TIE
Aladdin Sweets & Café
11945 Conant Ave., Hamtramck; 313-891-8050
Zam Zam
11917 Conant Ave., Hamtramck; 313-893-9902; zamzamcafe.com
The winners both sit on the same block in Hamtramck, along Bangladeshi Avenue (Conant’s honorary designation). Aladdin’s offerings include the usual Bangladeshi classics, such as fried homemade cheese with
spinach, all served on polystyrene plates with plastic cutlery. Prices are
budget friendly — no dish surpasses $8.99. But down the street at Zam Zam, you
get actual plates and silverware, if many of the same offerings. Zam Zam’s meat
and vegetable samosas are more substantial, and the entrées may be a bit more
geared to American tastes. Your bill will hardly breach $10 per diner; an $8
buffet runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
This article appears in Apr 25 – May 1, 2012.
