We could all use a little comfort right about now, meaning comfort food — like mac n’ cheese, meatloaf, pho, or chicken and waffles. We’ll worry about our hemorrhaging DoorDash/GrubHub budget later and, well, we’ll deal with the 20 lbs. we’ve put on in the last three weeks at some point in the future. What’s most important is that we care for ourselves, and support our local restaurants by getting loads and loads of comfort food-to-go. This is an all-time list of the best spots for comfort food in the greater Detroit area, according to Yelp. We identified businesses in the restaurants and food categories with a large concentration of reviews mentioning “comfort food,” then ranked those spots using a number of factors including the total volume and ratings of reviews mentioning “comfort food.” This list looked at businesses in metro Detroit — Wayne County, Oakland County, Washtenaw County, and Macomb County. If a chain appeared on the list more than once, we only included the highest rated location. All businesses on this list were marked open as of December 2020. When available, all businesses on this list have a passing health score as of December 2020.)

25. Ajishin 42270 Grand River Ave., Novi; 248-426-6788; catpunch0131.wixsite.com/ajishin “The best udon noodle soup I’ve ever had. This place holds nothing but good memories for me, and I always have to make a pit stop when I’m in Novi visiting family.If you’re a sushi lover, you can’t go wrong with the lunch special: it always includes a chef’s special roll or mini chirashi bowl partnered with their spectacular udon. What makes it so good is the broth: it’s full of satisfying umami flavor without being salty or bland. It’s just delicious.If you’re not feeling like raw fish, try the ajishin bowl, which is their famous udon topped with tempura veggies and shrimp. I would also wholly recommend their beef curry, which comes with white rice and tempura shrimp.Fair warning, the line gets very long and the wait can be horrendous if you show up at the wrong time. But it’s really worth the wait- promise!” — Valerie B. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
24. Sushi House 22030 Farmington Rd., Farmington; 248-426-6788; gosushihouse.com “I honestly cannot rave enough about this restaurant. Great service. Even in the igloo, yes. Not to mention the patio is decorated all cute too! Food was very tasty, the spinach artichoke dip was SO well done. We celebrated a birthday and they brought cookies for our entire party of ten! I’m so glad that we got to experience an igloo this year!” — Kristen B. on Yelp Photo via Sushi House/Facebook
23. Deadwood Bar & Grill 18730 Northville Rd., Northville; 248-347-4353; deadwoodbarandgrill.com “This place is soooo good! I love how many different kinds of people go here! A true melting pot! Anyway, back to the food. There are SO many traditional Korean dishes available, you can also order according to your spicy preference. My favorite is the kimchi jjigae. This place is super vegetarian friendly too. Best part? It’s attached to a sushi place and you can order from either menu!” — Jay K. on Yelp Photo via Deadwood Bar & Grill/Facebook
22. Harvest Moon Cafe 5484 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-434-8100; harvestmooncafe.biz “Honey I’m Home! Loved the cozy feel and home-cooked food of this little nook. Coffee served hot, fresh and in a full size mug ( good for coffee snob like me). I had one of the breakfast skillets and it was perfect balance of hash browns, meat, onions and cheese… Eggs were delightful and fresh and my rye toast was balanced with butter plus the strawberry preserve was a pleasant surprise and great compliment to my meal. The portion size was plenty and not over-sized like many restaurants do today. Our waitress Cindy was nice, friendly, attentive and not overly chatty. We left the Harvest Moon Cafe satisfied! I really like this place …simple, rustic and tasty! Needless to say….. We will be back!” — Dell D. on Yelp Photo via Harvest Moon Cafe/Facebook
21. Zingerman’s Delicatessen 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor; 734-663-3354; zingermansdeli.com “Anyone who doesn’t give a full 5 stars has no idea what they are talking about. There are so many options you won’t even know what to choose! Personally, I go for their Reuban. Best Reuben you will ever have in your life! Pair it off with some homemade root beer. It is expensive. That’s a no brainer. But you have to try it at least once. It’s a sin not to.” — Stephanie J. on Yelp Photo via Zingerman’s Delicatessen/Facebook
20. Pho Lucky 23838 Joy Rd., Redford Charter Twp; 313-532-2333; pholucky.net “We stopped at Pho Lucky on our way home from Detroit, and man oh man, are we glad we did. I haven’t had Vietnamese food since I lived in Washington DC a few years ago, and I almost cried with happiness ordering here. My husband had pho, which I happily polished off for him after I finished my own bun cha. They also have a challenge, which is eating a gigantic bowl of Pho. Ima definitely try it next time we go. Service was fantastic, and our food came out fast. Total was $16 and some change.” — Kelsey May F. on Yelp Photo via Pho Lucky/Facebook
