In recent years, the amount of African and Caribbean eateries in the Detroit area has continued to increase, with spots such as flourishing East African restaurant Baobab Fare and numerous hole-in-the-wall Jamaican eateries on the city’s northwest side.

Other local dining experiences serve up flavors from Senegal, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Liberia, Haiti, and Puerto Rico, proving that Detroit’s food scene is more than meets the eye.

If you want to expand your palate or are a food lover always in need of new authentic restaurants to try, here is where you should visit in metro Detroit.

Baobab Fare 6568 Woodward Ave., Detroit; 313-265-3093; baobabfare.com Burundi immigrants Hamissi Mamba and Nadia Nijimbere opened Baobab Fare to bring East African cuisine, coffee, and fresh juices to Detroit. Their signature dish is Nyumbani, a slow-simmered beef dish served with fried plantains, peanut-stewed spinach, and coconut rice. Along with their Waka food truck and Soko African culture brand, owners are preparing to open a second Baobab location on the city’s east side. Credit: Courtesy photo
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. Credit: Tom Perkins
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
COOP 474 Peterboro St., Detroit; coopdetroit.com Chef Maxcel Hardy, who sadly passed away in 2024, expanded Coop from his deservedly popular River Bistro in Rosedale Park to the current stall at Midtown’s Detroit Shipping Co. food hall. Familiar island favorites include jerk chicken, rum cake, and ginger beer with room for Southern fare like mac and cheese and Brussels sprouts with bacon too. Credit: Facebook, COOP Detroit
Fork in Nigeria forkinnigeria.com After one popular Nigerian dish called fufu went viral on TikTok, this local food truck garnered tons of recognition. At Fork in Nigeria, chef Prej Iroegbu serves a multitude of classic Nigerian meals, one being pounded yam, or fufu, which is served alongside stews such as okra, egusi, or edikaikong. In the past year, the company expanded from just one Detroit location to three, with one truck on the west side on Livernois Avenue, one truck on Eight Mile Road on the east side, and a pick-up-only location on Woodward Avenue near downtown. Credit: Facebook, Fork in Nigeria
Asty Time Dominican Cuisine 7340 McGraw Ave., Detroit; 313-285-9390; astytime.com Chef Asty Acosta’s journey from the Dominican Republic to Southwest Detroit culminated in the creation of Asty Time, a restaurant known for standout dishes like salami con tostones and carne de res guisada. First serving with his wife out of their home, the family launched its now brick-and-mortar location in 2017. Credit: Tom Perkins
Jamaica Mi Hungry 313 8910 Wyoming Ave., Detroit; 313-744-0984; instagram.com/jamaicamihungry313 Coining itself as “Detroit’s best Jamaican cuisine,” owners Taniesha and Richard Marzouca serve up home-cooked and authentic Jamaican food. While there is a building for the eatery, food is normally served from a truck in the parking lot. TikTok food reviewer @chowdowndetroit rated the food and customer service a 10 out of 10 in a six-minute video showcasing his visit in April 2023. With very limited hours, however, your only chance to try it is on Mondays and Fridays from 1-6 p.m. Credit: Google Maps
Kola Restaurant & Ultra Lounge 32523 Northwestern Hwy., Farmington Hills; 248-932- 5652; kolalounge.com This spot mixes a modern, hip-hop lounge with a sit-down West African restaurant. Owner Ime Ekpenyong serves up dishes from nations like Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. Roughly a third of Kola is dedicated to a dance floor and DJ booth, and depending on the night that you’re there, you may examine the yam-heavy menu while listening to reggae, soul, or Caribbean music. Credit: Tom Perkins
The Jamaican Pot 14615 Eight Mile Rd., Detroit; 313-888-8102; thejamaicanpot.com On the city’s west side in a small strip of businesses on Eight Mile, this Jamaican food spot serves up dishes like curry goat and brown stew chicken. Credit: Tom Perkins
