25+ must-try Latin American restaurants in metro Detroit for Hispanic Heritage Month

Taqueria Lupitas

This Mexicantown staple claims to be “the house of the original Mexican taco,” serving up casual and authentic Mexican cuisine at great prices in a homey atmosphere.

Casa Amado Taqueria

2705 Coolidge Hwy., Berkley; 248-398-3294; casaamado.com

In January 2023, this spot’s Chef Amado Lopez was named as a semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation in the Emerging Chef category. The taqueria serves up authentic, flavorful tacos with fresh ingredients.

Pilar’s Tamales

2261 W. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-929-4161; pilarstamales.com

At this Salvadoran food restaurant, indulge in the tamales, pupusas, and various traditional sides, as well as horchata and Latin coffee drinks.

Campestre Chicken

3419 Fort St., Lincoln Park; 313-914-7522

Merging Mexican and Salvadorian cuisine, with the addition of Peruvian chicken, this spot bursts flavor and variety. Besides the Lincoln Park location, the restaurant also utilizes a food truck that is in Southwest Detroit on the weekends.

Pupuseria y Restaurante Salvadoreño

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

For a taste of El Salvador, visit this hidden gem specializing in pupusas, considered the country’s national dish.

Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine

1250 Library St., Detroit; 313-962-8800;vicentesdetroit.com

Vicente Vazquez’s dream of bringing family recipes to life led to Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine in 2005, offering traditional Cuban dishes like Pollo Con Camarones and the Sandwich Cubano Grande in the heart of downtown Detroit.

La Jalisciense Supermercado Y Taqueria

This family-owned Southwest Detroit market and restaurant is so popular that it’s considering a second location on the east side. It’s been serving authentic fresh Mexican food since 2014.

Barda

4842 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-952-5182; bardadetroit.com

With a more exclusive menu for special occasions, Barda brings Argentine cuisine to the city with a fancy twist.

Empacho

2760 Larned St., Detroit; empacho.us

This spot near the river specializes in an Argentian street food staple: the empanada. The small shop is mainly carryout and may soon expand to a second location in Ann Arbor.

Encuentro Latino

228 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-483-1727; facebook.com/encuentrolatinorestaurante

Ypsilanti boasts numerous Latin restaurants, but this family-owned Guatemalan gem often goes under the radar, offering an extensive menu at great prices.

Culantro

2939 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-632-1055; culantroperu.com

One of the only authentic Peruvian restaurants in Michigan is Culantro in Ferndale, which opened in 2018. Currently, the family-run spot is getting ready to open a second location in Ann Arbor.

Asty Time Dominican Cuisine

7340 McGraw Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9390; astytime.com

Chef Asty Acosta’s journey from the Dominican Republic to Southwest Detroit culminated in the creation of Asty Time, a restaurant known for standout dishes like salami con tostones and carne de res guisada. First serving with his wife out of their home, the family launched its now brick-and-mortar location in 2017.

1923

552 S. Main St., Ann Arbor; 734-934-0969; 1923.llc

This gluten-free taco truck, housed in a London double-decker bus, offers a unique dining experience with outdoor patio seating and delightful rolled ice cream.

El Rey de Las Arepas

7701 McGraw Ave., Detroit; 313-307-2210; elreydelasarepas.com

At Detroit’s first Venezuelan restaurant, you can enjoy arepas, cachapas, and pabellones.

La Torre Taqueria

1525 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-905-7220

This family-owned Mexican restaurant serves up great tacos super close to Eastern Michigan University’s campus.

Dos Hermanos Mexican Grill

402 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-802-1662

Dos Hermanos Market has been open in Ypsi since 2007, but when neighbor Abe’s Coney Island’s time came to an end, the owners were quick to scoop up the space next door to open this new full-service restaurant, serving authentic Mexican and Central and South American food.

Dos Locos Tacos

10337 Joseph Campau Ave., Hamtramck; 313-872-6838; doslocostacos.com

Hamtramck has tons of great Middle Eastern food, but this spot grants the town some Latin flavor. Dos Locos Tacos serves up burritos, empanadas, quesadillas, and of course, tacos.

Tikalito

1346 E. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-896-3857

This newly opened authentic Mexican restaurant has taken over the spot previously occupied by HANA Korean, bringing fresh flavors to the table.

Rincon Tropical

6538 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-334-8526; Facebook.com/rincontropical

Part nightclub and part authentic Puerto Rican eatery, Rincon Tropical specializes in staple dishes like mofongo, empanadillas, sorullitos, relleno, and alcapurria.

Buena Fe Restaurant

10116 W. Nine Mile Rd., Oak Park; 248-677-3222; mexicanrestaurantoakpark.com

This family-owned spot offers Mexican favorites and Salvadorian dishes, all at affordable prices.