Detroit joins the MICHELIN Guide: the American city is making its mark on the international culinary scene, with its inclusion in the new MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes Edition, solidifying its position among the United States’ emerging culinary destinations, blending multiculturalism, contemporary creativity, and local traditions.
Detroit takes another step forward in its journey toward international recognition as a cultural, creative, and culinary destination. Visit Detroit and the MICHELIN Guide have announced the city’s inclusion in the new MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes Edition, a selection dedicated to the most interesting culinary scenes in the American Great Lakes region. MICHELIN inspectors are already at work in the area, and the inaugural selection of restaurants will be presented in 2027 during the MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes Ceremony.
The announcement represents a significant recognition for Detroit, a city that in recent years has successfully redefined its international image, complementing its historic industrial, musical, and cultural identity with an increasingly vibrant, authentic, and contemporary culinary scene.
Detroit’s cuisine today tells the story of a city in transformation: a mosaic of communities, cultures, and flavors that reflects the region’s social richness. From the Middle Eastern traditions of Dearborn to the Mexican and Latin American cuisine of Southwest Detroit, and including the new openings by young chefs and entrepreneurs, the destination confirms itself as one of the most interesting culinary laboratories in the United States.
Dearborn, home to one of the country’s largest Arab communities, is now a hub for Middle Eastern cuisine, featuring celebrated spots like Al Ameer, Sheeba, Malek Al Kabob, and the historic Shatila Bakery. Southwest Detroit, meanwhile, continues to stand out for its Latin and Mexican spirit, thanks to iconic spots like Taqueria Mi Pueblo and Tacos Wuey Detroit.
Alongside its deep-rooted traditions, Detroit is experiencing a period of intense creative ferment.
The city’s growth has also been confirmed by the numerous accolades it has received at the James Beard Awards, among the most prestigious honors in American gastronomy. Establishments such as Baobab Fare, dedicated to East African cuisine, Warda’s Patisserie, named Best New Bakery in 2022, and new spots like Bar Chenin and Vecino demonstrate the city’s ability to blend identity, innovation, and hospitality.
Among the most recognizable symbols of the local food culture, Detroit-style pizza naturally stands out, having become a true American icon in recent years. Born in the steel pans linked to the city’s industrial heritage, this rectangular pizza is distinguished by its thick yet light dough, crispy crust, and caramelized cheese along the edges. It was made famous by Buddy’s Pizza, now joined by new spots like Grandma Bob’s, Michigan & Trumbull, and Pie Sci, which reinterpret the style with a contemporary twist.
No less iconic are Coney Dogs, hot dogs served with chili, onions, and mustard, which have become a city ritual thanks to two historic spots located side by side in the heart of Detroit: American Coney Island and Lafayette Coney Island.
The city’s new culinary identity also passes through symbolic places like Eastern Market, one of the largest historic open-air public markets in the United States. For over a century, the market has been a meeting point for local producers, street food, crafts, murals, and the community, representing one of the most authentic experiences for those who wish to discover Detroit through food.
In recent years, the city has also developed a growing focus on the concept of farm-to-table, urban agriculture, and collaboration between restaurants, urban farms, and small local producers. This model combines sustainability, food accessibility, and the promotion of the local area, helping to make Detroit a culinary destination that is not only creative but also deeply connected to its community.
Its inclusion in the MICHELIN Guide comes at a particularly significant moment for the city. In 2024, Detroit was also included in the MICHELIN Green Guide, dedicated to cultural and tourist destinations of major interest, becoming the tenth city in the United States to receive this recognition.
Today, Detroit presents itself to international travelers with a new face: that of an authentic, dynamic, and surprising city, capable of transforming its history into creative energy.
With evolving neighborhoods, historic markets, multicultural restaurants, a new generation of chefs, and an increasingly recognized culinary scene, Detroit confirms its place among the American destinations worth discovering.
A city that no longer merely recounts its past, but invites you to experience its present: through art, music, neighborhoods, communities, and—now more than ever—through its cuisine.
About Visit Detroit
Visit Detroit is the official tourism promotion organization for the city of Detroit and the region comprising Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Founded in 1896 as the world’s first convention and visitors bureau, Visit Detroit now represents over 900 member businesses and works to promote the region as an international destination for leisure, business, culture, events, and lifestyle tourism.
