on Gratiot at 696 This is one of the largest (if not THE largest) locations. Service is top-notch 95% of the time. Warning - it is incredibly packed on Sundays around noon - 1:00 pm, which I'm guessing is the after-church crowd (a lot of folks wearing hats). At that time there can be a line going out the door.
(4)
Edward Y.
Besides the coney the Hani Special is their signature dish. The only problem is they keep on getting smaller and the prices keep on going up. All-in-all National is pretty consistent and is a good place to stop if you don't have a lot of time. The service is usually pretty quick and fairly attentive. The decor at this particular location is pretty unique. The coney "assembly line" mural and the stainless steel conical sign out front offer something uniquely Detroit for any out-of-town visitor.
(3)
Christina A.
Always a must when I'm in Michigan. There's nothing really that great about the food or service, just where my in laws like to eat. I'd recommend the Hani and their chili is pretty decent.
(3)
Ricky P.
me likey coney. gimme hani
(4)
Gabriel L.
I haven't been here in years and now I know why. This is what we ordered: I had a Coney dog and spinach pie and my husband had the Hani special with fries and a Coney dog on the side. The service was friendly but my husband ordered his fries to be well done and when he got them they we literally stone cold and only lightly cooked. That's not all, our hot dog buns were stale as well and my spinach pie was so overly microwaved it was wet an gooey on the bottom and boiling hot. My husband wanted me to write on his behalf "I haven't been here in 5 years and I probably won't be back for another 5 when I forget how bad the food is again." lol I think I agree.
(1)
Stefanie P.
Eating at National Coney Island is usually the first thing I do when I come back to visit family in Detroit. This location specifically has the cool outside old school sign (that once said some other diners name) it's a big location and their servers are fast. The expectation of NCI needs to be pretty low, as should be any place open off of 696 for 24 hours a day. I always go with the Large Hani Deluxe and a Vernors. I love love love it! Our server looked a little rough but she got our food out fast and was friendly. We also got crazy and tried the Coney Taco. It was great! Taco in a hot dog bun. Tasted great. The food is consistant across the board at any NCI locations just so/so most of the time.... but I've never gotten sick or had any major problems. I just perfer this location because of the quick service and plenty of room. I will always stick up for NCI. They're my jam.
(4)
Joe H.
Quite possibly the best coney chain in the Detroit area, National Coney Island are efficient & painless. There's hardly ever a wait. Waitresses are unobtrusive and usually partially nice. The food is OK. I don't find myself ever having a desire to go to National. I go there because it's late and nothing else is opened. Not the best endorsement, I know, but it could be worse. Every once in a while, I do love a plate of chili-cheese fries. Meaty chili mixed with that nuclear orange cheese sauce over a plate of crispy, hot fries is just magical sometimes. Hanis are also good, especially the new spicy Hani (which isn't spicy enough). National Coney Island is an ideal stop after a night of excess. Those chili cheese fries would be a worth a visit during the day.
(3)
tanya a.
Comfort food = veggie pita, extra Greek dressing and cheese fries with the cheese on the side and maybe a chocolate shake or a cream puff. Truth is, I can order this at any location and it's the same. This location is unique because it has a drive thru, which is very nice when I get a random cream puff craving. It's nostalgic, I remember eating spaghetti there when it was the Demitri's. I used to watch the big spinning thing go around. It was quite the landmark. Oh and like most National Coney's, they are open 24hrs.
(4)
Mickey V.
F.Y.I. ... Today was the LAST day for the .99 cent coney island specials.
(2)
Abby S.
The hanis are very good and it's a great place to grab one and a salad. I recently got a nacho supreme through the drive thru and I wasn't impressed. It was chips, ground beef, Nacho cheese, black olives, and banana peppers. I probably won't be ordering them again, but I'll definitely come back for a hani.
(3)
Sam G.
