New shop features popular sandwich that once beat out the beloved coney dog

Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press
·3 min read
Hani sandwiches at the new Pop's Hani Shop in Royal Oak.
Hani sandwiches at the new Pop's Hani Shop in Royal Oak.

A signature pita sandwich whose birthplace was a coney restaurant more than 35 years ago now has its own place.

Pop’s Hani Shop on Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak comes from metro Detroit’s National Coney Island chain, and it's celebrating its grand opening. On Thursday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place at 10:45 a.m. followed by the grand opening at 11 a.m. Pop's Hani Shop has been in a soft opening for the last several weeks.

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Pop's Hani Shop grand opening is Thursday in Royal Oak.
Pop's Hani Shop grand opening is Thursday in Royal Oak.

National Coney Island’s claim to fame is, of course, its coneys and chili. But the Detroit-born chain is also the birthplace of the beloved Hani sandwich, which grew in popularity with younger crowds.

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The Hani pita sandwich was created in 1985 by a cook named Hani at National’s 7 Mile Road and Mack Avenue restaurant. Back then, the sandwich featured breaded chicken, cheese, special mayonnaise, lettuce and tomatoes, all wrapped in a grilled, soft pita. Over the years, the Hani grew in popularity.

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A Hani sandwich with broccoli kale slaw.
A Hani sandwich with broccoli kale slaw.

The idea for the Hani shop came about before the COVID-19 pandemic, said Tom Giftos, president of National Coney Island.

“As the Hani has grown in popularity over the years, it’s almost neck and neck with the coney. We thought maybe we should try an offshoot concept,” Giftos said.

In 2015, and as part of National Coney Island’s 50th anniversary, customers voted the Hani the top dog, besting the beloved coney in a survey.

The original Hani sandwich, according to Bob Nichols, vice president of operations, is National Coney Island's best-selling sandwich.

Giftos said the Pop’s Hani Shop mascot is a nod to National Coney Island’s mascot Mr. Pop’s, with a different look and feel.

The new place seats about 35 inside. Giftos said the focus at Pop’s Hani Shop is an elevated menu “instituting from-scratch elements.”

“We make all out dressings, sauces and soups in-house daily,” he said. "We roast our own beets for the Greek Salad. We are using romaine and mixed greens for our salad.”

At Pop’s Hani Shop, Giftos said they hand-make all the pita bread and hand dip the chicken in a special recipe.

Specializing in Detroit-style pitas, the shop offers five versions of the Hani, including the original on the menu, with the choice of grilled or crispy chicken breast.

The O.G. is listed as having lettuce, tomato, shredded Swiss and Cheddar cheese and a mayo blend.

Other versions:

  • Spicy Southwest with lettuce, tomato, Pepperjack cheese and house-made Chipolte.

  • Black Cherry BBQ with Brix soda black cherry BBQ sauce, sugar-cured bacon, shredded Cheddar cheese, crispy onion straws and cole slaw.

  • Bacon Avocado Ranch with lettuce, tomato, sugar-cured bacon, shredded Cheddar cheese and house-made creamy avocado ranch.

  • The Parm has mozzarella, fresh basil, creamy garlic parmesan sauce and marinara on the side.

Hani sandwiches are $9.75, according to the online menu.

Pop’s Hani Shop menu also features a variety of smash-style burgers served on a brioche bun, from traditional with caramelized onions to a bacon Swiss ‘Shroom and a portobella mushroom vegetarian. Beef for burgers is the chophouse blend, sourced locally from Fairway Packing.

The menu also includes gyros, soups, salads and sides of fries, chili fries, chili cheese fries, cole slaw and broccoli kale slaw.

And hot dogs? Of course. There’s the 100% jumbo beef frank on a toasted Brioche bun, a classic plain jumbo hot dog and a coney-style dog topped with National Chili Sauce, mustard and diced onions.

Pop’s Hani Shop also offers Michigan-made Brix Soda Co. beverages and Vernors Ginger Ale.

Pop’s Hani Shop, 32538 Woodward Avenue in Royal Oak, is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. For the menu visit popshanishop.com.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pita sandwich shop spotlights the famed Hani sandwich in Royal Oak