Detroit is a city with a rich culture, a whole lot of soul, and great food. It’s also one of the Blackest big cities in America. Despite this, we often see many non-Black faces and businesses getting highlighted when looking for places that represent Detroit.

We’ve compiled a list of Black-owned Detroit restaurants that we think everyone who has ever stepped foot in the 313 should have tried by now.

Breadless 2761 E. Jefferson, Suite A, Detroit; 313-474-2870; eatbreadless.com Breadless is EXACTLY what you think it is, a breadless sandwich shop that uses leafy greens as a substitute for bread. Credit: Courtesy of Breadless
Petty Cash 20050 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-380-6336;pettycashdetroit.com Petty Cash is a high-end small plates and cocktail restaurant tucked on the Livernois Avenue of Fashion. Credit: Viola Klocko
SuperCrisp 4830 Cass Ave., Suite C, Detroit; 313-474-8880; supercrisp.com Chef Mike Ransom’s karaage fried chicken sandwich at his other restaurant Ima was so popular that he decided to open another shop dedicated to it. Beyond the famous fried chicken sandwich, SuperCrisp also offers burgers and fries topped with Asian flavors like kimchi and wasabi. There are also plenty of vegetarian options available. Credit: SuperCrisp/Instagram
Soul on Ice 8867 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-646-4601; soulonice.com Dubbed the Detroit Drinking Den, Soul on Ice is a soul-food inspired bistro and lounge that also offers live entertainment throughout the week. Credit: Courtesy of Soul on Ice
Kuzzo’s Chicken & Waffles 19345 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-861-0229; kuzzoschickenandwaffles.com Founded by former NFL player Ron Bartell, this chicken and waffle eatery serves food that will provide all the comfort your soul needs. After closing in 2019 for kitchen renovations, the Avenue of Fashion mainstay reopened this year better than ever. Courtesy photo
Detroit Vegan Soul 19614 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-766-5728; detroitvegansoul.com Having a desire to make healthy food more accessible, Detroit Vegan Soul’s mission is to help people live healthier lives by offering a menu full of great tasting and nutritious vegan food. Credit: Detroit Vegan Soul/Facebook
Yum Village 6500 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-334-6099; yumvillage.com Yum Village in Detroit’s north end is full of Caribbean and West African dishes like jerk chicken, maafe, jollof rice, suya fried chicken, smoked pepper fries, and several vegetarian options. Credit: Yum Village / Facebook
Detroit Pizza Bar 7316 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-646-4601; thedetroitpizzabar.com This pizzeria is located in Detroit’s historic Bagley neighborhood, and not only are the employees all residents of the city, the pizza names are a nod to the neighborhood. Credit: Detroit Pizza Bar
Joe Louis Southern Kitchen 3100 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit; 313-788-8338; joelouissouthernkitchen.com Joe Louis Southern Kitchen surely is a knockout when it comes to Southern breakfast staples.The restaurant features classics like, buttermilk biscuits, croquettes and rice, shrimp and grits, country fried steak, and much more. Credit: Lee DeVito
Lobster Food Truck & Pitstop 10405 Ford Rd., Dearborn; 313-406-5854; thelobsterfoodtruck.com The Lobster Food Truck & Pitstop is what the dreams of lobster lovers are made of. From lobster mac-n-cheese, fried lobster bites, and of course, a lobster roll (hot or cold), it gives Detroit a taste of the sea all year round. Credit: The Lobster Food Truck/Facebook
Ima 2015 Michigan Ave., Detroit | 4870 Cass Ave., Detroit | 32203 John R. Rd., Madison Heights | imanoodles.com Located in Corktown, with newer outposts in Midtown and Madison Heights, this Japanese eatery is run by chef-owner Mike Ransom. Filling menu items are created with a base of either rice or udon noodles and they’re freaking delicious. Try the Midtown location’s spicy karaage chicken sandwich. Credit: Tom Perkins
Baobab Fare 6568 Woodward Ave., Suite 100, Detroit; 313-265-3093; baobabfare.com Opened by immigrants, Baobab Fare brings East African fare, coffee, and fresh juices to Detroit’s New Center neighborhood. Their signature dish is Nyumbani, a slow-simmered beef dish served with fried plantains, peanut stewed spinach, and coconut rice. Credit: Google Maps
