Eater Award-winning chef Genevieve Vang’s flagship restaurant Bangkok 96 has been stunning diners with refreshing takes on Thai cuisine since 1996. The menu here runs the gamut from palate-cleansing fresh spring rolls to chicken larb salad to Thai fried rice.

In business since 1941, this classic dive bar has endured while staying true to its roots. The famous ground round is served on a bun with or without cheese, pickles and onions — and that’s pretty much it. No heirloom tomatoes, no housemade bacon, no organic fried eggs — just a burger on a square of parchment paper. Make sure to take cash. Miller’s goes by the honor system: Customers pay at the bar and tell the staff what they had. 

This Halal restaurant serves up flavors of the Himalayas (Indian, Nepali, and Tibetan cuisine). Start with the samosas, which are flavorful and fried to perfection. The butter chicken and the chicken tikka masala are popular with customers, who’ve given high marks to the restaurant since its 2019 opening.

For Yemeni food, Sheeba Restaurant is a go-to place with dishes such as seltah (root vegetables with whipped fenugreek) and fahsah (shredded lamb and potatoes) — both of which come to the table bubbling hot in a clay bowl. The lamb haneeth is the most popular dish with slow-roasted lamb over basmati rice. The Yemeni tannour bread is perfect for scooping and sopping it all up.

This beloved neighborhood market has been in business for five decades, specializing in imported Italian products such as olive oils, wine, fresh sausage made on site, and, of course, pasta. But what really packs in the fans are the Italian subs. Pro tip: Ask for extra sauce. 

There’s no shortage of great burgers in metro Detroit, but Taystee’s stands out for its halal beef, creative flavor combinations, and unsuspecting location. Like spicy? There’s the Volcano, boasting jalapeno, jalapeno poppers, and spicy mayo. Want breakfast for dinner? The Breakfast Burger has a fried egg, beef bacon, and not one but two grilled cheese sandwiches as a bun. Located in a gas station across from the Ford-Wyoming Drive-in, it offers fuel for both cars and stomachs.

This Lebanese mainstay features a ski chalet-inspired diner interior and a clever drive-thru window for takeout orders. Regulars love it for the complimentary lentil soup, juicy rotisserie chickens, and plentiful combination plates piled high with everything from falafel to fried kibbeh to grape leaves. Drive-thru and curbside pickup available.

This coffee bar is a popular Dearborn destination, specializing in high-end coffee from Yemen, which it serves brewed and in latte form. Customers can also snack on Yemeni pastries including honeycomb bread and layered honey cake called sabaya.

With its indoor palm trees, local institution Shatila Bakery feels like an oasis of crave-inducing sweet treats. The cases teeming with tempting pastries make choosing dessert a challenge, but some must-haves include the baklava made with layers of phyllo dough stuffed with nuts such as pistachios, walnuts, cashews, or almonds. The pistachio ice cream is also outstanding.

Just like the name says, this is the place to get Iraqi-style kabobs that are juicy and flavorful and served with grilled tomatoes, pickles, and samoon bread. Try them with a drizzle of tangy amba sauce.

Whether cooking or dining in, this emporium of halal meat has all the bases covered. Cooking plans, however, might go out the window once the smell of roasted meats from the charcoal grill hits your nose. Skewered meats from typical cuts to offal are complemented by creamy hummus, baba ghannouj, fresh salad, and plentiful pitas. 

Al Chabab serves Syrian food paired with friendly, attentive service. Those who seek out spicy flavors will find a lot to like here, such as the hummus halabi that has a little kick from Aleppo chilies and the spicy kibbeh. The kabobs are standouts, especially the cherry. Can’t decide what to get? The mixed grill has a little bit of everything, or ask the owners who are always ready and willing to make suggestions. 

For more than 25 years, Al-Ameer has been a beloved favorite among locals for top-notch Lebanese cuisine. But this family-owned restaurant with sister locations in Canton and Dearborn Heights achieved national acclaim with a James Beard America’s Classics Award and then a spot on Eater’s National 38 list. With dishes like stuffed lamb and kibbeh neyeh (raw beef mixed with bulgar, onion, and spices), it’s an essential destination for any culinary tour of Dearborn.