The Best Diners in Detroit

Brooklyn Street Local

★★★★☆ 4.2 (354) • $$

"This small Corktown eatery was on my list for years - I will travel long distances for poutine. So when a friend suggested this place for brunch, I was beyond excited. Of course, I arrived early for our meet-up. I'm always worried about getting lost, despite an assist from Google, and finding parking. If I'm early, it only means more reading time from the comfort of my car.When the diner opened for the day, there was already a small line up and tables filled up quickly.My friend and I pulled up the menu via the QR code and we placed our order and paid through the same code. The food was brought to our table when it was ready. I ordered the large poutine without hesitation. Plain, no bacon or eggs to spoil the dish. The fries were crispy and delicious and the beef gravy was flavorful. Unfortunately, the cheese curds were small and had not had a chance to melt yet. The croque madam was incredible. I loved the tangy, grilled sourdough with bacon and Swiss cheese. The maple mustard and bechamel sauce elevated the taste of the sandwich. The fried egg was yum. Glad I made it a madam.Service was quick and friendly. We were done within an hour and noticed that most of the neighboring tables had already emptied. So, waiting in the morning might not be all that bad."

The Bomber Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (352) • $

"The Bomber Restaurant in Ypsilanti, a small diner honoring WWII veterans and women in service. Walking into The Bomber felt like stepping into a time capsule. Parking was conveniently available at the back, where a stunning floral mural added a touch of artistry to our visit.The restaurant was decked out in authentic WWII memorabilia, from vintage photos to model airplanes, creating a unique, nostalgic atmosphere that was both fascinating and cozy. The aviation-themed decor was a hit with my kids, who were captivated by the model airplanes suspended from the ceiling, making our meal even more memorable.The menu was all about classic American comfort food, served in generous portions that lived up to the restaurant's reputation. The all-day breakfast menu (available until the kitchen closed at 3 PM) made it a fantastic choice for any time of day. The staff's thoughtful recommendations on portion sizes especially for kids, helped ensure we enjoyed our meal without unnecessary waste.During our visit, we indulged in a variety of dishes:* Bomber Burger: Juicy and satisfying, it was a must-try for burger enthusiasts. It came with a choice of curly or regular fries.* Chocolate Hazelnut French Toast: A decadent delight, perfectly sweet and indulgent.* Grilled Liver and Onions: A nostalgic comfort food classic, done just right. Paired with sweet caramelized onions, coleslaw, mashed potatoes, and gravy, it was a standout dish.* Bomber Grilled Chicken: While this dish was okay, it didn't quite shine compared to the others. It was served with curly fries.The fries whether regular or curly were crispy and seasoned to perfection, making them the ideal side to any dish. The portions were huge, and the prices were very reasonable. The service was friendly and efficient, even during a busy weekend morning. The staff handled the crowds with a smile, ensuring everyone felt welcome. They are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays."

Northside Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (374) • $$

"Northside Grille has improved in customer focus.Food = 5 Came hot to the tableService = 5 Our waitress was on top of her game. Greeting = 5 were greeted and seated. We were given water and menu in short order.The staff was working well together.Check was give at the right time.Checkout went without a flawed.In the past has been for an Ann Arbor icon less than expected. But notably improved all the way around Ambiance = 5"

Alchile Mexican Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (293) • $$

"Hands down, the best Mexican restaurant in the area. Post COVID the portions may have become a bit smaller but taste is still the best in town! Great service and friendly servers. Large enough to accommodate large groups as well. I hope this place stays as good as it is now for many more years."

American Coney Island

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (511) • $

"Wow!!! So yummy! I was visiting Detroit for the weekend for a family party and my sister's coworker recommended American Coney Island. The waiter was so attentive and funny and super helpful. He told us what's the most popular and recommended what a first-timer should get. We all got the Coney Island Hot Dog and we got 2 chili cheese fries to share. The chili on the hot dog and fries was so darn good! I wanted more! The decor is so nice inside with pictures of the family. It seems like a diner / fun old school place to eat. So much history too. Keep up the amazing work!"