Louisiana Creole Gumbo 2051 Gratiot Ave., Detroit; 313-567-1200 | 13505 W. Seven Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-397-4052 | 29216 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills | detroitgumbo.com Louisiana Creole Gumbo has been a staple in Detroit’s Eastern Market since 1970. More than 50 years later, the cajun restaurant expanded to the suburbs and opened a new location in Farmington Hills. Credit: Kelley O'Neill
Trap Vegan 20198 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-340-2988; trapvegan.com Dope. Healthy. Good AF. This vegan fast-food restaurant offers plant-based burgers, smoothies, acai bowls, and salads. When Trap Vegan opened in November of 2021, they sold out the first day — that’s how good it is. Credit: Trap Vegan /Facebook
ImaginATE 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak; 248-633-8899; imaginaterestaurant.com Owned by Chef Omar Mitchell, ImaginATE uses technology and creativity to elevate the fine dining experience. ImaginATE makes dining entertaining with the addition of Le Petit, a digital dining experience that shows animated chefs and characters preparing your order digitally before the server presents your real plated meal. Credit: ImaginATE/Facebook
Good Cakes and Bakes 19363 Livernois Ave., Detroit; 313-468-9915; goodcakesandbakes.com Owned by April Anderson and Michelle Anderson, this Livernois Avenue organic bakery has been in the spotlight since it opened — and we know why. Look no further than Good Cakes’ lemon gooey butter cake, strawberry crunch cake, and 7-Up pound as well as a mouth-watering selection of cupcakes and cookies. Vegan? They’ve got you covered with whole cakes in red velvet, double chocolate, carrot, and lemon pound cake varieties. Credit: Good Cakes and Bakes/Facebook
Bert’s 2727 Russell St., Detroit; 313-567-2030; bertsentertainmentcomplex.com If you haven’t been to Bert’s Saturday morning barbecue cookout, you’re missing out. The slabs of ribs and smoked sausage are cooked on a massive outdoor charcoal grill, filling Eastern Market with mouthwatering smells. Plus, they have karaoke. Credit: Bert's Marketplace/Facebook
Central Kitchen and Bar 660 Woodward Ave. #4a, Detroit; 313-963-9000; centraldetroit.com Co-owned by Dennis Archer Jr., Central Kitchen and Bar offers unique takes on classic dishes like burgers and salads. Credit: Central Kitchen and Bar/Facebook
Sweet Soul Bistro 13741 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-862-7685 This westside bar and restaurant is located at McNichols and Schaefer Highway. The bistro takes bar food and the legacy of Motown and weaves them into a menu that’s full of mouthwatering dishes. Credit: Sweet Soul Bistro/Facebook
Chef Greg’s Soul ‘N’ The Wall 10009 Curtis St., Detroit; 313-861-0331; facebook.com/Chef-Gregs-Soul-N-The-Wall In 2007, Greg Beard opened Greg’s Soul ‘N’ The Wall in the tiny brick storefront that used to house Brothers on Curtis near Wyoming Road. Since then, the soul food favorite has revived the Boogaloo Sandwich, a more sophisticated cousin to the Sloppy Joe, that was created in Detroit in the 1960s. Credit: Tom Perkins
Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q 7444 Beaubien St., Detroit; 313-873-7444; parksoldstylebar-b-q.com Remember that Buster Poindexter song from the ’90s, “Hot Hot Hot”? No? Uh, OK, anyway the song embodies the “North End Detroit” heat of Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q which means cayenne-powder dusted chicken that is, well, hot, hot, hot. Opened in 1964, they now go through 2,500-3,000 of ribs each week because, yeah, it’s that friggin’ good. Credit: Parks Old Style Bar-B-Q/Facebook
House of Pure Vin 1443 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-638-2501; houseofpurevin.com Looking to indulge with a fancy bottle of something that will take all your worries away? Founders Regina Gaines, Terry Mullins, and Andrea Dunbar opened this trendy wine hub in the heart of downtown Detroit in 2015. Credit: House of Pure Vin/Facebook
The Block 3919 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-832-0892; theblockdet.com This establishment, owned by Michael Byrd, is a contemporary restaurant and bar combo. The menu consists of burgers, chicken wings, and other elevated pub favorites. Credit: The Block Detroit/Facebook
