The good people of Motor City have spoken! The voting in this year’s Best of Fooda Detroit awards was intense, with Detroiters fiercely advocating for their favorite local eateries. The final round of voting included soul food restaurants, burger joints, taco places, and brunch spots, but in the final tally it became clear that Fooda’s voters were mostly craving Mediterranean. Let’s take a look at this year’s winners.

Popup Awards

Best Popup Entree of 2023 – Chicken Shawarma from La Marsa

lamarsacuisine.com

This savory delight starts with perfectly marinated dark-meat chicken, slow-roasted on a skewer until it’s ready to be shaved off and served. The resulting dish is as aromatically intoxicating as it is deliciously juicy. Add a healthy portion of one of La Marsa’s signature sides, like their rice pilaf with almond, and you have a meal that feels both indulgent and satisfying. Is it any wonder that this single dish earned more than a third of this year’s votes?

Runner Up: Beef Tacos from Gridiron Taco

Best Customer Service – La Marsa

lamarsacuisine.com

Creating a welcoming customer experience has been a core value at La Marsa from the very start. Founded 2006, the restaurant’s original vision was to serve an authentic menu of healthy and flavorful Mediterranean dishes in an atmosphere steeped in hospitality. Today, La Marsa has expanded from a single restaurant to a regional chain with multiple Detroit-area locations and a thriving catering business. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is their dedication to providing customers with an exceptional dining experience. Perhaps this is why nearly half of Fooda’s customers cast their votes for La Marsa in the Best Customer Service category.

Runner Up: Soul 4 Real

Most Likely To Visit Outside Of Work – Dhaba Indian Kitchen

dhabaindiankitchen.com

An iconic part of India’s culinary culture, “dhabas” are walk-up restaurants typically found near gas stations and other high-traffic areas. Originally located inside a BP gas station in Northville, Dhaba Indian Kitchen borrows from this tradition by offering a menu of regional delicacies from the Punjab region. These are classic Northern Indian dishes, from butter chicken to lamb vindaloo, each prepared from fresh, high-quality ingredients flavored with hand-ground Indian spices. It’s as close to a traditional dhaba experience as you can find in Detroit, with each order prepared by Punjabi chefs with over 50 years of combined experience. Just don’t expect a sit-down meal, as Dhaba Indian Kitchen’s menu is carryout and delivery only.

Runner Up: Sunday’s Best – The Brunch Spot & Broasted Brothers Chicken (Tie)

Best Overall Popup – La Marsa

lamarsacuisine.com

The staff at La Marsa knows that it takes more than a few great dishes and some takeout containers to create a crowd-pleasing workplace popup experience. It takes an outstanding kitchen crew, dedicated to providing every customer with delicious dishes bursting with mouth-watering flavors. It also takes a team of friendly servers who understand how to bring a little Mediterranean hospitality to every location they visit. They know that every happy popup customer is a potential restaurant patron, which is a meaningful consideration for a chain with nine Detroit-area locations. Fooda’s customers clearly appreciate La Marsa’s thoughtful and delicious approach.

Runner Up: Gridiron Taco