili and melty cheddar cheese served in a soft, warm bakery bun.” Sonic, if you’re listening, mentioning the Coney’s Detroit roots would be a great way to lean into your drive-in restaurant’s automotive theme.

You can learn more about Detroit Coney Island hot dogs in the video embedded below:

Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. He’s an avid attendee at local car shows in the Detroit area and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont.

Latest in Category