I really do enjoy most of the food available in US restaurants. I like burgers, I like Detroit-style deep dish pizza, and I even catch myself eating a Costco hot dog every once in a while. But even with the infinite choices of restaurants and convenient food, I still find myself missing Germany’s number one fast food: the Döner Kebab.

What is a Döner, anyway?

A Döner, in its most common form, consists of seasoned ground meat (with some binders and spices) grilled on a vertical rotisserie, thinly sliced, and tucked into a flatbread. Much like the experience at a Subway, you then choose your fresh toppings from little trays right in front of you. The first time this meal was recorded in its modern sandwich form was in 1972 in Berlin, when Kadir Nurman served the first Döner sandwich.

Why is German Döner Kebab So Hard to Find in Michigan?

“Einmal Döner mit allem, bitte!”—which means “One Döner with everything, please”—including the chili flakes. I miss saying those words. I also miss Döner Pizza, Yufka Döner, Lahmacun, and all the wonderful things Turkish immigrants brought to Germany—even to my little hometown, Weilheim an der Teck. Unfortunately for me, there aren’t many Turkish people living in Michigan, which makes it hard to even find a Döner!

However, I didn’t find just one, or even two—I found three places in the Detroit area where you can find a Döner. Here is my breakdown of Cork & Gabel, Supergeil, and the Balkan House.

1. Cork and Gabel: A Fancy Twist on a Street Food Classic

This restaurant made the list by coincidence. Ali and I were planning to get a Döner at Supergeil, but they were undergoing renovations at the time. We decided to head to Cork & Gabel, which is located just across the street, in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood.

The entrance welcomes guests through a massive steel tank, and once inside, you are greeted by a rustic, industrial aesthetic with a large bar in the middle. It feels both fancy and cozy. While scanning the menu, we were surprised to see a Döner listed. Since we were already in town for exactly that, we placed our order.

The Verdict: The Döner here is pulled lamb shank meat served on pita bread with fries. All in all, it’s a very good meal. But is it a good Döner? That depends! To me, a Döner is generally not something you’d eat in a “nice” restaurant, so the vibe already felt slightly off. The meal itself is probably ten times higher quality than your average German Döner, but it just wasn’t “it.” It reminded me more of a Pita Gyro. While the spices were good, they didn’t trigger my nostalgia.

• Overall Experience: 5/5
• Döner Authenticity: 3/5
• Pro-Tip: They have a great selection of German beers—another pleasant surprise!

corkandgabel.com – 2415 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

2. Supergeil: The Hip Berlin Vibe

Only two weeks after our surprise Döner encounter, we finally made it to Supergeil. Located in Corktown, this restaurant leans into the “hip” Berlin aesthetic. Their menu is unique—neither strictly German, American, nor Turkish, but rather a fusion influenced by all three. The interior is a mixture of industrial design and art.

The Verdict: Their Döner meat is a mixture of lamb and beef. It is served in a flatbread and comes in the typical square paper wrap. The taste is great and certainly triggers memories of Döner in Germany. The quality of the meat is excellent, and the “Scharf” (spicy sauce) has a real kick!

However, the presentation isn’t quite at 100% yet—the meat was buried a bit too deep under all the “healthy stuff.” At $17, it is also the most expensive Döner on this list.

• Döner Taste: 4/5
• Döner Experience: 3.5/5 (The place feels a bit too “artisan cocktail bar” for a street food staple).
• Overall Place: 5/5 Google Stars.

supergeildetroit.com – 2442 Michigan Ave, Detroit, MI 48216

3. The Balkan House: The Closest You’ll Get in Metro Detroit

Last but not least is the Balkan House. Located in Ferndale’s vibrant downtown area, the Balkan House offers Balkan specialties and Döner Kebab. Unlike the other two, the focus here is strictly on the food rather than the “nice restaurant” ambiance.

On a search for Döner in the Detroit Metro area, this place is usually the first result. It was for me, too, which is why it was the first Döner I ever tried in the US.

The Verdict: The Balkan House business seems to be mostly carryout. I was sitting alone at a black table with expectations close to zero. Once the Döner arrived, I was relieved: it looked and smelled exactly like a German Döner. Even the taste hit the nail on the head.

