Visiting Southwest Detroit, or just looking to better appreciate what it has to offer? Get to know this Detroit neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a diner that's been around for nearly a century to an authentic Mexican ice cream spot.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Southwest Detroit, using both Yelp data and our own methods to produce a ranked list of the best neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.
1. Taqueria El Rey
Topping the list is Mexican restaurant and beer bar Taqueria El Rey. Located at 4730 W. Vernor Highway, it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 272 reviews on Yelp.
This Mexican restaurant serves up a little of everything, but its barbecue chicken seems to be the star. You can pick up a whole or half chicken dinner, which is served with rice, beans, tortillas and salsa.
Other dishes include tacos, tortas, quesadillas, shrimp cocktails, ceviche and menudo. (See the full menu here.)
It's also got a beer bar that serves up Mexican imports like Corona, Dos Equis, Tecate and others, as well as tequila and margaritas.
Bring some cash when you visit, as it doesn't accept debit or credit cards.
Yelper Jeff H. visited on Jan. 15, saying, "The barbecue chicken is a hyperbolic dream! I never thought I would get so excited about chicken, but the barbecue chicken here is quite literally the tastiest chicken I have ever eaten. ... Moist, tender and chock full of addictive, subtly spicy flavor."
2. Duly's Place
Next up is diner Duly's Place, situated at 5458 W. Vernor Highway. With 4.5 stars out of 108 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a consistent local favorite.
The diner is an old establishment (nearly a century old, in fact), one of dozens of Coney Island restaurants in Detroit, according to MLive. It serves up classic diner foods, like egg and bacon breakfast plates, hamburgers, bowls of chili, tuna sandwiches, pies, fries and, of course, coney dogs (which can be customized with a variety of toppings).
This is another cash-only spot, so visit an ATM before you head in.
Fox E. reviewed it on Feb. 3, saying, "Duly is definitely a five-star place, for me anyway. Might not be for you, especially if you're fancy and you like locally sourced garlic herb aioli and pale ales. It's hot and sloppy and delicious, although not spicy at all, as advertised. ... [The] service is wonderful, too."
3. E & L Supermercado
Mexican grocery store and meat shop E & L Supermercado is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 6000 W. Vernor Highway, 4.5 stars out of 40 reviews.
E & L Supermercado has been around for over 60 years, so it's another longtime fixture of Southwest Detroit. It's as authentic of a Mexican grocery store as you'll find outside of Mexico, with fresh produce, an in-store bakery and a butcher. While it's slanted heavily towards Mexican and Latin American products, it also carries a variety of American goods, so it's a good bet you can pick up your regular groceries while exploring.
Yelper Kelsea D. said, "Their meat counter is out of this world! They have so many options to choose from you'll get overwhelmed. The grocery store itself is a nice size. It was clean. The staff was very helpful and nice. ... Also, if you're in the mood for some tacos, there is a taco truck in that same parking lot."
4. Antojitos El Catracho
Antojitos El Catracho, a Honduran spot, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with five stars out of 17 Yelp reviews. Head over to 4627 W. Vernor Highway to see for yourself.
Its menu includes yucca with fried pork, fried tilapia with tostones, pupusas, empanadas and Honduran-style enchiladas.
Meredith V., who shared her experience on Yelp on June 12, said, "The best pork tamales I've ever had. It's been four days since I've eaten there and I'm still thinking about it. We ordered three boxes worth of food and everything totaled less than $13."
5. La Michoacana
Finally, check out La Michoacana, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 31 reviews on Yelp. You can find the spot to score ice cream, paletas (ice pops), mangonadas (Mexican fruit drink) and more at 4336 W. Vernor Highway.
Flavors at its ice cream/paleta bar include coconut, pineapple, lime, watermelon, pistachio, cajeta (sweet milk) and more. You can also snag some elote in a cup, mangonadas with fresh fruit and Hot Cheetos with nacho cheese.
Yelper Dr. E., who reviewed it on March 19, said, "This was my first introduction to Mexican popsicles and now I keep them in my freezer all the time. I ordered six popsicles and ate all of them in 15 minutes. The taste of the strawberry one will forever stay in my mind."