Little Liberia instagram.com/little_liberia Owner and Chef Ameneh Marhaba started Little Liberia as a pop-up in 2016, serving an array of Liberian dishes like groundnut stew and palm butter, Liberian country dry rice, cassava leaves, and plantain chips. A few months ago, the African-fusion pop-up announced its first brick-and-mortar at 6513 Woodward Ave. in Detroit’s New Center area, which is expected to open in mid to late 2024. Credit: Courtesy of Featherstone
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. The food is highly rated with authentic 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
Konjo Me instagram.com/konjo.me Opened in 2020 by Chef Helina Melaku, this Ethiopian food and drink pop-up has continued to grow. Melaku’s mission is to share the flavors and traditions of her home country’s cuisine with Detroit, with hopes to open a brick-and-mortar in the city soon. Credit: Instagram, @konjo.me
Khadi’s Cuisine 421 W. Cross St., Ypsilanti; 734-905-7013; khadiscuisine.com Formerly home to Bon Appetit African cuisine, which had a similar menu, Khadi’s Cuisine just opened its doors in mid-2023. Founder Khadidiatou Faye mixes West African cuisine with Mediterranean and European dishes, and everything is halal. The spot strives to bring traditional African cuisine and culture to Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, providing local African immigrants a taste of home. Credit: Tom Perkins
The Blue Nile 221 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor; 734-998-4746; bluenilemi.com As the only Ethiopian restaurant in the Ann Arbor area, this family-owned spot has shoes to fill… and does it well. Stepping in, the decoration makes it feel like you aren’t in Ann Arbor at all. Try the “all you can eat” vegetarian platter for $20 that comes with unlimited sides and crepe-like Ethiopian bread injera. Various meats can be added for extra and the spot sells a list of unique cocktails. Credit: Layla McMurtrie
Home Tastes Like This instagram.com/hometastelikethis At various pop-ups around Detroit, chef Franchesca Lamarre serves up cuisine that highlights her Haitian heritage. One staple dish is spaghetti with peach jerk tomato sauce, a sunny-side-up egg, and epis chimichurri. The owner started Home Tastes Like This in the past year hoping to showcase unique recipes from all over the Black diaspora, specifically Haiti, especially since there are no other Haitian eateries in Detroit. Credit: Instagram, @hometasteslikethis
A.J. Authentic Jamaica Co. instagram.com/aj_jamaica Usually found on the east side of Detroit and at various events around the city, this food truck specializes in Jamaican cuisine, from oxtail and jerk chicken to fried plantains and fresh juices. Credit: Instagram, @aj_jamaica
Rincon Tropical 6538 Michigan Ave., Detroit; 313-334-8526; Facebook.com/rincontropical Part nightclub and part authentic Puerto Rican eatery, Rincon Tropical specializes in staple dishes like mofongo, empanadillas, sorullitos, relleno, and alcapurria. Credit: Photo via GoogleMaps
Learn how to dance with free salsa lessons at Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine 1250 Library St., Detroit; vicentesdetroit.com Every Friday and Saturday night from 10:30 p.m. to close, this local Cuban restaurant holds free salsa lessons. The class is for both beginners who need to learn the basics and experts who want to pick up some new moves. Credit: Vicente's Cuban Cuisine/Facebook
Casablanca 2333 Washtenaw Ave., Ypsilanti; 734-961-7828; casablancaypsilanti.com This restaurant offers traditional Moroccan cooking, which blends Middle Eastern cuisine with hints of flavor from Europe and Africa. The wide array of halal dishes includes unique staples such as sweet lamb tagine, bistilla, and zaalook. Credit: Layla McMurtrie
Lenox Jerk 16241 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-340-2980; instagram.com/rudeboiylenox “Come Thru and Eat Good,” says the Instagram bio of this authentic Caribbean spot. The restaurant serves up rasta pasta, jerk salmon, oxtail meals, and lots more. Credit: Google Maps
