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?

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. Credit: 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. Credit: Courtesy photo
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. Credit: Dwight Burdette, Wikimedia Creative Commons
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. Credit: Instagram, @baggerdaves
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. Credit: Evan Gonzalez, Detroit Stock City
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. Credit: Instagram, @zosgoodburger
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. Credit: Liza Lagman Sperl, Flickr Creative Commons
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. Credit: Shutterstock
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. Credit: Tom Perkins
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! Credit: 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. Credit: Shutterstock
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. Credit: Tom Perkins
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. Credit: Instagram, @gingerbeard_man7
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. Credit: Shutterstock
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. Credit: Scottb211, Flickr Creative Commons
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. Credit: 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. Credit: Shutterstock
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. Credit: Facebook, Bobcat Bonnie’s Ferndale
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. Credit: Shutterstock
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. Credit: Kelley O’Neill
Asian Corned Beef Multiple locations, asiancornbeef.com This Detroit hit was created by Vietnamese immigrant Kim White, who combined her knowledge of cooking Asian food with what she learned working in a Detroit deli to come up with an eggroll stuffed with corned beef and swiss cheese. Thanks to its low prices and late hours, the chain grew to eight locations across Detroit and Highland Park, although today it has concentrated to four stores in Detroit. Credit: Lee DeVito
Starters Bar & Grill Multiple locations, startersdetroit.com Beginning as a neighborhood bar in Detroit in 1977, this local chain has expanded to include locations in Midtown and Southfield, as well as a former location at Dearborn’s Fairlane Mall. Credit: Instagram, @startersdetroit
Cottage Inn Multiple locations, cottageinn.com Founded in Ann Arbor in 1948 as a coffee business, it eventually added pizza to its menu, becoming the first restaurant to serve pizza in Ann Arbor. Thanks to popularity among University of Michigan students, the company started expanding in 1975 and now has more than 50 locations in Michigan and Ohio. Credit: Andypiper, Flickr Creative Commons
Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. Multiple locations, qamariacoffee.com Founded by two Yemeni entrepreneurs in 2020, the chain now has 10 locations across the U.S., including Illinois, Texas, and California. Credit: Instagram, @tastingcolumbus
La Marsa Multiple locations, lamarsacuisine.com Founded by three friends in 2006, this Mediterranean cuisine chain now has 11 locations in and around the Detroit area. Credit: Instagram, @lamarsa_clarkston
The Red Hook Multiple locations, theredhookcoffee.com This local coffee company was founded in 2011 in Ferndale by Sandi and Andrew Heaselgrave, who moved to Michigan after living in Brooklyn, New York and named their business after a neighborhood there. It now has four locations in the Detroit area, recently moving into the former Great Lakes Coffee flagship in Midtown. Credit: Randiah Camille Green
Happy’s Pizza Multiple locations, happyspizza.com Launched in 1994 on Detroit’s east side, this chain offers pizza, ribs, chicken, seafood, pasta, and salads. Its headquarters is now located in Farmington Hills. Credit: Kzoo Cowboy, Flickr Creative Commons
Haraz Coffee House Multiple locations, harazcoffeehouse.com Owner Hamzah Nasser opened his first coffee shop in Dearborn in 2021, inspired by his travels to Yemen and Turkey. The chain has rapidly expanded, with locations as far away as Illinois, Kentucky, and Texas. Credit: Instagram, @harazcoffeehouse
HopCat Multiple locations, hopcat.com Boasting dozens of craft beers on tap, this chain was founded in Grand Rapids in 2008 and now has 10 locations in Michigan, Indiana, and Nebraska. Credit: Lee DeVito
Green Lantern Pizza Multiple locations, greenlanternpizza.com Founded in 1955 in Madison Heights in an old farmhouse bar, this chain has expanded throughout the Detroit area. Its menu includes both round and square pies. Credit: Bill Walsh, Flickr Creative Commons
Ima Multiple locations, imanoodles.com Mike Ransom launched his first Japanese-inspired restaurant in Corktown in 2016. It was so successful that it expanded with additional locations in Midtown and Madison Heights, and in 2022 it moved its Corktown location into the larger space formerly occupied by Gold Cash Gold, a slightly more upscale version it calls Ima Izakaya. Credit: Viola Klocko
Tubby’s Multiple locations, tubbys.com This sub sandwich chain was founded in 1968 in St. Clair Shores. Now based in Clinton Township, it has multiple locations throughout the Detroit area. Credit: Liza Lagman Sperl, Flickr Creative Commons
Yum Village Multiple locations, yumvillage.com Chef Godwin Ihentuge launched his first Afro-Caribbean restaurant in Detroit’s New Center area in 2018. The chain opened additional locations in Detroit’s West Village neighborhood and Cleveland, Ohio, and also recently took over the kitchen at Detroit music venue El Club. Credit: Tom Perkins
Chicken Shack Multiple locations, chickenshack.com This fried chicken chain opened its first location in Royal Oak in 1956. It now has more than 20 locations throughout the Detroit area. Credit: Shutterstock
Mr. Miguel’s Mexican Grill & Cantina Multiple locations, mrmiguels.com This Mexican chain started in 2015 in Warren and now has additional locations in Livonia and Brownstown. Credit: Facebook, Mr. Miguel’s Mexican Grill & Cantina
Andiamo Multiple locations, andiamoitalia.com Founded in 1989, this Warren-based Italian chain has five locations around metro Detroit, including in Detroit Metro Airport and the Renaissance Center. Credit: Thomas Hawk, Flickr Creative Commons
Churchill’s Cigar Bar & Bistro Multiple locations, churchillscigarbar.com Look, cigar smoking is an acquired taste. So is drinking wine, for that matter. This cigar lounge chain, started in 2012 in Birmingham, isn’t for everybody, but those who appreciate this sort of thing love Churchill’s. Credit: Facebook, Churchill’s Cigar Bar & Bistro
Big Boy Multiple locations, bigboy.com Originally started in 1936 as Bob’s Pantry in Glendale, California, the company later changed its name to “Bob’s, Home of the Big Boy Hamburger” and eventually just Big Boy. Franchise owners the Elias Brothers purchased the company in 1987 and moved its headquarters to Warren. It’s now based in Southfield, with dozens of locations across the globe — Big Boy is even big in Japan! Though the chain has seen closures over the years as dining trends shift, it is appreciated by Detroiters for its affordability and its pompadour-wearing mascot is a nostalgic sight for many. Credit: Shutterstock

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