Michigan-based chain restaurants that are actually good [PHOTOS]

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?

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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.
Lee DeVito

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.
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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.
Instagram, @startersdetroit

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.
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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.

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.
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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.
Instagram, @tastingcolumbus

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.
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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.

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.
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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.
Randiah Camille Green

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.
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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.

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.
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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.

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.
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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.
Lee DeVito

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.
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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.

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.
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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.
Viola Klocko

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.
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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.
Liza Lagman Sperl, Flickr Creative Commons

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.
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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.
Tom Perkins

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.
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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.
Shutterstock

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.
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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.

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.
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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.

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.
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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.

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.
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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.
Shutterstock

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.
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