Hamtramck, a city within the city of Detroit, is well-known for its eclectic culinary scene that it continues to evolve with every passing year. Known for its array of Eastern European, South Asian, and Middle Eastern eateries, Hamtown's many dive bars have also begun to offer gourmet food offerings with bartenders doubling as chefs for regular pop-ups.
Below find a freshly updated guide to some of the top dining options — old and new — tucked into the city's 2.1-square-miles.
Did we miss your favorite Hamtramck restaurant? Let us know in the comments Twitter, Facebook, or community forums. Restaurants are listed geographically.
The city's quintessential greasy spoon diner, Hamtramck Coney Island is the go-to spot for cheap breakfasts, sandwiches, and of course, coneys. Pro tip: make sure to order your hash browns well done.
This casual sushi spot is just what Hamtramck needed. Inside the former Rock City Eatery space, fans of this newly arrived establishment like the affordable rolls, bibimbap, and teriyaki chicken meals — plus the fun playlist of K-Pop videos and rare Ramune Japanese sodas.
This unassuming shop off Caniff St. offers tasty Bengali and American-inspired takeout dishes. The menu is as affordable as it is diverse. Think chicken tikka pizza, New York gyro plates, halal Coneys, and Chinese fried rice. The no-muss, no-fuss kitchen is open late too.
This critically acclaimed pizzeria on Bangladesh Avenue (otherwise known as Conant), has captured a national curiosity with its Bengladeshi-inspired pies with flavors like naga (chicken, red onions, cilantro and naga sauce), tandoori, and ghost pepper. The menu also includes halal franks with the same sauces, an Amar burger, and biryani.
No, it's not a coffee shop. And no, you won't find your venti caramel macciato here, so don't ask. What you will find at this Yemeni-owned diner is a marriage between Arabic shawarma shop and burger joint. Dig into a traditional fattoush salad, the Mocha City burger made with seasoned halal beef, or the signature Mocha rolls. For dessert, the Mocha Treat — loaded with mango lassi, bits of cake, pineapple, apples, strawberries, bananas, raisins, honey and a chocolate waffle stick — will indulge that sweet tooth.
Yemen Cafe grew out of its smaller home last year and relocated across the street, giving diners more space to enjoy its aromatic gallaba, lamb, and fresh flat bread.
Chocolatier Alexandra Clark's sweet shop, known for its handcrafted, Detroit-themed bon bons has garnered national acclaim from the likes of Martha Stewart. Open to the public only on Saturdays, Clark primarily uses the space to produce her artisan treats wholesale.
The cheeseburgers here are classic, huge patties with American cheese melting over the side. The beef is perfectly seasoned. If you’re not in the mood for a burger, consider trying another house specialty — ćevapi (grilled minced meat, specific to the Balkans region of Eastern Europe). Add a side of waffle fries and a $6 pitcher of draft and the meal is complete for you and your game time buddies.
This unabashed greasy spoon is Hamtramck’s unofficial cafeteria, where on any given weekday, many a City Hall office worker can be seen seated at one of the booths or picking up carry-out orders. On Saturdays, Maine Street is a hub for club kids and barflies nursing hangovers with its hearty breakfast platters (the gyro and eggs is a favorite) served all day. For lunch and dinner this place has you covered. Offerings range from Greek to Italian to Mediterranean dishes as well as surf and turf.
This Yemeni-style Middle Eastern eatery is a Hamtramck institution and a favorite spot for hungry Detroit police officers on break. Platters like the shish kafta, shish tawook, and lamb chops make generous family-style meals. Or for a deal, grab a sandwich wrap, with choice of vegetarian filling or meat.
This Bengali spot is always buzzing with customers. For vegetarians, we recommend the shag paneer (homemade cheese fried with spinach) and for meat eaters, the chicken dansak is excellent (just make sure to ask for boneless, if you don’t want to have to eat around bones). Regulars are often seen picking up any number of sweet baked goods. This place open as late as midnight and sometimes offers delivery.
Check out one of the culinary institutions that helped put Hamtramck on the map. The stick-to-your-ribs menu is the kind of comfort food that keeps Hamtown ex-pats coming back. Weekends are especially packed in this basement restaurant, with guests digging in on classic entrees like stuffed cabbage, city chicken, dill pickle soup, kielbasa and those complimentary slices of rye bread neatly packaged in sandwich bags. This place is cash only, but there’s an ATM machine upstairs.
