American Coney Island

American Coney Island doesn’t try to be anything other than what it’s always been — a bright, spacious diner slinging the same coney dog Detroit’s been eating since the Keros family started the whole rivalry next door. It’s easy on the wallet, it’s not fancy, and that’s exactly the point: this is a snapshot of the past you can still walk into.

Order the classic — natural-casing dog, steamed bun, that beef-based chili sauce, mustard, onion — and wash it down with a Pepsi product or a beer. Compared to Lafayette next door, American feels roomier and a little more built for groups. If you’re only in Detroit for a few days, this is the kind of place that earns its spot on the list without asking you to dress up for it.