Oak Diner

★★★★★ 4.5 (220) • $

"Service was amazing. The staff here were great and attentive portions were large and food was delicious. Will come again!"

TV's Deli & Diner

★★★★☆ 4 (260) • $$

"No photos of food but everything we had was great old fashioned delicious diner food! The Rueben sandwich was a hit with its buttery toast and wet corned beef. The Michigan cherry salad had so many walnuts and cherries topped with blue cheese and chicken! But the best part of our dining experience was Jessica! Our server who was by far the most amazing server I have ever had. We walked in as a group of families, probably about 30 of us total. We got seated right away, and she went to work first on drinks then food. Not one single thing came out wrong! Everyone's family food came out together, and there wasn't much time at all in between each round of food coming out. She handled the kids with respect and patience and was able to get everyone accommodated! We wouldn't hesitate to go back if ever in the area!"

Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

★★★★☆ 3.9 (260) • $

"November 30, 2022Review #421 So every year in November for the past 3 years and sometimes in Summer when I visit a family member for her party's in Plymouth, she clucks and clucks to insist on ordering for dinner "Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken!" They offer counter takeout and delivery plus Catering For Parties!Menu: leeschickenplymouth.comHours: 7 Days A Week 8:00 AM - 9:00 PMThe Menu Boards are very easy to read and offer many variety of combos plus fresh sides too when deciding what to choose. You can order chicken pieces in many quantites and chicken tenders.The Famous Recipe gives their chicken a fluffy, crispy and honey dipped taste! Comfort Food plus Tasty & Finger Licking Delicious.This Tasty business is located on Ann Arbor Rd W and you can't miss their LARGE Sign and welcoming little house front. Pleasant employees working hard especially on the weekends to fulfill pre-orders or walk in orders too.Their parking lot is small so be patient when picking up orders especially on the weekends around dinner time when it's very busy.It was 4pm when I drove to pick up Lee's to help my family member with her order on Saturday 11-26, for her Thanksgiving Dinner. I arrived five minutes before and only one customer was ahead of Me. Timing was perfect and Her order tray of chicken was ready too!History: Lee Cummings and Harold Omer first opened in 1966. Lee introduced his Famous Recipe chicken after spending several years working with his uncle Colonel Sanders at Kentucky Fried Chicken. True story and quoted at www.leesfamousrecipe.com Lee's is currently celebrating 56 years of Famous Chicken!If you live in Plymouth lucky you. If you are visiting in Plymouth try Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken, You'll be clucking Happy You Did!"

Side Street Diner

★★★★☆ 4.2 (217) • $$

"Wow! I love this place year round!! The food is made in house fresh by people who actually care, and you can taste that in the dishes! Always a tremendous selection of soups & chili's in addition to sandwiches, salads & hot plates! The service is so kind & excellent they make you feel right at home while you eat your home cooking:). The ambiance is classic neighborhood homey warm. Also don't over think it, save room for there delicious desserts!!! Go there, eat, you'll be so glad you did!!"

Jay Jay's Bistro

★★★★☆ 3.9 (238) • $$

"The food is really good here (I loved the lobster bisque & my friend loved her truffle fries), we liked our drinks and the restaurant is decorated nicely but the vibe here is strange. It's like they are trying to be trendy while also being a family restaurant. The customers were rude when I was there and it didn't help that the tables are way too close together. I think I need to try this place during the week and update my review but for now I will give jay jay's a 3/5."