Man, i've logged some hours in this Coney. Been coming to this location long before it was The National, when it was Suzy Q's Fish and Chips, who were the ones that originally erected the monstrosity of a cone shaped sign outside on the corner. I just wish they would have bought the guy's fish and chips recipe. This is one of the largest Coney Island restaurants i've ever been in. I mean it takes 30 seconds to traverse the building to get to the other side. Parking is a bit odd on the outside, but there are usually enough spots during the week.. weekend.. maybe not. The menu here is the same as the others, but all of them have changed and shrunk in the past year, but you can still get all the hits - Coney's, Hani's, Cheese fries, etc. This location has a Drive-Thru but unlike some of their other locations, does not serve alcohol. I've never had an issue with service here, even when it's super busy. Always a smiling face and watchful managers in the back. The Coney scene has changed a bit with more players and fancier digs for some, but this place is happily the same and i'll keep coming back for more!
(4)
K. W.
What the heck happened to this place? I used to like coming to this Coney Island because it was the one one north of 8mile road that had corned beef sandwiches. Not only do they not have they any more they don't have wing dings either! That's just sacrilegious for a Coney Island. National bring back the favorites or lose more business.
(3)
Lonny B.
I may do a breakfast here, but going thru the drive thru and just getting a couple coneys...nope. I stopped the other night and got two coneys. Drive thru was fast, but food was ick. I've had my share of coneys and these were at the bottom of the list. Now I like onions, but these were LOADED with big pieces of onion. They were also cold, and had no "snap" when you bite them. I've had better, and for a lower price.
(2)
Tim K.
I am not a huge fan of National. It just always feels dirty on the rare occasion we go there after a night out at the bar or on our way home from a Tigers game downtown. The service has always been decent, but that is about it as far as pluses for this place. Oh, they also serve beer and wine now which just seems weird. The food is always hit or miss (more on the miss side unfortunately) and things just taste like they were frozen, partially thawed and then cooked. I say this because items like their chicken strips have chewy rubbery ends which only come from them being overly cooked while still partially frozen. As far as Coney places go, National is at the bottom of the list.
(2)
Chris E.
Been here a lot, its pretty expensive for a coney place to be honest, and the drivethrough is very slow, but the food is good and I'll be back now and then... I wish they would have kept their late night hours.
(3)
Daniella M.
Worst window service ever. Waited 20 mins for a coney and some chili cheese fries with two people infront of me. It's dirty and the tables are sticky. Waitresses suck but the food is good.
(2)
Michael C.
I'm a fan of nationals and this location is large and has a drive thru. Food is on par with all of them and it enjoy it.
(4)
Lisa W.
When I was in college and away from the area, National Coney Island was always one of my weekend stops when I was in town. We always went to the Groesbeck location. I haven't been to this location in a couple years and I remember why. I ordered the full Hani deluxe-no cheese or mayo, fries, and coke for carry out. I asked for a side of honey mustard and they charged me 25 cents for a one ounce side?! Really?!!! Other locations give a two ounce side. One ounce is nothing for a large hani. I can't believe they are that petty about a side of honey mustard to charge 25 cents. I get the sandwich with no cheese or mayo(can't stand mayo). I guess they expect me to eat the sandwich dry. A couple years ago I emailed National corporate(also located in Roseville) about the 25 cent charge for the side of honey mustard and never got a response. I am disappointed they still charge. Fries were nothing special. I guess I get spoiled with the local coneys near my house that National no longer appeals to me(in terms of coneys). I do like that they have a drive through. It is easy to get to from I 696- this location is on the northwest corner. Easy to get on 696 if you are traveling west. No desire to eat here again.
(1)
Aaron T.
What a joke!!! I understand not staffing your A team for the midnight staff but please have some consistency. Not only did it take 20 minutes with only one car in front of me in the drive through the food was wrong. When I went in to correct it the waitress walked away to correct it and after waiting for 5 minutes I just decided to ask for my money back. Obviously that's not the correct thing to do since that took an additional 5 minutes and an altercation with the manager who appeared to have been cooking as well. Not worth the waste of time or money after a long day at work and a craving for a hanni. I probably will never eat at a "national" Coney Island again. Oh well
(1)
Stefanie I.
