Whenever the subject of sushi in metro Detroit comes up, the discussion almost always turns to Noble Fish, beloved for consistently providing Metro Detroiters with a steady source of over-sized sushi rolls and nigiri for the past 30 years. What started as a market in 1984, a kitchen was later added in 1991, along with a modest sushi bar where guests could marvel at the sushi chefs’ expertise in assembling fresh cuts of fish. More recently, the spot added an expanded dining area, where diners can stretch their legs a bit in a casual atmosphere that’s a step above the grocery store vibes from before. A variety of traditional Japanese snacks like candy, cookies, and rice cakes, are also on hand, as well as bottled teas, sake, and other Japanese beverages. The prices are reasonable. Go for the nigiri like yellow tail or splurge on a large specialty roll like the Michigan, made with tuna, cucumber, avocado, and spicy mayo sauce.

Chef James Rigato, of Top Chef fame, helms this Hazel Park restaurant. What made this spot stand out when it opened in 2015 was that it was among the earlier New American restaurants in metro Detroit to feature a menu that’s handwritten and that changes daily and with the seasons. Rigato takes his cooking seriously, but the space itself does not feel pretentious, so expect mismatched vintage plates and seating inside a compact dining area in an otherwise sleepy suburb. One visit might entail griddled king trumpet mushrooms, while a return trip could include Colorado lamb ribs made with garlic and fish sauce caramel, sake pickles, sesame, and iceberg lettuce. Reservations are recommended, though the lone diner can occasionally score a seat at the bar if they call ahead and inquire about last-minute cancellations.

This welcoming, pretty-in-pink bakery and cafe on Livernois is an oasis for delectable cakes, such as its strawberry crunch cake made with three thick layers of spongy strawberry and vanilla cake, moist cupcakes like the banana pudding cupcake, colorful cereal and milk bars, as well as a select number of savory items like soups and breakfast sandwiches. During Pride Month, expect specialities like the Rainbow Sprinkle, made with six brightly-hued layers and white frosting. Good Cakes and Bakes is also available for nationwide delivery via Goldbelly.

Spiced gumbo loaded with seafood is the main event at this decades-old carryout restaurant that originated near Eastern Market. At this Detroit institution, it’s served with shrimp, sausage, cut okra, celery, onions, tomatoes, and a proprietary blend of gumbo seasonings, alongside bayou favorites like red beans and rice, jambalaya, and shrimp po’boys. The original spot is looking to relocate from its Eastern Market location, but there’s a second outpost on Seven Mile and one that opened in October 2021 in Farmington Hills.

Good things come in small packages, like the city’s best jerk chicken served up in a strip mall off Eight Mile. While the Jamaican Pot is exclusively carryout, expect to wait a bit while the busy kitchen carefully prepares each order of curry goat and pepper steak. The jerk chicken is made with flame grilled chicken that’s seasoned with a blend of island spices. To drink, cool down that heat with a bottle of Kola Champagne or keep that spice going with a ginger beer.

This casual Eastern European eatery makes its home in the lower half of a two-story flat in Hamtramck, but also in Ferndale and, more recently, in a food truck for special events. Customers can count on Bosnian dishes like cevapi and cream cheese-stuffed hamburgers, Turkish coffee, and the restaurant’s claim to fame — döner. Thin-sliced gyro meat, crisp lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion are stuffed inside soft on the inside, crispy on the outside lepinja flatbread with sauce drizzled over the top. The menu is halal and available for takeout or delivery.

This local favorite is known for its Yemeni and Mediterranean cuisine served until 1 a.m. daily in a diner-style atmosphere with cushy booth seating, hints of Arabic decor, and a complementary self-serve tea station. Expect platter-sized pieces of fresh flatbread and flavorful zhug paired with dishes like chicken ghallaba and tender lamb.

Eater Detroit’s 2019 restaurant of the year has proved itself to be not only a great spot for takeout but also an advocate for its community, preparing takeout meals for people in need through a variety of Saffron Community Kitchen programs, including a collaboration with Brilliant Detroit, a nonprofit that works with children and families in Detroit neighborhoods to promote education, security, and health. The dining space is modest, but welcoming with a heated enclosed patio space. Diners can enjoy Moroccan-influenced cuisine, such as a shareable tomato sauce made with whipped goat cheese and an incredibly crispy and popular fried chicken sandwich, and a sizable menu of non-alcoholic cocktails.

Sister Pie is a nationally renowned Detroit bakery with a fresh rotation of pie flavors rolling out monthly. Expect the unexpected in seasonal pie flavors, ranging from Michigan strawberry, rhubarb, and lavender, toasted marshmallow butterscotch, or the the crowd favorite salted maple. The shop, helmed by Eater Young Gun Lisa Ludwinski, emphasizes the needs of its employees and surrounding neighbors by hiring from within the community and regularly checking in with customers to find out their priorities.

