Metro Detroit’s Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings, Spring 2025 #DetroitFood
Regionally-inspired tacos in Hubbard Farms, African diaspora cuisine on the east side, and more new places to know now.
It’s springtime in Detroit and an ideal time for new beginnings. With that, Eater gives you its most anticipated restaurant openings of the season.
The Hubbard Farms area of southwest Detroit is gearing up to welcome a regionally-inspired taqueria from a Detroit restaurant industry veteran. Detroit 75 Kitchen is working to add a second location in Madison Heights. The city's east side will soon welcome a pair of restaurants representing the African diaspora. This spring in Eastern Market, Baobab Fare’s food truck operation, Waka, is planning to launch its menu of Burundian street food, followed by the fall opening of Marrow Provisions in the Capital Poultry building on Riopelle.
Note that an opening date is a moving target for any restaurant, so don’t be surprised if that day changes. Here are a few of the most exciting restaurants expected to open their doors in the next few months.
Tacos Wuey
Project Opening: May
Key players: Eddie Vargas
Restaurant industry veteran Eddie Vargas and his father, Jose, have been renovating a space formerly occupied by a Central American restaurant called El Comal to give the interior a subtle Tulum aesthetic with woven rattan lighting and neutral tones and seating for about 40 people. The rotating taco menu will take cues from Mexico’s vast culinary landscape, with specialties including Sinaloa-style tacos gobernador (a griddled taco-quesadilla combo filled with grilled shrimp and melted cheese), Baja-inspired fried fish tacos, and tacos de chile relleno, to name a few. Vargas also plans to incorporate ingredients not often found locally, including flor de calabaza and huitlacoche — a Mexican delicacy. 3970 West Vernor Highway.
Sunda New Asian
Project Opening: Spring
Key players: Billy Dec, Rockit Ranch Productions
Sunda New Asian, a Chicago-born restaurant mini-chain serving sushi, noodles, and small bites, with two locations in Chicago and outposts in Nashville, Tennessee, and Tampa, Florida, will arrive sometime this spring to the so-called District pedestrian-only entertainment corridor next to the Fox Theatre and across the street from Comerica Park. Former nightclub impresario Billy Dec founded the restaurant with a heavy Japanese and Chinese menu, but in later years, he’s leaning more into his Filipino roots. Dec helped start Chicago’s Rockit Ranch Productions, known for clubs like Rockit and the Underground. 33 W. Columbia.
Big Rock Italian Chophouse
Project Opening: Late spring
Key players: Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, the chain known for spots like Ocean Prime, is close to opening a new restaurant inside Birmingham’s historic Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot. Big Rock Italian Chophouse is part of a $10 million renovation project that kicked off in 2023. The space will enclose a restaurant, cigar lounge, and private membership club. 245 S. Eton Street in Birmingham.
Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery
Project Opening: End of April
Key Players: Ronin Capital Partners, Jay Farner
Franklin Grill, which shuttered at the start of 2024 after a 16-year run, is being reimagined by Detroit businessman and managing partner of Ronin Capital Partners, Jay Farner. The space will soon be renamed Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery. Details about the food and drink offerings weren’t immediately available following the announcement of the switch, however, executive chef Nick Geftos, who also heads the kitchen at BESA Detroit downtown — also owned by Ronin — has been tapped to lead the kitchen. Farner has also purchased the adjoining property, which will be joined to the new restaurant by a shared back patio and will become an as-of-yet unnamed casual cafe. Pastry chef Christine Anschuetz leads the project. 32760 Franklin Road in Franklin.
Waka by Baobab Fare
Project Opening: June
Key players: Nadia Nijimbere and Hamissi Mamba
What started as a food truck that first launched during Noel Night in 2022 is now well on its way to becoming a brick-and-mortar location in Eastern Market in the space formerly occupied by Russell Street Deli. At Waka, customers will get to enjoy dishes inspired by street food such as Burundian chapati, a doughy griddled flatbread with South Indian origins, filled with stewed meats and vegetables. In addition, diners will find other East African-style delicacies like brochettes — skewered meat kabobs grilled over charcoal. Note that Baobab Fare is also looking to expand its footprint with a second location at 16900 E. Warren Avenue on the city’s east side sometime in 2026. 3401-3445 Russell Street.
from Eater Detroit - All
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