20 Detroit area strip mall restaurants worth trying

By Metro Times editorial staff on Fri, Aug 20, 2021 at 3:12 pm

When we turn into the strip mall to do our grocery shopping, mail a package or hit the salon, we hardly ever deviate from our plans and check out what else the strip has to offer.

These strip mall restaurants are all worth the double take while you're out shopping.

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Tienda Mexicana

31642 John R Rd., Madison Heights

Here, you'll find undoubtedly the best tacos outside of Southwest Detroit, and arguably in all of metro Detroit. The meats are magnificently marinated and then grilled and folded into two freshly made corn tortillas. While most taco places offer carne asada, carnitas, al pastor, chorizo, and chicken, it can be difficult to find other variety, like lengua (beef tongue) or tripa (tripe). The lengua here has that melts-in-your-mouth quality that fans of the stuff look for in beef tongue.

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Sahara Restaurant and Grill

24770 Coolidge Hwy., Oak Park; 248-399-7744; newsahara.com

Right at the corner of 10 Mile Rd. and Coolidge Hwy, Sahara Restaurant & Grill dishes out a taste of the Mediterranean. Try the Sahara fries which are fries draped in chicken or beef shwarma and topped with tahini or Shahara Ranch

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LoLo Potluck

3950 Rochester Rd., Troy

The one place in metro Detroit that trades in Egyptian cuisine, LoLo Potluck is a small shop that holds a few tables and does a lot of carryout business. The menu holds plenty of the kebabs and shawarmas that you're used to seeing at metro Detroit's Lebanese restaurants. However there are slightly Egyptian twists in each one.

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Lao Pot

32707 John R Rd., Madison Heights; 248-689-9888; thekungfunoodlehouse.com

Opened in 2020, Lao Pot offers a selection of greatest hits from China's regional styles with a variety of broths at varying levels of spice levels.

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Veg-O-Rama

44930 Ford Rd., Canton

At this vegetarian international “street food” restaurant, the bulk of the items on the menu hold Indian flavors, but the restaurant gets a little more “international” with dishes like a Cuban sandwich and pierogi. All but four of the items on the menu are vegan, and the restaurant’s main attractions are its vegan burgers.

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Chao Zhou

31682 John R Rd., Madison Heights; 248-588-6828; micasakb.com/chaozhoumadisonheights

Chao Zhou certainly has Americanized Cantonese dishes on its menu — cashew chicken, chow mein — and they are cheaper. But if you turn to the Chef's Special pages at the back, you'll also find more authentic Cantonese food options.

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Athens Sovlaki

21738 W. 11 Mile Rd., Southfield; 248-356-6463; athenssouvlaki.com

Located in Harvard Row Mall, Athen's Souvlaki serves all of our Greek favorites. Saganaki, gyros, and chicken kebabs scratch the surface of this full menu.

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Ima 32203 John R. Rd., Madison Heights; 248-781-0131; imanoodles.com With locations in Corktown, Midtown, and Madison Heights, you can get your Ima fix very readily and steam-ily. OK  that may not be a word, but Ima has an eclectic yet refined menu with things like spicy fried chicken  and tofu  sandwiches, Asian-inspired tacos, ramen, and pho. Oh, and yes, Ima offers vegan and gluten-free pho options. Photo via GoogleMaps

Ima

32203 John R. Rd., Madison Heights; 248-781-0131; imanoodles.com

With locations in Corktown, Midtown, and Madison Heights, you can get your Ima fix very readily and steam-ily. OK — that may not be a word, but Ima has an eclectic yet refined menu with things like spicy fried chicken — and tofu — sandwiches, Asian-inspired tacos, ramen, and pho. Oh, and yes, Ima offers vegan and gluten-free pho options.

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Jamaican Pot

14615 Eight Mile Rd., Detroit

At this vegetarian friendly restaurant that uses all fresh ingredients, you will find what could be some of the city's healthiest Jamaican fare. Notably, the Jamaican Pot’s steamed cabbage somehow remains crunchy and is complex for such a simple side. Among the top dishes are the curry goat and the fricassee chicken with veggies in a brown gravy of garlic, onions, scallions, and thyme. The restaurant also offers a full line of desserts like the Upside Down Pineapple Brownie, and fresh juices.

