2025 Dining Hotspots: 10 Must-Know Restaurants Opening in Metro Detroit

Metro Detroit’s dining scene is gearing up for an exciting transformation in 2025, with new restaurants set to elevate the region’s culinary landscape. For those living in Metro Detroit, the upcoming year promises fresh dining experiences that celebrate diverse cuisines, innovative concepts, and bold flavors. With establishments offering everything from fine dining to casual comfort food, these new hotspots will cater to food lovers across the spectrum. Meanwhile, anyone moving to Metro Detroit will find a vibrant food culture that reflects the area’s rich heritage and growing diversity, making it an even more attractive place to call home. Whether you’re a seasoned foodie or someone exploring the local dining scene for the first time, 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Metro Detroit’s restaurants.

BIG ROCK CHOPHOUSE, Facebook

Big Rock Italian Chophouse

245 S Eton St, Birmingham, MI 48009
Website: Big Rock Italian Chophouse

Big Rock Italian Chophouse, opening in 2025, will bring an elevated dining experience to Birmingham with a $10 million renovation of the iconic Grand Trunk Western Railroad Depot. This 11,000-square-foot restaurant, a partnership between Cameron Mitchell Restaurants and local investors Tom Celani and Dario Bergamo, will offer an impressive menu of prime steaks, handmade pastas, and an extensive wine list. Guests can expect a luxurious setting with seating for 300, including a patio that accommodates 50, and enjoy specialty cocktails crafted at one of the venue's three distinct bars. Adding to its allure, the property will feature private dining rooms and an exclusive cigar club and terrace for members, making it a destination for both fine dining and refined leisure.

Marrow in the Market

2442 Riopelle St, Detroit, MI 48207
Website: Marrow in the Market

Marrow in the Market, opening soon in Eastern Market, will blend dining and production in a state-of-the-art 14,000-square-foot space. The ground floor will focus on meat production, reflecting a commitment to sustainable and artisanal practices. Upstairs, a 3,000-square-foot restaurant will seat over 100 guests, offering a refined dining experience rooted in locally sourced ingredients. Led by Ping Ho and chef Sarah Welch, this venture combines culinary creativity with craftsmanship, creating a dynamic addition to Detroit’s dining landscape.

Waka by Baobab Fare

2465 Russell St, Detroit, MI 48207
Website: Waka by Baobab Fare

Waka, an East African eatery from the Baobab Fare family, is set to open its first storefront in Eastern Market, Detroit, taking over the former home of the iconic Russell Street Deli. The new location will offer fast-casual counter service for dine-in guests and feature a menu centered around East African favorites like brochette, chapati, and other flavorful flatbreads. Expanding its offerings, Waka plans to introduce additional street food options such as grilled meat kabobs and convenient “to-go” meals inspired by East African cuisine. The venue will also serve as a retail hub, selling products from the Soko line, including coffee, beverages, and chocolate, making it a one-stop destination for both dining and specialty goods.

Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery

32760 Franklin Road, Franklin, MI 48025
Website: Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery

Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery, led by Jay Farner of Ronin Capital Partners, is set to transform the historic space once home to the Franklin Grill into a refined seafood and dining destination. The main floor will feature two bars—one specializing in expertly crafted cocktails and the other focusing on freshly shucked oysters, offering a dynamic yet elegant atmosphere. Upstairs, a versatile second-floor area will provide space for private events, intimate dining, and smaller gatherings, ensuring options for all occasions. With its unique offerings and thoughtful design, the Franklin Oyster Bar & Eatery aims to become a go-to spot for seafood enthusiasts and sophisticated diners alike.

Sunda, Facebook

Sunda New Asian

33 W. Columbia St., Detroit, MI 48201
Website: Sunda New Asian

Sunda New Asian, an award-winning restaurant from Emmy-winning TV personality and restaurateur Billy Dec, will bring its celebrated modern Asian cuisine to The District Detroit in the spring. Originally founded in Chicago in 2009, Sunda has gained acclaim for its innovative dishes inspired by flavors from Japan, China, and Southeast Asia, elevated with premium ingredients and refined techniques. The menu will feature an array of sushi rolls, sashimi, and nigiri, alongside standout dishes like wagyu butcher’s cuts and adobo pork belly. Known for its artful presentation and elevated dining experience, Sunda New Asian is set to become a culinary gem in Detroit's vibrant food scene.

