The best chili cheese hot dogs I make - James Coney Island Hot Dog recipe (my way)
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Date: 2024-12-17
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Comments and reviews: 20
mamacooks
This recipe is a very good start to those looking for a Houston Tx. JCI coney sauce. I only wish that I could have been given such a head start years ago. I've spent years, Like SMC trying to perfect my recipe to match the original used at their Walker St. location. This recipe is not an exact copy cat, I like most but not all, of her choice of ingredient's and method. The viewers of this recipe will simply have to make the sauce and method their own. Adding coleslaw or crazy Greek spices like cinnamon will not get you closer to a real JCI coney island style hot dog. Always remember that one process or ingredient shouldn't over power the coney island style hot dog in taste. Many might say there are no beans in a hot dog chili sauce. I'll save you the time and money of ordering a Detroit or NY coney sauce by simply saying look at the ingredient's. All chili or chili sauce manufactures, including canned chili, will state it has a soy additive. What is soy It's a bean simply put. They don't have to explain what type of bean these days, just the statement that it contains soy is sufficient. Many may not know that the original JCI was also a deli selling sandwiches and a place you could order a hamburger or bowl of chili that contained beans so its not surprising that the original JCI would have beans in their chili sauce. It is imperative that you use a good hot dog brand to have a great coney Island hot dog experience at home. I've tried many brands of hot dog to grill on a flat top griddle, and found that some were more suited for steaming, and some more suited for boiling what is commonly known as a dirty dog. Based on my experience, I'd stay away from the NY hot dogs unless it's Nathan's or Hebrew National. My go to is Koegel's. It's just my preference. I've tried many hot dog brands over the years including Dearborn and I'll stick with the Koegels brand. One may favor Sabrett's or Vienna brand, they seem to me me to be more suited in the dirty dog or steamed category type of hot dog. The last topper in this recipe, besides the onions, is the cheese sauce. If I'm making a small amount of coney's for myself, I'll use the Cheez whiz which was original to JCI. However I've also made coney's using the melted Velveeta and milk mixture. They are equally as good but the Velveeta step is crucial if serving a crowd or large family and has a silkier flavor. While the current owners of JCI are letting a once great Houston restaurant and fabric of the city, fade into the history books as they close one by one, It's great to see there are some who are willing to keep the vision and enjoyment of a great coney island hot dog they experienced from their youth alive, a vision that James and Tom Papadakis once created in Houston Tx. Thanks again SMC.
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This recipe is a very good start to those looking for a Houston Tx. JCI coney sauce. I only wish that I could have been given such a head start years ago. I've spent years, Like SMC trying to perfect my recipe to match the original used at their Walker St. location. This recipe is not an exact copy cat, I like most but not all, of her choice of ingredient's and method. The viewers of this recipe will simply have to make the sauce and method their own. Adding coleslaw or crazy Greek spices like cinnamon will not get you closer to a real JCI coney island style hot dog. Always remember that one process or ingredient shouldn't over power the coney island style hot dog in taste. Many might say there are no beans in a hot dog chili sauce. I'll save you the time and money of ordering a Detroit or NY coney sauce by simply saying look at the ingredient's. All chili or chili sauce manufactures, including canned chili, will state it has a soy additive. What is soy It's a bean simply put. They don't have to explain what type of bean these days, just the statement that it contains soy is sufficient. Many may not know that the original JCI was also a deli selling sandwiches and a place you could order a hamburger or bowl of chili that contained beans so its not surprising that the original JCI would have beans in their chili sauce. It is imperative that you use a good hot dog brand to have a great coney Island hot dog experience at home. I've tried many brands of hot dog to grill on a flat top griddle, and found that some were more suited for steaming, and some more suited for boiling what is commonly known as a dirty dog. Based on my experience, I'd stay away from the NY hot dogs unless it's Nathan's or Hebrew National. My go to is Koegel's. It's just my preference. I've tried many hot dog brands over the years including Dearborn and I'll stick with the Koegels brand. One may favor Sabrett's or Vienna brand, they seem to me me to be more suited in the dirty dog or steamed category type of hot dog. The last topper in this recipe, besides the onions, is the cheese sauce. If I'm making a small amount of coney's for myself, I'll use the Cheez whiz which was original to JCI. However I've also made coney's using the melted Velveeta and milk mixture. They are equally as good but the Velveeta step is crucial if serving a crowd or large family and has a silkier flavor. While the current owners of JCI are letting a once great Houston restaurant and fabric of the city, fade into the history books as they close one by one, It's great to see there are some who are willing to keep the vision and enjoyment of a great coney island hot dog they experienced from their youth alive, a vision that James and Tom Papadakis once created in Houston Tx. Thanks again SMC.
