Vecino
Restaurant · Midtown ·
Open-flame Mexican eatery with masa program, wine & cocktails
Open-flame Mexican eatery with masa program, wine & cocktails
"Bringing Mexico City’s cosmopolitan spirit to Detroit’s historic Midtown, Vecino — opened in 2024 by Adriana Jimenez — hand-presses tortillas from heirloom Oaxacan blue and yellow corn using nixtamalization and serves signature dishes such as duck enchiladas with salsa verde and Oaxacan cheese, a carrot tinga tetela with crema fresca, and lamb barbacoa cooked over open fire." - Wendy Pramik
"In Detroit Vecino reflects what Adriana Jimenez calls Mexico City’s incredible creativity and approach to food — its chef, Edgar Torres, was born and raised in CDMX — and the restaurant leans visually into raw concrete, brick, and wood for a textured, slightly industrial feel reminiscent of Roma and Juárez while offering dishes such as sikil pak (a Mayan pepita salsa) and huaraches made with lamb shank; Jimenez emphasizes that CDMX mixes Mexican traditions with global influences and celebrates the joy of eating and sharing." - Jaya Saxena
"For when you want to love Mexicanly, the Eater Award-winning Vecino aims to showcase a fuller expression of Mexican cuisine beyond street food with a focus on painstaking technique and creativity. A trio of chefs, Edgar Torres, Maria Rivera Negron, and Rosa Montalvo, lead a kitchen team to work over an open hearth, harnessing the open flame for the menu. Expect crisp tostadas topped with buttery tuna accented with chipotle aioli and tempered with avocado; a masa section featuring quesadillas made with blue and white corn and filled with Oaxacan quesillo, epazote, and maitake mushrooms. Entrees del fuego include a whole fish in salsa roja and salsa verde. The bar boasts an impressive agave spirit and Mexican wine selection. The salsas, particularly the salsa macha, are worth ordering. Be on the lookout for specials, including a Wagyu steak set that provides the ideal showcase for the flour and corn tortillas. Reservations are available on Resy." - Serena Maria Daniels
"Sporting Detroit’s first heirloom nixtamal program in a restaurant setting, the Eater Award-winning Vecino aims to showcase a fuller expression of Mexican cuisine beyond street food with a focus on painstaking technique and creativity. A team of chefs currently helms the kitchen: executive chef Edgar Torres as executive chef, and co-sous chefs Maria Rivera Negron and Rosa Montalvo. The crew works over an open hearth. Expect crisp tostadas topped with buttery tuna accented with chipotle aioli and tempered with avocado; a masa section featuring quesadillas made with blue and white corn and filled with Oaxacan quesillo, epazote, and maitake mushrooms. Entrees del fuego include a whole fish in salsa roja and salsa verde. The bar boasts an impressive agave spirit and Mexican wine selection. The salsas, particularly the salsa macha, are worth ordering. Be on the lookout for specials, including a wagyu steak set that provides the ideal showcase for the flour and corn tortillas. Reservations are available on Resy, and walk-ins are also welcome." - Serena Maria Daniels
"Sporting Detroit’s first heirloom nixtamal program in a restaurant setting, the Eater Award-winning Vecino aims to showcase a fuller expression of Mexican cuisine beyond street food with a focus on painstaking technique and creativity. A team of chefs currently helm the kitchen: Edgar Torres as executive chef, and co-sous chefs, Maria Rivera Negron and Rosa Montalvo, who previously worked as chef de cuisine at Puma. The crew works over an open hearth, harnessing the open flame for its menu. Expect crisp tostadas topped with buttery tuna accented with chipotle aioli and tempered with avocado; a masa section featuring quesadillas made with blue and white corn and filled with Oaxacan quesillo, epazote, and maitake mushrooms. Entrees del fuego include a whole fish in salsa roja and salsa verde. The bar boasts an impressive agave spirit and Mexican wine selection. The salsas, particularly the salsa macha, are worth ordering. Be on the lookout for specials, including a Wagyu steak set that provides the ideal showcase for the flour and corn tortillas. Reservations are available on Resy. Must-try dish: The tlyudas here, with a crispy housemade blue corn tostada, topped with savory layers of sirloin, chorizo, beans, fresh greens, and quesillo, offer Detroiters a taste of Oaxaca." - Serena Maria Daniels