35 essential Latino-owned restaurants in Detroit you should have tried by now

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Sep 18, 2020 at 10:05 am

We have four words for you: SUPPORT LATINO-OWNED BUSINESSES. We're not sorry for yelling because those of us who live here know that Detroit is a rich tapestry of cultural influences from all over the world, including those from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, and, of course, Mexico. We're lucky enough to have had so many Latino entrepreneurs open up shop in Detroit as a means to share their love of family and generational cuisine with the hungry Motor City masses. While we know we're only giving a small glimpse of the popular spots around town, we hope this slideshow offers some ideas of places — old and new — to support ASAP.

For more information on Detroit's Hispanic Heritage Month festivities, visit SouthwestDetroit.com.

Tags:

Scroll down to view images

Page 2 of 2

Taqueria El Rey

4730 Vernor Hwy, Detroit; 313-357-3094; taqueria-elrey.com
Perhaps one of the most popular destinations in Southwest Detroit, as evidenced by the line that is often out of the door, is Taqueria El Rey, which is home to some of the best — if not the best — chicken in the city. Established in 1996, owners came to Detroit in 1987 from San Ignacio Cerro Gordo, their chicken is marinated and cooked over a 100% wood charcoal grill until it’s crispy, and comes in adobo sauce or sweet BBQ options. They also have beer and other traditional Mexican fare.

Photo via Google Maps

21 of 35

La Posada

1930 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-841-1690; laposadadetroit.com
What started out as a market to provide money transfer services for the area’s Latino working-class community has blossomed into a restaurant and pantry, offering traditional Jalisco cuisine. Founded by Juan Romo, a Mexican immigrant, La Posada started in 2005 and offers everything from tacos, Chiles Rellenos, breakfast items, and catered dinners.

Photo by Juan Carlos Dueweke-Perez of Featherstone

22 of 35

Taqueria Lupitas

3443 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-1105; Facebook.com/taquerialupitas
As far as casual and authentic Mexican fare goes, the longstanding Taqueria Lupitas holds its own in Mexicantown, and claims to be home of the original Mexican taco.

Photo via Google Maps

23 of 35

Armando’s Mexican Restaurant

4242 Vernor Hwy, Detroit; 313- 554-0666; armandosmexicantown.com
Located in the heart of Mexicantown, Armando’s was first established in 1967 by Armando Galan and, in 1986, the Hernandez family took over, continuing Armando’s legacy of offering fresh and affordable Mexican food.

Photo by Juan Carlos Dueweke-Perez of Featherstone

24 of 35

Taqueria Mi Pueblo

7278 Dix St., Detroit; 313-841-3315; mipueblorestaurant.com
What originated as an underground restaurant in 1995 — with Jose DeJesus Lopez slinging more than 1,000 tacos a day out of his house — has become one of the most beloved taco spots in the city. The family-owned business specializes in uniquely seasoned tacos but also offers traditional dishes from Jalisco, like birria, as well as Mexico City-centric dishes like tortas, coastal seafood dishes, and Mex-American fare, like cheesy enchiladas and wet burritos.

Photo via Google Maps

25 of 35

Vincente’s Cuban Cuisine

1250 Library St., Detroit 48226; 313-962-8800; vicentesdetroit.com
Owner Vicente Vazquez founded Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine in 2005, fulfilling a longtime dream of wanting to bring family recipes to life. Vincente’s offers traditional Cuban cuisine, including Pollo Con Camarones, Lechon Asado, and, of course, the Sandwich Cubano Grande, made with pork, ham, swiss cheese, pickles, mustard, and mayo, pressed on Cuban bread.

Photo via Vincente’s Cuban Cuisine/Facebook

26 of 35

Taqueria Nuestra Familia

7620 Vernor Hwy, Detroit; 313-842-5668; taquerianuestrafamilia.wordpress.com
Since opening in 1998, Jorge Canchola’s family-owned and operated Taqueria Nuestra Familia has brought multi-generational recipes to Detroit diners, including freshly made corn tortillas handmade daily.