In the mood for a classic burger? How about a hot dog, pork bun, or a basket of tater tots? Campau Tower has all that covered. The mastermind behind Rock City Eatery resurrected the shuttered 24-hour joint when it closed several years ago and transformed the menu into a creative, yet approachable spot for blue collar locals and late night bar hoppers alike.
Depending on who you ask around town, you’ll hear Polish Village or Polonia as their favorite Polish food spot. Polonia gets points as it’s usually not as packed and offers all of the classic dishes one would come to expect in an Eastern European kitchen.
This historic building erected in 1923 today is a haven for creatives in need of a Wi-Fi-accessible office space with reasonably-priced cups of coffee, tea, other specialty drinks. The neighborhood vibe means regulars here often know each other by name. Have a seat up front on one of the pews or in the cozy library further back. Sandwiches and salads served daily. Bagels are served on Sundays and recently the café began sourcing salads and soups from the Detroit Zen Center.
Delite Café offers guests a relaxed atmosphere to study (Wi-Fi is free), watch television on a huge flat screen, or lounge on cushy sofas with friends. The coffee is sourced from Great Lakes and a deli counter prepares a variety of sandwiches featuring Boar’s Head meats and cheeses (which can be purchased as a stand-alone or by the pound). The jerk turkey chicken sandwich is a good bet — just make sure to ask for horseradish pickles. Soups, salads, smoothies, and ice cream is also available.
What was once a watering hole packed with line workers from American Axle, Kelly’s has since rebilled itself as a venue for local live music acts and delicious eats. On top of cheap beers and shows, owner Brad Ruff opens his kitchen for $.75 tacos on Thursdays, as well as more street-style renditions from Timmy Lampinen, and a weekend brunch menu by chef Blair Wills.
Pop-up trailblazer Revolver helped pave the way for similar venues throughout metro Detroit with its inviting space and inventive rotating list of chefs and cuisines. Seating is limited seating and the reservation-only dinners sell out fast. Consider signing up for the newsletter to keep up to date on the latest events. The restaurant is BYOB.
This establishment offers delicious Bengali cuisine in an inviting, sit-down environment. The menu leans toward Indo-Chinese traditions and offers vegetarian, seafood, tandoor, and some American fare.
Most of the week, Bumbo's is a welcoming watering hole, complete with affordable, well-made cocktails. Wednesday nights, co-owner Brian Krawczyk creates a rotating menu consisting of modern, global takes on Polish cuisine.
Usually, Baker Streetcar Bar is your typical old-school dive. Sunday nights, the delightful Summer Radtke prepares a veggie-friendly menu of comfort food, plus delicious homemade pies. In the summer months, owner Richard "Rocco" Radtke (no relation) does his famous Friday steak nights in the alley.
The newest charming cafe in town, Oloman has quickly become a favorite destination for creatives looking for a quiet place to work or converse. In addition to caffeinated beverages, the shop offers French-style baked goods such as macarons and an assortment of paninis at lunch.
Hamtramck is home to a sizeable Bosnian population and Palma offers a bit of Balkan flair with its meat-centric menu. The house-made ćevapi and buttery lepinja flatbread are some of the specialties.
A popular indoor sports hub, this warehouse destination offers a full bar with plenty of TVs and entertainment. The Michigan-made sport of fowling is a combination of bowling and football that people of all athletic talent levels can enjoy while quaffing beers. Food trucks and stands are often on site, but patrons can also bring takeout meals. Expect to pay an entry fee at the door.
One of the best fattoush salads in town is served at Ali Baba Shish Kabab alongside affordable lunch and dinner combos. Consider ordering one of the family-sized trays for takeout. It offers a selection of all the tastiest meat items on the menu — shawarma, kabobs, and chicken tikka — in heaping portions with generous sides of garlic sauce. The service is also excellent.
The city's quintessential greasy spoon diner, Hamtramck Coney Island is the go-to spot for cheap breakfasts, sandwiches, and of course, coneys. Pro tip: make sure to order your hash browns well done.
