The Best Late-Night Eats in Detroit

One of the most famous late-night spots in the city is Honest John’s, whose slogan is “When you’re up, we’re up.” Located just off the Cass Corridor in Midtown, it’s open until 2 am every night of the week and has a varied menu sure to satisfy any and all hankerings. From burgers to chili cheese fries, chicken wings to seafood and an all-day breakfast menu, if you can’t find something you want at Honest John’s, it’s time to go home.

There are hundreds of places to grab one of Detroit’s signature hot dogs, the Coney Island, but everyone has their favorite. Featured on Man v. Food and Food Wars, Lafayette Coney Island is one of the two original Coney Islands in the city and has frequently stood above the rest thanks to its no-frills atmosphere and superior chili dogs. It’s open until 3 am every night of the week, so end your night in the right way with a Detroit Institution.

Right next door to Lafayette is the other original Coney joint and its long-standing rival, American Coney Island. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2017, American Coney was founded first, before a family dispute led to the split. Subtle differences in the dog, chili, and onions make it the superior Coney for some, but the one thing it definitely has over Lafayette is availability for the late-night crowd, as American Coney Island is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Also ticking the boxes for value and open all hours is Telway Hamburgers on Michigan Avenue, another Detroit institution dating back to the 1940s. A single slider is still only 70 cents, with four not much more than $2.50, meaning you can eat a lot for very little. Not just that, it’s still considered among Detroit’s best burgers, and if you don’t fancy a burger, there’s also chili, hot dogs, onion rings and donuts on the menu, so go wild.

Up in Ferndale, the always bustling and busy Imperial is a great choice if some late-night Mexican is calling you. It’s open until 2 am every day of the week, and the menu has a range of tacos with carnitas and carne asada for meat lovers and papas con rajas for vegetarians. The star of the show, though, is the Sonoran hot dogs, bacon-wrapped hot dogs loaded with toppings including chorizo, pickled jalapeños, beans, pineapple, cheese, and sour cream. And if you’re still in the mood, the cocktails are strong and cheap.

Many people consider Standby, located in the Belt in downtown Detroit, to be among the best restaurants in the city, so it may not be appropriate as the last stop on a big night out. However, if you’re just looking for a late dinner, it’s open until 2 am and has an exciting, contemporary food and drink menu served in an intimate setting. Be sure to order something from the extensive cocktail menu.

Pizza is awesome any time of day, and there are few better ways to end a night. Niki’s Greektown Pizza in downtown is the final stop on many nights out as it serves Detroit-style square deep dish pizza until 4 am on Fridays and Saturdays and 2 am every other night. Niki’s is also the place to go if you’re craving some Greek food, as it has a full menu of appetizers and salads.