19. Barb’s Pasties & Pizza 610 S. Main St., Clawson; 248-435-5250; barbspizzaandpasties.com “Whenever I am in Michigan I make it a point to go here. Lived there for 32 years and have been going to Barbs for about 26 years. It’s the same place even now. No eating in now and it’s always been that way. I always get the beef pasties and took eight back to Virginia in a cooler. They are great. If you are eating local then get the gravy to put on top. If they are frozen, which mine were then put them in a 350 degree oven uncovered for 30 min. The salads are very fresh too and obviously made every day. This is a place that never changes and hope it never does.” — Jeff S. on Yelp Photo via Barb’s Pasties & Pizza/Facebook
18. Lockhart’s BBQ 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak; 248-584-4227; lockhartsbbq.com “Bottomless drinks with brunch? A million times, yes! The mimosas were fantastic and we definitely got our money’s worth! Let’s talk about the food though – BBQ brisket with sausage, eggs, potatoes, etc. AMAZING! The atmosphere was cool and our waitress was on top of everything. Definitely want to go back here!” — Katie S. on Yelp Photo via Lockhart’s BBQ/Facebook
17. Seoul Street 1771 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor; 734-719-0085; eatseoulstreet.com “You ever eat chicken that changes your perspective on life? I’m not particularly well-versed in Korean fried chicken, but this was not only the best Korean fried chicken I’ve had – it was the best chicken wings I’ve had period. I got 16 soy garlic wings with the corn side. I ordered online an hour ahead of time because I read about the wait. The corn was good but the chicken was out of this world. This chicken made me salivate for the entire three minutes it took me to eat all of them. This chicken made me call up my estranged brother to reconcile our differences. This chicken made me give away all my worldly possessions. This chicken did my taxes and bought my groceries. This chicken could end wars, solve racial animosity and create harmony among all people. I will be coming back here in the near future and I recommend you do the same.”— Spencer H. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
16. La Fork 1041 Howard St., Dearborn; 313-789-5007; laforkdetroit.com “Crepes and poutines are the specialty! Check them out and try the food it’s a great place to go on your lunch break or on a nice casual day. They have indoor and outdoor seating when weather permits and they are very helpful if it’s your first time and don’t know what to order. Nice little Gem right here” — Yaser H. on Yelp Photo via La Fork/Facebook
15. Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen 54 S. Main St., Village of Clarkston; 248-620-6100; clarkstonunion.com “I don’t usually crave Mac and cheese but… this place really makes me crave it! I came here reluctantly after my boyfriend had been talking about it, and I had to try it for myself. Let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint! I got the smaller order because it was 9:30 at night and I already ate dinner. It was SO delicious, and I really wished I got a full order. We added ham in it, and it was perfect. The top comes out with a very nice crust. You kind of have to crack it with your spoon–kind of like Creme brûlée–to let the steam out. Out of this world! It was definitely a bit crowded because we came close to when bingo was going to start. Incredibly worth it. 15/10 would come back again!” — Shanna C. on Yelp Photo via Clarkston Union Bar & Kitchen/Facebook
14. Griffin Claw Clubhouse 2265 Crooks Rd., Rochester Hills; 248-289-6093; clubhousebfd.com “Huge drink menu and great food! I had trouble deciding on just one thing to order for dinner and I ended up getting a couple of flights of beer and cider because I couldn’t decide on just one of those either! The short rib grilled cheese was super tasty, as were the shoestring fries and side salad. Our server was great – friendly, efficient, and practicing proper safety precautions. I’ll be back!” — Beth C. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
13. Polonia Restaurant 2934 Yemans St., Hamtramck; 313-873-8432; polonia-restaurant.net “Alert the media — I tried my first-ever pierogi and it was delicious. We came to this classic Polish spot with a Polish friend who eats here with her family often. The interior is adorable, with traditional Polish glass plates, art and keepsakes lining the walls and booths. The lighting is dim and service was quick and informal. We got potato and cheese pierogies, potato cakes, sausage, and dill soups to start. I was surprised by how incredible the dill soup was – take a leap and try it! It was slightly creamy and not too empowering on the dill. The potato cakes were also one of my favorite things I tried. For my entree, I got the beef goulash over potato noodles. It was incredible! The beef broke apart easily and came out on a steamy plate. The potato noodles were big and thick, like little pillows all over my plate. The food was SO filling and heavy that I couldn’t even finish half of my meal. I’ll definitely order less next time, but I highly recommend visiting this authentic spot!” — Niki B. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