Gosh growing up in Michigan I've visited this establishment hundreds of times. A large Hani and some chili cheese fries is my comfort food. Yeh the cheese may be sauce cheese and the hani is a simple pita. But no place makes a pita taste nearly the same as this Hani. Also, no place ever uses liquid cheese. Call me ghetto but I prefer liquid/sauce cheese over the shredded cheese most places use. I remember as a kid going her after spending the day at the mall with my uncle on a Saturday. He's take me and my brothers here for our last stop of the night. We'd play their arcade games and their claw machine games. It's a good place for kids. The wait staff is always pleasant enough, too.
(3)
Michael B.
I've eaten here countless times, but increasingly I've grown to hate it. The food is only so-so. Especially late-night, when the menu shrinks and what is being served is not great. Good luck getting a fresh salad. The atmosphere itself is both a hit and a miss. While it is true that the people-watching is always interesting, the noise and smoke are less so. I am not an anti-smoking person, but when I get home from the non-smoking section and smell like I went to the bar, something is wrong. On the bright side, the chili is great, and if you are stopping in, get the Coney Dog or a Hani. Both are top-notch, and the only items worth ordering. The place is passable if your friends, like mine, drag you there. But if you can, drag them somewhere else.
(2)
James T.
This is the biggest Coney in the neighborhood and its usually very busy. Service is kind of varied, sometimes excellent sometimes abhorrent. The food is the same everywhere, good old fashioned diner fare.
(3)
Deborah R.
As far as Coney Islands go, this place is the one to go to to get the prime experience. To get the full experience visit around 12-1 on a Friday & Saturday night and you will have a people watching fiesta. An array of any type of people and it's almost a group activity as far as conversation goes. Many times that i have been here I have grouped up with other tables. It's the traditional Coney Island menu, but grab some chili cheese fries (add jalapenos, YUM) and go meet some new people.
(5)
Erik M.
This is probably my favorite National Coney Island. Plus, the sign is pretty epic. I haven't been here before midnight, but whenever I'm here, the service is excellent. On my last visit, the waitress stopped by the table maybe three times, but she still did a wonderful job and made me feel very welcome. She even gave my accompaniment some extra straws for which to blow the wrapper at me. The food here is about the same as any other Coney Island, although they have "Boscos" here, which are deep fried mozzarella. I hear it's good. My lactose intolerance thinks different, so I wasn't able to try. One of the most unique things about this place is the fact that it has a drive-thru. I have yet to give it a try, but I must do so in the future just to tell people that I did. The other fun part of this location is that it seems to be at the center of a couple of different north-east side cultures, so the people watching is prime. I'm pretty sure I saw a pair of vampires on my last visit. All in all, if you're in the area, this is a must-stop for a quick burger and fries.
(5)
Thomas B.
Stopped in here 7/4/12 late at night for some carry-out. The place seemed pretty disorganized, chaotic. People waiting for too long, drive-thru customers coming in. They got my food right, and the quality lived up to National standards. Not my go to coney joint anymore, but it'll do in a pinch. This location needs some work.
(3)
Michael P.
I usually love National... I can't make this up though. I just ate there. The Hanni was average. I decided on dessert, the banana cream pie. Huge mistake. Huge. It was disgusting. Like it was frozen, thawed, frozen and thawed again. The bananas tasted like cardboard. I took one bite then put my fork down got up and paid the bill. No complaints. Then I got in my car and had to immediately pull over to get sick. After I regrouped I called National to warn them about the pie. After explaining the situation I got a "ok sweetie". No apology, no refund, nothing. I was shocked! I will never go back to that National and if I could give less than 1 star I would. Disgusting.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast, Lunch, Late Night Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Suzette O.
on Gratiot at 696 This is one of the largest (if not THE largest) locations. Service is top-notch 95% of the time. Warning - it is incredibly packed on Sundays around noon - 1:00 pm, which I'm guessing is the after-church crowd (a lot of folks wearing hats). At that time there can be a line going out the door.
