Jonny B’z: A tasty Yesterdog alternative

By on July 6, 2010  |  East Hills, Lunch, Quick Eats, SE

When you normally think of hot dogs in West Michigan, you think of Yesterdog, or maybe The Corner Bar in Rockford. But a new age of hot dog and coney dog eateries are making their way into the area, and while not all of them may live up to the greatness of these gems, Jonny B’z Dogs and More certainly does.

Located right next to The Winchester on Wealthy Street, Jonny B’z gives you a classic diner environment, full of shiny red booths and checkered flooring, along with some great food. Obviously its specialty is the hot dog, but it’s got several other items to soothe your craving.

Being a huge fan of Yesterdog, I knew I had to try the All Beef Dog to see how it would compare with the Cheddardog. The chili is a bit meatier, and is a little more filling. That, paired with some gouda cheese (there were several selections), made for a great combination. The hot dog itself seemed to be a bit fresher too. But the buns are what makes it a Jonny B’z. Soft and toasted, the bun actually adds quite a bit of flavor instead of taking it away. These certainly aren’t your typical hot dog buns you can pick up at Meijer, and they definitely helps calm the mess you’d usually get at Yesterdog.

I was a bit disappointed to see that the All Beef Dog was really the only heart-killing hot dog on the menu. While Jonny B’z lets you literally put anything on your hot dog, I would’ve liked to see a few recommendations. I expected to see at least a few different recommended options on their menu board.

Other than hot dogs, Jonny B’z makes a mad beef brisket. While the portion size was a bit sparse, it had great flavor. The sandwich seemed like it was slow-baked for ages, and the grilled bun was cooked to the perfect crisp.

We were pretty impressed with the service too. Everyone was friendly and seemed to answer our questions pretty well. When we wanted more fries, they gave us an absolute ton of them without a fuss. Everything was delivered straight to our table. While something has to be said of Yesterdog’s “in your face” service and how unique it is, sometimes it’s nice to know that there’s a joint a few minutes away that doesn’t yell at you if you don’t know what you want to drink.

In conclusion, while Jonny B’z still has a little ways to go to catch the likes of the hot dog geniuses in the area, it’s definitely on its way to success. Next time you’re around Wealthy Street and just want a quick bite to eat, Jonny B’z is definitely a good bet.

Jonny B'z Dogs and More  ( Rating: out of 5 )

Where: 638 Wealthy Street, Grand Rapids
Hours: Mon. to Wed. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Thurs. to Sat. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Closed Sunday.
Ambiance: Classic diner feel
How much will it cost you: Average hot dog meal, with fries and drink is around $5.
Credit cards: All major
Alcohol: No
Reservations: No
Contact: (616) 551-1108
Online: http://jonnybz.com/

  • ItsMeDebie

    Is it just another boiled dog like all the others, or is it grilled? Please, please, please say it’s grilled!!

    Thanks for your reviews, I always enjoy them.

  • GR Grub
  • ItsMeDebie

    Yay! There’s nothing like a grilled dog.

  • Chynah

    The Chicago Dog is awesome, it brought me back home to the old windy city. Great Customer Service which is so hard to find nowadays. There’s a new bun in town…

  • LW

    I LOVE JOHNNY B’S! The atmosphere is so different from the dog places in town. The Chicago is fantastic! We will be bringing friends next time!

  • Anonymous

    Matt is great. Love the brisket sandwich. Best “Chicago Dog” I’ve had since I lived in Chicago. Wife eats there all the time & is always treated like a queen; she never stops marketing for Jonny B’z!