Michigan-based chain restaurants that are actually good [PHOTOS]

By on Wed, Apr 26, 2023 at 5:31 pm

Dining at a chain restaurant might seem way uncool, especially when you could be spending your money at a small business instead. However, many of the chain spots in and around the Detroit area are actually based in Michigan, and employ local workers and are sometimes even owned by a local franchisee. Plus, plenty are actually good, too.

Of course, “good” is in the eye of the beholder. These restaurants are based in Michigan, have at least three locations, and are beloved by locals in their own ways. How many have you tried?

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Olga’s Kitchen Multiple locations, olgas.com Founded by entrepreneur Olga Loizon in 1970 in Birmingham, the Greek-American chain grew rapidly during the height of the shopping mall era. Headquartered in Livonia, the chain is known for its Olga bread and especially its Snackers, or triangular pieces of pita served with cheese spread. The eponymous Olga died in 2019 at age 92.
Courtesy photo

Olga’s Kitchen

Multiple locations, olgas.com
Founded by entrepreneur Olga Loizon in 1970 in Birmingham, the Greek-American chain grew rapidly during the height of the shopping mall era. Headquartered in Livonia, the chain is known for its Olga bread and especially its Snackers, or triangular pieces of pita served with cheese spread. The eponymous Olga died in 2019 at age 92.
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Buddy’s Pizza Multiple locations, buddyspizza.com Originally a speakeasy known as Buddy’s Rendezvous, what we now call Buddy’s was founded in 1946 and is known as the creator of Detroit-style pizza, which as legend has it was created using a metal tray used for auto parts. The company has grown alongside the square-shaped pies’ popularity, and it now has more than 20 locations across Michigan.
Courtesy photo

Buddy’s Pizza

Multiple locations, buddyspizza.com
Originally a speakeasy known as Buddy’s Rendezvous, what we now call Buddy’s was founded in 1946 and is known as the creator of Detroit-style pizza, which as legend has it was created using a metal tray used for auto parts. The company has grown alongside the square-shaped pies’ popularity, and it now has more than 20 locations across Michigan.
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Biggby Coffee Multiple locations, biggby.com This Lansing-based company was originally known as “Beaner’s Coffee” and eventually became one of the fastest-growing coffee chains in the U.S. It has more than 280 locations throughout the country.
Dwight Burdette, Wikimedia Creative Commons

Biggby Coffee

Multiple locations, biggby.com
This Lansing-based company was originally known as “Beaner’s Coffee” and eventually became one of the fastest-growing coffee chains in the U.S. It has more than 280 locations throughout the country.
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Bagger Dave’s Multiple locations, baggerdaves.com Founded in Berkley in 2008, this burger chain once had 26 locations across the Midwest. It now has just six, including two in metro Detroit.
Instagram, @baggerdaves

Bagger Dave’s

Multiple locations, baggerdaves.com
Founded in Berkley in 2008, this burger chain once had 26 locations across the Midwest. It now has just six, including two in metro Detroit.
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Fishbone’s Detroit Multiple locations, fishbonesusa.com Established in Detroit in 1989, this chain is known for its live music and New Orleans-inspired menu. It has locations in Detroit, St. Clair Shores, and Southfield.
Evan Gonzalez, Detroit Stock City

Fishbone’s Detroit

Multiple locations, fishbonesusa.com
Established in Detroit in 1989, this chain is known for its live music and New Orleans-inspired menu. It has locations in Detroit, St. Clair Shores, and Southfield.
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Zo’s Good Burger Multiple locations, zosgoodburger.com After starting by slinging burgers out of a Dearborn gas station in 2013, this chain now has five locations in the Detroit area. The company is known for its halal-friendly offerings, including its signature “Good Burger” which comes loaded with cheese sticks, onion rings, and special sauce held together under a pretzel bun.
Instagram, @zosgoodburger

Zo’s Good Burger

Multiple locations, zosgoodburger.com
After starting by slinging burgers out of a Dearborn gas station in 2013, this chain now has five locations in the Detroit area. The company is known for its halal-friendly offerings, including its signature “Good Burger” which comes loaded with cheese sticks, onion rings, and special sauce held together under a pretzel bun.
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Dominos Multiple locations, dominos.com Now a massive multinational pizza chain with thousands of stores all over the world, the chain had humble beginnings. It was founded in 1980 in Ypsilanti by two brothers who purchased an existing pizza chain called DomiNick’s with just a $500 down payment. The company’s headquarters is in nearby Ann Arbor Township.
Liza Lagman Sperl, Flickr Creative Commons