Monty's Grill

★★★★☆ 4.4 (163) • $

"When Yelpers describe Monty's as small, you should believe them! I counted nine counter seats and five high-tops for two. We had been planning lunch here for a couple of months and, finally, because most of our lunch group was out of town or had conflicts, we were small enough to fit.As usual, we faithfully studied the photos and reviews to narrow our choices. They're open from 7 am to 3 pm. Not surprisingly, most of the photos are of breakfast choices but they do have a variety of lunch items as well.I was determined to try a Burger or other Sandwich in order to add more lunch photos. But then I saw the specials boards and they had an Irish Omelet! Never had one before so had to have one - NOW. My wife was impressed with the Veggie Skillet photos and stayed with that choice.While waiting for our friends, we ordered Coffee and split a homemade Bowl of Split Pea Soup (see what I did there?), fresh and delicious. The Veggie Skillet was three eggs, cooked to your liking, on lots of Veggies and Potatoes! It came with Toast and she chose Cinnamon Raisin Toast for an extra $0.75; it was voluminous enough that we took some home to finish later. The Irish Omelet had Corned Beef, Green Peppers, Onions, and Swiss Cheese in it and came with choices for sides. I chose Fried Potatoes and Wheat Toast. Mine was a great choice and appropriate for the season; nothing artificially green, and the Potatoes had the right amount of crisp for my taste. My wife thought, however, that the Swiss Cheese should have been Dubliner (Irish Cheddar) instead because, after all, it was called an Irish Omelet. My wife from Japan is more Irish than me! The owner/operators, Bardha and John, are great people, fun to talk with, and will keep the coffee coming. Hand Sanitizer was available on the counter as well, in tune with the current Coronavirus scare. They maintain a friendly and inviting atmosphere, which naturally makes you want to come back."

Senate Coney Island & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (206) • $

"If You want to step back to a time when you went to the local Coney Island and enjoyed the comfort food you loved as a kid or teenager when things were simple then this is the place for you. I've been to lots of Coney Island franchises but the do it right here. I can't explain it but I felt happy from beginning to end. Great service, great food and great location. The place was clean and they do decorations for each season which is a nice touch. I had the BLT and French fries this last time. It was so good and healthy portions didn't hurt my feelings. The manager walked around and visited each table. He was friendly and you could tell he was interested in the customers happiness with the dining experience. I'm happy to recommend you give them your business and you'll enjoy the service and delicious comfort food."

Strawberry Fields Restaurant

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (239) • $$

"Great local family dining ...always! Nice big menu for whatever your palate desires and the prices are reasonable. You can have breakfast any time. The service is always good and they sell little items near the register that support animal adoption/rescue!"

Athenian

★★★★☆ 3.8 (188) • $

"Wow has it been 11 years now that I have been coming to this place. I stop coming here during Covid. There have been a lot of changes since then especially with new staff and they close a little bit early. But still their breakfast is one of the best in selection that I have tried. I do recommend the burgers and the grill cheese. Look out for their selection of deserts they have a pretty good selection too. The vibes here among the owner and staff has shears been good. That is all. Chief Ships sink because they take on water don't take on water for those that want to sink you."

Anchor Bay Pit Stop Diner

★★★★★ 4.7 (120) • $

"I was not having a good day...ran a couple errands; stopped to drop something off to a friend, realized I had taken fasting to a new level and was feeling a tad "off".I asked her to recommend a spot where I could get waited on quickly....so here I am.Walking into the door was like a portal trip to #Back2TheFuture. What a cute little diner! Staff and customers were all smiling and clearly enjoying themselves!People at different tables were even interacting! They actually have a counter with red stools, so of course I had to sit there!Allie was #QuickDrawMcGriddle with the menu and coffee was within reach in minutes (the GET it- see sign).The weather is incredibly hot, but the first thing that I saw on the menu was that they have egg lemon rice soup (Avgolemono); but tabling that for now .The strawberry spinach salad was excellent. A gr8 portion, plenty of chicken and feta. I left the tomato and onion off. I asked for the dressing on the side, and Allie was kind enough to bring me three containers, which was more than enough. The spinach was crisp and fresh. There is a side of pita. I don't "do" gluten, but they have GF substitutes, as well.The coffee was excellent, and they kept my cup full.It was really nice chatting with Amanda, the manager. Super friendly and professional; it was cool to have her show interest in a #EliteYelp event I attended a few days earlier at a nearby bakery.All in all, I needed this!Thank you so much to the #PitCrew!#StayLocal#MomAndPopI'll be back when it cools down for that avgolemono."

Magdaleno Ristorante

★★★★☆ 4.1 (156) • $$

"The price is a little high, but it's delicious and we always enjoy dining here. The service is great and we love the environment. Everyone is always friendly and a great experience."

