Blog for May 2014
Since Challenge Detroit is a regional effort (and considering I just visited the “Taste of Ann Arbor” festival), I chose write a blog featuring some local food finds in Dearborn. Dearborn has the largest concentration of Arab Americans outside of the Middle East. Along with all these Arabs comes great food and authentic Middle Eastern restaurants. I decided to dedicate this month’s blog to sharing just a few of my personal favorites, broken down into two categories: sit-down and carry-out restaurants.
Sit-down restaurants
Ollie’s: This is a great restaurant for families and, with locations in Sterling Heights, Dearborn, and Dearborn Heights, chances are there is one not to far from you anywhere in the metropolitan area.
- Favorite dish: chicken lemon oregano (comes with soup or salad and rice or fries)
Cedarland: Located in the heart of east Dearborn, Cedarland has been around for decades and with good reason. As a bonus, they are the only Middle Eastern restaurant in the area that has a drive-thru window.
- Favorite dish: chicken shawarma sandwich on saj bread
Al-Ameer: This restaurant has been a staple in the community for years and is well known throughout all the metro-Detroit area. The newly remodeled east Dearborn location offers a refreshing new look to a classic restaurant.
- Favorite dish: broiled chicken (comes with soup or salad and rice or fries)
Carry-out restaurants
Tahamas: My favorite hole in the wall, this sandwich shop offers the best pita wraps in the area. Also, you can count on them being consistently great every time you go there.
- Favorite dish: meat shawarma on french bread
Al-Basha: This has been my favorite sub shop for years now. They offer very fairly priced and portioned food.
- Favorite dish: chicken sub with cheese, corn, and olives
These are just a few of my favorites. I would recommend any of these choices to get a taste of Dearborn. I will be working with the Arab American National Museum in the near future on making a more comprehensive food guide of Dearborn.