Mexican Town Michigan - [Southwest Detroit]

[ilovefoodlongtime]

Heard about this area, is it really worth the visit? I will be in MI next week and was thinking about visiting...... thoughts?

[jjspw]

First of all, I assume you're talking about the general neighborhood/area of "Mexicantown" as opposed to the specific restaurant called Mexican Town Restaurant?

If you're talking about the neighborhood Mexicantown (let's just call it "Southwest Detroit" to avoid confusion), it's worth a stop IF:
1) you're really into ethnic cuisine, particularly Mexican and Central American
2) your home city suffers from a lack of good Mexican and Central American cuisine/restaurants

There are a few great spots in Mexicantown that I'd recommend:
Pupuseria y Restaurante Salvadoreno (El Salvadorean restaurant, pupusas, tamales, pasteles)
Pollo Chapin (Guatemalan tamales and fried chicken)
El Taquito Taco Truck
Taqueria Lupitas
El Papa de los Pollitos (flame-grilled chicken)
Neveria la Michoacana (horchata and homemade Mexican popsicles)

Best way to find more info about those places is to follow the links listed in one of the responses here: http://www.yelp.com/topic/detroit-com...

Note that Southwest Detroit can be kind of a grungy neighborhood. It's safe--just don't expect perfectly-manicured lawns and picturesque storefronts. A lot of visitors to the city get a bit uneasy around this stuff, so this is just a disclaimer of sorts.

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Mexican Town Restaurant
3457 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216

Taqueria Lupitas
3443 Bagley St, Detroit, MI 48216

Central American Restaurant
3757 N Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46226

[boagman]

If you go to Pollo Chapin, tell them when you order that you'd like your chicken made fresh, to order. Do *not* accept any pre-made chicken, no matter how fresh they tell you it is. I made that mistake the first time I went, and wouldn't give two craps about the "sitting around" chicken. Be sure that they do yours fresh, and you won't be sorry.

[ilovefoodlongtime]

yes Mexicantown the area, are there any other ethnic areas in the Detroit area or grocery stores speciallizing in ethnic food? I will be staying near sterling heights but willing to drive.. Thanks for all the suggestions guys!

[tokyo]

If you're going to be near Sterling Heights, then you will be close to a string of Middle Eastern and Asian markets/restaurants along Dequindre and Ryan Rds. It's not a walkable community, really, just shops in strip malls along a 3-4 mile stretch. jjspw and others have a more thorough grasp of the highlights, but this would be worth exploring, considering your proximity.
If you're going to make the drive to Mexicantown, you could also hit Greektown and I'd throw in Eastern Market on a Saturday. Not sure how much time you have...

[jjspw]

Sterling Heights and its neighboring Madison Heights have a lot of Iraqi/Chaldean restaurants and grocery stores, as well as the Southeast Asian restaurants and markets. They're all a bit spread out, not real condensed into a few-block area, but just off the top of my head, here are a few that might be of interest:

Iraqi/Chaldean:
Sahara Market (14 Mile & Ryan Road)
Najeeb Kabob House (14 Mile & Ryan)
Ryan Restaurant or Shish Kabob Restaurant (both at 15 Mile & Ryan)

SE Asian:
Thuy Trang Restaurant & Saigon Market (south of 13 Mile & John R Road)
Que Huong Restaurant (13 & John R)
Kim Nhung Superfood Market (13 & Dequindre)

And a good Asian market (leans Korean) is EMart on 16 & Dequindre. There are also some good Indian groceries and restaurants in Sterling Heights:
Megha's Athidhi - excellent South Indian Malayalam restaurant (15 & Dequindre)
Patel Brothers Grocery (16 & Dequindre)

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Thuy Trang Restaurant
30491 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071

Shish Kabob Restaurant
4131 15 Mile Rd, Sterling Heights, MI 48310

Que Huong Restaurant
30820 John R Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071

[ilovefoodlongtime]

Any mexican grocery stores?

[charlesbois]

La Colmena on Bagley

[coney with everything]

La Colmena is in Mexicantown, if you end up there. Well worth the visit

If you do go to Mexicantown, the Arabic area of Dearborn is not far from there and certainly on the exotic ethnic side. Be forewarned that it is Ramadan and sometimes fasting Muslims get a bit cranky during the day (wouldn't you?)

[trapani]

Biggest & lively store: E & L Supermercado, 6000 W. Vernor Hwy.

FYI Vernor Hwy (a commercial street, not an actual highway) is the heart of Mexican Detroit. The "Mexicantown" area centered on Bagley has a few places worth visiting (La Gloria Bakery), but generally caters to the gringo crowd looking for chimichangas. Vernor has miles of taquerias and other businesses that serve mexicanos.
Bridging worlds is the delightful Cafe con Leche cafe (4200 W. Vernor).

[Fibber McGee]

Just North of Detroit proper is Hamtramck-pronounced Ham-tram-ek. Polish delicacies and specialties.

[gan911]

Lots of bangladeshis

[Fibber McGee]

Some good Mexican food. A really neat view of the Ambassador Bridge. It's a stop, not really a destination.

[boagman]

There are some decent choices, yes, but as a destination spot? Perhaps not. If you're jonesing for some specific type of Mexican, there are specific recs that could be given (either in or out of the Mexicantown area) that would suit you better.

[charlesbois]

I dunno, if you are looking to see various neighborhoods in Detroit, Mexicantown is a good one to see. I personally like Mexican Village Inn there, but it is routinely dismissed as not foodie enough. I go for the incredibly fast service and the nostalgia (first date) factor.