The Royal Diner

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (215) • $

"The Royal Diner team has never let me down. Best omelettes, fantastic salads, incredible burgers, great wraps and an awesome choice of dinners along with great soups Do I eat here a lot - yesDo I continue to love this place since it has opened - yesA true Michigan classic PS: Liz and the waitstaff team are awesome."

Ham Shop Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (144) • $

"We were in town for vacation and we searching for a breakfast spot walking distance of our hotel. Their breakfast menu is great! Lots to pick from! Everything was delicious except for the catfish I ordered (but I do love that they offer catfish for breakfast!). The fry was just too heavy and too cooked for my personal liking. I ended up picking most of it off.While we were there, we noticed locals dining and lots of locals getting carry out. Another couple who were on vacation walked in, looked around at the place and left. It's not a fancy spot. It's your classic local dive (dive in a good way) breakfast joint. They've had a lot of business over the years so the floors are scuffed and everything is a little rough around the edges, but it is clean. I would eat here again!"

Old School Deli

★★★★☆ 4.3 (117) • $

"My first and not last visit. Great service the menus is small but very unique. Town Club pop. Fried bologna or spam sandwiches. I had the number 13. Corned beef salami Swiss mustard and pickles on pumpernickel. My husband had the corned beef and coleslaw. Prices are reasonable. Next time I'm trying breakfast."

Zeff's Coney Island in Eastern Market

★★★★☆ 3.9 (134) • $

"Visited during a recent trip to Michigan to treat my wife to a Coney Dog and fries and Zeff's across town Eastern Market in Detroit didn't disappoint. The fries didn't last long enough to take a picture lol."

Hambo Coney Island

★★★★☆ 4.2 (105) • $

"My friend and I go to different Coney Island just to try them all out (or as many as we can) and we ended up at Hambo this past week. It easily topped all of the other Coney Island that we've been to. The staff is so nice, and the food comes out quick and is SO good! We ended up here twice in one week and I'd easily recommend this place to anyone."

Novi Coney Island

★★★★☆ 3.8 (126) • $

"Happy Sunday!All the times I've reviewed and I never put Karli in here! Not sure how I missed her. She is very good at keeping her cool when she gets a few tables at once, even if they're needy or just quite frankly, annoying. She's quick, kind, and we always enjoy her taking care of us on Sundays.Food was 5/5 as always. Can't beat breakfast special prices at a Coney Island! Service was 5/5, no complaints.Ambiance doesn't change, and I can appreciate that, 5/5Thank you Karli :)"

Don Taco Bar and Grill

★★★★☆ 3.6 (140) • $$

"We had a really good experience here and were pleased with our food. It was near to where we were staying, and was really accessible."

Stateside Deli & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (113) • $$

"They make an amazing club sandwich and use quality ingredients. My go to sandwich whenever I visit."

Cadillac Square Diner

★★★★☆ 3.9 (112) • $

"Cadillac is a classic! I've been going there for years and their service and food has been great. The food is fresh and the servers hustle. Even though they're struggling to find people right now, their owners are working to get the job done, and I have to respect that. My go to is either the tuna sandwich or the greek chicks wrap, which is pictured below. The prices are high for what you get, but the food is good, and you are in the heart of Downtown. Overall, if you're in the area, give them a try! I think you'll enjoy it."

Steve's Family Dining

★★★★☆ 3.7 (121) • $

"They Serve traditional Polish cuisine and other foods. I ordered the combo, 3 perogies, kielbasa with sauerkraut and stuffed cabbage. They even served Polish beer. Excellent! I will be back for sure..."

Village Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (106) • $

"Our favorite breakfast place to go just together or with friends! Food is quick and tasty"

The Hut Diner

★★★★☆ 4.2 (87) • $

"Owned and operated for 19 years by Maria and her husband Nick, this diner should be on Triple D! Their decor inside adds to the ambiance of working class america.I like the fact that the dishes are all handmade and homemade.Their daughter Elizabeth who manages and serves says her parents are still very passionate about their diner. "They put their heart and soul into every dish"I believe that. I broke from my diet to devour their tasty mushroom swiss burger and their italian soup. So amazingly delish!Take a look at the photos that I had taken and do me a favor, please come and patronize this Diner. You will have a delightful experience with your server and you will have a tasty experience with your meal.I highly recommend!"

