Mexican Village
Detroit, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

If you're exploring Detroit's Mexicantown, Mexican Village is a stop that's hard to miss. Open since 1958, it's recognized as the city's oldest continuously operating Mexican restaurant and has been introducing generations of Detroiters to family recipes rooted in Monterrey, Mexico. 06-09

What began as a small 70-seat restaurant has grown over the years to fill nearly an entire city block, but it has managed to keep the welcoming atmosphere that made it successful in the first place. The white stucco building and classic sign have become familiar sights along Bagley Street, right in the heart of one of Detroit's most vibrant neighborhoods.

The menu is full of longtime favorites, including the restaurant's famous cheese tacos, Caldo Can-Cun soup, and the Burrazo, a hearty burrito covered in rich brown gravy. Whether you're stopping in for lunch or dinner, it's easy to see why so many families have made Mexican Village part of their traditions for more than six decades.

While plenty of restaurants have come and gone in Mexicantown, Mexican Village has remained one of the neighborhood's constants. Places like this don't become local institutions overnight—they earn that reputation one meal at a time.

UPDATE: Mexican Village remains open in Detroit's Mexicantown and continues serving customers from its longtime location. The historic building and its familiar exterior sign both survive. 06-26

Armando's Restaurant
Detroit, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Another longtime favorite in Detroit's Mexicantown is Armando's Restaurant, a place that's been serving authentic Mexican food since 1967. Back when I first posted this, it was known for staying open until the early morning hours on weekends, making it a popular stop after a night out. While those late-night hours are gone, the restaurant is still going strong. 06-09

Armando's started as a small one-room taco shop before gradually expanding into the much larger restaurant you'll find today. As the business grew, neighboring storefronts were added to create the spacious dining rooms that have welcomed customers for decades.

One of Armando's biggest claims to fame is the Botana, a piled-high platter of chips, beans, melted cheese, vegetables, and toppings that founder Armando Galan introduced in 1975. The dish became so popular that it's now considered a DetroitMexican food classic. The menu also features longtime favorites like tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and the restaurant's hearty Mexican Sandwich.

More than half a century after opening, Armando's continues to be one of the cornerstones of Mexicantown. It's the kind of neighborhood restaurant that generations of Detroit families have returned to again and again.

UPDATE: Armando's Restaurant remains open in Detroit's Mexicantown. Although it no longer stays open into the early morning hours, it continues serving customers from its longtime location, and the familiar storefront still survives. 06-26