The best burgers in Michigan come out of Detroit and its close-in suburbs, and the two styles to know are the onion slider and the neighborhood bar burger. Start with sliders at Motz's Burgers, then have a burger on wax paper at Miller's Bar in Dearborn. For a restaurant burger, Grey Ghost in Brush Park is the most praised.
This roundup uses the restaurants in our Detroit burger guide, grouped by style. Small counters and bar kitchens change their hours, so check before you go.
Detroit's burger traditions
Detroit is a slider town. The classic local burger is small, cooked on a flat-top with a handful of fresh onion pressed into the patty, and finished with simple toppings. The city was once home to many slider counters, and a few still cook the old way.
The second tradition is the neighborhood bar burger. These are straightforward burgers in long-running taverns and dive bars, often with a ritual that's as much a part of the visit as the food.
Before you order, keep in mind:
- Sliders are small. Plan on several per person.
- Onions are cooked into the patty. If you dislike onions, ask before you order.
- Bar kitchens keep bar hours. Some open late in the day, so check first.
Sliders: Southwest Detroit
- Motz's Burgers: on West Fort Street, it traces its roots to 1929, and its sliders still come with fresh onion pressed right into the patty on the griddle. It's the best place in the city to try the style the old way. Order more than one.
The onion-smash method has a lot in common with Oklahoma's fried onion burger. Our fried onion burger guide explains the technique.
Bar burgers: Dearborn and the Cass Corridor
- Miller's Bar: a no-frills Dearborn tavern serving burgers since 1941. They come on wax paper with pickles, there's no printed menu, and you settle up at the bar on the honor system by telling the bartender what you had.
- The Bronx Bar: a long-running Cass Corridor dive known for a straightforward burger with cheese on a soft, toasted bun.
- Dirty Shake: an ivy-covered bar a short walk away on Second Avenue, serving a double-patty smash burger on a potato bun. Despite the name, don't expect a milkshake.
Both Cass Corridor bars are near Wayne State University, which makes them easy to pair.
Corktown: a retro burger bar
- Mercury Burger & Bar: a retro diner and bar in Corktown, west of downtown near the old Tiger Stadium site. It has a big burger menu and a patio, which makes it a good group pick.
Chef-driven: Brush Park and Ferndale
- Grey Ghost: a meat-focused restaurant in Brush Park, just north of downtown, whose burger on a toasted sesame roll has become a local favorite. Add-ons include an egg or thick-cut bacon.
- Little Ghost: the same team's walk-up burger spot in Ferndale, built around the same burger idea. Plan to eat outside or take it to go.
More chef-driven picks are on our best gourmet burgers page.
How to plan a Detroit burger day
- Start with sliders. Motz's makes a good lunch, and the small size leaves room for more.
- Head to Dearborn for Miller's. It's a short drive west. Bring patience; staff take your order at the table.
- End in the Cass Corridor. The Bronx Bar and Dirty Shake are both on Second Avenue, and Grey Ghost is a short drive south.
- Make Ferndale a separate stop. Little Ghost is north of the city along Woodward Avenue.
- Check hours first. Small counters and bar kitchens don't always keep the same schedule.
Beyond Detroit
Our Michigan coverage centers on metro Detroit for now. If you know a great burger in Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Lansing or up north, suggest a spot and we'll check it out.
What to order at each stop
- Motz's Burgers: several onion sliders with cheese. They're small, so order more than you think.
- Miller's Bar: a burger on wax paper with pickles. Remember what you ordered for when you pay.
- The Bronx Bar: the straightforward cheeseburger on a toasted bun, with a beer.
- Dirty Shake: the double-patty smash burger on a potato bun.
- Grey Ghost: the burger on a toasted sesame roll, with an egg or thick-cut bacon if you want to go big.
- Mercury Burger & Bar: anything off the big burger menu, ideally on the patio in warm weather.
If you only have one afternoon, sliders at Motz's followed by Miller's in Dearborn covers both Detroit traditions.
Make Detroit sliders at home
You don't need a special griddle to make onion sliders. Our guide to how to make sliders covers sizing and buns, and our fried onion burger recipe uses a similar onion-smash method. A cast iron skillet gets hot enough to sear small patties fast. Cook ground beef to 160°F for USDA-recommended doneness.
FAQ
What is the best burger in Michigan?
For the classic Detroit experience, go to Motz's for sliders or Miller's Bar in Dearborn for a bar burger. For a restaurant burger, Grey Ghost in Brush Park is the most praised.
What is a Detroit slider?
It's a small burger griddled with fresh onions pressed into the patty, served on a soft bun with simple toppings. Motz's Burgers is the best-known place to try one.
How does ordering work at Miller's Bar?
There's no printed menu. Staff take your order at the table, and when you pay, you tell the bartender what you had.
Where can I get a burger near Wayne State?
Dirty Shake and The Bronx Bar are both on Second Avenue in the Cass Corridor, a short walk from campus.
When did Miller's Bar start serving burgers?
Miller's has been serving burgers in Dearborn since 1941, and its no-menu, honor-system routine is part of the tradition.
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