41 excellent restaurants in Southwest Detroit

By on Fri, Jul 6, 2018 at 7:55 pm

Southwest Detroit is known for its outstanding Mexican fare, but there's actually a lot of range in this lively Detroit neighborhood. From deeply flavorful Puerto Rican mofongo to greasy spoon sliders to all the best tacos, here are some of the top restaurants Southwest offers.

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PizzaPlex 4458 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-757-4492; pizzaplex.com A hip pizza spot, Pizzaplex is the only restaurant in Detroit to seek certification as a purveyor of true Neapolitan pizza. Photo by Tony Lowe.
PizzaPlex
4458 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-757-4492; pizzaplex.com
A hip pizza spot, Pizzaplex is the only restaurant in Detroit to seek certification as a purveyor of true Neapolitan pizza.
Photo by Tony Lowe.
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Motz Burgers 7208 W. Fort St., Detroit; 313-843-9186; motzs.com Detroit abounds with charming, old-school burger joints serving sliders fragrant with the aroma of grilled onions. But Motz's stands apart, thanks to the quick service, 85-year history, gracious staff, and the milling workaday crowd that stuffs the joint around lunchtime. Then there's the charming banter of a family-owned business where jokes and gentle barbs fly back and forth that makes a late meal at the counter into dinner and a show. Photo via motzs.com
Motz Burgers
7208 W. Fort St., Detroit; 313-843-9186; motzs.com
Detroit abounds with charming, old-school burger joints serving sliders fragrant with the aroma of grilled onions. But Motz's stands apart, thanks to the quick service, 85-year history, gracious staff, and the milling workaday crowd that stuffs the joint around lunchtime. Then there's the charming banter of a family-owned business where jokes and gentle barbs fly back and forth that makes a late meal at the counter into dinner and a show.
Photo via motzs.com
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Taqueria Nuestra Familia 7620 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-842-5668; nuestrafamiliarestaurant.com An authentic and no-frills spot that specializes in $1.25 tacos and signature fajita mix. Yelp, Eunice P.
Taqueria Nuestra Familia
7620 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-842-5668; nuestrafamiliarestaurant.com
An authentic and no-frills spot that specializes in $1.25 tacos and signature fajita mix.
Yelp, Eunice P.
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Mariscos El Salpicon 8600 W. Vernor Hwy., 313-914-2214 Once a foodtruck, now a southwest staple specializing in Central American seafood dishes. Photo MT file.
Mariscos El Salpicon 8600 W. Vernor Hwy., 313-914-2214
Once a foodtruck, now a southwest staple specializing in Central American seafood dishes.
Photo MT file.
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Los Galanes 3362 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-554-444; losgalanesdetroit.com Old school Mexicantown restaurant that’s on the beaten path and serves excellent tortilla soup. Photo via Yelp
Los Galanes
3362 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-554-444; losgalanesdetroit.com
Old school Mexicantown restaurant that’s on the beaten path and serves excellent tortilla soup.
Photo via Yelp
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Armando’s 4242 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-0666; armandosmexicantown.com Longtime favorite Mexican spot on Vernor with all the standards and plenty of gooey cheese. Photo via Armando’s.
Armando’s
4242 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-0666; armandosmexicantown.com
Longtime favorite Mexican spot on Vernor with all the standards and plenty of gooey cheese.
Photo via Armando’s.
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Tamaleria Nuevo Leon 2669 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-962-8066 Nuevo Leon os one of Southwest’s best tamale folders. Photo via Tamaleria Nuevo Leon.
Tamaleria Nuevo Leon
2669 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-962-8066
Nuevo Leon os one of Southwest’s best tamale folders.
Photo via Tamaleria Nuevo Leon.
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Los Altos 7056 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-841-3109 Real deal Mexican food on Vernor from the owner of Senor Lopez. Photo via TripAdvisor.com
Los Altos
7056 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-841-3109
Real deal Mexican food on Vernor from the owner of Senor Lopez.
Photo via TripAdvisor.com
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Hygrade Deli 3640 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-894-6620; hygradedeli.com One of southwest Detroit’s old school, venerable ham sandwich stackers. Photo via Yelp, Al P.
Hygrade Deli
3640 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-894-6620; hygradedeli.com
