Argentinian
Barda
DetroitMulti-course wood-fire dinner. Currently one of Detroit's hottest tables — book 2-3 weeks out.
Bakery & Cafe
Germack Coffee Roasting
Eastern MarketDetroit's oldest nut roaster since 1924. Single-origin pour over and house-roasted pistachios to go.
Sister Pie
West VillageSalted maple pie and savory hand pies. Sells out daily. Get there before noon.
Bangladeshi / South Asian
Royal Kabob
HamtramckChicken biryani with raita. Friday lunch special is the best version — bigger batch, better flavor.
Bosnian
Balkan House
HamtramckCevapi platter with kajmak cream and somun bread. Homemade ajvar with every order.
Brewery & Craft Beer
Batch Brewing Company
CorktownRotating small-batch craft beer plus Korean BBQ nachos. Brewers love talking about what's new.
Traffic Jam & Snug
MidtownDetroit's oldest brewpub. House-brewed beer and portobello burger. They make their own cheese.
Jolly Pumpkin
MidtownSour ales and wood-fired pizza. The Midtown patio in summer is one of Detroit's best spots.
Public House
FerndaleTruffle fries and smash burger. Ferndale's best patio in summer — arrive before 6pm.
Brunch & American
Lady of the House
CorktownBone marrow toast and seasonal pasta. Bar seating is walk-in only — best seat in the house.
Mercury Bar
CorktownDive bar energy with a kitchen that has no business being this good. Smash burger, local draft.
Folk
CorktownRicotta pancakes and shakshuka. Weekday brunch is the secret — same menu, zero wait.
Selden Standard
MidtownWood-fired carrots and lamb shoulder. Menu changes constantly — walk in for bar seating on weekends.
Dime Store
DowntownDuck confit poutine for brunch. Arrive before 9am or go Tuesday–Thursday to skip the line.
Wright & Company
DowntownFried chicken bao and bone marrow in the historic Wright Kay jewelry building. Request a window seat.
Otus Supply
FerndaleKorean fried chicken tacos and craft cocktails. Part restaurant, part music venue, part gallery.
Bobcat Bonnie's
FerndalePoutine burger and Michigan craft beer. The Ferndale original is the best. Trivia night is packed.
Cocktail Bars
The Sugar House
CorktownNo sign outside. No menu. Detroit's best speakeasy — bartenders make drinks based on your mood.
Coney Island & Detroit Classics
Coney Island (Lafayette vs American)
DowntownDetroit's iconic coney dog. Locals eat at Lafayette. Case closed.
Deli & Sandwiches
Mudgie's Deli
CorktownThe Mudgie's Reuben with house pickles. Go weekday lunch — the weekend crowd is chaos.
Russell Street Deli
Eastern MarketCorned beef hash for breakfast, thick-cut BLT at lunch. Best Saturday: grab a counter seat after the market.
Dearborn Meat Market
DearbornLamb kibbeh, meat pies, and halal butcher counter. Best value for quality halal in metro Detroit.
Detroit-Style Pizza
Loui's Pizza
Hazel ParkTHE authentic Detroit-style pizza since 1977. Cheese caramelizes against the pan edge. Dine-in only.
Royal Oak — Ale Mary's
Royal OakDetroit-style pizza with 70+ craft beers on tap. Ask the bartender for a locals-only flight.
East African
Yemen Cafe
HamtramckSlow-roasted lamb haneeth for 8 hours, bread baked to order. BYOB. One plate feeds two.
Sheeba Restaurant
DearbornLamb fahsa in a stone pot with tandoor-baked bread. Smaller and less known than Hamtramck spots.
Baobab Fare
New CenterBurundian fried fish (sambaza) and plantain plate. Passion fruit juice is a must.
Greek
Golden Fleece
GreektownSaganaki (flaming cheese — invented here) and octopus. Best quality-to-price in Greektown.
Astoria Pastry Shop
GreektownGalaktoboureko (custard pastry) since the 60s. The place for dessert after any Greektown dinner.
Italian
Japanese
Ima
CorktownUdon with curry or truffle broth. BYOB. The Corktown original has the most charm.
Mexican
El Taquito
MexicantownAl Pastor tacos with green salsa. Cash only, fast service — the city's top street taco spot.
Los Altos
MexicantownWeekend-only birria tacos with life-changing consomé. Sells out by 1pm — go early.
Taqueria Nuestra Familia
SW DetroitCarne asada burritos with a house-made salsa bar. Open late, generous portions.
La Jaliscience
MexicantownTorta ahogada — the traditional Jalisco drowned sandwich. Rare find outside Mexico.
Middle Eastern & Lebanese
Samos Pastry
HamtramckPistachio baklava and Turkish coffee, still warm from the oven before 10am.
Bucharest Grill
Midtown$8 chicken shawarma pita — one of the best sandwiches in Michigan. Multiple locations, all reliable.
Al-Ameer
DearbornMixed grill platter — but the hummus and garlic sauce are the stars. Iconic Detroit Lebanese.
Shatila Bakery
DearbornPistachio baklava and knafeh, fresh from the oven. Ships nationwide but this is the real experience.
La Pita
DearbornChicken shawarma wrap with toum. Open late — the 11pm shawarma run is a Dearborn rite of passage.
Pizza
Supino Pizzeria
Eastern MarketNew York-style thin crust margherita slice, hidden inside the Eastern Market sheds. Open year-round.
Polish
Polish Village Cafe
HamtramckStuffed cabbage rolls and potato pierogi since the 1970s. Babushkas in the kitchen haven't changed a recipe.
Salvadoran / Latin American
Pupuseria y Restaurante Salvadoreño
MexicantownPupusas revueltas with curtido in a tiny spot attached to a grocery store. Best horchata in Detroit.
Café con Leche
MexicantownCuban sandwich and cortadito in a cozy café. Great for slow mornings or working from a laptop.
Seafood
Scotty Simpson's Fish & Chips
West SideFried perch and chips since 1950. Lake Erie fresh, cash only. Use malt vinegar — not tartar sauce.
Soul Food & Southern
Cuisine
New CenterOxtails on Sunday, mac and cheese any day. Sunday after church is peak soul food energy.
Clique
New CenterShrimp & grits and fried chicken waffles. Quickly becoming a neighborhood brunch staple.
Beans & Cornbread
SouthfieldFried catfish, collard greens, and perfect cornbread. Friday night live jazz included.
Thai & Asian Fusion
Takoi
CorktownKhao soi curry and Thai tea soft serve. Tiny space, big flavors. Reservations required, BYOB.
Vietnamese
Flowers of Vietnam
MidtownVermicelli bowls are the sleeper hit. Cocktail menu pulls from Vietnamese flavors.