Is John R the Best Restaurant Road in Michigan?
The best Mexican, Irish, and Middle Eastern joints are all on this one road in Metro Detroit
Detroit — Calling anything the best always comes with pushback, especially when talking about food. Restaurants have good days and bad days, and we’ve all been fooled by a high Google or Yelp review that makes you question everything.
But after recently leaving behind Metro Detroit for a rural life, I’ve found myself missing only one thing: the food.
Specifically, the restaurants on John R.
I know people will roll their eyes, but I promise you, pound for pound, John R cannot be topped. These places all have a John R address. Anything close by or just off John R does not count (I see you, Amelia Street Pizza fans).
Things start off a little slow in Downtown Detroit, where John R heads northwest from Comerica Park. At McNichols Road, it turns due north, and we reach our first stop: The Dakota Inn.
The vibes at The Rathskeller are impeccable and have been a Detroit staple since 1933. German food isn’t for everyone, but you can’t beat the overall environment with staff sporting traditional German clothing and the live music. It’s the perfect place to start this journey.
Things really start heating up in Hazel Park at House of Shamrocks Irish Pub. A traditional sports bar that makes their own sauces in house, Shamrocks has a wide range of options that will always hit the spot before or after a big game.
Most people know where I’m going next: a few blocks up for the one and only Mabel Gray.
Opening in 2015, Mabel Gray offers a truly one of a kind experience that nowhere else in Michigan can offer. Even for a pickier eater like myself, the rotating tasting menu has gotten me to try dozens of options I would have never thought of eating that I end up enjoying thoroughly. Their craft cocktails and overall selection of spirits match the menu vibe, too. One bit of advice though: Don’t try walking in for a table. Mabel Gray is booked weeks ahead of time, so if you want to have a fancy night out, be sure to make a reservation online.
Continuing north across I-696, you get a nice variety of diners for breakfast, a Michigan must-have white porcelain building slider joint with Telway, Kabob Royale for a Middle Eastern fix, and one of the favorite local pizza joints, Green Lantern.
Then there’s a deep selection of Asian cuisine, starting with TJ’s Shanghai Dumplings, and then Noodle Topia, Shun Ramen and Sushi, Pho Que Huong, IMA Noodles, Not Just Noodle, and Lao Pot, all within a few-mile stretch. My personal favorite is Shun, but all are fantastic.
Now this next part will be extremely controversial, but please trust me on this. I have vacationed many times in Mexico, and authentic Mexican food is my favorite thing in the world. In fact, everywhere I travel in the U.S., I try to get to the most popular Mexican spot that is locally owned.
With that said, I’d put Tienda Mexicana at John R and Whitcomb Ave up against any Mexican restaurant. I know the comments will be flooded with spots in Mexicantown, but I assure you, this little spot located inside a grocery store will blow you away. It’s quick, affordable, and downright delicious. Their red and green table sauces are absolutely perfect and go great with everything.
They also own the building next door, Taco Tequila Y Mas, which has a full liquor selection and most of the same menu items.
Their competition on John R is Super Taco, which is also inside of a grocery store and authentic as can be.
Why John R? How did these amazing restaurants all gather on one road in different cities mostly outside of Detroit?
Because Woodward Avenue is the main artery out of Detroit, real estate there is more expensive. Many stretches of Woodward are basically dead zones or have revolving businesses that don’t stay open for very long, even with the high traffic volume and wealthy surrounding communities.
John R offers a cheaper option for entrepreneurs looking to take a chance on themselves and share their family recipes with the surrounding areas. They can focus more on food quality instead of worrying about making rent.
So you can keep the Downtown areas of Royal Oak, Birmingham, and even Detroit. For me, the best options are on John R Road from North Detroit to Madison Heights.