Dominos

Multiple locations, dominos.com
Now a massive multinational pizza chain with thousands of stores all over the world, the chain had humble beginnings. It was founded in 1980 in Ypsilanti by two brothers who purchased an existing pizza chain called DomiNick’s with just a $500 down payment. The company’s headquarters is in nearby Ann Arbor Township.
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Halo Burger Multiple locations, haloburger.com Halo Burger is one of the oldest burger chains in the U.S., founded in a boxcar-style wagon in Flint in 1923. It’s known for serving other Michigan favorites like coney dogs, Bumpy cake, and Vernors ginger ale, and its Flint location is even a former Vernors soda shop.
Shutterstock

Halo Burger

Multiple locations, haloburger.com
Halo Burger is one of the oldest burger chains in the U.S., founded in a boxcar-style wagon in Flint in 1923. It’s known for serving other Michigan favorites like coney dogs, Bumpy cake, and Vernors ginger ale, and its Flint location is even a former Vernors soda shop.
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Sweetwater Tavern Multiple locations, sweetwatertavern.net Known for its chicken wings, considered by many to be the city’s best, Sweetwater Tavern’s flagship Bricktown location is believed to be one of the oldest buildings in Detroit, dating back to the mid-1800s. The business came under ownership of Jeffrey Cain in 1991, and the chain has expanded with additional locations in Southfield and Eastpointe.
Tom Perkins

Sweetwater Tavern

Multiple locations, sweetwatertavern.net
Known for its chicken wings, considered by many to be the city’s best, Sweetwater Tavern’s flagship Bricktown location is believed to be one of the oldest buildings in Detroit, dating back to the mid-1800s. The business came under ownership of Jeffrey Cain in 1991, and the chain has expanded with additional locations in Southfield and Eastpointe.
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Leo’s Coney Island Multiple locations, leosconeyisland.com Greek immigrant brothers Leo and Peter Stassinopoulos opened their first restaurant in Southfield in 1972. It now has dozens of locations across metro Detroit serving up Greek-American favorites including saganaki, or flaming cheese. Opa!
Shutterstock

Leo’s Coney Island

Multiple locations, leosconeyisland.com
Greek immigrant brothers Leo and Peter Stassinopoulos opened their first restaurant in Southfield in 1972. It now has dozens of locations across metro Detroit serving up Greek-American favorites including saganaki, or flaming cheese. Opa!
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Jet’s Pizza Multiple locations, jetspizza.com This Detroit-style chain was founded by brothers Eugene and John Jetts in 1978 in Sterling Heights, where its headquarters remains to this day. It now has more than 400 franchises in 20 states.
Shutterstock

Jet’s Pizza

Multiple locations, jetspizza.com
This Detroit-style chain was founded by brothers Eugene and John Jetts in 1978 in Sterling Heights, where its headquarters remains to this day. It now has more than 400 franchises in 20 states.
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Avalon International Breads Multiple locations, avalonbreads.net This bakery and coffee shop opened its first store in the Cass Corridor in 1997. It has since expanded with five locations in Detroit and Ann Arbor.
Tom Perkins

Avalon International Breads

Multiple locations, avalonbreads.net
This bakery and coffee shop opened its first store in the Cass Corridor in 1997. It has since expanded with five locations in Detroit and Ann Arbor.
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Big John’s Steak & Onion Multiple locations, bigjohnsteakandonion.net Known for its steak and onion sub sandwich, this chain’s first restaurant was established in 1972 in Flint by John E. Klobuchar. Its original location is still in operation today, and the chain has expanded to about 15 locations in the mid-Michigan area.
Instagram, @gingerbeard_man7

Big John’s Steak & Onion

Multiple locations, bigjohnsteakandonion.net
Known for its steak and onion sub sandwich, this chain’s first restaurant was established in 1972 in Flint by John E. Klobuchar. Its original location is still in operation today, and the chain has expanded to about 15 locations in the mid-Michigan area.
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Hungry Howie’s Pizza Multiple locations, hungryhowies.com Now one of the biggest pizza chains in the U.S., the company was founded in 1973 in Taylor and is known as the “Home of the Flavored Crust Pizza.” Its HQ is now located in Madison Heights.
Shutterstock

