By Alex DeCamp
June 2026
If you've ever asked me for a restaurant recommendation in Detroit, there's a very good chance I've told you to go to Takoi.
Located on the edge of Corktown on Michigan Avenue, Takoi has been one of my favorite restaurants in the city for nearly a decade. Longtime Detroit food lovers may remember that it originally opened as Katoi before a fire forced the restaurant to close. When it reopened, it became Takoi, and somehow came back even stronger. The restaurant first opened in 2016 and reopened as Takoi in 2017 after rebuilding from the fire. (Takoi)
What I love most about Takoi is that it represents a period when Detroit's food scene was really starting to get national attention. The space itself is unforgettable. Housed in a former auto-related building, it has this industrial, energetic vibe that feels uniquely Detroit while still transporting you somewhere else entirely.
Chef-owner Brad Greenhill and his team have built something special here. Over the years, I've gotten to know some of the people behind the restaurant, and they're just as impressive as the food.
In fact, a group of friends and I loved Takoi so much that we had a standing Thursday night reservation for years. Every week we'd show up and order many of the same dishes because they were just that good.
What I Order Every Time
Som Tum Thai (Papaya Salad)
If you're going to Takoi for the first time, start here.
The Som Tum Thai is one of my favorite dishes in Detroit. They offer a vegan version, but I personally prefer it with the traditional fish sauce. The flavors are bright, spicy, salty, and addictive.
My biggest piece of advice? Order the sticky rice with it.
Take some sticky rice and scoop up that dressing and all those flavors. It's one of those bites that immediately reminds me why I keep coming back.
Crispy Ribs
Years ago, I could put away an entire order myself.
Today? Maybe one or two ribs before my body reminds me I'm not 35 anymore.
But they're still incredible.
They're crispy, rich, packed with flavor, and absolutely must be eaten the moment they hit the table. If they cool down, they're still good. Hot, they're legendary.
Khao Soi
There are certain dishes where the flavor gets stuck in your memory.
For me, Takoi's Khao Soi is one of those dishes.
The combination of curry, spice, richness, and texture creates something I find myself craving months later.
Fried Chicken
I don't think it's always on the menu, but when it is, I'm ordering it.
Every single time.
Enough said.
Don't Skip the Cocktails
My go-to drink is the Promises in Vortex.
For years I thought it was some wildly original cocktail that only existed at Takoi. One night I was at another bar and told the bartender I doubted he could make my favorite drink.
"Try me," he said.
"It's called a Promises in Vortex."
He immediately replied, "Oh, you mean a smoky spicy margarita?"
Apparently that's basically what it is.
I was a little disappointed to learn it wasn't some secret Detroit invention, but honestly, I don't care. Takoi's version is still my favorite. It's so popular that they eventually started serving it on tap.
More Than Just a Restaurant
Some of my favorite memories in Detroit have happened at Takoi.
I've celebrated birthdays there.
I've taken countless out-of-town friends there.
I've recommended it to visitors more times than I can count.
One of my close friends even rented out the restaurant for their wedding.
That's the thing about great restaurants. Eventually they become part of your story.
Takoi has become part of mine.
A Few Tips Before You Go
-
Make a reservation.
-
Seriously, make a reservation.
-
Weekend prime-time tables can disappear quickly. Reservations are available directly through Takoi's reservation system. (Takoi)
-
Expect bold flavors and dishes designed for sharing.
-
Don't be afraid of the spice.
-
Order the sticky rice.
-
Thank me later.
Detroit has a lot of great restaurants these days, but Takoi remains one of the places I recommend most often. Every city has a few restaurants that become institutions without losing what made them special in the first place.
For me, Takoi is one of those places.
Restaurant Information
Website:
Takoi Detroit
Reservations:
Reserve a Table at Takoi
Location:
Takoi