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mamacooks
The original James Coney Island, on Walker in Downtown Houston grilled their hot dogs on a flattop griddle. They used the same one until they closed so I'm sure it was well seasoned and possibly added flavor to the dog. Like Mama, I've been trying to recreate to chili sauce they used for years since I no longer live in the state. This chili recipe is very close to mine as I remember the original. Steaming the buns for more than a minute or two will make the buns soggy so I would reduce that time. James assembled their dogs by first adding the dog to the bun then spreading a thin line of mustard on one side of the bun followed by the chili sauce and then topped off with the Cheez whiz and finely minced onion. Mama used a white onion but James used a sweet onion. It's also imperative that you use a premium choice of hot dog as she did. Oscar Myer wont cut it. I usually start my dogs on the griddle first and then place small ramakins in the steamer. One for the sauce and one for the chili while the steamer is heating up followed by the bun right before assembly. Keep in mind that 1 pound of ground meat will make a lot of chili sauce. I'll usually make it and then store and freeze it in small containers. This is meant to be a sauce and not a bowl of red although James sold that as well. Using Wolf brand chili will not get you to a place of experiencing a real Coney Dog. I'm happy to see there others trying to recreate this iconic Houston hot dog before all the locations are closed and the hot dog is lost to history. Thanks Mama.
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The original James Coney Island, on Walker in Downtown Houston grilled their hot dogs on a flattop griddle. They used the same one until they closed so I'm sure it was well seasoned and possibly added flavor to the dog. Like Mama, I've been trying to recreate to chili sauce they used for years since I no longer live in the state. This chili recipe is very close to mine as I remember the original. Steaming the buns for more than a minute or two will make the buns soggy so I would reduce that time. James assembled their dogs by first adding the dog to the bun then spreading a thin line of mustard on one side of the bun followed by the chili sauce and then topped off with the Cheez whiz and finely minced onion. Mama used a white onion but James used a sweet onion. It's also imperative that you use a premium choice of hot dog as she did. Oscar Myer wont cut it. I usually start my dogs on the griddle first and then place small ramakins in the steamer. One for the sauce and one for the chili while the steamer is heating up followed by the bun right before assembly. Keep in mind that 1 pound of ground meat will make a lot of chili sauce. I'll usually make it and then store and freeze it in small containers. This is meant to be a sauce and not a bowl of red although James sold that as well. Using Wolf brand chili will not get you to a place of experiencing a real Coney Dog. I'm happy to see there others trying to recreate this iconic Houston hot dog before all the locations are closed and the hot dog is lost to history. Thanks Mama.
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carolbondurant7030
Hello, fellow Houstonian here. I used to go to the same one, Northline, as a kid. Then as we got older, we moved to the Humble area, and JCI opened up there. We were so excited because it was close to where we lived. But as the year went on, they got bad. It became like a ghost place around lunchtime when it should have been busy. I say this because my experience there went from starting out awesome to never again. This after I gave them at least 3 chances. After that, I was done. And it's sad because they allowed it to go downhill. The first strike was that the chili was watery, 2nd strike was they barely put any cheese or chili, and it looked bad, but to send it back may not be smart. Anyways, 3rd strike was the prices went up and the portions were ridiculous, and the chili sauce just didn't taste right. I was done after that. I never went back. Weinersnitchel did the same thing, which started off great, but now it's horrible.
