22 tiny metro Detroit restaurants you should have tried by now

By Metro Times Staff on Sat, May 12, 2018 at 2:12 am

Sure, we love our big and fabulous restaurants -- nobody enjoys having to wait for a table, after all. But there's just something about eating in one of Detroit's smaller joints that feels so much more cozy and uniquely local, where striking up a conversation with a stranger isn't so strange after all when they're dining less than a foot away. As such, we've gathered 20 of our favorite tiny dining spots for you to enjoy. They span a variety of cuisines and neighborhoods, but they do share a few things: the space is small, the seating is limited and the food is oh-so delicious.

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Duly’s Place
5458 Vernor Hwy, Detroit
313-554-3076
Duly’s Place is the definition of a hole-in-the-wall joint. They serve up coney dogs, cheese fries, hamburgers, and anything else that is basic and delicious behind a tiny counter. This place is no-fuss and we love it.
Photo via @frank.boyd

Rose's Fine Foods
10551 East Jefferson Ave, Detroit
(313) 309-7947
Rose’s Fine Foods is a from-scratch fine dining restaurant focused on bringing home-style meals back to the plate. Serving breakfast, lunch and baked goods from locally grown ingredients, anything on the menu is sure to impress. It should also be noted that they believe their workers should be compensated beyond tips and are all paid a “living wage”, any tips you leave will be split evenly among the staff. Along with that, a portion of those tips are “donated to a Detroit-based charity each month”.
Photo via @rosesfindfoods

Parks & Rec Diner
1942 Grand River Ave, Detroit
(313) 446-8370
Located in the Grand Army of the Republic Building which used to be an actual City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department, the name makes sense. Serving classic breakfast meals, some with a twist, lunch and “boozy drinks”, expect a classic-not-so-classic breakfast (or lunch) experience.
Photo via @parksandrecdiner

Slows to Go
4107 Cass Ave, Detroit
(877) 569-7246
An extension from the Corktown sit-in location, this 6,000 square foot kitchen usually has a line out the door so it is recommended that you call ahead and they’ll have your order waiting for you. Carrying almost exactly the same thing as the sit-in restaurant, Slows is the perfect place for savory barbecue favorites. One warning, they may run out of a few items because they make them in limited quantities to ensure whatever you order is always fresh, which should be comforting because who wants barbecue that’s not fresh out of the smoker?
Photo via @tania.ghita

Hot Taco
2233 Park Ave, Detroit
313-963-4545
Want a taco but need it on the go? This counter -serve space offers delicious Mexican fare at a great price. You can munch on tacos and burritos with all the authentic fixings.
Photo via @andeewells

Christine’s Cuisine
729 E 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale
248-584-3354
A favorite of the MT staff, Christine’s Cuisine is a cute little restaurant that serves up delicious sandwiches, soups, and daily specials. If you do go, make sure you try their burrito, too. You will not regret it.
Photo via @itsbeals

Golden Fleece
525 Monroe Ave, Detroit
313-962-7093
The Golden Fleece is a staple in Greektown and it the perfect place for an after-bar snack. Get a flaming Saganaki, gyros, and they serve beer and wine. The quaint restaurant is the perfect place to take an out of towner, too.
Photo via @cammiebuehler

Bucharest
Multiple locations
(313) 965-3111 With affordable prices and three locations across Detroit this is a must visit. The food ranges from Traditional Romanian cuisine, to Middle Eastern dishes to hot dogs with all the fixings. Everything is handmade from original recipes to give it that authentic taste.
Photo via IG user @sierrachevelle

Chickpea in the D
2 John R St, Detroit
(313) 970-7618
When you think Mediterranean food think fresh, especially when thinking about going to Chickpea in the D. Cheap, easy, and veggie friendly, you cannot go wrong even if you have never tried Mediterranean food. They serve a hummus of the day, smoothies, wraps and even nachos. To-go only, with a walk up window to order and only a few tables and, this is not your usual indoors sit-down restaurant.
Photo via @chickpinthed

Dos Locos
The longtime Hamtramck greasy burger joint is now a tiny Hamtramck taqueria that caters to the city's late night crowd with a selection of tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and homemade salsas. Veg friendly, and no pork is offered so Dos Locos welcoming to the city's strong Muslim community.
313-872-6838