One of southwest Detroit’s old school, venerable ham sandwich stackers.
Photo via Yelp, Al P.
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Colombo’s Coney Island 5414 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-849-0995 One of Southwest Detroit’s most loved coney islands. Photo via Yelp, Ryan B.
Colombo’s Coney Island
5414 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-849-0995
One of Southwest Detroit’s most loved coney islands.
Photo via Yelp, Ryan B.
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Mi Lindo San Blas 1807 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-789-5100 Find lots of Mexican seafood, ceviche galore, and loud music and dancing in this relatively new Southwest restaurant. Photo via Mi Lindo San Blas.
Mi Lindo San Blas
1807 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-789-5100
Find lots of Mexican seafood, ceviche galore, and loud music and dancing in this relatively new Southwest restaurant.
Photo via Mi Lindo San Blas.
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El Nacimiento 7400 W.Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-1790; elnacimientorestaurant.com All the great tacos, tostadas, burritos, and more that you come to expect from this solid Mexicantown neighborhood spot. Photo via El Nacimiento
El Nacimiento
7400 W.Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-1790; elnacimientorestaurant.com
All the great tacos, tostadas, burritos, and more that you come to expect from this solid Mexicantown neighborhood spot.
Photo via El Nacimiento
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Vince's Italian Restaurant 1341 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-842-4857; vincesdetroit.com Old school, pile on the red sauce Italian joint in Southwest’s southeast corner. Photo via Facebook
Vince's Italian Restaurant
1341 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-842-4857; vincesdetroit.com
Old school, pile on the red sauce Italian joint in Southwest’s southeast corner.
Photo via Facebook
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Family Treats 2010 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-841-3522 Find something from all the food groups — chili dogs, burgers, coney dogs, “deep-fried goodies,” and ice cream! Photo via Facebook
Family Treats
2010 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-841-3522
Find something from all the food groups — chili dogs, burgers, coney dogs, “deep-fried goodies,” and ice cream!
Photo via Facebook
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Las Cazuelas 4000 Livernoise Ave., Detroit 313-361-1100; lascazuelasgrill.net This family-run shop offers authentic Mexican fare at a fair price. Photo via Yelp
Las Cazuelas
4000 Livernoise Ave., Detroit 313-361-1100; lascazuelasgrill.net
This family-run shop offers authentic Mexican fare at a fair price.
Photo via Yelp
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Bella’s 2303 Campbell St., Detroit; 313-461-8657 This small shop is the only in southwest that specializes in Mexico’s soups and coffees. Photo via MT file.
Bella’s 2303 Campbell St., Detroit; 313-461-8657
This small shop is the only in southwest that specializes in Mexico’s soups and coffees.
Photo via MT file.
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Asty Time 7340 McGraw St., Detroit; 313-285-9390 All your favorite Domincan fare in this fun, family run spot — guisada de res, mfonogo, and more. Photo via MT file.
Asty Time
7340 McGraw St., Detroit; 313-285-9390
All your favorite Domincan fare in this fun, family run spot — guisada de res, mfonogo, and more.
Photo via MT file.
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Rincon Tropical 6538 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-334-8526; rincontropical313.com One of your few chances to get some delicious mfongo, cerdo guisado, pollo al horno, and other delicious Puerto Rican plates. Photo via MT file.
Rincon Tropical
6538 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-334-8526; rincontropical313.com
One of your few chances to get some delicious mfongo, cerdo guisado, pollo al horno, and other delicious Puerto Rican plates.
Photo via MT file.
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Senor Lopez 7146 Michigan Ave., Detroit 313-551-0685 Senor Lopez offers some of Detroit’s best tacos, and for a basement bargain price. Courtesy photo.
Senor Lopez
7146 Michigan Ave., Detroit 313-551-0685
Senor Lopez offers some of Detroit’s best tacos, and for a basement bargain price.
Courtesy photo.
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Siciliy’s 3553 W. Vernor Hwy, Detroit; 313-554-0755; sicilysdetroit.com This longtime pizza purveyor in Mexicantown is a neighborhood favorite. Courtesy photo.
Siciliy’s
3553 W. Vernor Hwy, Detroit; 313-554-0755; sicilysdetroit.com
This longtime pizza purveyor in Mexicantown is a neighborhood favorite.
Courtesy photo.
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