While 2021 was a surprisingly great year for new eats in metro Detroit, it looks like 2022 might just top it. From new openings, expansions, and rebrandings, here are some of the spots weÂ’re looking forward to this year.

Jollibee 44945 Woodridge Dr., Sterling Heights; jollibeefoods.com The popular fast-food chain is expanding into the U.S., opening its first-ever Michigan location on Hall Road at a former Denny’s near Lakeside Mall. Founded in 1978, the chain is known for putting a Filipino twist on American dishes, like fried chicken, burgers, spaghetti (topped with a sweet sauce, ham, and hot dog), and peach-mango hand pies. An opening date has not yet been announced. Photo by Lester Balajadia / Shutterstock.com
Bohemia 100 S. Main St. Royal Oak; eatatbohemia.com; 248-268-2885 A new concept by Adam Merkel Restaurants, Bohemia bills itself as a “fun, funky Mediterranean-style restaurant,” with a heavy Israeli influence. The restaurant will feature an open kitchen with the chefs cooking on display, and all the meals are cooked over real charcoal. Sources say it’s aiming for a February opening date. Pearl’s Deep Dive, a stylish seafood restaurant, recently opened next door, also part of the Adam Merkel Restaurants group. Photo by Lee DeVito Credit: Lee DeVito
Bonchon TBD; bonchon.com This popular Korean Fried Chicken chain announced a major expansion into Michigan, with a location opening in late 2021 at 27915 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills. At least four more are planned to open in the state in the coming months, including one in Troy, though the exact locations and target dates have not yet been announced. Courtesy photo
HopCat 420/430 Main St., Royal Oak; hopcat.com After closing its Royal Oak location in 2020 following a landlord dispute, this local craft beer chain announced a move to the merged spaces previously occupied by bd’s Mongolian Grill and Noodles World Kitchen, according to Crain’s Detroit Business. An opening date has not been set. Photo via CoStar Group Inc.
Detroit Seafood Spot 14463 E. Nine Mile Rd., Warren; detroitseafoodspot.com Chef DeCarlos Stewart is opening a Viet-Cajun boil-themed restaurant after introducing seafood to the menu of his east-side late-night carryout restaurant, Detroit Wing Spot, which he describes as “if McDonald’s sold lobster instead of cheeseburgers.” He says the Warren spot will offer a full-service bar complete with a robotic bartender. An opening date has not yet been announced. Courtesy photo
Pastaio 208 Fifth Ave., Royal Oak; eatpastaio.com Palm City, Florida-based Pastaio (Italian for “pasta maker”) is setting up a location in Royal Oak’s former HopCat spot. According to Crain’s Detroit Business, the plans also include an attached nightclub. The chain is known for its hand-made pasta, pizza, and cocktails. An initial opening date of November 2021 came and went, but it seems likely to open in early 2022. Photo via Pastaio Handmade Pasta•Pizza / Facebook
Ima 2100 Michigan Ave., Detroit; imanoodles.com This Detroit-based, Japanese-style noodle spot is relocating to the larger former Gold Cash Gold space across the street from its original Corktown location. Since opening in 2016, the chain has expanded, with additional locations in Madison Heights and Midtown. The new Corktown spot about three times larger than the previous one, which will allow it to serve more customers while staying in the neighborhood. Photo via Hannah Ervin, Detroit Stock City
What’s Crackin’ 19163 Livernois Ave., Detroit For his latest offering, Chef Max Hardy (of Coop Caribbean Chicken) has teamed up with Ron Bartell, a former Detroit Lion cornerback and the owner of the nearby popular Kuzzo’s Chicken & Waffles, for what is being described as a casual seafood boil takeout spot. Slated to open in Detroit’s Avenue of Fashion district, What’s Crackin’ will be the latest customizable seafood boil restaurant to join the Detroit landscape. Customers can choose their seafood, sauce, and spices, including a selection of Chef Max Signature Spice Blends, which will be made available for purchase. Photo by Tom Perkins
