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Hunter House Serving Up Delicious Sliders Since 1952

What is the Hunter House in Birmingham‘s secret to success regarding sliders? It’s just some loving and a good seasoned grill. Hunter House Hamburgers has been in the same spot…

Birmingham's Hunter House since 1957 serving up some of the best slider hamburgers around

Birmingham’s Hunter House since 1957 serving up some of the best slider hamburgers around

Scott Randall/WCSX

What is the Hunter House in Birmingham's secret to success regarding sliders? It's just some loving and a good seasoned grill. Hunter House Hamburgers has been in the same spot on Woodward Avenue in Birmingham since 1952. Those living in the area could see life the same without their favorite burger place. This March celebrates another anniversary.

Hunter House History

Open since 1952, Hunter House Hamburgers has been named the best burgers in Michigan. I guess it's all about the delicious onions grilled in the burger. The flavor stands out. A true slider recipe that can't be beaten with the buns steamed hot. The building is a small porcelain box that has been a mainstay on Woodward Ave for more than my lifetime. Don Ellenwood, the founder, hand-dug the restaurant's foundation and operated it for many years.

Al and Martha Papazian purchased this famous burger stand in 1982 and it has stayed in the family for three generations. Now, their daughter Susan Papazian Cobb, and grandson Kelly William Cobb operate the restaurant and food trucks. The next thing we have to do is get the building on the National Register of Historic Places of the city’s inventory of historic structures.

plate of food from the Hunter House in Birmingham Michigan Hunter House Facebook

The Hunter House's famous sliders and sides

Almost Lost to The Wrecking Ball

About 5 years ago progress almost destroyed this amazing establishment. The restaurant was in the news a few years ago, with risks of it being torn down and replaced by an office building. Tearing down this establishment would be devastating to the history of not only the Hunter House family, but also the entire community. The building, thank goodness, is still there but the fight continues.

The Menu Of Detroit Style Sliders And Fries

Chad Smith Stops In To Hunter House Hamburgers

Even Will Ferrell Er I mean Chad Smith loves to stop in at Hunter House

A Birmingham tradition and for a good reason. Great burger and fries! If you're in the mood for a seasoned burger with onions. If you want to compare them to a near by "Castle Type" burger, they are not even close. Believe me, the great food lives up to the hype from a host of reviews on Yelp and Trip Advisor. Check out the menu here 

Get Ready to Eat: Restaurant Openings in the Coming Year

It’s a brand-new year, and plenty of great things are on the horizon! Whether it's something personal or local happenings in Metro Detroit there’s plenty to look forward to. This year, Detroit has many  places to check out, from eateries to bars and cafes.

Many of these places are expected to open this year. But it's worth mentioning that opening dates tend to change and aren’t always set in stone. It’s best to keep tabs on these new local spots through their websites or social media for updates.

Awesome new restaurant additions.

Looking back at last year, we saw some awesome additions to the Detroit food scene. Alpino Detroit brought a European-influenced menu, Cibo Detroit found a home in Cambria Hotel, and Nepantla brought to the area vegan Mexican food (to name a few).

Yelp gave a shoutout to some of last year’s new restaurants in Detroit. Charminar Biryani House in downtown Detroit snagged the top spot, followed by Tonini’s Woodfired Pizzeria and Tiger Thai. These places are not just “hottest,” they're the best, according to Yelp.

Supporting a local restaurant isn’t just good for them. It's also good for you too. You're likely to feel more at home in a small local place than at a big chain. Plus, local spots serve up dishes you won't find anywhere else, from local staples to some seriously creative dishes.

Additionally, when you eat or drink at a neighborhood restaurant, you're giving back to the community. Local spots create jobs and keep the money flowing right where it's needed. As a bonus, they're usually sourcing ingredients locally. Beyond these, there are numerous additional advantages, including contributing to environmental well-being and building connections with local vendors.

If you're a foodie always on the lookout for the next delicious adventure, make sure to add these upcoming five Detroit joints to your must-try list.

Dutch Girl Donuts

Dutch Girl Donuts in Detroit is gearing up for a reopening this year with new ownership. Paddy Lynch, the owner of The Schvitz bathhouse in Detroit and the third-generation head of Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, has acquired the Woodward Avenue shop. According to multiple reports, there's a strong connection between the Lynch family and Dutch Girl's previous owners, the late Gene and Lauren Timmer. Tim Lynch, Jr., Paddy's cousin, has had a longstanding relationship with the Timmer family since childhood and managed their funeral services. A spring 2024 opening is planned for the long-standing spot with the iconic blue sign at 19000 Woodward Ave.

Sexy Steak and Sexy Burger

Prime Concepts Detroit is adding a new restaurant combo to the mix at the Grand Army of the Republic Building. They're calling it Sexy Steak, and it'll focus on steaks and seafood. Also, there's another spot in the same place called Sexy Burger, taking over from the old Parks and Rec Diner. Sexy Burger will serve up burgers, chicken, pasta, and other tasty stuff. Plus, they'll have spots for private dining and events.

Ice Cream Detroit

The Ice Cream Detroit specializes in liquor-infused ice cream and sorbet. One of the shop’s signature flavors is a strawberry Faygo Red Pop sorbet with coconut rum. According to their Instagram, they are scheduled for spring of this year. If you can't wait, you can get a taste of their Virgin Ice Cream Bar inside Detroit Soul located at 14300 E. Jefferson.

Big Chicken

In August, Michigan-based restaurant operators H&D Group Investments signed a deal with Shaquille O’Neal’s fast-casual chicken chain to develop 20 locations across the state, with plans to open in Ann Arbor, Lansing, Flint, Saginaw, Mount Pleasant, and metro Detroit. Metro Times reports that the first location is planned for Clio, set to open in early 2024, with a second location announced to open in Highland in the spring.

Louisiana Creole Gumbo

The original spot in Eastern Market closed last November, Now, it’s relocating just a few blocks away to a more spacious venue. The new setup will feature a sit-down restaurant, two outdoor patios, and live entertainment. You can still visit their other two locations on Seven Mile in Detroit and on Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills. Their new location is expected to open sometime this year at 2830 Gratiot Ave.

Hunter House Still Serving Up Delicious Sliders Since 1952 What is the Hunter House in Birmingham's secret to success when it comes to sliders? Just some loving and a good seasoned grill

Born in Mt Clemens, Screamin’ Scott has been a part of the Detroit airwaves for 30-plus years. With 40 years of experience in radio. When he’s not out on the streets for WCSX, you can find him devoting time to local charities with his, “Screamin Angels”; and for 16 years with Rock 4 Tots charity. And last 10 years with his local band, "Chit!." Screamin Scott likes to write about nostalgic Detroit area memories, classic rock, and local metro Detroit topics.