(4)Edward Y.
Besides the coney the Hani Special is their signature dish. The only problem is they keep on getting smaller and the prices keep on going up. All-in-all National is pretty consistent and is a good place to stop if you don't have a lot of time. The service is usually pretty quick and fairly attentive. The decor at this particular location is pretty unique. The coney "assembly line" mural and the stainless steel conical sign out front offer something uniquely Detroit for any out-of-town visitor.
(3)Christina A.
Always a must when I'm in Michigan. There's nothing really that great about the food or service, just where my in laws like to eat. I'd recommend the Hani and their chili is pretty decent.
(3)Ricky P.
me likey coney. gimme hani
(4)Gabriel L.
I haven't been here in years and now I know why. This is what we ordered: I had a Coney dog and spinach pie and my husband had the Hani special with fries and a Coney dog on the side. The service was friendly but my husband ordered his fries to be well done and when he got them they we literally stone cold and only lightly cooked. That's not all, our hot dog buns were stale as well and my spinach pie was so overly microwaved it was wet an gooey on the bottom and boiling hot. My husband wanted me to write on his behalf "I haven't been here in 5 years and I probably won't be back for another 5 when I forget how bad the food is again." lol I think I agree.
(1)Stefanie P.
Eating at National Coney Island is usually the first thing I do when I come back to visit family in Detroit. This location specifically has the cool outside old school sign (that once said some other diners name) it's a big location and their servers are fast. The expectation of NCI needs to be pretty low, as should be any place open off of 696 for 24 hours a day. I always go with the Large Hani Deluxe and a Vernors. I love love love it! Our server looked a little rough but she got our food out fast and was friendly. We also got crazy and tried the Coney Taco. It was great! Taco in a hot dog bun. Tasted great. The food is consistant across the board at any NCI locations just so/so most of the time.... but I've never gotten sick or had any major problems. I just perfer this location because of the quick service and plenty of room. I will always stick up for NCI. They're my jam.
(4)Joe H.
Quite possibly the best coney chain in the Detroit area, National Coney Island are efficient & painless. There's hardly ever a wait. Waitresses are unobtrusive and usually partially nice. The food is OK. I don't find myself ever having a desire to go to National. I go there because it's late and nothing else is opened. Not the best endorsement, I know, but it could be worse. Every once in a while, I do love a plate of chili-cheese fries. Meaty chili mixed with that nuclear orange cheese sauce over a plate of crispy, hot fries is just magical sometimes. Hanis are also good, especially the new spicy Hani (which isn't spicy enough). National Coney Island is an ideal stop after a night of excess. Those chili cheese fries would be a worth a visit during the day.
(3)tanya a.
Comfort food = veggie pita, extra Greek dressing and cheese fries with the cheese on the side and maybe a chocolate shake or a cream puff. Truth is, I can order this at any location and it's the same. This location is unique because it has a drive thru, which is very nice when I get a random cream puff craving. It's nostalgic, I remember eating spaghetti there when it was the Demitri's. I used to watch the big spinning thing go around. It was quite the landmark. Oh and like most National Coney's, they are open 24hrs.
(4)Mickey V.
F.Y.I. ... Today was the LAST day for the .99 cent coney island specials.
(2)Abby S.
The hanis are very good and it's a great place to grab one and a salad. I recently got a nacho supreme through the drive thru and I wasn't impressed. It was chips, ground beef, Nacho cheese, black olives, and banana peppers. I probably won't be ordering them again, but I'll definitely come back for a hani.
(3)Sam G.
