In Mr. Brett Callwood's Pre-Blowout post on Tuesday, he made the following observation about this giant local music fest we're all about to tumble into head first:
"The Blowout is sort of like when you go to Appleby’s and order the appetizer sampler. You get to try small portions of a whole lot of different things to see what you like, and maybe you’ll get a full order of mozzarella sticks next time."
After I was able to push aside the thoughts of what passes as edible at places like Appleby's, I got me to thinking about actual food. Many of you reading this will be in Hamtramck each and every night this week. A lot of you are going to do one of the following:
1. Eat at the Taco Bell on Woodward in Ferndale on your way here.
2. Eat at the Clock because ... I don't know why
Now, to be totally fair to the fine people who own, operate and occasionally cook what passes as "food" at the Clock, if after Blowout you're so hammered that you would literally eat a piece of styrofoam if it had enough mustard and ketchup on it, go eat at the Clock at 3 am. It'll be open, and you'll be too drunk to notice what you're eating.
But if you want some great food before or after you get your Blowout scramble on, Hamtramck has too many really good, really reasonable food choices for you to do that to yourself.
Full disclosure - I live here in Hamtramck. So I totally want you to spend your money here these next few days, not at the Taco Bell in Ferndale. So I decided I'd share with you my favorite local food places.
11945 Conant St
Hamtramck, MI 48212
Hamtramck has a really big Bangladeshi population, which means Hamtramck has a lot of really cool Bangladeshi culture -including food. To keep it simple, if you like Indian food, you'll like Bangladeshi cuisine. Aladin's is cheap and tasty, and fairly no frills - the dining room looks like a modified McDonald's, and the plates and cutlery are disposable. They are also open pretty late - 12am Sun. thru Thurs. and 2am Fri and Sat!
3236 Caniff Street
Hamtramck, MI 48212-3023
You don't have to go to Dearborn for gread Middle Eastern food. Royal Kabob's veggie platter is enough food to feed four hipsters on a budget. Plus you can get a side of good ol' fries!
2200 Caniff
Hamtramck, MI 48212
So you and your friends are all in the mood for something different: you want pizza, your friend wants a Philly Cheese Steak and your girlfriend's in the mood for Chinese. At Desi Pizza, you ALL WIN! Right next to Steve's Party Store, Desi Pizza has an exceptionally eclectic menu, all hot and fast and cheap. Not a lot of seating inside, but enough for you to fuel up before heading to the Belmont. Plus they're also open late - Mon - Thurs 11am to 12am, Fri and Sat 11am - 1am
11411 Joseph Campau St
Yeah, yeah, it's not Mexican Town, but you were going to eat at Taco Bell, remember? And Maria's is WAY better than Taco Bell, and at LEAST as good as a couple of the Mexican Town places that people go on and on about. And if you're in the mood for sweet - they have AWESOME sopapillas, which are crisp flour tortillas perfectly seasoned with cinnamon and sugar. Served with your choice of honey or chocolate sauce. Open 11am to 9pm, closed Sundays.
2990/2934 Yemans Street
Hamtramck, MI 48212
Yes, yes - there's always Polish food! Both of these restaurants are great, and they're also right next door to each other, which is weird. The sweet cheese pierogi at both of these joints will make you happy.
See? There you have it! Now go off and explore something new to eat before you go explore new stuff to hear!
