15 metro Detroit restaurant hidden gems and old favorites

By Metro Times editorial staff on Tue, Aug 8, 2023 at 3:00 pm

Michelle Gerard, Stock Detroit

One of Cutter’s “Famous” burgers.

These are some of the Detroit area’s best dining destinations, according to our readers and writers.

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Tom Perkins

D Motown Deli

3750 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-925-1790; dmotowndeli.com

There are plenty of places to snag an old-school corned beef sandwich in the area, from the Bread Basket chain to more upscale spots like Stage Deli in West Bloomfield, but this lunch spot on the city’s east side exudes a certain charm. Owner Al Preni told us that he buys his corned beef “by the pallet” from Eastern Market, and the spot counts fans ranging from folks from the neighborhood to downtown office workers.

@chaunceyfrancois / Instagram

La Jalisciense Supermercado y Taqueria

3923 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-551-0522; lajalisciensedetroit.com

Tucked in a Southwest Detroit grocery store, this restaurant earned heaps of praise from our reviewer, who loved its carne asada, spicy fried pambozo sandwiches, and goat birria. In search of chicharrones, our Chowhound columnist piled on, also enjoying the relleno-style stuffed poblano peppers. It’s such a hit that a second location is planned for Detroit’s east side.

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Ernie's Market / Facebook

Ernie’s Market

8500 Capital St., Oak Park; 248-541-9703; erniessandwichshop.com

The affable Ernie Hassan has been slinging sandwiches at his family’s store since 1968, earning kudos as a recurring winner for “Best Sandwich Shop” in our Best of Detroit poll. Try the aptly named “Monster” sandwich, which seemingly packs everything but the kitchen sink between two slices of bread. As Ernie would say, “Yeah, baby!” (If you know, you know.)

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Tom Perkins

Kung Fu Brothers Noodles and Dumplings

35624 Warren Rd., Westland; 734-725-3177; kungfubrosdumplings.com

Located in an unassuming suburban strip mall, this spot serves hand-pulled noodles and “Chinese burritos,” leading to our reviewer last year to declare it to be “undoubtedly one of the best — if not the best — new restaurants in Detroit.”

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Tom Perkins

Kal’s Lunch Bowl

316 E. Eleven Mile Rd., Royal Oak; 248-832-0044; kalslunchbowl.com

After operating a popular kabob spot out of a gas station at Coolidge and 12 Mile roads called Mr. Kabob, chef Kal Al-Amara briefly retired in 2020. In 2021, he was cajoled out of retirement to helm this carryout kitchen window in the Royal Oak Farmers Market, where he continues to serve Lebanese favorites that rank among the best in a region rich with such options.

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Tom Perkins

Frank’s Family Pizzeria

3144 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte; 734-282-0512; frankspizza1952.com

Open since 1952, this neighborhood favorite came under new ownership in 2020, who made some changes including remodeling the space and adding Detroit-style pizza to the menu that goes head-to-head with the established players. The new Frank’s also has expanded its bar offerings.

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Tom Perkins

The Smokehouse in Holiday Market

1203 S. Main St., Royal Oak; 248-541-1414; holiday- market.com

Some of the best smoked brisket to be found in the area is served inside this upscale grocery store in the ’burbs. Chef Kirk Churchill has been serving up succulent smoked brisket at Holiday Market for a few years now, which our reviewer found “moist, smokey, flavorful, and the fat content is just right. ... Decadent, even."

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Viola Klocko

Pupuseria y Restaurante Salvadoreño

3149 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-899-4020; pupuseriayrestaurantesalvadoreno.negocio.site

This long-standing family-owned and -operated Southwest Detroit spot serves up the beloved El Salvador dish, and is such a hit that they go through 100 lbs. of handmade corn tortillas per day, and 250 lbs. on the weekends.

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Tom Perkins

Detroit Pho & Crab

26680 Dequindre Rd., Warren; 586-486-4290; detroitphocrab.com

While the trend of Viet-Cajun seafood boil restaurants has hit in Detroit in recent years, this Macomb County spot was one of the local pioneers, bringing the idea from California. Not only does it serve the popular boil bags, but it also offers Vietnamese cuisine as well.

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Tom Perkins

Fredi the PizzaMan

17900 Allen Rd., Melvindale; fredithepizzaman.com

For decades, this downriver pizza joint flew under the radar, tucked away in an industrial part of town. Then Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports declared its thin-crust pizzas to be "the best in Detroit. Hands down, bar none." That's a bold claim to make in the land of Detroit-style pizza, but we sent a reviewer and Fredi's does indeed live up to the hype.

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Tom Perkins

Rangoli Indian Cuisine

3055 Walton Blvd., Auburn Hills; 248-377-3800; detroitrangoli.com

This long-standing restaurant has been a local favorite for decades, with a wide menu that covers a lot of territory.

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Cornbread Restaurant & Bar / Facebook

Cornbread Restaurant & Bar

29852 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-208-1680; cornbreadsoulfood.com

First opened as Beans & Cornbread in 1997, this soul food favorite restaurant moved down the street and rebranded in 2021. It has earned numerous awards throughout the years for Best Soul Food in our Best of Detroit poll.

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Tom Perkins

Trizest

33170 Dequindre Rd., Sterling Heights; 586-268-1450; trizest.com

This long-standing restaurant boasts some of the most authentic Sichuan cuisine in the region. It was named “Best Chinese” in Macomb County by readers in our 2022 Best of Detroit poll.

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Michelle Gerard, Stock Detroit

Cutter’s Bar & Grille

2638 Orleans St., Detroit; 313-393-0960; cuttersdetroit.com

After returning to metro Detroit after a stint working in the dining scene in Arizona, our Chowhound columnist Robert Stempkowski deemed this humble Eastern Market institution to be one of his top-five favorite restaurants of all time. While some may scoff at so-called “bar food,” Stempkowski was wowed by Cutter’s “Famous” Stuffed Burgers and Steak Bites Salad, among other items, writing in his review, “Fresh-fried food, when well-executed, is worthy of Beard Award consideration, in this writer’s opinion.” If you’ve never been or haven’t been in a while, Cutter’s is certainly worth a visit.

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Tom Perkins

Rando’s Sandos

2638 Orleans St., Detroit; 313-393-0960; instagram.com/randos.sandos

This food truck is a newcomer to the scene, but it’s already making a name for itself thanks to its inventive sandwiches like deviled egg BLTs and heart of palm “lobster rolls.” Follow them on Instagram @randos.sandos to find out where they’ll be next.

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