Calling All Foodies: 10 Best Places To Eat In Detroit, Michigan

places to eat in detroit
Matthew
Matthew 
Updated
| 4 min read

One of the biggest secrets in life is how great the food is in Detroit. Everybody knows that New York City and Chicago have a lot of different restaurants to choose from, but Detroit may blow them both away. In its prime, people were flocking from all over the globe to live and work in Detroit, which has brought in many different cultures and, therefore, different foods to choose from. From pizza and burgers to seafood and Mexican, you’ll be wanting to travel to Detroit for every meal.

1. Small Plates

Posted by Small Plates Detroit on Saturday, 23 August 2014

Small Plates brings you a uniquely communal dining experience. Serving all tapas and pizza, including seafood, sliders, greens and veggies, this well-known Detroit hotspot will fill your stomach without draining your wallet. Open for all meals of the day, including brunch and dessert, and featuring a gourmet cocktail bar, Small Plates has cuisine that is as diverse as Detroit itself.

Small Plates

Address: 1521 Broadway St, Detroit, MI 48226

Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday 11:30 am to 10 pm, Friday 11:30 am to 12 am, Saturday 12 pm to 12 am

Contact: +1 313-963-0702

Website: Small Plates

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2. Sweet Water Tavern

Posted by sweetwater detroit on Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Famous for its marinated wings and sauces, Sweet Water Tavern takes pride in every dish they make. The menu is full of mouth-watering choices that will meet everybody’s desires, such as grilled steaks, hand-crafted sandwiches and burgers and even fresh crisp salads. To make things even better, Sweet Water Tavern is walking distance from Downtown Detroit and provides shuttles to and from sport and concert events in the city. So there is absolutely no reason not to visit Sweet Water Tavern.

Sweet Water Tavern

Address: 400 E Congress St, Detroit, MI 48226

Opening Hours: 11 am to 2 am

Contact: +1 313-962-2210

Website: Sweet Water Tavern

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3. Hockeytown Cafe

Hockeytown Cafe's Friday 2/3/17 special is Pan Fried Perch!

Posted by Hockeytown Cafe on Friday, 3 February 2017

Just around the corner from the Fox Theater, Ford Field, Commercial Park and Little Caesar’s Arena, the Hockeytown Cafe is the perfect and most convenient stop for anybody that is in town for a sporting event or concert. You can also just stay there and enjoy delicious food and drinks with fellow fans that, like you, were unable to get tickets to the game and are forced to watch on tv. But let’s be honest, Hockeytown Cafe is a great second option. Upstairs you can see old Detroit Red Wings memorabilia on display and for sale to the general public. With indoor and outdoor seating available, it’s easy to see how Hockeytown Cafe has become a staple of Detroit.

Hockeytown Cafe

Address: 2301 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201

Opening Hours: 11 am to 11 pm; times may vary based on sporting events

Contact: +1 313-965-9500

Website: Hockeytown Cafe

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4. Buddy's Pizza

If you're looking for a last-minute Super Bowl snack, give us a call. Party size items are available! (Hint: We'll suggest any of our Detroit-style pizzas)

Posted by Buddy's Pizza on Sunday, 5 February 2017

Many don’t know that, like New York and Chicago, Detroit also has its own famous style of pizza, and no place has done it better than Buddy’s Pizza. An iconic pizza chain since 1946, Buddy’s serves up Detroit Sicilian style square deep-dish pizza. They have many different types of pizza to choose from, such as meat lovers, Greek, vegetarian, and even gluten free. In addition to the delicious pizza, they serve salads, pasta, wings and other Italian dishes. One stop at Buddy’s and you’ll be saying “New York what?”

Buddy's Pizza

Address: 17125 Conant St, Detroit, MI 48212

Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 9 pm, Friday to Saturday 11 am to 11 pm

Contact: +1 313-892-9001

Website: Buddy’s Pizza

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5. El Asador Mexican Steakhouse


Chef Louis Garza has infused steak and Mexican seafood to make El Asador Mexican Steakhouse into one of the best places for top-notch Mexican cuisine in Detroit. With a slimmed down lunch menu, including lobster and scallop tacos, and a larger dinner menu including fajitas, ribeye, quesadillas and enchiladas, this place is perfect for the Mexican food lover and even that pesky person that just wants steak. The thing that sets El Asador apart from the others, though, is the guacamole that is prepared table-side, just for you.