Nick's Country Oven Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (104) • $

"A solid place for breakfast, we come here about once a month. It's your classic diner style with booths around the perimeter and tables in the middle. The waitresses call you hon' and chat with you. The prices are reasonable and the food is good. Nothing gourmet, just solid eggs any style you want them, pancakes, hash browns and the like. I've recently discovered their homemade corned beef hash, my new favorite. Not like the overly salted canned stuff, this has large chunks of corned beef, crispy fried hashbrowns and onions. What's not to like? Coffee is good and always being refilled, creamer is the little containers, but at least it's cream and not 'non-dairy creamer'. Can't speak about lunch or dinner, but if you want a solid, not fancy breakfast, you can't go wrong with Nick's."

Sal's Place Family Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (77)

"I was baffled that there wasn't a wait out the door after we finished. The ladies working had the best attitude, greeted everyone cheerfully and were attentive and friendly.That alone garners a 5 star review these days, but wait there's more, the food was hot and fantastic. The chili was outstanding. The fries were crispy and hot, it's been so long since I had fries that were cooked well and actually hot upon arrival, I had forgotten how good they can be. The portions were way more than I needed and the entrees were also exceptional.The only confusing item during our visit was why wasn't it wasn't more busy, if I lived close, I'd be there all the time."

Uptown Coney Island

★★★★☆ 3.8 (99) • $

"Love this place. Nice people, cozy atmosphere. They know customers and create an old fashioned feel."

Plato's Coney Island

★★★★☆ 3.7 (104) • $

"This place deserves more stars and more business. I live in Illinois and often long for a good Coney: I like Chicago dogs but NOTHING beats a steamed bun, natural casing hot dog buried in chili and onions. We came here because National Coney Island was closed due to staffing shortages. Plato's had no such issues: our waitress was kind, efficient, attentive and we got a fantastic deal.Mark it down: Tuesdays has a great deal here with a coney and fries for $3.50! We ended up with 4 coneys, an order if fries, a bowl of chili, and an order of onion rings for just over $16!!!!! Their chili is great, as good as any Coney restaurant, their dogs have that pop when you bite into them, and their fries were great.Writing this review makes me want to go again!"

Daly Drive-In-Livonia

★★★★☆ 3.9 (93) • $

"Last of a dying breed. As a kid in the 50s & 60s in Detroit, there were Daly Drive-Ins everywhere. This is the last.You simply must experience de the Daly burger - take everything g you love on a burger, mix it up & make the best sauce you'll ever have in a burger. Daly dog is also a great coney. Both come in large (footling for the dogs) and small. Since I can never decide which I prefer. I always order Junior of each.Excellent Cole slaw, fries, shakes and flavored sodas. Not sure if the salad bar is still open or not. Servers are always cheerful. The drive-in portion is closed. Cash only!"

Mr Mike's Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (93) • $

"Oh my gosh. How have I not know this place existed sooner?! They have a whole separate dedicated gluten free menu. And it's HUGE. I've never seen so many options to eat anywhere. Sandwiches. Pasta. Breakfast. They have French toast!! To non-gf people it might not seem like much, but this was the most normal I have felt eating out in so long. My server was amazing. She had one of the owners come over and explain they have dedicated fryers, grill tops, and prep space for gf foods. I got mozz sticks (because I couldn't resist) a Turkey BLT club, and tots. And I got a slice of cake to go. Everything was delicious. My only complaint was the strong smell of a cleaning product sort of overpowering the area but it was fading by the end of my meal so I must've walked in just as they had finished cleaning. Either way, I'd go back in a heartbeat and just wow."

Greek Islands Coney Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (109) • $

"One of the only Greek restaurants that serves Pastitsio outside of Detroit. They always try hard here. It's always super clean inside and lots of space. Service is usually fast and friendly. I always stick to coneys, salads and Pastisio. I love their rice and Greek tomato sauce. You really can't go wrong here. Nice family / coney / kind of Greek restaurant."