Named one of Eater’s best new restaurants in 2019, Marrow has been a crucial source for everything from local meats and cheeses to flour to beer and wine. The West Village butcher shop and restaurant features a prix-fixe, five-course tasting menu to give diners a little taste of everything, as well as a la carte options like the roast bone marrow, local maitake and crayfish dumplings, ricotta gnocchi, or the baklava doughnut. The kitchen is helmed by chef Sarah Welch, who on top of running a restaurant, has been featured on two seasons of Top Chef.

Owner Erica Pietrzyk is known for her non-traditional takes on Polish dumplings like the Holiday Special, a pierogi packed with turkey, potatoes, stuffing, and green beans. It’s those kinds of fun flavors that turned Pietrzyk Pierogi into a hit pop-up restaurant and now a food stall inside Gratiot Central Market. Pietrzyk offers in-store shopping, curbside service, and shipping with an online shop, where customers can order packages of frozen pierogi, meal kits with Polish staples, and even pay-it-forward meals to help people in need. Pietrzyk is also available at 20 local retail locations.

Bar Pigalle takes a “playful French,” meets Midwest approach to its dramatically-renovated space set on the ground level of the historic Carlton Lofts in Brush Park. Behind the venture, hospitality veterans Joseph Allerton and Travis Fourmont, along with chef Nyle Flynn. The Eater Award-winning spot is named after the Parisian neighborhood, Quartier Pigalle — home of the famous Moulin Rouge. Expect a variety of hot or cold small plates like bison tartar guanciale-wrapped frog legs, and a Coney-style steak and frites, along with an impressive cocktail, beer, and wine lists.

New American favorite Grey Ghost remains one of the few committed seven-day-a-week dinner options in town. The vibe offers guests a touch of sophistication with moody lighting and sleek, modern decor, in a usually packed dining room and patio. Linger over entrees like duck pot pie, cheeseburgers, and dry-aged New York strip steak as well as cocktails, beer, and wine.

This dinner spot for New American cuisine takes diners into a beautifully restored interior with reclaimed wood, subway tiled walls, and a minimalist aesthetic and a menu focuses on seasonal small plates. Think halloumi, octopus, roasted carrot salad, and rigatoni, just to name a few past menu items. The cocktails are equally as creative with ample use of seasonal fruit, local herbs or shrubs, and house-made syrups. Reservations are available 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Eater Award-winning bakery Warda Pâtisserie serves some of Detroit’s best desserts from its charming cafe on West Alexandrine. Owner Warda Bouguettaya specializes in stunning tarts, pastries, and breads influenced by her world travels. Look out for options like pear and almond frangipane tarts, quiche, and cream-filled maritozzi. Stay awhile in the bistro-style seating section with a latte or take your treats on the go.

This Cantonese restaurant in the Cass Corridor is a popular destination for all-day dim sum like steamed pork buns, rice rolls, and cakes, as well as a variety of curries, noodle dishes, and soups. The unpretentious setting — with two and four-seat tables, along with limited bar seating — is a great place for dining in (and people-watching), although takeout is popular, too.

The bright-green interior of this Midtown restaurant just across the street from the Detroit Institute of Arts, Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails offers seasonal options like braised rabbit, beet salad, grilled caesar salad, and its famous twice-cooked egg — a poached egg that’s panko breaded, fried, and served over greens with Brussels sprouts, delicate shavings of cheese, and warm shallot vinaigrette — alongside beer, wine, and cocktails. The high ceilings and bright green decor lend an airy and inviting atmosphere, the staff are welcoming and attentive, and the place consistently enjoys a loyal following. A section of lounge seating makes for the ideal spot for group gatherings.

Specializing in flavorful Afro Caribbean dishes served in the style of a grain bowl, Yum Village has become beloved for its jerk chicken, curry chicken, crisp and juicy suya fried chicken, and vegan akara (black eyed pea fritters). Protein options can also be built into a combo bowl with additions like maafe rice (flavored with West African peanut stew), fried ginger-curry chickpeas, sweet pepper salad, and West African jollof rice with tomato, garlic, and smoked peppers. While the spot makes for the ideal meal on the go with its mobile-friendly meals in a bowl, Yum Village is also licensed to serve liquor so winding down with a drink and filling meal is welcomed here. A second location in West Village has also given east siders more options for fiery Afro Caribbean cuisine.

Baobab Fare is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba, who fled Burundi for the United States in 2014. The restaurant serves tasty recipes — including an incredibly flavorful mbuzi (slowed-roasted goat shank with corn salad, plantains, yellow beans, and rice), weekly specials like the ugali (a traditional East African dish made up of a dense corn flour ball, served with savory okra stew) served every Tuesday, and Ji, the eatery’s signature bottled passionfruit juice. The couple’s unique offerings bring in throngs of customers in Baobab’s exquisitely modern-feeling renovated space in the city’s New Center area.