This casual sushi spot is just what Hamtramck needed. Inside the former Rock City Eatery space, fans of this newly arrived establishment like the affordable rolls, bibimbap, and teriyaki chicken meals — plus the fun playlist of K-Pop videos and rare Ramune Japanese sodas.
This unassuming shop off Caniff St. offers tasty Bengali and American-inspired takeout dishes. The menu is as affordable as it is diverse. Think chicken tikka pizza, New York gyro plates, halal Coneys, and Chinese fried rice. The no-muss, no-fuss kitchen is open late too.
This critically acclaimed pizzeria on Bangladesh Avenue (otherwise known as Conant), has captured a national curiosity with its Bengladeshi-inspired pies with flavors like naga (chicken, red onions, cilantro and naga sauce), tandoori, and ghost pepper. The menu also includes halal franks with the same sauces, an Amar burger, and biryani.
No, it's not a coffee shop. And no, you won't find your venti caramel macciato here, so don't ask. What you will find at this Yemeni-owned diner is a marriage between Arabic shawarma shop and burger joint. Dig into a traditional fattoush salad, the Mocha City burger made with seasoned halal beef, or the signature Mocha rolls. For dessert, the Mocha Treat — loaded with mango lassi, bits of cake, pineapple, apples, strawberries, bananas, raisins, honey and a chocolate waffle stick — will indulge that sweet tooth.
Yemen Cafe grew out of its smaller home last year and relocated across the street, giving diners more space to enjoy its aromatic gallaba, lamb, and fresh flat bread.
Chocolatier Alexandra Clark's sweet shop, known for its handcrafted, Detroit-themed bon bons has garnered national acclaim from the likes of Martha Stewart. Open to the public only on Saturdays, Clark primarily uses the space to produce her artisan treats wholesale.
The cheeseburgers here are classic, huge patties with American cheese melting over the side. The beef is perfectly seasoned. If you’re not in the mood for a burger, consider trying another house specialty — ćevapi (grilled minced meat, specific to the Balkans region of Eastern Europe). Add a side of waffle fries and a $6 pitcher of draft and the meal is complete for you and your game time buddies.
This unabashed greasy spoon is Hamtramck’s unofficial cafeteria, where on any given weekday, many a City Hall office worker can be seen seated at one of the booths or picking up carry-out orders. On Saturdays, Maine Street is a hub for club kids and barflies nursing hangovers with its hearty breakfast platters (the gyro and eggs is a favorite) served all day. For lunch and dinner this place has you covered. Offerings range from Greek to Italian to Mediterranean dishes as well as surf and turf.
This Yemeni-style Middle Eastern eatery is a Hamtramck institution and a favorite spot for hungry Detroit police officers on break. Platters like the shish kafta, shish tawook, and lamb chops make generous family-style meals. Or for a deal, grab a sandwich wrap, with choice of vegetarian filling or meat.
This Bengali spot is always buzzing with customers. For vegetarians, we recommend the shag paneer (homemade cheese fried with spinach) and for meat eaters, the chicken dansak is excellent (just make sure to ask for boneless, if you don’t want to have to eat around bones). Regulars are often seen picking up any number of sweet baked goods. This place open as late as midnight and sometimes offers delivery.
Check out one of the culinary institutions that helped put Hamtramck on the map. The stick-to-your-ribs menu is the kind of comfort food that keeps Hamtown ex-pats coming back. Weekends are especially packed in this basement restaurant, with guests digging in on classic entrees like stuffed cabbage, city chicken, dill pickle soup, kielbasa and those complimentary slices of rye bread neatly packaged in sandwich bags. This place is cash only, but there’s an ATM machine upstairs.
In the mood for a classic burger? How about a hot dog, pork bun, or a basket of tater tots? Campau Tower has all that covered. The mastermind behind Rock City Eatery resurrected the shuttered 24-hour joint when it closed several years ago and transformed the menu into a creative, yet approachable spot for blue collar locals and late night bar hoppers alike.
Depending on who you ask around town, you’ll hear Polish Village or Polonia as their favorite Polish food spot. Polonia gets points as it’s usually not as packed and offers all of the classic dishes one would come to expect in an Eastern European kitchen.
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