Dancing Pine Korean Steakhouse

42708 Grand River Ave, Novi, MI 48375
Website: Dancing Pine Korean Steakhouse

Dancing Pine Korean Steakhouse is set to open as the anchor tenant of the highly anticipated Sakura Novi, a mixed-use development celebrating Asian-inspired culture and cuisine. Owned by Seven York Inc., the group behind popular metro Detroit eateries like Kimchi Box and The Seoul, the steakhouse will offer a distinctive Korean dining experience. As part of the vibrant Sakura Novi complex, Dancing Pine will complement a variety of restaurants featuring dishes from Korea, Japan, Hawaii, Mongolia, and China. With its focus on upscale Korean barbecue, Dancing Pine aims to stand out as a centerpiece of this culinary and cultural destination.

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

44218 Ford Rd, Canton, MI 48187
Website: Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

Raising Cane’s is set to debut its first Metro Detroit location on February 4 in Canton, occupying a revamped 3,700-square-foot space previously home to TGI Fridays. The restaurant will include 1,650 square feet of indoor dining, an outdoor patio area, and a convenient drive-through service for guests on the go. Known for its simple yet crave-worthy menu, Raising Cane’s will offer its signature chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, Texas toast, coleslaw, and their famous Cane’s sauce. With additional locations planned for Sterling Heights and Chesterfield Township in late 2025, the brand is poised to become a favorite in the Detroit area.

Little Liberia, Facebook

Little Liberia

16530 E. Warren Ave., Detroit, MI 48224
Website: Little Liberia

Little Liberia, set to open in the fall, will bring authentic Liberian cuisine to Detroit's East English Village neighborhood in The Ribbon development. Spearheaded by chef and owner Ameneh Marhaba, who immigrated from Liberia in 2010, the restaurant will celebrate a culinary heritage blending African, Caribbean, and Antebellum-South African American influences. The menu will be entirely halal, crafted in collaboration with customer feedback gathered through tasting events leading up to the opening. Little Liberia promises to deliver a unique and heartfelt dining experience, paying homage to its rich cultural roots.

Nepantla Cafe

5410 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, MI 48209
Website: Nepantla Cafe

Nepantla Cafe, a beloved Mexican food truck and pop-up, is set to transition into a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Detroit’s Mexicantown later this year. Owned by chef Rocky Coronado, the cafe earned a $75,000 Motor City Match grant in 2023, helping bring this vision to life. The restaurant will specialize in vegan Mexican cuisine, offering an innovative take on traditional flavors, paired with craft cocktails. Additionally, Nepantla Cafe plans to serve as a community hub, hosting events and fostering a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors alike.

Detroit 75 Kitchen

32275 Stephenson Hwy, Madison Heights, MI 48071
Website: Detroit 75 Kitchen

Detroit 75 Kitchen, a popular sandwich shop and food truck, is set to open a permanent location in Madison Heights in late spring. While the new site is under construction, one of the brand’s signature food trucks will operate on-site, starting January 6. Owned by brothers Mike and Ahmad Nassar, the menu features Detroit-inspired sandwiches like their iconic chicken sandwich and po’ boy, named after streets and neighborhoods of the city. With a $1.5 million investment in the new location and projected annual revenue of $4 million, Detroit 75 Kitchen is poised to expand its reputation for bold flavors and high-quality offerings in Metro Detroit.

As 2025 approaches, the dynamic food scene in Metro Detroit continues to expand, offering residents and newcomers an exciting array of dining options. For those living in Metro Detroit, these new hotspots promise to enhance the region’s reputation as a culinary destination, blending innovative flavors with unforgettable experiences. Those moving to Metro Detroit will find a thriving dining culture that mirrors the area’s diversity and creativity, making it an enticing place to settle down. With so many unique and highly anticipated restaurants on the horizon, it’s clear that Metro Detroit is poised to remain a premier destination for food enthusiasts. The upcoming year is shaping up to be a feast for the senses, bringing fresh energy and flavors to the local dining landscape.