Detroit Soul 2900 Eight Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-366-5600; detroitsoul.net Detroit Soul, owned and run by Sam Van Buren and Jerome Brown and their wives, makes classic soul food with a health-focused twist. Buren and Brown, both of whom are descendants of parents and grandparents who relocated to the North from Selma, Alabama, during the Great Migration, have reimagined family recipes for greens, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, and catfish. Credit: Detroit Soul / Facebook
Ivy’s Kitchen & Cocktails 9215 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-332-0607; ivykc.com Opened by Nya Marshall on the city’s east side in 2019, Ivy’s Kitchen & Cocktail offers casual yet high-end American fare, like squid ink pasta, charred branzino, and short rib stroganoff, with burgers and chicken sandwiches, too. Credit: Ivy’s Kitchen & Cocktail/Facebook
Dime Store 719 Griswold St., Suite 180, Detroit; 313-962-9106; eatdimestore.com Jeff Alexander, Larry Kahn, and Ann-Marie Murphy preside over this Chrysler House eatery. Look no further for a prime brunch destination, complete with made-from-scratch breakfasts. Credit: Dime Store Facebook
COOP 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; coopdetroit.com Chef Maxcel Hardy expanded from his deservedly popular River Bistro in Rosedale Park to a stall at Midtown’s Detroit Shipping Co. food hall. Whereas the emphasis at the Bistro is on soul food, Coop’s inspiration is a Caribbean food truck. Familiar island favorites jerk chicken, rum cake, and ginger beer do make room, though, for Southern fare like mac and cheese and Brussels sprouts with bacon. Credit: Facebook, COOP Detroit
Vicki’s BBQ 3845 W. Warren Ave., Detroit; 313-894-9906 Vicki’s is one of Detroit’s barbecue old-timers that’s up at the top of the list in any conversation on our barbecue heavyweights. That partly owes to the St. Louis-style cut ribs that Vicki’s cooks over an open pit (though you can also get them smoked). But the highlight in what’s basically a highlight reel meal is the vinegar and tomato-based sauce. Credit: Tom Perkins
Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails 16801 Plymouth Rd., Detroit; 313-653-3700; fusionflare.net When owner-chef Maashelle Sykes opened her new American and soul food eatery in 2019, it marked the first full-service restaurant to open in Detroit’s west side Joy community in nearly 20 years. Their menu includes plates like fried catfish with a remoulade sauce, grilled pork chops, and buttermilk fried chicken, and different preparations of shrimp, as well as vegan options. Credit: Fusion Flare Kitchen and Cocktails/Facebook
Jamaican Pot 14615 W. Eight Mile, Detroit; 313-659-6033; thejamaicanpot.com Jamaican Pot has a new location in the New Center One building in Detroit’s New Center neighborhood. The menu is similar to that at its small carryout spot on Eight Mile Road near Greenfield, with offerings like jerk chicken, barbecue jerk, pepper steak, oxtail, and curried goat. And, of course, it offers what is perhaps the best dish Mama Rose makes, fricassee chicken with veggies in a brown gravy flavored by garlic, onion, scallion, and thyme. Credit: The Jamaican Pot / Facebook
Sloppy Chops 13226 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-646-2900; sloppychopsrestaurant.net If you aren’t afraid of a little mess in the name of good food, then try Six Mile’s newest addition, Sloppy Chops, helmed by chef Al El. This casual fine dining establishment serves up signature entrees, like lobster tacos, lamb chops, as well as handcrafted cocktails. Credit: Sloppy Chops Restaurant/Facebook
Motown Bistro 2735 Russell St., Detroit; facebook.com/themotownbistrodetroit Located in Eastern Market, Motown Bistro & Oyster Bar focuses on seafood including lobster mac and cheese, lobster bites, blue crab potato skins, and more than 150 rare scotches and bourbons. Credit: Motown Bistro/Facebook
Le Petit Dejeuner 6470 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit; 313-725-0257; facebook.com/lepetitbreakfast Le Petit Dejeuner describes itself as a family dining breakfast restaurant. Dishes are meant to be shared amongst family and friends. Serving waffles, pancakes, crepes, and other delicious breakfast foods, sharing with your family is easier said than done. Credit: Le Petit/Facebook