Hungry Howie’s Pizza

Multiple locations, hungryhowies.com
Now one of the biggest pizza chains in the U.S., the company was founded in 1973 in Taylor and is known as the “Home of the Flavored Crust Pizza.” Its HQ is now located in Madison Heights.
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Jolly Pumpkin Multiple locations, jollypumpkin.com Established in Dexter in 2004 as a brewery called Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, the chain now has seven outposts, including in Detroit, Royal Oak, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City.
Scottb211, Flickr Creative Commons

Jolly Pumpkin

Multiple locations, jollypumpkin.com
Established in Dexter in 2004 as a brewery called Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, the chain now has seven outposts, including in Detroit, Royal Oak, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Traverse City.
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National Coney Island Multiple locations, nationalconeyisland.com Founded in Roseville’s Macomb Mall in 1965, this Coney Island chain now has multiple locations throughout the Detroit area. Its Greek-American-style menu includes gyros, chicken hani sandwiches, and Greek salads.
Shutterstock

National Coney Island

Multiple locations, nationalconeyisland.com
Founded in Roseville’s Macomb Mall in 1965, this Coney Island chain now has multiple locations throughout the Detroit area. Its Greek-American-style menu includes gyros, chicken hani sandwiches, and Greek salads.
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Little Caesars Multiple locations, littlecaesars.com Thanks to its bargain $5 Hot-N-Ready pies, Little Caesars has become one of the top three largest pizza chains in the U.S., behind only Pizza Hut and fellow Michigan-based chain Domino’s. It was founded in 1959 in Garden City, originally named “Little Caesar’s Pizza Treat.” Its headquarters is in downtown Detroit near the historic Fox Theatre, which was acquired and restored by Little Caesars founders Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1988 at a cost of $12 million.
Shutterstock

Little Caesars

Multiple locations, littlecaesars.com
Thanks to its bargain $5 Hot-N-Ready pies, Little Caesars has become one of the top three largest pizza chains in the U.S., behind only Pizza Hut and fellow Michigan-based chain Domino’s. It was founded in 1959 in Garden City, originally named “Little Caesar’s Pizza Treat.” Its headquarters is in downtown Detroit near the historic Fox Theatre, which was acquired and restored by Little Caesars founders Mike and Marian Ilitch in 1988 at a cost of $12 million.
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Bobcat Bonnie’s Multiple locations, bobcatbonnies.com Owner Matt Buskard opened his first restaurant in Corktown’s former O’Blivians in 2015. The family-oriented chain is known for comfort food fare like burgers, tater tots, and mac and cheese, including six locations in the Detroit area and one in Toledo, Ohio.
Facebook, Bobcat Bonnie’s Ferndale

Bobcat Bonnie’s

Multiple locations, bobcatbonnies.com
Owner Matt Buskard opened his first restaurant in Corktown’s former O’Blivians in 2015. The family-oriented chain is known for comfort food fare like burgers, tater tots, and mac and cheese, including six locations in the Detroit area and one in Toledo, Ohio.
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Ram’s Horn Multiple locations, ramshornrestaurants.com Greek brothers Eugene, Gus, and Steve Kasapis opened their first restaurant in Detroit’s Cadillac Square in 1967. The chain now has about a dozen locations around metro Detroit.
Shutterstock

Ram’s Horn

Multiple locations, ramshornrestaurants.com
Greek brothers Eugene, Gus, and Steve Kasapis opened their first restaurant in Detroit’s Cadillac Square in 1967. The chain now has about a dozen locations around metro Detroit.
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Louisiana Creole Gumbo Multiple locations, detroitgumbo.com This Cajun chain started in 1970 as Luzianne Creole Gumbo in Detroit’s Eastern Market neighborhood, whose owner Joseph Stafford learned to cook from his mother in Louisiana. The restaurant was acquired by current owner Joe Spencer in 1983, and has expanded with additional locations in northwest Detroit and Farmington Hills.
Kelley O’Neill

Louisiana Creole Gumbo

Multiple locations, detroitgumbo.com
This Cajun chain started in 1970 as Luzianne Creole Gumbo in Detroit’s Eastern Market neighborhood, whose owner Joseph Stafford learned to cook from his mother in Louisiana. The restaurant was acquired by current owner Joe Spencer in 1983, and has expanded with additional locations in northwest Detroit and Farmington Hills.
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