This is not a comprehensive list, but here are some of the highlights of Hamtramck food shopping. Use this list as a starting point to explore and find your own favorites. Not every location has a website. What we recommend is to find your destinations
here and walk from spot to spot. There's a good reason Hamtramck was recently named Michigan's
most walkable city. You can get anywhere within its two square miles on foot.
Mesnica Mini Market, 2321 Caniff, 313-365-4239
Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Bosnian market selling Eastern European staples, homemade breads, pizza, burek and more. Small butcher counter and frozen selections.
Stan’s Grocery, 11325 Jos Campau, 313-365-1165
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Polish grocery store carrying fresh baked goods, prepared foods, deli counter, small beer and wine selection.
Euro Mini Mart, 11415 Jos Campau, 313-365-1371
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sundays closed.
Albanian market with a small produce selection, dry goods, beer and wine. The real attraction here is the owner’s homemade baked goods- burek, bread, baklava apple pie, and even homemade yogurt, at prices you won’t believe.
American European Market, 11916 Jos. Campau, 313-336-2740
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Variety of Eastern European foods with some Mediterranean mixed in. They also carry homemade burek and bread.
Discount Fish Market, 12195 Jos Campau, 313-365-1111
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
Keeping it simple, the sign on the door just says "Fish." They sell a variety of fresh fish (whole and filleted) and shrimp that you can take home or have them prepare, as well as chicken and southern-style side dishes.
Meghna Grocery Store, 3301 Carpenter, 313-368-6355
Hours: 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. daily
Cramped but friendly Bengali market. Not much produce, but good selection of dry goods, spices, boxed mixes and frozen foods. Instead of Trader Joe’s frozen mini quiches at your next cocktail party, stock up here on frozen samosas and other treats.
Bishr Poultry & Food Center 12300 Conant, 313-892-1020
Hours: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Arabic market with a large selection of dry goods, bulk legumes and spices. Specializing in chickens slaughtered on site; prepared hot food bar with rotisserie and fried chicken and side dishes.
Marhaba Bazar 12151 Conant, 313-369-8888
Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
Bengali market notable for being the cleanest and friendliest we visited. Produce, dry goods and small refrigerated section. Owners are happy to assist and explain how traditional foods are prepared.
Bengal Spices, 11645 Conant, 313-366-9760
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
One of the first Bengali markets in Hamtramck, open since 1987. Mostly dry goods and spices; they also offer live poultry and fish in the back.
Holbrook Market, 3201 Holbrook, 313-972-8001
Hours: 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily
Clean, well-stocked Arabic grocery with a nice produce selection, bulk foods, olive bar and meat counter. Adventurous carnivores can pick up lamb kidneys, liver and the like.
Hera Fish Market, 3011 Holbrook, 313-875-2799
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
Bangladeshi grocery store specializing in fresh fish fried on the spot, with a $3.99 lunch special.
Srodek's, 9601 Jos. Campau, 313-871-8080
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Open Sundays for Christmas & Easter only.
Specializing in sausages, but they carry a wide selection (probably the best in town) of homemade Polish foods. Good beer choices too. Look for Srodek’s in an upcoming episode of Bizarre Foods.
Polish Market, 10200 Jos Campau, 313-873-6110
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Full-service Polish grocery store with deli, bakery, meat counter and large selection of Polish and European products.
Al Haramain International Foods 3306 Caniff, 313-870-9748
Hours: 7 a.m.-midnight daily
Yemeni grocery with large selection of Middle Eastern & Mediterranean produce and specialty foods, olive bar, butcher counter. Best bet for early morning or late night shopping.
Bozek's, 3317 Caniff, 313-369-0600
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Recently renovated Polish grocery store with deli counter, many prepared foods (hot and cold), and a huge walk-in meat cooler.
Food writer Noelle Lothamer pens the food blog Simmer Down!
All photographs ©
Marvin Shaouni Photography
Contact Marvin
here.