C. King and Co. Café 101 W. Michigan Ave., Ypsilanti; 917-548-8800; ckingcafe.com Former New York chef Richard Muszynski plans to soon open C. King and Co. Café, after purchasing and rehabbing the mid-19th century brick building in 2018. According to The Detroit News the restaurant’s name is a nod to its former life as the Charles King & Co. store. Photo via Google Maps
Sauce 4120 Second St., Detroit; saucedetroit.com After a previous target opening of late 2021 passed, it seems likely that this Italian- and SoCal-themed spot will open this year. Sauce is under the Heirloom Hospitality group, helmed by Jeremy Sasson (Prime + Proper, a Detroit and Birmingham’s Townhouse), and will feature a menu by former Otus Supply chef Myles McVay. Photo by Steve Neavling
Mudgie’s at Rivertown Market 1475 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; rivertownmarket.com Lovers of the popular Corktown spot Mudgie’s Deli will soon be able to snag some sammies at Rivertown Market, a small-format grocery store operated by local supermarket chain Meijer. The market will host Mudgie’s second-ever outpost since the late Greg Mudge opened its flagship deli in 2008. Photo via ??PublicCity PR
Basan 2703 Park Ave., Detroit; basandetroit.com Four Man Ladder Management, which also operates the nearby Grey Ghost restaurant and Second Best bar, plans to open a Japanese-style izakaya called Basan at the former Eddystone Hotel. Named after a mythical fire-breathing bird, the restaurant’s ??menu will be robatayaki-style, or cuisine traditionally cooked over hot charcoal on a wide and flat fireplace. Photo via ??Four Man Ladder
Paradise Deli and Marketplace 4641 Grand River Ave., Detroit; alliedmedia.org Chef Nezaa Bandele, aka “Mama Nezaa,” is partnering with Allied Media Projects to develop her business at AMP’s under-construction Love Building campus. Paradise Deli and Marketplace will offer “plant-forward” meals, including grab-and-go catering orders, and will also have a marketplace featuring local producers, a coffee and juice bar, kitchen space for other food makers, and offer nutrition classes. It’s expected to be completed in the spring. Courtesy photo
Cibo Detroit 600 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; cambriadetroit.com Upscale Italian restaurant Cibo Detroit is set to open in The Cambria Hotel, a new hotel in downtown Detroit slated to be completed later this year. According to the The Detroit Free Press, the development is a mix of new construction and redevelopment of the old Walker-Roehrig Building, once home to WWJ-AM (950) radio. Photo via
Hazel’s 1 Peabody St., Birmingham; 248-671-1714; eatathazels.com The former Hazel, Ravines and Downtown restaurant reopens Jan. 6 with a new, shorter name: Hazel’s. According to the press release, the owners decided to rebrand it as Hazel’s after staff and guests started calling the spot by the shorter moniker. The new name comes with the return of its seasonal Hazel’s Crab Trap menu. Photo by Anthony Morrow / Bureau
Bar Pigalle 2915 John R St., Detroit; barpigalle.com This new bar and restaurant in Detroit’s Brush Park neighborhood will serve dishes and craft cocktails inspired by France, and will also have a French-forward selection of wines. A source says it’s aiming for a March opening. Anthony Morrow / Bureau
Smokey Bones 45001 Schoenherr Rd., Utica; smokeybones.com A national barbecue chain that bills itself as “The Masters of Meat” is heading to the Detroit area. Smokey Bones plans to open a location in Utica early next year near the Shelby Corners shopping center. It’ll be the chain’s first Detroit-area location and third in Michigan. Courtesy photo
Detroit Soul 14300 E. Jefferson Ave., Detroit; detroitsoul.net Boothers and co-owners Jerome B. Brown and Samuel VanBuren plan to open a second location of their Detroit Soul spot in early 2022. The first Detroit Soul opened in 2015 as a carryout restaurant at 2900 E. Eight Mile Rd., after starting as a catering hobby for the brothers. The brothers bill the restaurant as serving a healthier take on soul food. Courtesy photo
Beppé 703 N. Main St., Royal Oak; eatbeppe.com This casual-chic Italian diner is expected to open this year in the former Niki’s diner, with ownership ties to ??Royal Oak’s Cripselli’s and Bread spots. Photo via

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