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Hello, fellow Houstonian here. I used to go to the same one, Northline, as a kid. Then as we got older, we moved to the Humble area, and JCI opened up there. We were so excited because it was close to where we lived. But as the year went on, they got bad. It became like a ghost place around lunchtime when it should have been busy. I say this because my experience there went from starting out awesome to never again. This after I gave them at least 3 chances. After that, I was done. And it's sad because they allowed it to go downhill. The first strike was that the chili was watery, 2nd strike was they barely put any cheese or chili, and it looked bad, but to send it back may not be smart. Anyways, 3rd strike was the prices went up and the portions were ridiculous, and the chili sauce just didn't taste right. I was done after that. I never went back. Weinersnitchel did the same thing, which started off great, but now it's horrible.
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mamacooks
Hi Angelica, Houston girl here and i've been in England for 20yrs and I miss so many foods from Texas but there is one I miss the most and just can't find a decent recipe. I need a Shipley's Donut so bad, haven't been back home in 10 years and i'm jonesing for plain glazed, chocolate cake glazed, long john's and of course donut holes, so how bout it, you up for the challenge! Oh and by the way the UK doesn't have Pillsbury or any type of can biscuits so it will have to be from scratch, sorry.
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Hi Angelica, Houston girl here and i've been in England for 20yrs and I miss so many foods from Texas but there is one I miss the most and just can't find a decent recipe. I need a Shipley's Donut so bad, haven't been back home in 10 years and i'm jonesing for plain glazed, chocolate cake glazed, long john's and of course donut holes, so how bout it, you up for the challenge! Oh and by the way the UK doesn't have Pillsbury or any type of can biscuits so it will have to be from scratch, sorry.
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dougm1343
Angelica. Looks awesome. I really can't imagine a chili cheese dog with onions so ours will have onions lol. When I was a kid, my dad worked for a big car rental company. Think the letter H lol in the mid seventies we were transfered to Houston and lived off of FM1960(Near Tomball) I do remember eating these and my recoletion is that they were awesome. Can't wait to make them! Thank you again for sharing your wonderfull recipes withh all your fans!
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Angelica. Looks awesome. I really can't imagine a chili cheese dog with onions so ours will have onions lol. When I was a kid, my dad worked for a big car rental company. Think the letter H lol in the mid seventies we were transfered to Houston and lived off of FM1960(Near Tomball) I do remember eating these and my recoletion is that they were awesome. Can't wait to make them! Thank you again for sharing your wonderfull recipes withh all your fans!
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connielynn195
I grew up in Dallas and I never heard of James Coney Island. We had White Kastle and we never went there. My parents had their favorite restaurants and that's where they took us. I didn't grow up eating pizza, Italian, Chinese, the only cultural food was Mexican occasionally. My mom cooked what she and my dad were raised on. We did have hot dogs occasionally but with ketchup or mustard.
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I grew up in Dallas and I never heard of James Coney Island. We had White Kastle and we never went there. My parents had their favorite restaurants and that's where they took us. I didn't grow up eating pizza, Italian, Chinese, the only cultural food was Mexican occasionally. My mom cooked what she and my dad were raised on. We did have hot dogs occasionally but with ketchup or mustard.
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j. l. emerson592
I grew up in Houston on the west side, out in Spring Branch. (1960s through the 1980s) There were so many good fast food franchises! I miss Alfie's Fish & Chips, Zider Zee, (I know that I misspelled that) Panchos, (& a bunch of other good Mexican food restaurants, Poor Boy's, (Po Boy's, etc. Yes, I do remember James Coney Island & it was pretty good. I'll give your copycat recipe a try.
