All foodies know that the most unassuming, no-frills spots often have the best dishes. In Detroit, there are plenty of restaurants where this is definitely true. People loved our list of hole-in-the-wall burger joints, so we decided to do one for all types of food. Here are our picks for the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants in and around Detroit.

Taqueria Lupitas 3443 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-1105; taquerialupitas.com Authentic Mexican food is everywhere in Southwest Detroit and this family-run Mexicantown staple claims to be “the house of the original Mexican taco.” The small restaurant serves up casual cuisine at affordable prices in a homey atmosphere. Credit: Google Maps
The Clique 11326 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-259-0922; thecliquediner.com Everyone loves an easy, greasy breakfast, and this small diner has got you covered with all of the classics. Credit: Austin Evans Eighmey
Chef Greg’s Soul-N-The-Wall 10009 Curtis St., Detroit; 313-861-0331; facebook.com/chef-gregs-soul-n-the-wall Chef Greg’s is known for its signature sandwich, the Boogaloo — a Detroit-style sloppy joe first created in the ’60s. The sandwich was brought back in 2007 at the current tiny brick storefront. Credit: Tom Perkins
Belle Isle Pizza 7869 E. Jefferson, Detroit; 313-331-1222; belleislepizza.com Located just across the river from Belle Isle, this pizza spot may not look like much, but it’s the perfect stop to satisfy your pizza craving during or after a long day of swimming and laying out in the sun. Credit: Google Maps
Maty’s African Cuisine 21611 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-472-5885; tiktok.com/@matysdetroit It was recently announced that this Old Redford spot, which serves up cuisine from Senegal, will be expanding into the building next door to increase space and menu offerings. Some people may not even know the place exists, but the food is highly rated with dishes including yassa and dibi. With little social media presence elsewhere, Maty’s often posts videos on TikTok, where they have gained a pretty large following. Credit: Tom Perkins
Pupuseria y Restaurante Salvadoreño 3149 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-899-4020; pupuseriayrestaurantesalvadoreno.negocio.site For a taste of El Salvador, visit this hidden gem specializing in pupusas, considered the country’s national dish. Credit: Viola Klocko
Second Base 1309 E. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale; secondbaseferndale.com Sometimes, dive bars have the best food, and this is one of those. It was a pick in Chef James Rigato’s list of top 10 restaurants in metro Detroit. According to him, “the bartenders are fast, efficient, and tough,” and “the food is better than expected.” Credit: Facebook, Second Base
Polish Village Cafe 2990 Yemans St, Hamtramck; 313-874-5726; polishvillage.cage At Polish Village Cafe, you can expect to find authentic Polish cuisines such as homemade pierogies, kielbasa, golabki, and ever-famous dill pickle soup. Plus, the cozy ambiance is unique, and you may even have Polish musicians come to play for you at your table. Credit: Google Maps
Duly’s Place Coney Island 5458 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-3076; facebook.com/dulysconeyisland Founded in 1921, this old-fashioned diner continues to serve up a wide range of breakfast 24 hours a day. There are tons of coneys in the city with good greasy food, but this one is one of the most reliable. Credit: Facebook, Duly's Place
Campestre Chicken 3419 Fort St., Lincoln Park; 313-914-7522; campestrelp.com Merging Mexican and Salvadorian cuisine, with the addition of Peruvian chicken, this unique spot bursts flavor and variety. Besides the Lincoln Park location, the restaurant also utilizes a food truck that is in Southwest Detroit on the weekends. Credit: Tom Perkins
AlTayeb of Garden City 873 Inkster Rd., Garden City; 734-237-4606; altayebrestaurant.com For a Lebanese-style breakfast, AlTaybeb is the spot. Some traditional breakfast dishes on the menu include a fava bean stew, makanek sausages, pan-fried eggs, and fatteh, a dish that features fried bread topped with cooked chickpeas, yogurt, and nuts. Credit: Facebook, AlTayeb of Garden City
Uncle Harry’s Deli 21809 Greater Mack Ave., Saint Clair Shores; 586-775-3120; uncleharrysdeli.com This mom-and-pop Jewish deli has been serving customers for over 40 years with favorites such as corned beef reuben and matzo ball soup. Inside, the walls are covered in old photos and the service makes you feel like family. Credit: Uncle Harry's Deli | Courtesy photo
The Jamaican Pot 14615 Eight Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-888-8102; thejamaicanpot.com On the west side of the city in a small strip of businesses on Eight Mile, this Jamaican food spot is a hidden gem. Among the top dishes are the curry goat and the brown stew chicken. Credit: Tom Perkins
Taqueria Mi Pueblo 7278 Dix St., Detroit; 313-841-3315; mipueblorestaurant.com This family-owned business specializes in uniquely seasoned tacos but also offers traditional dishes from Jalisco, like birria, as well as Mexico City-centric dishes like tortas, coastal seafood dishes, and Mex-American fare, like cheesy enchiladas and wet burritos. Credit: Google Maps
Quan Ngon Vietnamese Bistro 30701 Dequindre Rd., Madison Heights; 248-258-4310; facebook.com/p/Quan-Ngon-Vietnamese-Bistro Of the many great Vietnamese restaurants in Madison Heights, this one is among the best and is severely underrated. The menu includes an amazing selection of pho and bahn mi, plus many house-special dishes that are authentic and tasty. Credit: Google Maps
Moon Cafe 812 S. State St.; 734-769-5650; mooncafeannarbor.com While this small shack-like building may seem to be just a frozen yogurt spot, it also offers traditional Korean street food including dukbokki udon, bibimbap, and japchae. Credit: Facebook, Moon Cafe
El Rey De Las Arepas 7701 McGraw St., Detroit; 313-307-2210; facebook.com/p/El-Rey-de-las-Arepas An unassuming Venezuelan eatery known for its arepas — the Venezuelan version of the empanada (or samosa or pasty). It’s ground corn flour shaped into a circle, grilled, split like a biscuit, then filled with whatever you like. Credit: Google Maps
Kalahari African Cuisine 19701 W. 7 Mile Road; 313-693-4314; facebook.com/thetasteofsenegal This Senegalese eatery on the city’s west side is a hidden gem. Our food reviewer Jane Slaughter just visited last month and said that while the spot is informal, the cuisine is great. Credit: Viola Klocko
Tmaz Taqueria 505 S. Huron St., Ypsilanti Located inside of a Citgo gas station right as you arrive in Ypsi after getting off at I-94, this family-owned eatery serves up a selection of Mexican cuisine. Credit: Facebook, Tmaz Taqueria

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Layla McMurtrie is the digital editor of Detroit Metro Times. She's passionate about art, music, food, and Detroit's culture and community. Her work has been featured in the Detroit Free Press, Between...