12. Mudgie’s Deli and Bar 1413 Brooklyn St., Detroit; 313-961-2000; mudgiesdeli.com “Mudgies has thee best corn beef sandwiches in Metro Detroit! I always seem to get the Barrett which is Corn Beef, creamy coleslaw, Swiss cheese, on an onion roll. It’s fantastic and at $13 I feel like I am stealing from these folks.The portion is HUGE and the quality is better than any other corn beef I’ve tasted. Every now and then I get the House Smoked Pastrami Reuben or The Beefy Blue which is house smoked beef brisket, fire roasted tomatoes, red onions, spinach and blue cheese both of these sandwiches are phenomenal! One of my favorite things about Mudgies is that they always have cool and creative specials plus savory soups that are made fresh daily. I’ve taken my god kids here and they love it too and the kids menu has lots of great options. Lastly Mudgies also doubles as a wine shop they have an extensive retail wine selection that is great if you’re looking to expand your at home cellar, particularly if you’re looking for Michigan vineyards. And of course I gotta tell you their bar program is first rate. The Apple Mule is on point and perfect for fall and they do a very nice mulled wine try both you’ll be happy you did!!!” — David T. on Yelp Photo via Mudgie’s Deli and Bar/Facebook
11. Side Street Diner 630 St. Clair Ave., Grosse Pointe; 313-884-6810; sidestreetdiner.com “In a city full of bland food (Grosse Pointe) SideStreet is a breath of fresh air. I ordered the corned beef skillet and it was so tasty! My mom got the corned beef sandwich and a slice of Caramel cake–we were both happy. We went on a Saturday afternoon so it was quite busy and we had to stand and wait, but the line went fast.” — Ashleigh J. on Yelp Photo via Side Street Diner/Facebook Credit: Google Maps
10. O.W.L. 27302 Woodward Ave. #0927, Royal Oak; 248-808-6244; owlwoodward.com/ “Yes. Yes. Yes. So happy they are safely open again. No indoor dining but order ahead on their website and they will bring it to your car. Great touch. Now onto the food. Everything I’ve had is great. The wings, the chicken fried chicken breakfast, the avocado toast with tuna, THE TACOS, yes the tacos and also the cinnamon rolls are to die for! Oh and the cheese fries! Wash any of that down with a horchata, and you have a very fast and fresh meal in yo belly.” — Adam Y. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
9. Tomukun Noodle Bar 505 E. Liberty St. Suite #200, Ann Arbor; 734-995-8668; noodlebar.tomukun.com “Tomukun noodle bar is the ultimate guilt-free comfort food. Tomukun Pho is fantastic on a cold day, and we’re very thankful for still being able to get takeout. They pack it up for easy assembly at home. It’s even great leftover. The portions are huge, so it’s easy to split or have more the next day. I don’t care for tripe but the flavor it adds is unmistakable. Savory, fresh, and warming broth, filling noodles, and hearty meatballs are choice but don’t skip the appetizers! Tako balls or Takoyaki is fantastic if you don’t mind octopus. Give it a try. The seafood pancake, and dumpling are good too. All is very reasonably priced so plunge and try a bunch of items.” — Beth H. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
8. Beans & Cornbread 29508 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-208-1680; beanscornbread.com “Exit Northwestern Highway right now and go to this place. On a day I’m looking for some hearty food before a continuing a sweaty day of work, I gave this place a try. I have yet to finish my meal before I felt the urge to share with the world what a great Beans & Cornbread is. I got an array of food; catfish, rib tips, and fried chicken. Sides being collared greens, beans and rice, and cornbread. I’m by no means an expert in southern cooking, but this place is top notch. The staff is great even though I was only in for curbside pickup, nevertheless I leave feeling warmly embraced. I’ll certainly be back for more, this place rules.” — Joe F. on Yelp Photo via Beans & Cornbread/Facebook
7. Detroit Street Filling Station 300 Detroit St., Ann Arbor; 734-224-8262; thelunchrooma2.com/detroitstreetfillingstation “You won’t find avocado toast here but rather really filling and nourishing vegan dishes. Their Asian cauliflower dish (forgot specifics but I think it was Kung pao cauliflower or something similar) was especially delicious. I got red beans and rice and a friend got a power bowl special and you would not be able to tell that either were entirely plant-based by their taste. They also offer a varied selection of drink choices–INCLUDING unleaded (zero-proof cocktails) which were AWESOME!” — Lucille H. on Yelp Photo via Detroit Street Filling Station/Facebook