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I grew up in Houston on the west side, out in Spring Branch. (1960s through the 1980s) There were so many good fast food franchises! I miss Alfie's Fish & Chips, Zider Zee, (I know that I misspelled that) Panchos, (& a bunch of other good Mexican food restaurants, Poor Boy's, (Po Boy's, etc. Yes, I do remember James Coney Island & it was pretty good. I'll give your copycat recipe a try.
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MelvisVelour
There was a version of this sold at a Garage in Maine (they were C stores before anyone knew what one was) and they steamed the buns and boiled the dogs with cheap beer and also dusted the dogs with celery salt which were amazing. I've had JCI version and agree, they are also amazing. It's sad how childhood classics change over the years but I'm now Jonesing making a pot of your chili: )
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There was a version of this sold at a Garage in Maine (they were C stores before anyone knew what one was) and they steamed the buns and boiled the dogs with cheap beer and also dusted the dogs with celery salt which were amazing. I've had JCI version and agree, they are also amazing. It's sad how childhood classics change over the years but I'm now Jonesing making a pot of your chili: )
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angiewarren6045
Wow! Northline Mall! That was a long time ago! There was some kind of carnival that would come set up over there and my family would always go! It was a lot of fun! I remember there was a building that was higher on the ends than the middle. I would always refer to the mall as the one by the broken-back building! This looks delish! Gonna have to try it! Thanks for sharing!
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Wow! Northline Mall! That was a long time ago! There was some kind of carnival that would come set up over there and my family would always go! It was a lot of fun! I remember there was a building that was higher on the ends than the middle. I would always refer to the mall as the one by the broken-back building! This looks delish! Gonna have to try it! Thanks for sharing!
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DianeC.
Hi A! I like a good quality hot dog. And a Chili Dog is even better. My Daughter went to Sam's Club today. I asked her to bring me a hot dog home and some Sauerkraut packets. Well. they had none cooked when she checked out. Your dogs look mighty delicious to me. I'm so. hungry for one or two of these. I will give your recipe a try for sure. YUMS. Great Video.
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Hi A! I like a good quality hot dog. And a Chili Dog is even better. My Daughter went to Sam's Club today. I asked her to bring me a hot dog home and some Sauerkraut packets. Well. they had none cooked when she checked out. Your dogs look mighty delicious to me. I'm so. hungry for one or two of these. I will give your recipe a try for sure. YUMS. Great Video.
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mamacooks
Finally crushed cracker crumbs should be substituted for the corn starch as the binder and no cumin as her recipe showed or crazy additives like cinnamon. Greek seasonings are a northern Coney Dog tradition. JCI made their Coney Sauce a Tx. tradition. I usually use either a spoon or two of refried beans or blend the beans with their juice to the meat mixture.
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Finally crushed cracker crumbs should be substituted for the corn starch as the binder and no cumin as her recipe showed or crazy additives like cinnamon. Greek seasonings are a northern Coney Dog tradition. JCI made their Coney Sauce a Tx. tradition. I usually use either a spoon or two of refried beans or blend the beans with their juice to the meat mixture.
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marcocabrera4428
Gonna have to try this. I was a lifelong JCI fan until the day they all faded away so started making my own. I use easy cheese because when I worked there back in high school the cheese came out of a pressurized gun and looked like canned easy cheese. I'm gonna try your method though because I always want it to be meltier.
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Gonna have to try this. I was a lifelong JCI fan until the day they all faded away so started making my own. I use easy cheese because when I worked there back in high school the cheese came out of a pressurized gun and looked like canned easy cheese. I'm gonna try your method though because I always want it to be meltier.
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mamacooks
When i was a kid we would travel from our little town west of houston once a year about 60 miles to go watch wrestling but we would go to the original JCI in downtown and gorge on chili cheese dogs and those wonderful onion rings, wow this video just made it 1984 all over again for a couple seconds, thank you!
