Detroit's Top 15 Food Experiences: From Coney Dogs to Fine Dining

Let's establish baseline vitals first: you cannot—I repeat, cannot—visit Detroit without experiencing the legendary Coney dog rivalry. Adjacent establishments American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island have been locked in a century-long battle for hot dog supremacy, and the competition is as fierce as any summit attempt I've documented.

The classic Detroit Coney is deceptively simple: a grilled hot dog nestled in a steamed bun, smothered with meaty chili (never beans), diced white onions, and yellow mustard. But the execution? That's where loyalties form. Lafayette's chili has a spicier profile with finer texture, while American's is slightly sweeter with more pronounced beef chunks.

I've been in medical situations where making quick decisions is critical, and I'm telling you—this choice is equally paralyzing. My recommendation? Do what any self-respecting food explorer would: try both in one sitting. I documented the entire experience with my compact camera, capturing the perfect cross-section of these iconic dogs. The photos still make my mouth water months later.

If Detroit's food scene were a patient, Eastern Market would be its beating heart. This historic market district has been operating since 1891, making it one of the oldest continuously running public markets in America. The main action happens Saturdays when over 225 vendors set up shop, but there are smaller markets Tuesdays and Sundays too.

As someone who's navigated crowded mercados throughout Latin America, I can tell you Eastern Market hits different. The sprawling complex of sheds and surrounding streets creates a perfect urban exploration zone. I spent hours weaving through stalls, assembling an impromptu picnic: crusty bread from Avalon Bakery, artisanal cheese from DeVries, and Michigan-grown cherries that burst with flavor.

But the market experience extends beyond fresh produce. The surrounding district houses some of Detroit's most vital food establishments. Don't miss Supino Pizzeria for thin-crust perfection or Eastern Market Brewing Co. for craft beer recovery after your market expedition. I tracked my entire route using my fitness watch, which showed I'd walked nearly 5 miles just exploring the market and surrounding area—the most delicious form of exercise I've found yet.

Let me break this down with the precision of a medical assessment: Detroit-style pizza is a rectangular, deep-dish creation with a crucial distinguishing feature—caramelized cheese that runs all the way to the edges of the pan, creating a crispy, lacy perimeter that pizza scientists call frico. The traditional preparation puts toppings under the cheese, with sauce applied in racing stripes on top.

Buddy's Pizza originated this style in 1946 using blue steel pans borrowed from the auto industry (how Detroit is that?). Their original location on Conant Street occupies a former speakeasy and remains the pilgrimage site for pizza purists. The Detroiter—topped with pepperoni both under and over the Wisconsin brick cheese—provides the perfect introduction to the style.

But the Detroit pizza renaissance extends beyond Buddy's. Michigan & Trumbull in Corktown brings creative twists to the traditional square, while Loui's Pizza in Hazel Park maintains old-school charm with wine bottles covered in decades of dripped candle wax. As someone who's summited many of the world's notable peaks, I can confidently state that conquering all three of these pizza destinations in one weekend is an achievement worth documenting.

I captured the perfect cheese pull using my smartphone gimbal for a slow-motion video that's now one of my most-watched social posts.

Detroit's Greektown reminds me of certain mountain approaches—compact, accessible, but packed with experiences that demand your full attention. This historic neighborhood centers around Monroe Street, where blue and white awnings signal authentic Greek establishments that have sustained Detroiters for generations.

My triage approach to Greektown starts with the flaming saganaki at Pegasus Taverna. The theatrical presentation—cheese lit tableside with a shout of "Opa!"—might seem touristy, but the contrast of crispy exterior and molten interior justifies the performance. New Parthenon and Golden Fleece offer similarly authentic experiences, with souvlaki and gyros that transport you straight to the Mediterranean.

But the crown jewel of Greektown is the bakeries. Astoria Pastry Shop's baklava achieves the perfect balance of honey sweetness and phyllo crispness, while their galaktoboureko (custard pie) has ruined me for all other desserts. I carefully packed some pastries in my food storage containers to enjoy later at my hotel—emergency rations that saved me during a late-night hunger attack.

When I tell fellow travelers about Detroit's fine dining scene, I get the same skeptical look I receive when describing technical climbs to non-mountaineers. But trust my assessment: Detroit's culinary elevation is real and remarkable.

The anchor of this renaissance is Selden Standard, where Chef Andy Hollyday transforms locally-sourced ingredients into wood-fired perfection. The charred octopus with harissa might be the single best protein preparation I've encountered in the Midwest. Their small plates format encourages exploration across the menu—a strategy I always endorse.

For special occasions, I direct couples to San Morello in the Shinola Hotel, where Southern Italian cuisine meets Michigan ingredients in a space that balances sophistication with Detroit's industrial aesthetic. The handmade pasta program here would stand tall in any major food city.

Marrow in West Village operates as both a neighborhood butcher shop and a restaurant focused on whole-animal utilization—a sustainability approach I deeply appreciate as someone who leaves no trace in the backcountry. Their bone marrow with preserved lemon is appropriately named and absolutely transformative.

For these dining experiences, I always bring my low-light camera lens to capture the plating details without disturbing other diners with harsh flash photography.