In Cincinnati, what is a hot dog with Cincinnati chili and grated cheddar called? The answer is a cheese coney.
In Greater Cincinnati, a cheese coney is a hot dog in a bun topped with Cincinnati chili and shredded or grated cheddar cheese. The standard preparation normally also includes mustard and diced onions. Without the cheese, the dish is generally called a coney.
Cincinnati chili is not the same as a thick bowl of chili con carne. It is a thin, Mediterranean-spiced meat sauce developed by immigrant restaurateurs in Cincinnati during the 1920s. Greek immigrants Tom and John Kiradjieff began serving their version at Empress Chili in 1922, using the sauce on hot dogs as well as spaghetti.
The term “cheese coney” can be confused with Coney Island-style hot dogs from other regions, but Cincinnati’s version has its own chili tradition and topping vocabulary. It is also distinct from a generic chili dog: the regional name points specifically to Cincinnati chili, usually with mustard, onion, and a blanket of cheddar.