Top 10 Best Detroit Restaurants

The city of Detroit is famous for the Detroit Deep Dish Pizza, Coney Island Hot Dogs, Asian Corned Beef, Paczki, Corned Beef Egg Rolls, Bumpy Cake, Scotty Simpson’s Fish & Chips, Slows Bar BQ, and the Boston Cooler. Detroit Deep Dish Pizza is one of the best foods in Detroit, characterized by thick, rectangular shapes with caramelized cheese edges and sauce ladled on top. This iconic pizza is served at some of Detroit’s famous restaurants, such as Buddy’s, Loui’s, Cloverleaf, and Niki’s. Coney Island Hot Dogs feature a natural casing hot dog topped with chili, mustard, and chopped onions, are the specialty of Lafayette Coney Island and American Coney Island. Asian Corned Beef is essentially corned beef egg rolls filled with cheese and cabbage, and is available at the Asian Corned Beef chain. Paczki, a Polish jelly-filled donut, is a staple in Hamtramck, where New Palace Bakery and New Martha Washington Bakery offer traditional versions. Corned Beef Egg Rolls, which is influenced by Detroit’s African American and Jewish communities, are a must-try at Bread Basket Deli. Bumpy Cake, a devil’s food cake with buttercream bumps covered in chocolate ganache, remains a specialty at Sanders. Scotty Simpson’s Fish & Chips, a legendary spot established in 1950, and remains one of the most popular restaurants in Detroit to this day, continues to serve golden-battered fish with hand-cut chips. 

Eating out in Detroit is affordable, and the average daily cost for food in restaurants is around $76 per person. Typical meal prices include breakfast for $8 to $23, lunch for $11 to $31, and dinner for $23 to $54. Group meals range from $40 to $150, while fast food or street food costs around $11 per person. Meals at inexpensive sit-down restaurants average $12 per person, excluding tips, while budget restaurants offer meals between $5 and $15. Mid-range three-course meals cost about $23 to $25 per person. Fine dining Detroit restaurants range from $40 to $100+ per person at Giovanni's Ristorante, Highlands Detroit, and Texas de Brazil. Alcohol prices range from $5 to $13 per order. 

The best restaurants in Detroit, such as London Chop House, Rugby Grille, Selden Standard, and Takoi, earn high ratings for their exceptional food, service, and long-standing reputations. London Chop House, a Detroit institution since 1938, gained recognition from James Beard and the Darnell Survey for steaks and seafood. Rugby Grille, with a AAA Four Diamond award and Wine Spectator accolades, offers upscale American cuisine using seasonal ingredients. Selden Standard, a James Beard semifinalist, is known for innovative small plates, while Takoi, a Thai-inspired spot, earned a 2017 James Beard semifinalist nod for Best New Restaurant. Customer reviews and prestigious awards like James Beard and Wine Spectator solidify the top rated restaurants in Detroit standing, which is a reflection of their consistent excellence.

The most popular fast food in Detroit are listed below:

• Grandy's Coney Island: Serves classic hot dogs, fries, and hamburgers since the 1940s.
• Lafayette Coney Island: Known for chili-topped dogs, burgers, and fries since 1924.
• Telway Hamburgers: Famous for affordable burgers, sliders, and hot dogs served 24/7 since 1944.
• Domino's Pizza: Offers a range of specialty pizzas, sides, and desserts with fast delivery and carryout service.
• Shake Shack: Known for premium Angus beef burgers, fries, and milkshakes.
• Chick-fil-A: Famous for chicken sandwiches and signature sauces.
• Five Guys: Offers fresh, made-to-order burgers and fries with an emphasis on quality and taste.
• Wendy's: Known for fresh, never frozen beef burgers and sea salt fries.
• Burger King: Famous for flame-grilled burgers, including the Whopper.
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen: Known for spicy fried chicken and flavorful sides.
• KFC: Famous for signature fried chicken, along with sides like mashed potatoes and coleslaw.
• McDonald's: Worldwide favorite for burgers, fries, breakfast items, and beverages.