The only caveats are the preparation and the bread. I didn’t see a rotisserie grill, nor did I see the Subway-style bar with fresh ingredients and sauces. We could debate the bread choice, but since there are huge regional differences in bread even within Germany, I won’t be too nitpicky.

• Döner Taste: 4.5/5
• Döner Experience: 4.5/5 (Losing half a point only for the missing rotisserie).

thebalkanhouse.com – 314 W Nine Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI 48220

Summary: Which Michigan Doner should you visit?

All three restaurants have their place and provide a great experience, but only one truly captures the essence of a German Döner joint: The Balkan House. They aren’t “perfect,” but they focus on the fast, convenient nature of the Döner rather than a fine-dining experience.

I highly recommend trying them for yourself! Or, do what I do: go to Cork & Gabel for the beer, Supergeil for the cocktails, and get your Döner from the Balkan House.

How did you like this little Essay about my quest of finding proper Doener in the Detroit Metro? Let me know in the comments, and make sure you’ll check the subscribe box. You can also find my opinion of German restaurants in the metro here. Every of my birding posts comes with some restaurant recommendation as well, so if you’re not here for the birds, just scroll down for the bites. 🥨🦉

Reflections on Heritage, Red-winged Blackbirds, and the Secret to Authentic Goulash

Celebrating a German birthday in Michigan is a mix of old traditions and new discoveries. From cooking a massive pot of authentic beef goulash to spotting my first Red-winged Blackbird, this 40th birthday marks a major milestone.

When you read this, I will probably be in Kentucky to celebrate concluding forty years on this planet I call home. I will post a detailed report about that trip later, but for now, I want to look back.

While forty years is a lot of life, the past four years have definitely been the most life-changing. I landed in Detroit in February 2022; the original plan was to be here as an expat for only two years. Now, in 2026, I am still here—and quite a few things have changed!

Discovering Michigan Birding: The Red-winged Blackbird

After walking “blind” through my first year in Michigan, being rather stunned by everything being so new, I discovered those black birds with the bright red wingtips. My curiosity took over, and I Googled what they were. I became a birder that very day! There is a reason my “About” page features a huge Red-winged Blackbird.

Finding My “Person”

The other life-changing event happened a bit later: I met my now-fiancé, Ali. Coincidentally, she also liked birds (not as obsessively as me, but close enough). We also discovered we have plenty of other things in common, like our taste in music, a shared wanderlust, and a mutual love for discovering new breweries and local food.

German vs. American Goulash: A Cultural Kitchen Shift

One of my favorite things to do for Ali is cook traditional German meals. Early on, I impressed her with my Goulash—but only after I learned what “American Goulash” actually was!

A Quick Translation: In Germany, Rindergulasch is a slow-simmered, rich gravy made with tender cubes of beef and a massive amount of onions and paprika. In Michigan, I discovered that “Goulash” often means ground beef, macaroni, and tomato sauce. Both are delicious, but they are entirely different species of comfort food!

After a few more cooking sessions, an engagement, and moving in together, I got the idea to start a recipe collection and share my birding stories. And here we are now: post number 20, published on my 40th birthday.

My Traditional Swabian Birthday Menu (Recipes Included)

Last Saturday, the 7th, I did something I really do not like: Celebrating my birthday before it actually was my birthday. But with my Kentucky trip and Ali working the weekend after, it made sense to pre-celebrate my birthday. Celebrating your birthday before the actual date is considered bad luck in Germany!

Nonetheless, I invited some people over to our house to provide them with the finest German food:

• Gulasch/Goulash: The German winter comfort food! I cooked a big pot of it the day before.
• Spaetzle as a side dish. Making them fresh when the guests were already there was part of the entertainment!
• Oreo Truffles: Ali made her famous Oreo Truffles. You must try them!
• Kaesefuesse: A German appetizer best described as savory cheese cookie.
• Baetscher: A adaptation of the Swabian Baetscher. Yeast dough, sour cream and some toppings like bacon, carraway and chives.

All recipes you can either find already here, and they are linked, or I will update them later!

The Not-birthday Birthday Celebration! Visiting the Haunted Tavern in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Celebration itself was calm, we had some drinks and everybody was enjoying the food. I wish I could have celebrated with all my friends and family from Germany as well! But we will make up for that soon in April and May when we will be visiting Germany for the next time!