Photo via GoogleMaps

27 of 35

Taqueria y Cenaduria Triángulo Dorado

8065 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-652-5247; Facebook.com/CenaduriaTrianguloDorado
A newer Mexican entry in Southwest Detroit comes via Santiago Torres and Karina Rocha and their family-owned and operated Taqueria y Cenaduria Triángulo Dorado, where Rocha’s mother is head chef. The restaurant specializes in comfort food from Northern Mexico, including ceviche tostadas, aguachiles, shrimp cocktails, and torre de mariscos, which is a stacked seafood tower of shrimp, octopus, and scallops. They also offer Sinaloa-style sushi, which is made using a deep-fried California roll with shrimp, steak, spicy mayo, and eel sauce.

Photo via Google Maps

28 of 35

Xochimilco Restaurant

3409 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-0179; Facebook.com/XochimilcoRestaurant
This popular Mexicantown eatery often has a dining crowd filling both its downstairs and upstairs floors, drawn by its large portions and inexpensive menu. The atmosphere is dim but warm, and this restaurant's liquor license offers another added bonus.

Photo via GoogleMaps

29 of 35

Los Galanes

3362 Bagley Ave., Detroit; 313-554-4444; losgalanesdetroit.com
Independently-owned Los Galanes has been serving traditional and affordable Mexican-American fare out of Mexicantown since 1967.

Photo via Los Galanes/Facebook

30 of 35

Mangonadas del Barrio

4029 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 1210 Lawndale, Detroit; 313-724-6074; mangonadasdelbarriodetroit.com
When talking about Detroit’s Latino-owned restaurants, it would be impossible to ignore the incredible dessert offerings scattered around the city including that of the Hernandez Martinez family, who opened Mangonadas del Barrio. Having sold mangos on street corners, the family came together to offer Southwest Detroit traditional Mexican desserts with flare. While they sell ice cream and other sweet treats, the heart of the business is the Mangonada, a cup topped with fresh diced mango and a tamarind paste-wrapped straw that's rolled in chili powder.

Photo via Las Mangondas del Barrio/Facebook

31 of 35

Pollo Chapin

2054 Junction Ave., 313-843-1885; Facebook.com/PolloChapin

Guatemalan-style fried chicken, anyone? Family-owned Pollo Chapin operates out of a lowkey spot and offers affordable and accessible Guatemalan fare.

Photo via GoogleMaps

32 of 35

Peso

2547 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-974-6197; pesobardetroit.com
Peso is known for using locally sourced ingredients and, also, for serving up some mighty powerful cocktails. This partially Latino-owned spot, which opened in 2019, offers a sophisticated yet refined menu of modern twists on Mexican classics like street corn, Jicama salad, tortas, and burritos. Oh, and they offer 20 types of margaritas.

Photo via Peso Bar Detroit/Facebook

33 of 35

Pupuseria Y Restaurante Salvadoreño

3149 Livernois, Detroit; 313-899-4020; Facebook.com/PupuseriaYRestauraneSalvadoreño
For a taste of El Salvador, look no further than this casual pupuseria, specializing in the pupusa, which just so happens to be El Salvador’s national dish. For the uninitiated, a pupusa is a thick, soft corn tortilla stuffed with everything from beef, pork, beans, and cheese, and is served with a fermented cabbage relish. Pupuseria Y Restaurante Saladoreño is one of Southwest Detroit’s best kept secrets as it is tucked off the street and is not located on the main drag of Vernor Highway or in the Mexicantown district.

Photo via GoogleMaps

34 of 35

La Terraza

8445 Vernor Hwy, Detroit; 313-843-1433; laterrazadetroit.com
Opened around 2006 by Israel Rocha, who moved to Detroit from Jalisco in the 1980s, La Terraza — which translates to “terrace” — offers regional favorites, with a focus on Mexican seafood dishes.

Photo via GoogleMaps