Burgers are something that our palates crave. Just thinking of the word “burger,” our minds are jammed with the nostalgia of summer days with family in a backyard, nights at a bar watching a crucial game, or trips to a restaurant where the burger was our favorite thing.
As soon as someone mentions burgers, most people get hungry and likely say “yes” to the invitation. Here in Detroit, and the Metro area, we have so many craveable burgers of all varieties.
But for the purpose of discussion, it’s important to break down the categories of this most familiar cornerstone in American dining.
One usually does not just say they want a burger. Instead, they typically specify the type of burger they crave. We have the bar burger, made just a little greasy, with melty American cheese and toppings only if you need them.
In Detroit, we love a luscious slider, made steamy with onions, making it hyper savory and aromatic. In the summer, we’ll jump head first into a satisfying backyard burger, perfected by our parents and relatives.
Finally, the restaurant burger is made in a kitchen by chefs who have a deep knowledge of techniques and ingredients that make for an elevated experience, entertaining our childhood spirits while being enchanted with quality.
Here are 10 craveable burgers you simply have to try:
Motz Burgers (slider)
- 7208 W Fort St, Detroit, MI
The familiar white buildings in most neighborhoods are quintessential for most hardworking personalities and late-night nosh patrons.
Smaller burgers, referred to as sliders, are made by pressing fresh onions into meatballs on a flat top grill and allowing the fats of the meat and moisture of the onion to steam together, later melting in with the cheese and bun.
Each bite is a unified savory bomb, creating a mouthwatering sensation that demands another. At Motz, they haven’t strayed away from their time-tested methods and quality ingredients.
Opened in 1929 on Fort and Green streets in front of the produce terminal, Motz is the gold standard for sliders in the city. Giving honor to other great slider joints like Telway, Elmers, Sonnys, Brays, Bates, Carters, Hunter House, and many more, Motz has a picture on the wall acknowledging that it is one of the many classic spots, living on for generations in our community.
Miller’s (bar burger)
- 23700 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI
Served on wax paper, and offering a side of as many pickles as you want, this no-frills historic institution has been a favorite for burger fans across the world.
They won’t give you a menu, but they keep it simple, with burgers, fries, onion rings, and a tuna melt. While it is not as much a bar as it is a burger destination, Miller’s still is on the honor system, meaning when you’re ready to pay, you go to the bar and tell them what you had.
If the craving is for just a classic, quality, juicy burger, that is Miller’s Bar.
Pop’s Place (backyard/dad style burger)
- 12815 Linwood St, Detroit, MI
Family owned and operated, this small business in the heart of the city screams excellence and accessibility with its meals. Everything on the menu is made to order, and for being one to two people in the kitchen at a time, it’s all pretty quick!
The large, filling, feast of a burger served on a toasted sesame bun is made medium and includes ALL the fixings, if agreed to. Eating it, the sensation is a fast food burger joint from the 1950s that took their time to make a superior and packed meal.
Don, Clyde, and Terry all take pride in their food as if they are preparing every item for their family at a cookout. With just an ordering window, the food is the atmosphere.
Rose’s (restaurant, elevated burger)
- 10551 E Jefferson Ave, Detroit, MI
Owned and operated by Molly Mitchell, Rose’s has seen several iterations in its cozy and charming diner. Today, Rose’s is a Polish-inspired supper house, great for date nights and a snug night with friends.
On the menu, Polish nachos, beets, duck, and dill pickle soup are all dynamite tidbits of what is available. The surprising feature is the burger, served on a buttered and toasted sourdough, with a bacon and onion jam, and melty gruyere cheese.
This succulent burger is a supreme example of what ingenuity and inspiration can do with a time-tested component of our food landscape.
Bronx (bar burger)
- 4476 2nd Ave, Detroit, MI
A long-time haunt for the Cass Corridor community is the divey Bronx Bar. Serving sandwiches, fries, fried pickles, and shots of Tullamore Dew, the Bronx is a true bar that happens to serve some pretty spectacular bar food.
The burger is no exception, with well-seasoned choice meat, plenty of cheese, and served on a toasted, very fluffy, ciabatta-like bun. The bun is the major difference, allowing for all the juices to become absorbed, changing the texture and flavor as you continue to eat.
