Southwest Detroit is known for its outstanding Mexican fare, but there’s actually a lot of range in this lively Detroit neighborhood. From deeply flavorful Puerto Rican mofongo to greasy spoon sliders to all the best tacos, here are some of the top restaurants Southwest offers.

Taqueria El Rey 4730 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-357-3094; taqueria-elrey.com El Rey (The King) is arguably such. The key here is the marriage of succulent meat; the charcoal and smoke; and the compelling 10-spice adobo blend. Photo MT file.
Taquaria Mi Pueblo 7278 Dix St., Detroit; 313-841-3315; mipueblorestaurant.com Southwest Detroit’s Mi Pueblo long ago established itself as one of the town’s go to spots for Mexican fare. Their guajillo spiced tortilla soup is a must taste. Photo via Instagram, @thefoodiedentist
Pupuseria y Restaurante Salvadoreno 3149 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-899-4155 The pupusa — the Salvadoran national dish and excellent street food — is the reason folks stop at this unassuming former auto shop. It consists of rice flour dough discs filled with chopped pork, cheese, beans, zucchini, or other vegetables. Also try the plantains. Photo via Instagram, @mightyinthemitten
Pollos Los Gallos 7170 Dix St., Detroit; 313-758-9757 Los Gallos’ birds are some of Southwest’s smokiest, and it’s easy to see why when approaching the humble building that sits across from a shipping yard on Dix. Owner Ricardo Hernandez slow-cooks his chicken on an outdoor, open air grilling porch holding several huge grills. Photo MT file.
Antojitos El Catracho 4627 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-209-4815; antojitoselcatracho.us Honduran food is one of the world’s most underrated cuisines. This is where to find it in Southwest. Photo MT file.
El Barzon 3710 Junction St., Detroit; 313-894-2070;
Flowers of Vietnam 4430 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-2085; flowersofvietnam.com Tucked inside the former Vernor Coney Island, this Vietnamese eatery’s dishes are garnering national attention. Photo via
El Caribeno 8065 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-728-6764M El Caribeño offers up a taste of authentic Puerto Rican fare that’s a rare treat in Detroit. Photo via
Xochimilco 2409 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-0179 Look to this go-to Mexican restaurant that serves affordable burritos and other standards until late in the evening. Photo via Instagram, @ayyjennay
El Asador 1312 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-297-2360; elasadordetroit.com A sophisticated steak and seafood joint with fancy sauces. Diners can choose rib-eye, New York cut, aged sirloin, squid, scallops or mussels, none of which is common in the neighborhood. Lobster quesadillas, anyone? Photo by Rob Widdis.
Mexican Village Restaurant 2600 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-237-0333; mexicanvillagefood.com If hefty portions are what you’re after, look no further than this Southwest favorite. Photo via Google, user Tisha Doakes
La Noria Bistro 5517 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-338-3545; la-noria-bistro.business.site The folks who brought Mex-Italian fusion to southwest via El Barzon are also behind La Noria Bistro. Similar concept, lower prices, lots of pizza, and a more accessible menu. Photo via MT file.
Duly’s Place 5458 W Vernor Hwy, Detroit; 313-544-3076 Founded in 1921 by Duly Seit, this 24-hour Coney Island has attracted both local Detroiters and the late CNN host Anthony Bourdain as part of his Parts Unknown: Detroit special. The national praise is well-deserved and should be sampled when doing a Detroit coney stroll. Photo via Instagram, @iconticprime
Evie’s Tamales 3454 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-843-5056 Situated in a dense strip of Bagley Avenue in Mexicantown, Evie’s Tamales has been serving its cornhusk-wrapped tamales for over three decades. Their 99 cent breakfast burrito is no joke. Photo via Yelp, Kathy H.
El Club Pizza 4114 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-279-7382; elclubdetroit.com The former Pepe-Z pizza is now El Club Pizza. Located in the music and art venue, El Club Pizza offers up light pies that include vegan options and the MC5 or the “Meat City 5.” Photo by Sarah Rahal
Telway Burgers 6820 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-843-2146 This seven-seat burger joint is the dive of late-night dinner-fare: Small and cramped; it has an attitudinal waitstaff and a smattering of gossipy regulars. Still, the food’s consistently good, and occasionally great — though most people come for the burgers, the chicken sandwiches are the piece de resistance. To top it off, the fare is wonderfully inexpensive. Photo via Yelp, Brian Ambrozy
El Rey De Las Arepas 7701 McGraw St., Detroit; 313-307-2210 An unassuming Venezuelan eatery. Known for their 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. Photo by Rob Widdis.
Fist OF Curry 2547 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-265-3325; huronroom.com Formerlly the Huron Room, owners did a 180 and flipped the concept overnight to a more ecclectic spicy, curry-centric menu. Photo MT file.
Los Corrales 2244 Junction St., Detroit; 313-849-3196; loscorralesrestaurant.com Finding a satisfying meal at these places off the beaten path is a thrill. Los Corrales is one of them. The atmosphere is warm and laid-back. Los Corrales offers fare from all over Mexico. You’ll find chiles rellenos as well as chimichangas, but an emphasis on seafood dishes such as ceviche. Finish it all off with a horchata. Photo via Foursquare, Al P.
Mikes Famous Ham Place 3700 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-894-6922 A family-owned diner-style eatery known for their “off-the-bone” goodness when it comes to their many ham dishes. Photo via Facebook
PizzaPlex 4458 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-757-4492; pizzaplex.com A hip pizza spot, Pizzaplex is the only restaurant in Detroit to seek certification as a purveyor of true Neapolitan pizza. Photo by Tony Lowe.
Motz Burgers 7208 W. Fort St., Detroit; 313-843-9186; motzs.com Detroit abounds with charming, old-school burger joints serving sliders fragrant with the aroma of grilled onions. But Motz’s stands apart, thanks to the quick service, 85-year history, gracious staff, and the milling workaday crowd that stuffs the joint around lunchtime. Then there’s the charming banter of a family-owned business where jokes and gentle barbs fly back and forth that makes a late meal at the counter into dinner and a show. Photo via motzs.com
Taqueria Nuestra Familia 7620 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-842-5668; nuestrafamiliarestaurant.com An authentic and no-frills spot that specializes in $1.25 tacos and signature fajita mix. Yelp, Eunice P.
Mariscos El Salpicon 8600 W. Vernor Hwy., 313-914-2214 Once a foodtruck, now a southwest staple specializing in Central American seafood dishes. Photo MT file.
Los Galanes 3362 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-554-444; losgalanesdetroit.com Old school Mexicantown restaurant that’s on the beaten path and serves excellent tortilla soup. Photo via Yelp
Armando’s 4242 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-0666; armandosmexicantown.com Longtime favorite Mexican spot on Vernor with all the standards and plenty of gooey cheese. Photo via Armando’s.
Tamaleria Nuevo Leon 2669 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-962-8066 Nuevo Leon os one of Southwest’s best tamale folders. Photo via Tamaleria Nuevo Leon.
Los Altos 7056 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-841-3109 Real deal Mexican food on Vernor from the owner of Senor Lopez. Photo via TripAdvisor.com
Hygrade Deli 3640 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-894-6620; hygradedeli.com One of southwest Detroit’s old school, venerable ham sandwich stackers. Photo via Yelp, Al P.
Colombo’s Coney Island 5414 W. Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-849-0995 One of Southwest Detroit’s most loved coney islands. Photo via Yelp, Ryan B.
Mi Lindo San Blas 1807 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-789-5100 Find lots of Mexican seafood, ceviche galore, and loud music and dancing in this relatively new Southwest restaurant. Photo via Mi Lindo San Blas.
El Nacimiento 7400 W.Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-554-1790; elnacimientorestaurant.com All the great tacos, tostadas, burritos, and more that you come to expect from this solid Mexicantown neighborhood spot. Photo via El Nacimiento
Vince’s Italian Restaurant 1341 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-842-4857; vincesdetroit.com Old school, pile on the red sauce Italian joint in Southwest’s southeast corner. Photo via Facebook
Family Treats 2010 Springwells St., Detroit; 313-841-3522 Find something from all the food groups — chili dogs, burgers, coney dogs, “deep-fried goodies,” and ice cream! Photo via Facebook
Las Cazuelas 4000 Livernoise Ave., Detroit 313-361-1100; lascazuelasgrill.net This family-run shop offers authentic Mexican fare at a fair price. Photo via Yelp
Bella’s 2303 Campbell St., Detroit; 313-461-8657 This small shop is the only in southwest that specializes in Mexico’s soups and coffees. Photo via MT file.
Asty Time 7340 McGraw St., Detroit; 313-285-9390 All your favorite Domincan fare in this fun, family run spot — guisada de res, mfonogo, and more. Photo via MT file.
Rincon Tropical 6538 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-334-8526; rincontropical313.com One of your few chances to get some delicious mfongo, cerdo guisado, pollo al horno, and other delicious Puerto Rican plates. Photo via MT file.
Senor Lopez 7146 Michigan Ave., Detroit 313-551-0685 Senor Lopez offers some of Detroit’s best tacos, and for a basement bargain price. Courtesy photo.
Siciliy’s 3553 W. Vernor Hwy, Detroit; 313-554-0755; sicilysdetroit.com This longtime pizza purveyor in Mexicantown is a neighborhood favorite. Courtesy photo.
Lupita’s 3443 Bagley Ave., Detroit; 313-843-1105 A favorite taco purveyor in the gringo-frequented part of the Mexicantown neighborhood. Nice spot for cheap, quick, delicious eats. Photo via Yelp, Nikki T

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