24 Hour Restaurants in the Detroit Area

Imagine it. You have a craving for food, and it's late. You don't want to drag out the pots and pans to satisfy the ache in your stomach. Maybe you've been partying, and too much alcohol means you need something rich and greasy. Not only that, you want something fast! Now, what do you do?

You could be unimaginative and try to find a fast food joint that's open all night. Many McDonald's, Taco Bells, Burger Kings, Wendy's and White Castles keep their drive through windows open 24/7 just to hopefully snag a customer with a craving like yours. In case you want a little more than an over-processed sandwich in a bag, you might want to consider these options in the Detroit metro area:

1. National Coney Island, 1812 N Main Street, Royal Oak, 48073 (248.398.6111) This restaurant has consistently good food, at prices that won't break the bank. You can also dine inside, which is a plus. Along with the normal coney/diner food, National offers a buffalo burger that is a good alternative to their greasy hamburger. Just don't ask for it "medium" because you'll get it well-done.

2. Lafayette Coney Island, 118 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, 48226 (313.964.8198) This restaurant is a landmark coney island in the Detroit area. All other coneys wish they could die and be reincarnated as a Layfayette. This restaurant attracts those who attend late night hockey games at the Joe Louis Arena, as well as the after bar crowd.

3. Ram's Horn of Troy, 2940 Rochester Road, Troy, 48083 (248.528.1620) This family diner is also open all night. Ram's Horn is a great place if you're craving breakfast food. The coffee flows freely here, and you might need it if you're up at 3 a.m.

4. Telway Hamburger System, 27000 John R, Madison Heights, 48071 (248.545.7962) This is the formal name of Telway, the little hamburger stand at the corner of John R and 11 Mile Road. I don't think this little spit of a restaurant seats four people, but you can always get your order to go. I think of Telway as a glorified White Castle.

5. Plaka Café, 535 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226 (313.962.4687) Located in Greektown, Plaka is close to the Greektown casino and the bars in the area. There are mixed reviews of the restaurant. However, I would cut the place some slack. If you're looking for a quick bite late at night, you're just looking for quantity, not quality.

6. Java Hutt II, 207 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 49009 (248.642.7569) This popular Birmingham coffee spot is open 24/7 to fulfill your caffeine cravings. It's near enough to the Birmingham nightspots that you can walk. There are also some food items available.

7. Leo's Coney Island, 110 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067 (248.336.8093) Leo, who has propagated his coney islands so that now there's one on almost every street corner, offers the 24-hour location in downtown Royal Oak. With the growing club and bar scene in the city, Leo's gets pretty busy once the bars close down. The breakfast food definitely gets high marks.