Serena Maria Daniels

What began as a food truck tucked into a Southwest gas station parking lot has grown into one of Detroit’s most reliable lunch institutions. The team put down roots in suburban Madison Heights with a brick-and-mortar location, giving Oakland County fans easier access to the menu’s greatest hits, including the gloriously messy Detroit-style cheesesteak that sends ribeye, sirloin, two kinds of melted cheese, and roasted vegetables spilling out of a fresh-baked sesame roll. Just as notable is the po’boy layered with lightly battered shrimp and remoulade and the triple-fried garlic cilantro fries served with roasted jalapeño ketchup, arguably one of the best condiments in town. Order at the counter, then grab a table in the airy dining room.

The longtime Dearborn institution sits in one of the country’s largest Arab American communities, and is one of metro Detroit’s defining Lebanese restaurants—a typical first stop for locals and visitors after touching down at the airport. A lot of that has to do with their velvety hummus and smoky baba ghanoush, house-baked pita bread baked in a traditional pita oven imported from Lebanon, and a showstopper slow-roasted stuffed lamb, served family-style atop some sneaky-good, toasted almond-studded rice. Just as essential are their sandwiches, especially the chicken or beef shawarma, wrapped in warm pita (or upgraded with housemade saj bread, for an extra $1.50) and spiked with bold toum and pickles. To drink, spring for the Lemon Crush, a lemon and orange mix that spotlights the fresh juice tradition found throughout Lebanese cooking.

Baobab Fare serves Burundian comfort food that’ll keep you coming back.

This Hazel Park restaurant celebrates Romanian-inspired cooking the way it deserves to be celebrated: shared among friends over a long dinner. So prepare to pass around exceptional plates of garlicky Transylvanian goulash with rich, velvety braised beef, baseball glove-sized tomahawk schnitzel, and olive-oil-and-salt-kissed focaccia served with tangy whipped feta, perfect for sopping up leftover sauce from a short rib rigatoni, or smearing with chicken paté. And just when you think the family-style party is over, housemade gnocchetti brightened up with seasonal spring peas and asparagus, and another round of the European-influenced cocktails, like the rhubarb-forward gimlet, will land on your table, inspiring you to keep going. The oversized corner booth is the best seat in the house, and spacious enough to squeeze in a half a dozen friends, making it all too easy to keep passing plates until you’re lulled into satisfaction.

There’s an understated thrill that comes from a meal at Mabel Gray, the cult-favorite Hazel Park restaurant located in a former diner. For one, the menu changes constantly, meaning no two dinners are exactly alike. It might begin with oysters served two ways: one raw, brightened with meyer lemon mignonette and chive, alongside a baked version topped with smoky pub cheese and pretzel crumbs. Their superpower lies in deceptively simple dishes, like a velvety mushroom bisque, or fresh squid ink linguini with Gulf shrimp that layers briny depth, spicy arrabbiata, and a crunch of garlic breadcrumbs into a dish that feels both comforting yet surprising. Even the wine pairing is win-win, with a sommelier overseeing a collection that stretches from Champagne and Burgundy to lesser-known producers from Austria and the Loire Valley.

Upscale Freya makes ambitious cooking feel within reach. The daily changing tasting menu starts at $95—an uncommon price for a restaurant experience of this caliber (à la carte ordering is an option on weekdays). A meal may include asparagus accented with meyer lemon, or a delicate pierogi stuffed with smoked carrot, dressed with dots of tomato jam and carrot mustard, and topped with relish—a playful hat tip to the Detroit Coney Island and to the region’s sizable Polish American community. Sustainably made wines from lesser-known regions and seasonal cocktails from the adjoining Dragonfly bar match the care that goes into each dish. The energy of the room feels as approachable as the food—ask for the binder containing a catalog of the owner’s vinyl collection and cue up Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day” to celebrate the mood.

This Midtown restaurant is one of the few places in town doing the whole nixtamalization thing, transforming heirloom corn into fresh masa that gives every tortilla toasty flavor and supple chew. That durable yet bouncy masa also serves as the base for their huaraches, tetelas, and other antojitos done really well. Start with the sikil pak, a fiery, nutty pumpkin-seed dip from the Yucatán, then move on to the whole red snapper, painted half in salsa roja and half in salsa verde before it hits the fire. Inside a dramatically renovated corner building from the 1920s, dark walnut, leather, and ceramic tile fuse modern

Before Marrow opened, dining options within Detroit's Eastern Market Historic District were largely limited to daytime diner food. That's no longer the case. This polished, modern restaurant and deli, housed in a former poultry processing plant, welcomes you, whether your arms are full of market groceries or you’ve just strolled through nearby Dequindre Cut. At Marrow, whole animal butchery meets the farmers market, resulting in knockout dishes like date-glazed Market Bacon, grilled cauliflower layers with apricot salsa and prosciutto XO sauce, or a bone-in short rib served with tallow-fried sweet potatoes. Two moody bar areas fill with a mix of day-drinking market shoppers and locals seeking an elegant place to catch up over cocktails made with Detroit spirits and a wine list that stretches from Leelanau Peninsula sparklers to Lebanese whites. Weekend brunch is reason enough to stop by, particularly for the Marrow Cakes topped with whipped bone marrow.

Noori Pocha/Chicken is for anyone chasing generously portioned Korean fried chicken that keeps you wanting more. Their soy garlic version delivers the audibly crisp skin, lacquered in a sweet-savory glaze that clings to every ridge without turning soft. Or go dry with their signature Magic Sprinkle seasoning, a sweet-savory, slightly funky blend of cheese, garlic, and a dash of sugar. The supporting cast of sides deserves as much love, like a rose tteokbokki that leans richer with its creamy, spicy sauce. Their dining room is designed to resemble a Seoul street scene with more than enough visual details to keep your eyes busy between bites, like faux storefronts, glowing neon signs, and paper lanterns, making this spot good for late-night groups who are happy to get a little messy together.

Detroit-style pizza was invented at Buddy’s in Hamtramck, and it’s still the best place to eat the rectangular, thick crust pan pies in the city.