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Cloos' Coney Island

4.1 (237 reviews)
ModerateHot Dogs, Burgers
Closed • 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Updated over 3 months ago

Cloos' Coney Island Photos

CLOOS' CONEY ISLAND ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for kids
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Cloos' Coney Island

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Reviews With Photos

Gabriel C.

I'll start off by saying my favorite thing about this restaurant which was the atmosphere. It was a very adventurous experience. The place even had that old school cigarette smell if you're into that besides that the wait time was long as he would expect with this location, but the service is great. Everyone was cheerful and happy. The food itself was phenomenal. I've never had a Detroit style, hot dog or as someone would call a coney dog but it was great and their chili is some of the best I've ever had, but I've also never had much

Counter area--this is so cool place!
David B.

A friend suggested that I try Cloos', and what great advice that turned out to be. Cloos' brings the feel of Northern short-order stands, grills, and diners to the NC State area. I had lunch there on Thursday--and liked it so much that I went back again on Friday. Two days in a row. One word of caution: this is a true short-order grill. Everything is freshly made to order, and they are often very busy. You will not get your food as quickly as you would at a fast-food place like McDonald's or Wendy's. If you are in a big hurry, head west on Western Boulevard to McDonald's, Bojangles, Wendy's, or Cook Out--all places I patronize--but they are not the same type of venue. Cloos' Coney Island is a hot dog and classic American comfort food restaurant that has been operating in Raleigh since 1988, with strong ties to the NC State student community and local residents. According to their own signage and social pages, they proudly market themselves as "An Original Detroit Hot Dog Stand, Est. 1988." The restaurant is decorated like a classic diner or luncheonette. White tile gives a clean, bright feel, paired with black checkerboard accents. The décor is reminiscent of original White Castle, White Diamond, and Waffle House locations. There's even a Sopranos-themed pinball machine. Seating includes a lunch counter with round revolving stools and 1950s-style dinette tables and chairs. On Thursday, I ordered a Coney Dog and French fries. With the exception of the Chicago Dog, their hot dogs are 90 percent beef, with the remainder pork products. The Coney Dog is their specialty, served on a steamed bun with chili, mustard, and onions--try it; you'll love it. The fries are excellent--thin, string-style fries like McDonald's used to make years ago. My friend had the Chicago Dog, a Vienna all-beef frank customized with Carolina flair, adding slaw atop their Coney Dog toppings. They have a soda fountain with Coke products, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and both sweet and unsweet tea. As a fun detail, there's a Coca-Cola CLASSIC sign near the fountain--perfectly fitting for a place established in the late '80s. Because they offer both tea and lemonade, they list Arnold Palmers (sweet or unsweet) on the menu. They also offer bottled water and a selection of domestic and premium bottled beers. On Friday, I went alone, sat at the counter, and ordered the Philly Cheesesteak--listed on their menu as one of their signature items, and now I know why. I chose steak with green peppers and onions and added mushrooms for a small extra charge. I don't care for mustard (a Midwest thing) or mayonnaise (a Southern thing) on my cheesesteaks. When I worked in Philadelphia and ate at Pat's and the street carts, I always had ketchup on the bun. At Cloos', I dipped both my cheesesteak and fries into genuine Heinz ketchup from glass bottles--outstanding. I liked the fries so much the day before that I ordered another small order. Growing up in New Jersey, a root beer with a cheesesteak just felt right--even though I rarely drink soda. Some pairings are simply meant to be. The staff are great--nice, patient, and constantly engaging with customers. There's an ongoing conversation about everything, and you can tell they genuinely enjoy their work, their coworkers, and their customers. If you're expecting service with a deep Southern accent, this might not be the place--but the warmth and authenticity more than make up for it. Needless to say, I plan to go back. Two five-star experiences, back-to-back.

Kraut Dog
Fred B.

This spot has been open since 1988, and I've been coming, off and on, since the early 90's. This area, close to part of the NC State campus is home to several venerable hot dog "stands" - Roast Grill (opened in 1940), Char-Grill (opened in 1959), and Snoopy's (opened in 1978). Went to all 4 on this trip! Like the other 3, this spot is showing its age and the service tends to be a bit out of the "fast food" range, but they still put out some solid burgers, hot dogs, and FFs. My favorites are the Chicago Dog, the Carolina Cheeseburger, the Kraut Dog, and their Fries! I also like that you can get a beer.

Small Fried and Coney
Courtnay B.

Love the old school diner vibe! The cashier was super friendly. Ordered a Coney, small fries and a coke, then took a seat at the counter. My food arrived hot and fresh, and I enjoyed both. The shoestring style fries are a must get! They offer free refills on soda and true to diner style, the ice is crushed, which I swear makes soda taste better.

Fries are way better than McDonald's
Marissa M.

It's a yes from me dawg. They had me at Coney Island. As a native New Yorker, I know hot dogs. If my dad were still with us he would be at Cloo's all the time. Having grown up in Brooklyn he bragged about the crunch of their dogs when you take a bite. Cloo's brings the Nathan's crunch with these dogs. I decided on the Rebel dog. Slaw ( minced cabbage), mustard, chili on a bun and paired it with the most perfect fries I've ever had. Thin, salty, crispy and well done. Service was excellent here. Nice staff. This place gives me Back To The Future vibes. Granted it's located in a very dated strip mall next to a halal market. I love the nostalgic decor. The 60's style seating, the music artists on the wall. It's just something different for the area. This is a cool place to pop into for lunch break. Get the fries ! Try all the dogs !!!!

Daddy daughter lunch Saturday lunch date!
Buzzy C.

I eat there several times a month. The owners and his staff are always friendly. Their food is always consistently excellent. It is a Raleigh institution.