Exceptional seafood is the star of menu at Oak and Reel. Michigan native Chef Jared Gadbaw developed his craft and knowledge of Italian seafood while working at a two Michelin-starred New York restaurant before returning back to the Great Lakes region to establish his own restaurant in Milwaukee Junction. Customers can enjoy a variety of options with Oak and Reel’s raw oysters and other menu items that have included roasted swordfish, snail-shaped lumache pasta with squid ink, shrimp, crab, and herbs, or salt-baked branzino with salsa verde and seasonal garnishes — all set in a chic, minimalist interior that boasts exposed ceilings, soft lighting, and a ground-level view of the Boulevard. In addition, The Upright, a cozy bar and lounge is situated beneath the restaurant. Guests of the bar can enjoy cocktails and small plates like bolognese arancini, and cacio e pepe pasta fritti — crispy pasta bites with parmesan and pepper.

The argument over who does Detroit-style square pizza best is a contentious debate, and one needn’t take a side. There are plenty of excellent pan pizzas around the region. However, for those in the mood for a little razzle-dazzle with their caramelized cheesy corners, Michigan & Trumbull is the place to be. Offerings include a selection or Detroit-style red and white pizza, New York-style rounds, and deep-fried calzones as well as salads, roasted veggies, and wines, beers, and select pantry items.

From the friendly staff, lunch, beer, and wine offerings, Mudgie’s Deli continues to serve as a community gathering place for Corktown. Dig into excellent sandwiches like the The Mayor — featuring salami, turkey, cheddar, banana peppers, romaine lettuce, and chipotle mayo on rye bread. The indoor dining space gives off old-school deli vibes with lived-in hardwood floors and casual seating, while the bar and outdoor patio areas are charming additions to the neighborhood.

Chef Mike Ransom’s Eater Award-winning restaurants in Corktown, Midtown, and Madison Heights are known for their rich earthy broths swimming with udon noodles and karaage fried chicken or tofu sandwiches all set in a casual, bright space with available indoor and outdoor seating. Now, Ransom’s vision has come full circle with its newly expanded digs in the former Gold Cash Gold restaurant just west of the original Corktown spot on Michigan Avenue. Expect a more robust cocktail menu, meaty skewers from the robata grill like the delectable tsukune chicken meat balls, raw fish options like the velvety hamachi tuna crudo and ahi tuna tartar, panko-fried chicken katsu, and many other favorites.

Carryout-only fave Tamaleria Nuevo Leon has been satisfying Detroiters’ Christmastime tamale needs since the 1950s. The satisfying lineup of tamales sticks with classic fillings like pork and chicken alongside rotating specials like cheese-jalapeño tamales. The tamales tend to be on the thin side, a good thing for folks looking for just the right balance of fillings and masa. Oh, and the masa has a comforting corn flavor that’s not too starchy. It’s also known for its fast, friendly service, where you can call to order and have your to-go bag waiting in just minutes or order from a window outside — a relatively new pandemic-related addition. Don’t forget to bring cash.

Southwest Detroit is arguably the taco truck capital of the city and the Diaz family behind El Parian mobile food trucks are in many ways leading the pack. With several locations that can reliably be found at the same address daily, El Parian offers a little something for everyone at each of its locations. Fan favorites include Parian’s fiery, yet slightly tangy and char-grilled tacos al pastor complete with slivers of pineapple, tacos campechano (asada mixed with chorizo), and tacos filled with tender cuts of suadero. For fans of mariscos, hit up El Imperio at 7812-7816 Vernor Highway for a variety of seafood cocktails, citrusy ceviche served on top of crispy tostadas, and even chilled oysters. For a choice of Mexican and burgers, Wicho’s Burgers offers thick Hawaiian burgers and satisfying tacos alike. While the locations are pretty consistent, be sure to follow Parian’s social media accounts for updates.

Southwest Detroit is famous for its vast array of Mexican food, but El Asador reminds diners that there’s more to the cuisine than tacos. This small, charming restaurant on Springwells gives classic steakhouse vibes with a Mexican flair. Here diners go to  splurge on a juicy ribeye steak topped with a creamy poblano pepper sauce, a cazuela de mariscos — served in an oversized dish filled with sauteed shrimp, salmon, mahi mahi, scallops, mussels, calamari, and lobster in a tomato-based broth — or guacamole prepared tableside. Reservations are recommended for indoor dining or for seating — parties of four or more — in one of the all-season, enclosed outdoor luminaria. Trays to go, piled with tacos, fajitas, chile rellenos, or nachos, are perfect for large parties. El Asador is also mindful to cater to the needs of its Muslim customers and all of its meat options are halal.