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Phulkari Punjabi

27707 Dequindre Rd., Madison Heights

Located on Dequindre Road just across the street from Davenport University, this newly renovated Indian eatery honors traditional Indian cuisine while providing a comfortable, modern environment to keep your eating experience bright and lively. Their extensive menu offers countless Indian dishes including vegetarian options.

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Peepo’s

10890 Beech Daly Rd., Taylor
The Lebanese ‘Africano’ dishes at Peepo’s in Taylor are a walk on the wild side. Before you can get to the taste, the first thing you'll notice when a dish is set on your table is that the portions can be cartoonishly large. Still, these Lebanese dishes, many with a very American spin, are not to be missed.

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Turmerican Vegetarian Cuisine

24259 Novi Rd., Novi

As a vegetarian restaurant, Turmerican features mild to medium spice Indian food which also has vegan and gluten-free options that are clearly stated on their menu. If you’re a fan of authentic Indian food, you won't miss out on the meat here.

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Que Huong

30820 John R Rd., Madison Heights

Que Huong's pho menu isn't too different from most in Madison Heights, but there are always some who are going to do it a little different or a little better, and this is one of those spots. While banh mi and pho are excellent, you might've already tried both. The best part of Que Huong's menu are the deeper cuts and the house specials — dishes with which your Midwestern taste buds might not be familiar.

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Al-Saha

14246 Warren Ave., Dearborn

The real attraction here is not some simulated experience of a meal in a luxurious palace, but rather plate upon plate of delicious food served by knowledgeable cooks. It's warm and inviting.You know what you like, and you'll find that you like it even more when you eat it at Al Saha.

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Ishtar

3625 15 Mile Rd., Sterling Heights

One of the few metro Detroit restaurants representing the cuisine of Iraq, Ishtar is famous for its shawarma, and offers other delicious Iraqi dishes such as the Iraqi chicken tikka, tannour flatbread, salad dishes, and more.

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Oaxaca

1985 E. Wattles Rd., Troy

Oaxacan-native siblings Juan, Maria, and Carmen Velasco opened the restaurant in September 2015, and the compact menu holds several of the region's delicious dishes, including tlayudas, molotes, and mole. Oaxaca's burritos are reminiscent of those in San Francisco's Mission District — as big as your head. The tacos are folded into homemade corn tortillas, and the tortas arrive on big, circular, crusty teleras buns.

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California Burgerz

12045 Conant St., Hamtramck

Modeled after California's In-N-Out Burgers, California Burgerz’s menu is short and straightforward and, at the very least, the menu items' names have In-N-Out beat. Check out the Gorilla Burger (Angus beef, pickles, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, and American cheese on a pretzel bun) or the chic L.A. Bacon Burger (Angus beef, bacon, pickles, lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, American cheese, and CB sauce on a brioche).

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El Catracho

4627 W. Vernor Hwy,. Detroit

“El Catracho” means “The Honduran.” Ignore the “antojitos” (appetizers) part of the name; you’ll get giant full-course meals here. Breakfast is served anytime and besides eggs can include those wonderful fried plantains or gallo pinto (spotted rooster), a Nicaraguan or Costa Rican dish made simply by combining rice with beans.

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Thang Long

27641 John R Rd., Madison Heights; 248-547-6763

Fresh leafy greens and herbs characterize the Vietnamese food served at Thang Long. Try the fresh and flavorful summer rolls, or do it yourself with an order of Thit Bo, which lets you wrap your own chicken, beef, or pork. Also excellent are the rice noodle soups, which are meals in themselves.

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Peterlin's Restaurant and Bar

22004 Farmington Rd., Farmington; 248-426-8822

From their to Pork Nachos and Country Fried Steak to their Grilled Pork Chops and Lobster Mac, Peterlin's serves up comfort food in the Farmington Crossroads shopping mall.

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