30 essential Ferndale restaurants you should have tried by now

By on Fri, Jan 20, 2023 at 2:18 pm

If metro Detroit had a brunch capital, it would be Ferndale.

While mimosa towers and carefully curated benedicts and pancakes are amazing at many of this suburb’s restaurants, Ferndale has a lot more to offer the dining scene.

Here’s a list of essential Ferndale restaurants.

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Mezcal 201 E. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-3915; mezcalferndale.com If you’re looking for the popular birria tacos, you can get them at Mezcal. The menu also boasts burritos, tostadas, tortas, and quesadillas.
Mezcal / Facebook

Mezcal

201 E. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-3915; mezcalferndale.com

If you’re looking for the popular birria tacos, you can get them at Mezcal. The menu also boasts burritos, tostadas, tortas, and quesadillas.
Pop’s For Italian 280 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-4806;popsforitalian.com Pop’s For Italian is a great spot for wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta. Don’t underestimate their weekend brunch, though — any place with a mimosa tower is good in our book.
Google Maps

Pop’s For Italian

280 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-4806;popsforitalian.com

Pop’s For Italian is a great spot for wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta. Don’t underestimate their weekend brunch, though — any place with a mimosa tower is good in our book.
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Fly Trap 22950 Woodward Ave.; 248-399-5150; theflytrapferndale.com This long-standing brunch restaurant has been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives and is a breakfast staple among locals. When its previous owners decided to quit last year after 20 years in business, Bobcat Bonnie’s Matt Buskard stepped in to take over the “finer diner,” vowing to change “NOTHING.”
Google Maps

Fly Trap

22950 Woodward Ave.; 248-399-5150; theflytrapferndale.com

This long-standing brunch restaurant has been featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives and is a breakfast staple among locals. When its previous owners decided to quit last year after 20 years in business, Bobcat Bonnie’s Matt Buskard stepped in to take over the “finer diner,” vowing to change “NOTHING.”
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Bobcat Bonnie’s 240 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-677-0158; bobcatbonnies.com Bobcat Bonnie’s aims to be your “neighborhood spot,” and they do a good job supporting local causes and using local products as well. The chain owns seven locations across Michigan and Ohio.
Google Maps

Bobcat Bonnie’s

240 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-677-0158; bobcatbonnies.com

Bobcat Bonnie’s aims to be your “neighborhood spot,” and they do a good job supporting local causes and using local products as well. The chain owns seven locations across Michigan and Ohio.
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Toast 23144 Woodward Ave.; 248-398-0444 eatattoast.com A breakfast and lunch joint, Toast offers a variety of mimosas and bloody marys, gourmet omelets, and of course pancakes.
Toast / Facebook

Toast

23144 Woodward Ave.; 248-398-0444 eatattoast.com

A breakfast and lunch joint, Toast offers a variety of mimosas and bloody marys, gourmet omelets, and of course pancakes.
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New York Bagel 23316 Woodward Ave.; 248-548-2580; newyorkbagel-detroit.com Whether you’re going for an everything bagel, their in-house cream cheese spread, or a good ol’ lox bagel, this perennial Metro Times “Best of Detroit” winner is a great fresh start to your morning.
New York Bagel / Facebook

New York Bagel

23316 Woodward Ave.; 248-548-2580; newyorkbagel-detroit.com

Whether you’re going for an everything bagel, their in-house cream cheese spread, or a good ol’ lox bagel, this perennial Metro Times “Best of Detroit” winner is a great fresh start to your morning.
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One-Eyed Betty’s 175 W. Troy St.; 248-808-6633; oneeyedbettys.com While the food is great, One-Eyed Betty’s cocktail menu is nothing to ignore.
Google Maps

One-Eyed Betty’s

175 W. Troy St.; 248-808-6633; oneeyedbettys.com

While the food is great, One-Eyed Betty’s cocktail menu is nothing to ignore.
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Como’s 22812 Woodward Ave.; 248-677-4439; comosrestaurant.com With Detroit-style pizza and over 20 beers on tap, Como’s is a great place for a casual lunch. The long-standing spot was renovated under recent years under chef Zack Sklar.
Como's / Facebook

Como’s

22812 Woodward Ave.; 248-677-4439; comosrestaurant.com

With Detroit-style pizza and over 20 beers on tap, Como’s is a great place for a casual lunch. The long-standing spot was renovated under recent years under chef Zack Sklar.
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May’s Bangkok Express 254 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-545-3929; maysbangkok.weebly.com This family-owned Thai restaurant is small, but offers a few flavorful Thai dishes.
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May’s Bangkok Express

254 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-545-3929; maysbangkok.weebly.com