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When i was a kid we would travel from our little town west of houston once a year about 60 miles to go watch wrestling but we would go to the original JCI in downtown and gorge on chili cheese dogs and those wonderful onion rings, wow this video just made it 1984 all over again for a couple seconds, thank you!
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Taffyblue
The Galleria location closed a year or so ago. So sad! The last James Coney Island I went to last year was Meyerland Plaza. Don’t know if it’s still there. Thank you for this recipe! I’m going to surprise my family this year with James coney chili dogs on NYE day lunch, a longtime family tradition.
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The Galleria location closed a year or so ago. So sad! The last James Coney Island I went to last year was Meyerland Plaza. Don’t know if it’s still there. Thank you for this recipe! I’m going to surprise my family this year with James coney chili dogs on NYE day lunch, a longtime family tradition.
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michellepowell9341
Chili cheese Coney all the way! EVERYtime you said James Coney Island I could taste it! And yes! Texture is a big part of this dish! Thank you for your chili recipe! I'm a long way from their Sharpstown and Galleria locations now - so your version is going on my weekend menu! Thank you!
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Chili cheese Coney all the way! EVERYtime you said James Coney Island I could taste it! And yes! Texture is a big part of this dish! Thank you for your chili recipe! I'm a long way from their Sharpstown and Galleria locations now - so your version is going on my weekend menu! Thank you!
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Use_fediverse-7814
Use_fediverse-7814
0 seconds ago
While that's chili, and not burgers. Don't cook the raw onions with the ground beef. Add them together, after the onions are sauted, then continue cooking them. Raw onion added to ground beef to cook together makes it taste not as good.
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Use_fediverse-7814
0 seconds ago
While that's chili, and not burgers. Don't cook the raw onions with the ground beef. Add them together, after the onions are sauted, then continue cooking them. Raw onion added to ground beef to cook together makes it taste not as good.
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brendabowles8828
I can make very good hotdogs chili but I'm gonna try this chili. I don't put beans in my hotdog chili but with them being mashed up I'll try it and I don't put cheese on my hotdogs either I'm not too big of a fan of cheese. Looks like a simple hotdogs chili recipe.
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I can make very good hotdogs chili but I'm gonna try this chili. I don't put beans in my hotdog chili but with them being mashed up I'll try it and I don't put cheese on my hotdogs either I'm not too big of a fan of cheese. Looks like a simple hotdogs chili recipe.
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tammyreilly9889
I live in Houston! The Missouri City area and I love James Coney Island hot dogs! Yours look delicious and look just like a James Coney Island hotdog. I can’t wait to make these at home! Love the cheese sauce, the chili and the onions too! Thanks for the recipe!
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I live in Houston! The Missouri City area and I love James Coney Island hot dogs! Yours look delicious and look just like a James Coney Island hotdog. I can’t wait to make these at home! Love the cheese sauce, the chili and the onions too! Thanks for the recipe!
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LetsBeCivilShallWe
I don’t like chiliactually I’ve never had any kind of chili (neither has my sister or her other two kids) _but_ one of my nephew’s loves it on hot dogs. This recipe makes me want to surprise him with homemade hotdog chili the next time we have hotdogs.
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I don’t like chiliactually I’ve never had any kind of chili (neither has my sister or her other two kids) _but_ one of my nephew’s loves it on hot dogs. This recipe makes me want to surprise him with homemade hotdog chili the next time we have hotdogs.
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mamacooks
I love onions of all kinds and I can eat them like an apple, I love chili dogs from the World Famous Tommy's Hamburgers in California they don't have The hamburger stand in any other State and I would get at least one every day on my way to work.
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I love onions of all kinds and I can eat them like an apple, I love chili dogs from the World Famous Tommy's Hamburgers in California they don't have The hamburger stand in any other State and I would get at least one every day on my way to work.
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