Independent city west of Detroit, home to the largest Arab-American population in the US. Warren Avenue runs Lebanese restaurants, Yemeni cafes and Shatila bakery for two miles solid.
Al Ameer on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1989. James Beard America's Classic 2016, the first Michigan winner.
Signature: Hummus, Shawarma
Order: Whole-leg lamb shawarma, hummus with pine nuts and warm pita straight from the oven.
Tip: Walk-in friendly; the parking lot is large for the area. Hours 11:00 to 22:00 most nights.
Sahara on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1968. Family-run, the older sibling on Michigan Avenue to Al Ameer's Warren strip.
Signature: Mixed grill, Tabouleh
Order: Mixed grill platter for the table and a finely chopped tabouleh.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Catering is a substantial side of the business; weekend dinner books out fastest.
Al Ameer on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1989. James Beard America's Classic 2016, the first Michigan winner.
Signature: Hummus, Shawarma
Order: Whole-leg lamb shawarma, hummus with pine nuts and warm pita straight from the oven.
Tip: Walk-in friendly; the parking lot is large for the area. Hours 11:00 to 22:00 most nights.
Sahara on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking in metro Detroit since 1968. Family-run, the older sibling on Michigan Avenue to Al Ameer's Warren strip.
Signature: Mixed grill, Tabouleh
Order: Mixed grill platter for the table and a finely chopped tabouleh.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Catering is a substantial side of the business; weekend dinner books out fastest.
La Pita on Newman Street in Dearborn serves Lebanese and Mediterranean cooking in metro Detroit. Family-run, halal certified, banquet hall on site.
Signature: Shawarma, Hummus
Order: Shawarma plate with rice, garlic sauce and warm pita bread.
Tip: Open until 22:00 most nights, noon to 22:00 on Sunday. Banquet hall books big.
Brome Modern Eatery on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves halal grass-fed beef burgers and hand-spun shakes in metro Detroit. Open through 02:00 on weekends.
Signature: Halal beef burger, Hand-spun milkshake
Order: Halal beef burger with crispy onions and a salted-caramel milkshake.
Tip: Late-night kitchen runs to 02:00 Wednesday to Sunday; vegetarian and vegan options too.
Roman Village Cucina Italiana on Dix Avenue in Dearborn has served family Italian cooking in metro Detroit since 1964. Old-school red-sauce pasta and veal cutlets.
Signature: House pasta, Veal parmigiana
Order: House pasta of the day and veal parmigiana with the garlic bread.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Lunch service most weekdays through 14:00.
Shatila Bakery on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn has baked Lebanese baklava and kunafa in metro Detroit since 1979. Riad Shatila founded the canonical Arab pastry case.
Tip: Open through midnight on weekends; pistachio baklava and ice cream are the moves.
Worth the queue: Pistachio baklava
Shatila Bakery on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn sells Lebanese pastries at the counter in metro Detroit since 1979. Pistachio baklava and kunafa are the to-go pickups.
Try: Pistachio baklava, kunafa
Tip: Open through midnight on weekends; ice cream counter inside the same room.
Shatila Bakery on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn is the canonical Lebanese pastry hall in metro Detroit. Open until midnight on weekends, ice cream alongside baklava.
Tip: The pastry case is the editorial draw; cardamom coffee is the morning pour.
Al Ameer on West Warren Avenue in Dearborn serves Lebanese cooking at lunch under $15 in metro Detroit. James Beard America's Classic 2016; the lunch plate is unbeatable value.
Try: Hummus, shawarma, falafel
Tip: Lunch plate is the budget visit; chicken shawarma with rice runs $13.
Brome Modern Eatery on Michigan Avenue in Dearborn serves halal burgers and shakes in metro Detroit through 02:00 most nights. Hand-spun milkshakes, vegan options.
Try: Halal beef burger, milkshake
Tip: Cards and cash both fine; the milkshake list is the editorial draw at late hours.