This family-owned Thai restaurant is small, but offers a few flavorful Thai dishes.
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J’s Penalty Box 22726 Woodward Ave.; 248-398-4070jspenaltyboxferndale.com This Ferndale sports bar offers drink specials for every Tigers Home Run and every Red Wings goal. Everyone’s a winner here.
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J’s Penalty Box

22726 Woodward Ave.; 248-398-4070jspenaltyboxferndale.com

This Ferndale sports bar offers drink specials for every Tigers Home Run and every Red Wings goal. Everyone’s a winner here.
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Detroit Fleat 1820 E. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-607-7611detroitfleat.com Detroit Fleat is a food truck park that rotates vendors year-round.
Google Maps

Detroit Fleat

1820 E. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-607-7611detroitfleat.com

Detroit Fleat is a food truck park that rotates vendors year-round.
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Ferndale Project 567 Livernois Ave.; 313-513-2200; ferndaleproject.com The Ferndale Project is the sister brewpub of Eastern Market Brewing Co. The complex includes offerings from ASHE Coffee Supply and Dooped Donuts.
Google Maps

Ferndale Project

567 Livernois Ave.; 313-513-2200; ferndaleproject.com

The Ferndale Project is the sister brewpub of Eastern Market Brewing Co. The complex includes offerings from ASHE Coffee Supply and Dooped Donuts.
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Public House 241 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-733-4905; publichouseferndale.com Public House offers cocktails, mocktails, and everything in between. What’s particularly cool? Public House has a vegan brunch menu that is just as full and plentiful as its regular menu, so our meatless friends aren’t limited to pancakes.
Public House / Facebook

Public House

241 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-733-4905; publichouseferndale.com

Public House offers cocktails, mocktails, and everything in between. What’s particularly cool? Public House has a vegan brunch menu that is just as full and plentiful as its regular menu, so our meatless friends aren’t limited to pancakes.
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Inyo 22871 Woodward Ave.; 248-543-9500; inyorestaurant.com Inyo is a Japanese fusion restaurant that specializes in sushi and traditional cuisine.
Google Maps

Inyo

22871 Woodward Ave.; 248-543-9500; inyorestaurant.com

Inyo is a Japanese fusion restaurant that specializes in sushi and traditional cuisine.
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Anita’s Kitchen 22651 Woodward Ave.; 248-548-0680; anitaskitchen.com This Lebanese restaurant serves dishes like shawarma, baked kibbeh, and stuffed grape leaves, and also offers craft cocktails.
Google Maps

Anita’s Kitchen

22651 Woodward Ave.; 248-548-0680; anitaskitchen.com

This Lebanese restaurant serves dishes like shawarma, baked kibbeh, and stuffed grape leaves, and also offers craft cocktails.
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Imperial 22828 Woodward Ave.; 248-850-8060; imperialferndale.com We expect Mexican restaurants to carry tacos, but what about hot dogs? Both are on the menu at Imperial.
Google Maps

Imperial

22828 Woodward Ave.; 248-850-8060; imperialferndale.com

We expect Mexican restaurants to carry tacos, but what about hot dogs? Both are on the menu at Imperial.
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Culantro 22939 Woodward Ave.; 248-632-1055; culantroperu.com Culantro is a Peruvian eatery with dishes that challenge what you think you know about Latin American cuisine.
Google Maps

Culantro

22939 Woodward Ave.; 248-632-1055; culantroperu.com

Culantro is a Peruvian eatery with dishes that challenge what you think you know about Latin American cuisine.
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Spacecat V-stro 255 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-3211; spacecatvstro.com Who says vegan and vegetarian food has to be boring? Spacecat V-stro dishes out vegan and vegetarian comfort food including classics like mac and cheese.
Google Maps

Spacecat V-stro

255 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-3211; spacecatvstro.com

Who says vegan and vegetarian food has to be boring? Spacecat V-stro dishes out vegan and vegetarian comfort food including classics like mac and cheese.
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Balkan House 314 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-4920; thebalkanhouse.com Balkan House offers a taste of Europe right in the heart of Ferndale, serving up popular doner kebabs.
Google Maps

Balkan House

314 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-268-4920; thebalkanhouse.com

Balkan House offers a taste of Europe right in the heart of Ferndale, serving up popular doner kebabs.
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Red Hook 220 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-398-8018; theredhookcoffee.com This cozy coffeehouse has no shortage of brewed coffee, lattes, cold drinks, and more.
Google Maps

Red Hook

220 W. Nine Mile Rd.; 248-398-8018; theredhookcoffee.com

This cozy coffeehouse has no shortage of brewed coffee, lattes, cold drinks, and more.
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