The best new restaurants in Detroit as of February 16, 2025 are listed below:

• Taqueria El Rey: Known for grilled chicken, ribs, tacos, and other Mexican dishes, along with Tres Leches ‘n’ Snacks food truck offering sweet treats like tres leches cake and savory items such as tamales, located at 3400 Bagley Street, Detroit, Michigan 48216.
• Rosette Market + Cafe: Features a full-service grocery store and cafe with coffee from Colombe Coffee and pastries from Zingerman’s Bakehouse, located at 1611 Michigan Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48216.
• Sugah Please Breakfast Brunch Bar: Offers a New Orleans-style menu with jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and po’ boys, along with traditional breakfast options and colorful cocktails at the full bar, located at 150 West Jefferson Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226.
• Ostrea Seafood: Specializes in oysters, grilled swordfish, lobster, and tuna tartare, providing a luxurious dining experience with a full bar and opulent atmosphere, located at 536 Shelby Street, Detroit, Michigan 48226.
• Soraya: This new in restaurant Detroit serves modern Japanese American dishes, including tempura broccolini, takoyaki, udon, pork katsu, and sushi rolls, with cocktails made from Japanese spirits, located at 160 Fort Street West, Detroit, Michigan 48226.
• Lady of the House: Emphasizes Irish hospitality and no-waste principles, serving dishes like shrimp butter, carrot steak, and potato doughnuts in a welcoming, homey setting, located at 4884 Grand River Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48208.
• Norm's Diner: Features twists on diner breakfast staples such as biscuits and gravy with chorizo gravy, crispy chicken cutlet sandwiches, and malts and shakes, located at 8029 Agnes Street, Detroit, Michigan 48214.
• Tall Trees Cafe: Known for spicy mortadella and Clong turkey sandwiches, along with a rotating menu of soups, including mushroom gumbo and dill pickle soup, located at 817 Livernois Street, Ferndale, Michigan 48220.

The dinner experience in the best restaurants in Detroit is usually sophisticated, creative and overall satisfactory. Some of the fancy restaurants Detroit include Mabel Gray, Oak & Reel, Marrow, and The Whitney. Mabel Gray offers a daily handwritten 6-course New American tasting menu for $89, featuring globally inspired dishes like seafood, meats, and vegetables, and beverage pairings for $45. Detroit dinner spots such as Oak & Reel specialize in seafood with an Italian influence, serving a 6-course tasting menu for $109, including dishes like tuna tartare and lobster, with beverage pairings for $48. Marrow focuses on whole-animal butchery and locally sourced ingredients, offering a 5-course tasting menu for $90, featuring cuts like beef tongue and other unique meats, and has been considered one of the best dinners in Detroit. The Whitney offers an upscale dining experience with opulent rooms and a 5-course menu that showcases contemporary American cuisine like prime rib, seafood, and specialty desserts, with a historical atmosphere. Securing dinner reservations in Detroit’s popular restaurants is a must, as these places are often fully booked.

Restaurants in Detroit that serve vegan food include Trap Vegan, Street Beet, Seva, Detroit Vegan Soul, and Fire Ass Vegan. Trap Vegan offers vegan-friendly options like burgers, wraps, salads, smoothies, and açai bowls with some non-vegan smoothie choices. Street Beet, an all-vegan pop-up inside 3rd Street Bar, specializes in comfort food like 'supreme crunchywrap,' 'fake chicken sando,' and 'phony cheesesteak,' with gluten-free options. Seva, located in the N'Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, serves a broad vegan menu with lunch specials, brunch, and gluten-free choices. Detroit Vegan Soul, in the Grandmont/Rosedale neighborhood, specializes in Southern-style vegan soul food. Fire Ass Vegan, located inside Fresh Rootz, offers soul food dishes like air-fried egg rolls, shawarma rolls, and mac and cheese bowls, with delivery available through DoorDash.

Restaurants in Detroit that serve gluten-free food include Buddy's Pizza, Hudson Café, Seva, Folk Detroit, Green Space Café, Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria, and Brome Modern Eatery. Buddy's Pizza offers a gluten-free version of famous Detroit-style pizza with a thick, crispy crust, cooked separately to avoid cross-contact. Hudson Café, a popular brunch spot, ensures gluten-free safety with a separate kitchen space and utensils, offering items like gluten-free pancakes and berry French toast. Seva provides an extensive gluten-free menu and a dedicated gluten-free fryer for items like yam fries. Folk Detroit offers gluten-free options marked on the menu, such as almond-flour waffles, made with seasonal ingredients. Green Space Café in Ferndale serves a range of gluten-free options, catering to other food allergies as well. Renee’s Gourmet Pizzeria specializes in 100% gluten-free pizza. Brome Modern Eatery serves gluten-free burgers with organic, non-GMO ingredients and has a dedicated fryer for French fries.