Luffy’s Kitchen 2934 Russell St., Eastern Market Shed 2, Detroit; luffyskitchen.com This food vendor, plus catering and delivery service, specializes in authentic Nigerian cuisine. You can usually catch them at Eastern Market during the usual warm weather season market hours but follow the spot’s Instagram for specifics on when you can order. Credit: Instagram, @luffyskitchen
Caribbean Chill & Grill 27206 Grand River Ave., Redford Charter Twp.; 313-534-5550; facebook.com/people/Caribbean-ChillGrill This family-owned restaurant has been serving the community for over 10 years with recipes that have been passed down through generations. The bar and grill-style spot offers a variety of dishes inspired by the Caribbean islands including curry goat, Roti, and seafood stew. There are indoor and outdoor seating options alongside a wide tropical drink selection. Credit: Google Maps
Latin American Cuban Cuisine 2269 Ellsworth Rd., Ypsilanti; 734-961-7452; latinamericancubancuisines.com The restaurant’s name is refreshingly straightforward. Whether you’re craving a Cuban sandwich, yuca fries, a hearty dish of meat, plantains, and rice and beans, or a delectable tres leches cake, this establishment offers a diverse array of Latin culinary delights. Credit: Facebook, Latin American Cuban Cuisine
Island Spice 18200 W. McNichols Rd., Detroit; 313-592-0941; facebook.com/ISpiceCaribbean Specializing in homemade cooking with fresh ingredients, the flavors at Island Spice exude Caribbean influence. Credit: Google Maps
KG’s African 465 Inkster Rd., Garden City; 734-367-2000; kgsafricangrill.com This “African-American” grill is Garden City’s first diner and eatery specializing in authentic African cuisine, specifically from Senegal. Along with numerous traditional Senegalese dishes, the spot also offers American diner food such as mozzarella sticks, Caesar salads, and cheeseburgers, so there are options for the adventurous and the picky eaters. Credit: Google Maps
Jamaican Jerk Pit 314 S. Thayer St., Ann Arbor; 734-585-5278; jamaicanjerkpit.com The interior of this small space is brightly colored and lined with the flags of Caribbean countries. While it is take-out only, its food is delicious, offering the usual brown stew chicken, plantains, rice and peas, and more. Credit: Facebook, Jamaican Jerk Pit of Ann Arbor
Taste of Ethiopia 28639 Northwestern Hwy., Southfield; 248-905-5560; tasteofethiopiadetroit.com Similar to Blue Nile in Ann Arbor, the staple at this family-owned Ethiopian restaurant in Southfield is a platter of side dishes served up with injera bread. There are meat and vegetarian options, plus options to try authentic Ethiopian drinks and desserts. Credit: Tom Perkins
Topey’s Kitchen 14621 Fenkell Ave., Detroit; 313-837-3737; topeyskitchendetroit.com Offering yet another westside Jamaican spot, Topey’s is unique and multifaceted. The spot offers Jamaican breakfast, seafood dishes, soul food meals, island-style homemade juices, “reggae-style,” sandwiches, and more. Credit: Google Maps
Delphine Jamaican Restaurant 14377 E. Nine Mile Rd., Warren; 586-217-5000; delphinejamaicanrestaurant.com This take-out Jamaican restaurant, located in an easy-to-miss strip mall, serves up authentic dishes like jerk chicken, salt fish, and patty. Jamaica-born Delphine Drake, known for the Jamaican seasonings she sells at Eastern Market and local grocery stores, opened the carryout spot in 2018 to bring Caribbean food closer to the east side of the city. Credit: Google Maps
Caribbean Authentic Cuisine 37136 Dequindre Rd., Sterling Heights; 586-272-2594; caribbeanauthenticcuisinemi.com Caribbean Authentic Cuisine has a name that is straight to the point and true, with carefully crafted dishes ranging from an oxtail dinner to rasta pasta to red snapper. Credit: Google Maps

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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...