Man, i've logged some hours in this Coney. Been coming to this location long before it was The National, when it was Suzy Q's Fish and Chips, who were the ones that originally erected the monstrosity of a cone shaped sign outside on the corner. I just wish they would have bought the guy's fish and chips recipe. This is one of the largest Coney Island restaurants i've ever been in. I mean it takes 30 seconds to traverse the building to get to the other side. Parking is a bit odd on the outside, but there are usually enough spots during the week.. weekend.. maybe not. The menu here is the same as the others, but all of them have changed and shrunk in the past year, but you can still get all the hits - Coney's, Hani's, Cheese fries, etc. This location has a Drive-Thru but unlike some of their other locations, does not serve alcohol. I've never had an issue with service here, even when it's super busy. Always a smiling face and watchful managers in the back. The Coney scene has changed a bit with more players and fancier digs for some, but this place is happily the same and i'll keep coming back for more!
(4)K. W.
What the heck happened to this place? I used to like coming to this Coney Island because it was the one one north of 8mile road that had corned beef sandwiches. Not only do they not have they any more they don't have wing dings either! That's just sacrilegious for a Coney Island. National bring back the favorites or lose more business.
(3)Lonny B.
I may do a breakfast here, but going thru the drive thru and just getting a couple coneys...nope. I stopped the other night and got two coneys. Drive thru was fast, but food was ick. I've had my share of coneys and these were at the bottom of the list. Now I like onions, but these were LOADED with big pieces of onion. They were also cold, and had no "snap" when you bite them. I've had better, and for a lower price.
(2)Tim K.
I am not a huge fan of National. It just always feels dirty on the rare occasion we go there after a night out at the bar or on our way home from a Tigers game downtown. The service has always been decent, but that is about it as far as pluses for this place. Oh, they also serve beer and wine now which just seems weird. The food is always hit or miss (more on the miss side unfortunately) and things just taste like they were frozen, partially thawed and then cooked. I say this because items like their chicken strips have chewy rubbery ends which only come from them being overly cooked while still partially frozen. As far as Coney places go, National is at the bottom of the list.
(2)Chris E.
Been here a lot, its pretty expensive for a coney place to be honest, and the drivethrough is very slow, but the food is good and I'll be back now and then... I wish they would have kept their late night hours.
(3)Daniella M.
Worst window service ever. Waited 20 mins for a coney and some chili cheese fries with two people infront of me. It's dirty and the tables are sticky. Waitresses suck but the food is good.
(2)Michael C.
I'm a fan of nationals and this location is large and has a drive thru. Food is on par with all of them and it enjoy it.
(4)Lisa W.
When I was in college and away from the area, National Coney Island was always one of my weekend stops when I was in town. We always went to the Groesbeck location. I haven't been to this location in a couple years and I remember why. I ordered the full Hani deluxe-no cheese or mayo, fries, and coke for carry out. I asked for a side of honey mustard and they charged me 25 cents for a one ounce side?! Really?!!! Other locations give a two ounce side. One ounce is nothing for a large hani. I can't believe they are that petty about a side of honey mustard to charge 25 cents. I get the sandwich with no cheese or mayo(can't stand mayo). I guess they expect me to eat the sandwich dry. A couple years ago I emailed National corporate(also located in Roseville) about the 25 cent charge for the side of honey mustard and never got a response. I am disappointed they still charge. Fries were nothing special. I guess I get spoiled with the local coneys near my house that National no longer appeals to me(in terms of coneys). I do like that they have a drive through. It is easy to get to from I 696- this location is on the northwest corner. Easy to get on 696 if you are traveling west. No desire to eat here again.
(1)Aaron T.
What a joke!!! I understand not staffing your A team for the midnight staff but please have some consistency. Not only did it take 20 minutes with only one car in front of me in the drive through the food was wrong. When I went in to correct it the waitress walked away to correct it and after waiting for 5 minutes I just decided to ask for my money back. Obviously that's not the correct thing to do since that took an additional 5 minutes and an altercation with the manager who appeared to have been cooking as well. Not worth the waste of time or money after a long day at work and a craving for a hanni. I probably will never eat at a "national" Coney Island again. Oh well
(1)Stefanie I.
Gosh growing up in Michigan I've visited this establishment hundreds of times. A large Hani and some chili cheese fries is my comfort food. Yeh the cheese may be sauce cheese and the hani is a simple pita. But no place makes a pita taste nearly the same as this Hani. Also, no place ever uses liquid cheese. Call me ghetto but I prefer liquid/sauce cheese over the shredded cheese most places use. I remember as a kid going her after spending the day at the mall with my uncle on a Saturday. He's take me and my brothers here for our last stop of the night. We'd play their arcade games and their claw machine games. It's a good place for kids. The wait staff is always pleasant enough, too.
(3)Michael B.
I've eaten here countless times, but increasingly I've grown to hate it. The food is only so-so. Especially late-night, when the menu shrinks and what is being served is not great. Good luck getting a fresh salad. The atmosphere itself is both a hit and a miss. While it is true that the people-watching is always interesting, the noise and smoke are less so. I am not an anti-smoking person, but when I get home from the non-smoking section and smell like I went to the bar, something is wrong. On the bright side, the chili is great, and if you are stopping in, get the Coney Dog or a Hani. Both are top-notch, and the only items worth ordering. The place is passable if your friends, like mine, drag you there. But if you can, drag them somewhere else.
(2)James T.
This is the biggest Coney in the neighborhood and its usually very busy. Service is kind of varied, sometimes excellent sometimes abhorrent. The food is the same everywhere, good old fashioned diner fare.
(3)Deborah R.
As far as Coney Islands go, this place is the one to go to to get the prime experience. To get the full experience visit around 12-1 on a Friday & Saturday night and you will have a people watching fiesta. An array of any type of people and it's almost a group activity as far as conversation goes. Many times that i have been here I have grouped up with other tables. It's the traditional Coney Island menu, but grab some chili cheese fries (add jalapenos, YUM) and go meet some new people.
(5)Erik M.
This is probably my favorite National Coney Island. Plus, the sign is pretty epic. I haven't been here before midnight, but whenever I'm here, the service is excellent. On my last visit, the waitress stopped by the table maybe three times, but she still did a wonderful job and made me feel very welcome. She even gave my accompaniment some extra straws for which to blow the wrapper at me. The food here is about the same as any other Coney Island, although they have "Boscos" here, which are deep fried mozzarella. I hear it's good. My lactose intolerance thinks different, so I wasn't able to try. One of the most unique things about this place is the fact that it has a drive-thru. I have yet to give it a try, but I must do so in the future just to tell people that I did. The other fun part of this location is that it seems to be at the center of a couple of different north-east side cultures, so the people watching is prime. I'm pretty sure I saw a pair of vampires on my last visit. All in all, if you're in the area, this is a must-stop for a quick burger and fries.
(5)Thomas B.
Stopped in here 7/4/12 late at night for some carry-out. The place seemed pretty disorganized, chaotic. People waiting for too long, drive-thru customers coming in. They got my food right, and the quality lived up to National standards. Not my go to coney joint anymore, but it'll do in a pinch. This location needs some work.
(3)Michael P.
I usually love National... I can't make this up though. I just ate there. The Hanni was average. I decided on dessert, the banana cream pie. Huge mistake. Huge. It was disgusting. Like it was frozen, thawed, frozen and thawed again. The bananas tasted like cardboard. I took one bite then put my fork down got up and paid the bill. No complaints. Then I got in my car and had to immediately pull over to get sick. After I regrouped I called National to warn them about the pie. After explaining the situation I got a "ok sweetie". No apology, no refund, nothing. I was shocked! I will never go back to that National and if I could give less than 1 star I would. Disgusting.
(1)