Yes, restaurants in Detroit offer healthy options and some of the best places to go to for healthy food are Brooklyn Street Local, Selden Standard, BREADLESS, and 7 Greens. Brooklyn Street Local, located in Corktown, features fresh, locally sourced ingredients with healthy dishes like the Mushroom and Swiss Omelette, Smoked Trout Salad Sandwich, and seasonal paninis. Selden Standard, recognized for quality, offers seasonal dishes like Orecchlette with almond pesto and chickpeas, Grilled Cabbage with kimchi, and Octopus a la Plancha. 

BREADLESS, located on East Jefferson Avenue, provides healthy sandwiches wrapped in greens, such as the Cloud 9 Pastrami, paired with beverages from Midwest Juicery. 7 Greens, a Detroit Salad Co., offers seasonal salads, wraps, and bowls, as well as gluten-free options like the Soul Fuel, featuring collard greens and black-eyed peas. The Detroit City Council approved the "Dining with Confidence" ordinance in June, introducing color-coded placards to indicate restaurants' food safety status. Green placards signify no serious violations, white indicates temporary corrections needed, and red indicates a lack of a license or serious health risk, aiming to improve public health safety and boost Detroit's food tourism.

The famous cuisines in Detroit are listed below:

• Polish Cuisine: Detroit has a strong Polish heritage, which makes dishes like pierogi, kielbasa, and stuffed cabbage rolls staples in Detroit. The Polish Village Café is a notable venue for these dishes.
• Arabian Cuisine: There is a significant Middle Eastern community here, offering dishes like shawarma, falafel, hummus, and kebabs. Dearborn, a suburb of Detroit, is famous for Lebanese restaurants.
• American Cuisine: Detroit features classic comfort dishes like meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and pot roast. The Hudson Café and The Whitney are known for serving hearty American fare.
• Mexican Cuisine: The city offers many authentic Mexican dishes like tacos, tamales, and burritos, especially in areas with a large Hispanic population like Southwest Detroit. Taqueria El Rey is one popular spot.
• Indian Cuisine: Detroit offers authentic Indian dishes such as biryani, tandoori chicken, and samosas. The city’s Indian community, especially in areas like Novi, has created a strong presence of flavorful eateries like Bombay Cafe and New Detroit Indian Cuisine.
• Vietnamese Cuisine: The city offers Vietnamese classics like pho, banh mi, and spring rolls. Pho Vinh and Noodle City are top spots known for authentic and aromatic pho bowls.
• Italian Cuisine: Detroit is home to many Italian restaurants serving dishes like pasta, pizza, and classic Italian-American specialties. Popular spots include Giovanni's Ristorante and Buddy’s Pizza, known for Detroit-style pizza.

The best restaurants in Detroit offer American, Italian, barbecue, and steakhouse cuisine. Detroit Wing Company specializes in fried wings with homemade sauces. Giovanni’s Ristorante serves classic Italian dishes with fresh ingredients. Highlands Detroit offers upscale American cuisine, focusing on grilled steaks and seafood. Slows Bar BQ features slow-smoked meats. Shelby Detroit combines American and comfort foods with grilling and roasting techniques. Hudson Cafe serves creative breakfast and brunch items. Grandma Bob’s offers homestyle comfort food. Texas de Brazil uses the churrasco method for grilled meats. Hamilton’s features diverse food in Detroit with grilling and roasting. Michigan and Trumbull restaurant is known for Detroit-style pizza.

Yes, some of the best restaurants in Detroit serve unique dishes such as  Detroit-style pizza and Coney Island hot dogs. Detroit-style pizza is served at Michigan and Trumbull, while Coney Island hot dogs are offered at American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island. Some unique restaurants in Detroit provide a different kind of dining experience such as The Magic Soiree, which combines magic with dinner, and Dining in the Dark Detroit, which offers a blindfolded, sensory dining experience with surprise courses.