El Asador Mexican Steakhouse

Address: 1312 Springwells St, Detroit, MI 48655

Opening Hours: 11 am to 10 pm

Contact: +1 313-297-2360

Website: El Asador Mexican Steakhouse

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6. El Barzon Restaurante

Tacos de carne enchilada

Posted by El Barzon on Thursday, 3 November 2011

Another Mexican fusion restaurant, El Barzon fuses Mexican with Italian. This upscale restaurant will give you a top-notch experience with a dimly-lit, romantic atmosphere and homemade pasta and Mexican in the same dish. Pair that with a glass or bottle of wine from their large wine list and enjoy a great night out with your favorite person. And with its convenient location, surrounded by so much other great things to experience in Detroit, this is the perfect start to a wonderful night.

El Barzon Restaurante

Address: 3710 Junction St, Detroit, MI 48210

Opening Hours: 11 am to 2:30 am, 5 pm to 9 pm

Contact: +1 313-894-2070

Facebook: El Barzon Restaurante

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7. Duly's Place Coney Island

Posted by Duly's Place on Thursday, 12 May 2016

Nothing says Michigan like Coney Island. Yes, technically Coney Island is located in New York, but Coney Island the restaurant is strictly a Michigan thing. Opened over 90 years ago, Duly’s Place still has that old-time ambiance, along with the classic coney dogs and bacon, egg and pancake breakfast that only Coney Island can provide. Plus, breakfast is served all day long. If you’re in Detroit from somewhere besides Michigan, then be sure to stop in to Duly’s Place and experience pure Michigan.

Duly's Place Coney Island

Address: 5458 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209

Opening Hours: Open 24 hours

Contact: +1 313-554-3076

Facebook: Duly’s Place

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8. Green Dot Stables

You said it and we couldn't agree more, ashleyann_b "sliders for eva." Thanks for the 📸 xoxoxo #greendotstables

Posted by Green Dot Stables on Thursday, 2 March 2017

A hot-spot for Detroiters, Green Dot Stables has a wide-array of mouth-watering sliders and fries. In fact, there are over 22 different kinds of sliders and fries to choose from, and all UNDER 5 USD! In addition to the sliders, Green Dot Stables also serves fresh salads and locally brewed beers that you won’t find anywhere else but Detroit. So if you’re in town but blew all of your money at the casino, then stop by Green Dot Stables and fill up for practically nothing.

Green Dot Stables

Address: 2200 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48216

Price: 5 USD

Opening Hours: 11 am to 1 am

Contact: +1 313-962-5588

Website: Green Dot Stables

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9. Batch Brewing Company

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Experience a taste of Detroit’s brewing renaissance at Batch Brewing Company. Here they serve micro-batch beers that you can only get in the Detroit area, making it a great place for beer enthusiasts. On top of that, you can enjoy top-notch dishes, from nachos to salads. And with the communal tables, who knows, you might even make some new friends; beer will do that to ya.

Batch Brewing Company

Address: 1400 Porter St, Detroit, MI 48216

Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday 11 am to 10 pm, Friday to Saturday 11 am to 12 am

Contact: +1 313-338-8008

Website: Batch Brewing Company

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10. Wright & Co.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account


Chef Marc Djozlija gained his experience from Wolfgang Puck’s MGM Grande restaurants, so you know the food at Wright & Co. is going to be delicious. Somewhere between casual and fine dining, the plates here are small in order to create a shared plates concept. But what you won’t want to share is one of their hand-crafted cocktails or international beer and wine. Wright & Co. is the perfect place for a group of friends who can’t decide on what to eat but know they want something unforgettable.

Wright & Co.

Address: 1500 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226

Opening Hours: 4 pm to 12 am

Contact: +1 313-962-7711

Website: Wright & Co.

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America's secret food capital

Sliders and French fries (1)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user tedeytan used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Detroit is hiding a very important secret from the rest of the country when it comes to how great their restaurants and food are. From Sicilian style deep-dish pizza, coney dogs, Mexican fusion, locally-brewed beers and much much more. You’ll be asking yourself why you haven’t heard of Detroit’s food before. Well now you have — so spread the word.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Matthew Klatzke is a 30 year old American from Michigan residing in Canada where him and his wife are expecting a baby. Following his passion of writing, Matthew has begun a rewarding career in the...Read more

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