The Kitchen by Cooking with Que 6529 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-462-4184; thekitchenbycwq This space at 6529 Woodward serves as a culinary classroom of sorts where vegans and meat lovers can hone their culinary skills; a place for businesses and individuals to rent a shared commercial kitchen; and a place where visitors can rent private dining space. Credit: The Kitchen by Cooking with Que / Facebook
Baker’s Keyboard Lounge 20510 Livernois Ave.; 313-345-6300; theofficialbakerskeyboardlounge.com Believed to be the world’s oldest continuing-operated jazz club, this legendary spot is owned by Eric Whitaker and business partner Hugh W. Smith III. Some of the musicians who have played the club include: Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, and Nat “King” Cole, to name a few. Credit: Tom Perkins
SavannahBlue 1431 Times Sq., Detroit; 313-926-0873; savannahbluedetroit.com Contemporary northern soul food eatery is getting in on the fine-dining curbside action. SavannahBlue is the place to snag sides of collard greens, maple glazed yams, and crab cakes to pair with blackened shrimp farro jambalaya, braised oxtail, southern fried catfish, or St. Louis barbecue ribs. Credit: SavannahBlue/Facebook
Cafe D’Mongo’s Speakeasy 1439 Griswold St., Detroit; 313-961-0000 Founded by Larry Mongo in 2007, this Friday and Saturday-only bar and restaurant has served as the backdrop for locally produced movies and has been featured on the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. It’s also regularly frequented by celebrities and local talent. Credit: Cafe D'Mongo's/Facebook
Flood’s Bar & Grille 731 St. Antoine St., Detroit; 313-963-1090; floodsdetroit.com Family-owned and operated soul food spot Flood’s Bar & Grille is a Detroit institution. Located in a beautiful historic building near Greektown, Flood’s has been serving up classic soul food since 1987. Credit: Flood's Bar & Grille/Facebook
Sweet Potato Sensations 17337 Lahser Rd., Detroit; 313-532-7996; sweetpotatosensations.com Cassandra and Jeffrey Thomas have been preparing all manner of sweet potato treats for almost three decades. Although pie is what they’re best known for, the bakery specializes in other confectionary goodies such as; cheesecake, cake, cookies, and more. Credit: Sweet Potato Sensations/Facebook
Motor City Soul Food 12700 W. Seven Mile Rd.; 313-472-5885; officialmotorcitysoulfood.com Motor City Soul Food has two locations, one located in Oak Park and the other in Detroit. They have all of the best fixings — neckbones, fried chicken, meatloaf, catfish, potato salad, peach cobbler, you name it. Their macaroni and cheese is a must-have alongside some fried chicken. Credit: Motor City Soul Food/Facebook
Maty’s Senegalese Restaurant 21611 Grand River Ave., Detroit; 313-472-5885; facebook.com/matys-restaurant Maty’s is Detroit’s first and only Senegalese restaurant and every visit promises to deliver a deeply flavorful dish. If you’re lost, the first dish to try is the fish, which they cook whole with ingredients like mustard powder, onion, pepper, and vinegar with a few twists. Credit: Tom Perkins
They Say Restaurant 267 Jos Campau, Detroit; 313-446-4682; | 17810 Vernier Rd., Harper Woods; 313-309-3600 | theysayrestaurant.com Founded in 2006 and known for live music, They Say has since opened a second location in Harper Woods. Credit: They Say Restaurant/Facebook
Cornbread Restaurant & Bar 29852 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-208-1680; cornbreadsoulfood.com Beans & Cornbread has a new location, a new look, and a new name.The longstanding Southfield soul food restaurant is now called Cornbread Restaurant & Bar, and has moved down the street to 29852 Northwestern Hwy. The menu largely remains the same, as does the restaurant’s commitment to honoring important Black historical figures through its decor. Credit: Cornbread Restaurant & Bar/Facebook
Cutters Bar & Grill 2638 Orleans St., Detroit; 313-393-0960; cuttersdetroit.com Cutters Bar & Grill is an Eastern Market staple that dishes out flavorful pub and bar favorites like wings, steak bites, and their Cutters stuffed burgers. Credit: Google Maps
Southern Smokehouse 14340 W. McNichols Rd.; Detroit; 313-397-4050 This grab-and-go soul food spot was opened in 2013 by brothers Kevin and Dwayne Hayes, the latter having trained under Chef Milos Cihelka at Southfield’s former Golden Mushroom restaurant. It has earned a reputation as a hidden gem restaurant. Credit: se7enfifteen

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