10 Iconic Detroit Dishes You Need to Try

Distinctive from its Chicago counterpart in several ways, Detroit-style deep-dish pizza is among the city’s most iconic dishes. Since the 1940s, a number of famous pizzerias and chains, from Buddy’s and Loui’s to Cloverleaf and Niki’s, have been serving up these square delights to hungry locals and visitors. Famous for their buttery and crisp crust, subtly spiced tomato and mounds of mozzarella, what’s not to love.

As a true example of “fusion” food before that was even a thing, the Asian Corned Beef chain was started in 1978 and now has six locations across the city. Most famous for its range of Egg Rolls featuring corned beef, cheese, cabbage and other fillings all wrapped up in a crispy fried roll, it’s a cheap and typically Detroit snack for many residents.

Slows has taken Detroit barbecue by storm since opening in 2005, receiving much national and regional media coverage. It was featured on Man vs. Food in 2009, during which Adam Richman sampled the Triple Threat Pork and the Yardbird sandwiches, the latter of which went on to finish in the top three on his subsequent show, Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America. Slows now has four locations for you to sample that famous Yardbird, which has pulled chicken in honey mustard sauce, mushrooms, cheese, and bacon.

Not a dish but certainly a Detroit icon, the Boston Cooler is a pretty simple, two-ingredient drink. Also known as a Vernors float, it is made with Vernors, a ginger ale from Detroit, and vanilla ice cream. Some say the ice cream also has to be from Detroit, Stroh’s in particular. The only question, then, is whether to simply float or to blend. Find them on menus around the city.

A Big Boy is not exactly an iconic Detroit dish, but the chain remains a Michigan staple. The company has its headquarters in Metro Detroit as well as having 70 of its 78 locations in Michigan. The signature Big Boy was the original double deck hamburger, predating the Big Mac and Big King, making it pretty iconic.