Front counter
Don I.

When you're near NC State and looking for a hot dog, since 1988 this is the place to go This is a family run business with Two generations working side by side to serve their customers Super friendly and accommodating and taking precautions for the Covid situation They have a good reputation, so the wait time at lunch can be 15 or 20 minutes this their slogan "making you wait since 1988" is appropriate at lunchtime I'll be back, probably within a week!

he checkered floor and walls
Chris H.

Quick review here. We stopped in here last Thursday for a quick bite before an event near NC State. My son had been there a few times with friends and said it was a good place to go beforehand. It's a cool joint that caters to a local / student lunch crowd. The food here is fresh and tasty. The interior has that kitschy diner, hot dog storefront feel that it is rare in this part of the country. I went with a gyro salad and a Chicago hot dog (I skipped eating all day lol). Anyway, the ingredients in the salad were fresh and the gyro meat was seasoned nicely and was tender. The Chicago dog was spot on! I was able to get a few fries from my son, they were pretty good. The menu offered about a dozen different hot dogs. I also think you can make your own toppings wise. This was my first visit to Cloos and I'll definitely be back. The food was good and it was reasonably priced.

Jack sitting at the bar top, waiting for his Hot Dog!
Alexandra R.

Coming here as a Detroiter I didn't think they would even compare to what I get at home. Boy was I wrong! Cloos' has amazing Coney Dogs! He stated his family is from Detroit & he knew what he was doing! They were excellent. We had about 10 family members all go in and order. Chili Cheese Fries, Coney Dogs, Philly Steak & Cheese, Plain Hot Dogs for my son. Everything was so good! I'd definitely come back here if I'm in town.

Patty melt. Perfectly cooked!

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5 months ago

Outstanding. Love it The service was great. Good food. Great atmosphere I like to go back again.

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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3 months ago

It's always great. Love the dogs and burgers but my favorite is the chili cheese fries

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11 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Juicy and flavorful! Loved the snap of the sausage. Bun was slightly dry but not a dealbreaker. Overall, a great hot dog experience!

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10 months ago

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3 years ago

They have Awesome food, Danny is a Awesome owner/ operator and has been there close to 40 yrs

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

The cheeburgers are bussin and the Fry's are bussin too they are so bussin that I eat them every time.

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7 years ago

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Ask the Community - Cloos' Coney Island

Do you what type of meat is in their coney dogs? Is it all beef or a pork,beef, chicken mixture? Thank you

Either beef or a beef pork blend. All beef costs more but toppings are free.

Do they serve turkey dogs or any other dog than beef?

No, their menu and supplies are fairly simplistic.

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The Roast Grill Hot Weiners - Two hot dogs with mustard. Glass Bottled Sodas. Chili and slaw on the side.

The Roast Grill Hot Weiners

4.2(187 reviews)
1.6 mi•Glenwood South
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9.5 years later, I returned to the Roast Grill!…read more Nothing much has changed, and nothing really needs to. A little more Hurricanes gear, which I didn't need, but what can you do. 3 dogs and a coke for $14. Prices may not be the same, but such is life. I ordered all three dogs with mustard, onions, and slaw, and one also had the chili. I have to admit a few splashes of Texas Pete hot sauce took them over the top. The dogs themselves are great quality, none of the mystery meats that some of these other Carolina dogs have. And I'm glad they didn't load the chili on. Maybe this is not legal to say in the south, but I'm just not a fan of a chili dog with so much chili that the whole thing falls apart. The toppings should complement the dog, not overwhelm it. OK, I digress... The service was tremendous. I chatted with the owners about various topics for a good half hour and they were incredibly hospitable. They even gave me a couple of Tootsie rolls. Even though I can't do chocolate, I was glad to take them as a token of hospitality.

I visited the Roast Grill in January after years of looking down on the building from my former…read moreGannett Fleming office at One Glenwood and wondering what was inside this little Raleigh institution. The Roast Grill feels less like a restaurant and more like a preserved piece of mid-20th-century Americana hidden in plain sight along West Street. The narrow counter, wood-paneled walls, neon beer signs, Coca-Cola memorabilia, handwritten notices, old photographs, Hurricanes tributes, and decades of accumulated objects create an atmosphere that simply cannot be manufactured today. The place reminded me a little of Chicago's famous Billy Goat Tavern--especially the feeling of discovering something authentic tucked beneath an increasingly overbuilt urban streetscape. I ordered two hot dogs all the way with mustard, onions, chili, and slaw--absolutely NO ketchup, of course--along with a Coke in a glass bottle. The chili is legendary and reportedly takes up to three days to prepare. Whether that is folklore or fact, it certainly gives the hot dogs a flavor unlike almost anywhere else in Raleigh. One of my favorite details was the mounted goat wearing a red hat beneath the neon beer signs. It somehow fits perfectly within the visual layering and quirky personality of the interior. Even the traditions remain intact. At the end of the meal, every customer receives a Tootsie Roll. Places like the Roast Grill are becoming increasingly rare. It is not just a hot dog stand--it is a living piece of Raleigh history. If interested, you can view my post in "The Architecture of..." Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18Tu51FPtB/

Photos
The Roast Grill Hot Weiners - The back wall and door to the kitchen are equally interesting. It is no-holds-barred visual layering.

The back wall and door to the kitchen are equally interesting. It is no-holds-barred visual layering.

The Roast Grill Hot Weiners - 2 mustard, chili, & onions

2 mustard, chili, & onions

The Roast Grill Hot Weiners - Coke in the bottle, cool

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Coke in the bottle, cool

Cloos' Coney Island - hotdog - Updated October 2026

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