8 Spots to Get Your Birria Fix in Metro Detroit

Stop by one of these taquerias and food trucks for the traditional Mexican dish.
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Birria tacos from Que Pasa Taqueria. // Photo courtesy of Que Pasa Taqueria.

Birria, a traditional stew usually made from goat — but also beef, chicken, and other meats — from the Mexican state of Jalisco, has found its way into tacos, quesadillas, and even ramen. Here are a few spots around town to satisfy your cravings.

Antojitos Southwest

This food truck parked at Bagley and Wabash in Southwest Detroit has a brief menu, but it boasts plenty of flavor in the form of quesabirrias (corn tortilla, birria meat, cheese, spicy salsa, onions, cilantro and lime), birria ramen (ramen, birria meat, consommé broth, cabbage, and limes, and asada fries (fries, steak, melted cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole and sour cream). It’s only open Saturdays and Sundays. Antojitos Southwest, 2100 Bagley St., Detroit; 313-854-5239; facebook.com/AntojitosSouthwest.

Burrito King

With a name like Burrito King and a menu that spans a whopping 10 pages, it’s easy to miss the birria here. Try the Caldo de Birria made with beef and lamb or tacos, which features a mixture of beef and goat. Burrito King, 30950 Beck Road, Novi; 248-960-6566; burritokingnovi.biz.

Catrina Mia

This food truck is 100% halal and generally located in Dearborn Heights. Enjoy birria in taco, quesadilla, torta, burrito, or pizza form. Catrina Mia,  6425 N. Telegraph Road, Dearborn Heights; 313-939-6888.

Detroit Loves Tacos

Inspired by their upbringing in Southwest Detroit and family recipes from Guanajuato, Mexico, Julie and Jason Stevens created Detroit Loves Tacos, which specializes in Mexican comfort food and healthy vegan options. Their birria — made with chicken or beef — is one of the options for their taco dinner, which comes with rice and beans, cheese, and consommé. Detroit Loves Tacos, 1444 W. Fort St., Detroit (inside Happy Liquor Store); 313-209-2398; detroitlovestacos.com.

La Jalisciense

Stock up on groceries and feast on a massive bowl of birria made with marinated beef and peppers or birria tacos at this family-owned market and taqueria. La Jalisciense, 3923 Vernor Hwy., Detroit; 313-551-0522; lajalisciensedetroit.com.

La Palapa del Parian

The wife-and-husband team hails from Jalisco, where birria originated, so the dish is well represented on the menu, from birria tacos to birria stew. La Palapa del Parian1633 Lawndale St., Detroit; 313-749-7143; facebook.com/LaPalapaDelParian.

Mezcal

The birria at this Ferndale hot spot is made with beef. Make sure to get at least three tacos (many of the tacos are available a la carte) in order to get the consommé, a crucial part of the birria taco experience. The classic Mexican cocktails with a modern twist (and made with mezcal, naturally, or tequila) are the perfect pairing. Mezcal201 E. Nine Mile Road, Ferndale; 248-268-3915; mezcalferndale.com.

Que Pasa Taqueria

This family-owned restaurant has an expansive menu of staples like tortas, burritos, and quesadillas, but the real draw is the birria. Que Pasa offers birria tacos, Birria with Consomé and Birria Noodles — ramen and birria topped with green onions and cilantro. Que Pasa Taqueria, 33874 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; 586-693-5045; taqueriaquepasa.com.

This post has been updated for 2023.