Top 20 Iconic Dishes in Detroit, MI

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#1

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Detroit-style Pizza

A deep-dish square pizza characterized by its thick, airy crust and crispy, caramelized cheese edges.

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#2

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Coney Island Hot Dog

A natural-casing hot dog topped with beanless chili, yellow mustard, and diced white onions.

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#3

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Boston Cooler

A thick, blended dessert drink made exclusively with Vernors ginger ale and vanilla ice cream.

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#4

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The Hummer

A boozy milkshake cocktail created in Detroit using Kahlua, light rum, and vanilla ice cream.

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#5

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Almond Boneless Chicken

A regional Chinese-American dish featuring breaded fried chicken served on lettuce with brown gravy and almonds.

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#6

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Corned Beef Egg Rolls

A Detroit deli staple where savory corned beef and Swiss cheese are wrapped in an egg roll skin and fried.

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#7

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Pierogi

Traditional Polish dumplings filled with ingredients like potato, cheese, or sauerkraut, central to the Hamtramck area.

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#8

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Paczki

Rich, deep-fried Polish donuts filled with fruit or cream, traditionally eaten on Fat Tuesday.

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#9

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City Chicken

A Depression-era dish of cubed pork or veal skewered, breaded, and fried to resemble a chicken drumstick.

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#10

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Maurice Salad

A classic department store salad featuring julienned ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese with a signature creamy dressing.

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#11

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Saganaki

A Greek appetizer of fried cheese flambéed at the table with brandy and extinguished with lemon juice.

#12

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Chicken Shawarma

Thinly sliced, marinated chicken roasted on a vertical rotisserie, reflecting the region's massive Middle Eastern influence.

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#13

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Zip Sauce

A buttery, salty, and savory steak sauce that is a signature accompaniment in Detroit-area steakhouses.

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#14

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Greek Salad

A Detroit-style version usually including beets, olives, feta, and a specific oregano-heavy vinaigrette.

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#15

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Slider

A small, square beef patty griddled with onions and served on a steamed bun.

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#16

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Loose Burger

Seasoned loose ground beef served in a hot dog bun, typically topped with chili, mustard, and onions.

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#17

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Bumpy Cake

A chocolate devil's food cake topped with rows of buttercream 'bumps' and enrobed in fudge icing.

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#18

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Fried Perch

Fresh yellow perch from the Great Lakes, lightly battered and fried, often served as a Friday night special.

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#19

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Corned Beef Sandwich

Colossal stacks of thinly sliced, tender corned beef served on double-baked rye bread.

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#20

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Falafel

Crispy deep-fried balls of ground chickpeas and herbs, a cornerstone of the local Lebanese culinary landscape.