The Best Gyros in Michigan are at a Coney Dog Spot in Kalamazoo
Michiganders know that the Coney Dog not only originated in Michigan, but it's a sacred piece of our culinary history. And for those that are privy to its origins, you'd now that the meat sauce was created by immigrants from Greece. But, the Coney Dog itself isn't a Greek food, it's purely American, with a Greek immigrant twist.
One thing, though, that many Coney Dog establishments DID bring with them directly from Greece, though, was a food that surely everyone has had at some point, even if it's the version from Arby's... the Gyro, and one of the best places to GET a Gyro is right here in Kalamazoo.
Constantine "Gust" Keros created the first Coney Dog in the early 1900s, and opened The American Coney Dog Island in 1914. He and his brother also opened Lafayette Coney Island, next door, to create a fierce rivalry between the two restaurants.
The Coney Dog Craze was born, and spread quickly across the state. But with it, so did its Greek food influences. And in downtown Kalamazoo, you can experience one of the most culturally recognized foods ever - the Gyro.
Coney Island Hot Dogs is the oldest standing Coney Dog joint in the state of Michigan. It opened its doors in downtown Kalamazoo in 1915, and aside from a pandemic, and a few other worldwide instances, has continuously stayed open to the public, offering not only its tasty Coney dogs, but also its nationally-known Gyros.
For those who aren't familiar with the dish, a Gyro is a split piece of pita bread, stuffed with sliced meat, usually lamb, vegetables such as lettuce, onion, olives, and tomato, and typically served with a Tzatziki sauce, which has a mint and garlic in it. However, there are variations that are a little more hearty for the Midwest, that include fried potatoes.
Coney Island Hot Dogs in Kalamazoo has been making these traditional Greek delicacies since they opened, and if it weren't for the draw of the Coney Dogs, some people might not even know these Greek Sandwiches - essentially - are served here. When in fact, they're some of the best in the country.
So it might sound strange, but when you're in downtown Kalamazoo, go into a place called Coney Island, and order the Gyro. You won't be disappointed.