6. Metzger’s German Restaurant 305 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor; 734-668-8987; metzgers.net “Already a favorite, I have to shout out Metzger’s for their awesome carryout, too! Metzger’s was our last dinner out together before the lockdown (Valentine’s Day) and we hadn’t had our fix since. So we decided to do the carryout and see how it went! Spoiler alert: it was awesome! My husband and I both got our usuals (Kassler Rippchen with spatzen and potato pancakes) and everything was packaged so safely and it all came out delicious. Even the potato pancakes held up great. Not quite as crispy as a fresh order would be straight from the kitchen but it was still excellent. I ate myself to the point of discomfort, I was so happy to be enjoying their food again! But the serving is so big that even after that, we still had leftovers for the next day.” — Annette J. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
5. Hungarian Rhapsody 14315 Northline Rd., Southgate; 734-283-9622; therhapsodyrestaurant.com “Authentic Hungarian specials served with a smile! The portions are HUGE! Flavour is delicious and the desserts(I suggest you try the Kremeš cake) was an out of body delicious experience! Just a friendly warning tho ….. hope you LOVE carbs because most of the dishes come with either their “dumplings” potatoes or sum with a combo of both! Easily shared meals so if you go with a group everyone order something different and try a lil of it all!” — Suzy P. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
4. Vinsetta Garage 27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley; 248-548-7711; vinsettagarage.com “I’ve been a few times and can’t praise enough about this place… the amazing food, cool ambience, attentive staff. Not sure why I never wrote a review until now, but I was absolutely impressed with their delivery during covid. I asked for non-contact delivery and accidently opened the door while the young lady was dropping our food off, early, and still hot! She had mask and gloves on even for a non-contact! The food there is unique and everything I’ve had there has been absolutely delightful! I ordered gluten free mac n cheese and my daughter always had union mac… both are absolutely amazing!! Their house salad is perfect, different from any I’ve had before… crunchy fried? chickpeas add a perfectly crunchy texture that I love since I can’t have croutons. The house dressing has a tangy zip and pairs perfectly with the salad. If you love smoky flavors, try the wings! They really don’t even need sauce but the cholula sauce is too good to pass up.” — Cris M. on Yelp Photo via Vinsetta Garage/Facebook
3. Three Brothers Restaurant 8825 General Dr., Plymouth; 734-416-3393; threebrothersrestaurant.com “A favorite restaurant of mine when craving Polish food. The staff is always extremely attentive. The bread basket is always full of good Polish rye. The food is always ample and delicious tasting. On my last visit I tried a bowl of mushroom soup and was very pleased with it. It was a very hearty, “stick to your ribs” type of soup, rich in texture and flavor. You really can’t go wrong with any of their Polish food selections, as everyone of them is top notch. I particularly love their pierogies.” — Michael D. on Yelp Photo via Google Maps
2. Zingerman’s Roadhouse 2501 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor; 734-663-3663; zingermansroadhouse.com “I picked up take out from here the other evening and the entire to go experience was very seamless. They packaged everything up nicely and they definitely do an excellent job here of following safety and sanitary protocols for covid. For dinner I had the BBQ pulled chicken sandwich and it was sooo flavorful! My husband had the country styled steak and DEVOURED IT! I wanted to try more of it but I could only get one bite before it was all gone! Will definitely be ordering more from here!!” — Lynn B. on Yelp Photo via Zingerman’s Roadhouse/Facebook
1. Polish Village Cafe 2990 Yemans St., Hamtramck; 313-874-5726; polishvillage.cafe “Nice old world styled restaurant. And I must say has the best be Polish food around. The wait staff is great. They always check to make sure you have everything to keep you happy. And it’s always packed!!!! so order carry out if you don’t mind dining out. It’s just a little place. Get anything it is guaranteed to be good, I promise. City chicken, pierogies, stuffed cabbage like grandma used to make…. unless you’re getting a combo have the person with you order something different and just share. Serving sizes are good and there will be more than enough to take home for leftovers! Try the dill pickle soup as well. Hope you enjoy this place as much as I do.” — Tiffany M. on Yelp Photo via Polish Village Cafe/Facebook

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