Accompanied by one of the best jukeboxes in town, this monster of a handheld feast is something that needs to be experienced.
Lafayette Coney Island (loose burger)
- 118 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI
One of the originators of the food that we call a Detroit delicacy (the coney) has also had a hand in the creation of another Detroit original: the Loose Burger.
While not technically a burger in its traditional sense, it has burger in the name, and is specific to us. So, it’s on the list!
Loose ground beef, placed inside of a hotdog bun, covered in chili, mustard, and onion, the way all of our forefathers intended.
It’s juicy, oniony, and sultry, bringing us back to the barebones way our generations before us ate. It’s not for everyone, and that is alright. As a fan, it remains one of the best cravings in Detroit.
Nemo’s (bar burger)
- 1384 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI
The oldest operating sports bar in the city is as much a part of Detroit sports as it is the Corktown neighborhood it sits in.
Having hosted the Stanley Cup in the ’90s, Nemo’s has catered its fair share of Detroit celebrations, all while serving up one of the best bar burgers around. With a cold pint, burgers are served as you want them, and accompanied by a tray of condiments and toppings that make it easy to customize and satisfy your every craving.
With fries, onion rings, and maybe even a reuben on the side, the Nemo’s experience is there for more than just to watch a game.
One thing to mention, the meat here is sourced from the same meat operation as several other burgers on this list. Due to secrecy, the name is not often disclosed, but for those who know, that’s the spot for the best traditional burger meat around.
Grey Ghost/Little Ghost (restaurant burger)
- 47 Watson St, Detroit, MI
Often called one of the most craveable burgers from a restaurant in town, Grey Ghost has made such a splash with this one menu item that they opened a separate burger spot called Little Ghost in Ferndale.
Served on a toasted sesame roll, this high-caliber dish can include an egg, thick cut bacon, and other friendly items, throwing the polite way of eating out the window. When egg and burger grease drip down your hands, that’s how you know everything is OK, no matter the polished tone set.
Dirty Shake (bar burger)
- 4642 2nd Ave, Detroit, MI
A new player in the burger game, a block over from the Bronx Bar in the Cass Corridor, is Dirty Shake. While they famously do not have a milkshake, they have a deep menu and relaxed vibe created by Doug Hewitt and Sandy Levine of Chartreuse and Freya.
The burger is a double patty smash with a little bit of red on a potato bun. It’s gotten a lot of hype, and it lives up to it.
Frita Batidos (Restaurant/Street Style)
- 66 W Columbia St, Detroit, MI
Inspired by traditional Cuban burgers (fritas), you choose your protein (although it is traditional to choose the chorizo) and toppings, and it’s packed in with shoestring fries, all served on a soft egg bun.
Additionally, the “batidos” are milkshakes, and they’re great! While milkshakes aren’t as prevalent nowadays alongside a burger, the combination is still unmatched!
This small local chain, honoring the Cuban and Latin cultures that inspired owner and chef Eve Aronoff, has continued to offer superior products in a charming setting. It’s filling, and may not be friendly to most diets, but this combination of frita and batido are an often-needed treat.
Wrapping up
These may not be the top burgers in town as voted by many or written in reviews, or may not be everyone’s favorites, but they are indeed craveable and outstanding.
The different burger styles available to us in this city are beautiful, and just like so many in our city, nobody is trying too hard to reach for a burger identity that is beyond who they are.
While only 10 were able to be discussed above, there are many other burger spots that are so loved! See below for a list of other favorites, some of which are not always available.
- O’s Burger
- Wichos (Mexican-style burger)
- Choixes
- Marcus Hamburgers
- Batch Brewing (not always available)
- Ladder 4 (summer Sundays at noon only)
- Supercrisp
- The Food Exchange (The Big Baby)
- Redcoat Tavern
- Bar Pigalle (only available at the bar)
- Basement Burger Bar
- Mitsos Greek Food
- Mabel Gray (not always available)
Burgers are a part of the authentic history of the way we eat in Detroit. If you have any favorites not listed above, please write in your recommendations! Great burgers are always welcome.
Here are additional episodes of Carlos Eats Detroit, on pizza and soup: