Virginia Coney Island

Small café with good, fast service. Nothing special. Old U-​shaped kitchen surrounded by old tables and seats. They treat everyone like they’re a regular.
I ordered a coneys with cheese. Pretty standard coneys for the area, which is to say, they were really good.
You can see right into the kitchen, which to me says they have nothing to hide.
Fast, attentive service with good food. Brave the décor and do it. I’d love to try them for breakfast!

Not my best coney, by far. This is a Flint style coney: seasoned ground beef topped with ¼ inch if onions. My family did not like the coney but it was OK for me.

I rolled up on Virginia’s around 8:00 this past Friday evening. Ive lived 15 minutes away from the place for a while and had never tried it. I read lots of reviews ahead of time and had decided on two coneys with everything.
The place has a distinct greasy-​spoon feel, but not dirty. The place is there to serve dogs, not to impress people with its décor. The staff was pleasant and friendly.
The dogs arrived very promptly and I was instantly taken aback. HOLY ONIONS! These dogs had diced onions stacked nearly a half inch thick across the top. No joke, it took three sticks of gum and two rounds of mouthwash to get neutralize the onion breath.
Overall the dogs were decent. One of mine was a little burnt, but not enough to make a huge difference. Knowing what I know now, I’d definitely request light onions.
Note: I found out the hard way that their credit card machine doesn’t allow you to leave a tip. Bring cash.

Everyone knows that Coneys were created in Jackson, no matter what Detroiters & others try to say. And Virgina has the best around. It’s a very old place & the inside shows it but it is clean and has a blue collar appeal. The servers are very friendly & the food is cooked up fast. The prices are great. And so is the food!!! If you’re ever in Jackson & want a real Coney, this is the place!

The best coney in michigan. Detroit has nothing on this place. Inside is greasy but thats part of the attraction.

I’ll start this out on a positive note. This was the cleanest smelling Coney island I’ve ever been in. That being said, they were also having their ducts and fryers cleaned 30 minutes after we got there so I’m sure that was the reason.
My first complaint was that there was nothing from the fryer available. Don’t start your cleaning prep until you close!
The most disturbing thing was the «Coney» itself (I use the term Coney very loosely here). What I received was as follows:
a hot-​dog looking substance that was rubbery and only luke warm, nestled in a slightly soggy bun. The meat (???) that topped the «dog» was said to be ground heart or some such concoction. I think it was actually ground swamp-​a$$, rubbed with a dirty odor-​eater, and slapped with an old dead catfish. Bottom line, it was AWFUL!!! I actually thought a joke was being played on me. Throw in some slightly grilled slimy soggy onions, and third-​rate mustard, and it was the WORST culinary experience I’ve had since I opened up a jar of Goobers and found ants inside (after I had started eating).
Bottom line — Avoid this place like the plague, but if you must go make sure to order the side of extra-​strength antacid.

Having been connected to the restaurant industry for many many years I can only say to an out of towner that this is not a BAD coney island but the coneys here are not the real authentic ones.
The first Coney Island started in Detroit on Michigan Avenue before WWI, or the Great War as it was called back then. These were chili dogs and were named coney island hot dogs, nothing to do with coney island in NYC.
A TRUE coney has chili, mustard and onions. That’s it. George Todoroff never marketed on the SAUCE concept and that’s why they cannot be classified as coney islands. New Yorkers call them Michigan hot dogs. The name originated in Detroit based on the hot dog that was sold in New York.
Virginia coney island puts ground beef on their dogs and calls them coney islands. Absolutely false. There are only two coney island that make them this way and they are BOTH in Jackson, so what does that tell you?
So if you are from out of town and want the real deal, I would suggest taking the extra drive to either American or Lafayette coney island in downtown Detroit…
see attached

I am sorry, but to a kid that grew up in Jackson it don’t get any better than this! Not to be mistaken with the chili dogs they call coneys in Detroit, or the disgusting ones in Flint. These are the real deal.
They have a menu board that may have been original with the building, but who are you kidding? GET THE CONEYS! World class rice pudding and good daily specials too.
Not the newest, not the fanciest, but the best.
Even a recent change in ownership hasn’t affected quality, just cleaned the joint up.
To learn more about Jackson’s heritage as the birthplace of the coney island hot dog go to your local library or here:

i have really fond memories of visiting the virginia coney island as a kid. we used to come here fairly often when we knew the owners (the ratchfords). the business has switched hands since then (a few times over) but apparently not waitresses.
we stopped in about 6 months ago on a recent trip to jackson. i hadn’t been to the virginia in at least 7 years and the waitress still remembered me (apparently we ate here A LOT). they still serve up some pretty good coneys at really cheap prices but the waffle maker that made michigan-​shaped waffles has since retired.
i miss you coney dogs; nobody seems to know what you are in chicago.