Now one last ask for my birthday: Please subscribe to my mailing list 🙂 🥨🦉

As a German living in the US, I often crave the taste of my home country. Unfortunately, German restaurants are not as widespread as your local pizza place, Irish pub, or American chain restaurant. In the Detroit metro area, the mainstays are Jacoby’s in downtown Detroit, Bierkeller in Taylor, and the Dakota Inn Rathskeller, located between 6 and 7 Mile in Detroit.

All of these places claim to provide an authentic German kitchen, and if you read their reviews, most customers seem to agree. But are they really authentic in the eyes of a German in the 21st century? The answer is quite clear: Yes and no!

On one hand, they usually offer a great variety of German beers, different kinds of Schnitzel, potato pancakes on the menu, and even handmade Spätzle—not to forget the classic Sauerkraut with brats. So far, so authentic.

However, this is not the Germany of the 21st century. German cuisine has developed much further. Long ago, fries replaced Spätzle or mashed potatoes as the most common side dish in day-to-day dining. In Germany, you would rarely find potato pancakes served as a side dish for meat, and you certainly will not find the over-usage of Sauerkraut that seems to accompany everything here. Interestingly, the beer menus of most modern restaurants in Germany actually lack the sheer number of choices found in these American-German establishments.

I see Jacoby’s and the Dakota Inn more like time capsules, preserving the idea of a German restaurant from a different era. The interiors can feel cheesy or out of date, the food is Americanized and lacks modern German variety, and the beer selections often stay confined to the few major brands owned and imported through conglomerates like AB InBev.

The Dakota Inn: A 1930s Living Museum

This brings me to the Dakota Inn Rathskeller in Detroit. It is a legendary spot that recently underwent a change in ownership, which always makes a regular customer a bit nervous. Luckily, that was not me; I only learned about the Dakota Inn and its rich history after it reopened under new management.

The interior is literally a time capsule of the 1930s, when its founder, Karl Kurz, was renovating the place. The wall panels are hand-painted with German scenes and themes from Karl’s childhood. The staff in the main dining area wears traditional Southern German clothing, and the restrooms seem not to have been renovated since the restaurant opened.

The food has some solid choices like Schnitzel, brats, and Sauerbraten (which has very little to do with the German version of the dish), but it lacks modern-day German cuisine. I would love to see meals like Currywurst with fries and a curry-tomato sauce, or Maultaschen (Swabian ravioli) with some mayo-free potato salad.

One of my highlights is their Rathskeller. Under old ownership, the basement of the restaurant served as a rentable event space and the meeting point of the “Just Right Club”—a club for the most loyal patrons. With the new owners, the basement received some updates and was made available to the public as a German wine and beer bar. You will find a beer fridge with all kinds of German beers, as well as a large shelf full of German wine. The atmosphere invites you to just hang out!

What makes the Dakota Inn truly unique, though, is the sing-along. That communal atmosphere of people banging on tables and singing together is something that is actually very German, even if the food on the plate has been adjusted for American palates. It captures the Gemütlichkeit (coziness/socializing) that many other places miss by focusing only on the kitsch.

After this Dakota Inn deep dive I also want to give a really brief overview over the other places I mentioned in my intro.

Bierkeller: The modern take!

Bierkeller in Taylor connects modern day American bar with German cuisine. They offer a wide variety of German beers in different sizes (up to a liter!). The cheapest Schnitzel and beer prices of all three places!

Jacoby’s: Detroit’s oldest Biergarten

Little warning upfront: There is no Biergarten here. Maybe, at some point in the late 1800s when Jacoby’s was first a thing, there was one. Now it is a very kitschy small restaurant in the heart of Detroit. You’ll find a lot of German classics and beers on their menu, mixed with modern American food. I highly recommend combining a little birding trip to Belle Isle with a follow-up visit at Jacoby’s!

The Verdict: Why Being “Inauthentic” is its Own Kind of Real

To return to my earlier question: Are these places “authentic”? No, not really from my modern-day German perspective, but that is only secondary. They are authentic for what an American looks for in a German restaurant.

If you were to ask me what they could do better, I would probably say not a whole lot. But one thing I would appreciate is a bit more bravery in the kitchen. There is such a wide variety of German foods that they could try. It does not always have to be brats with Sauerkraut.

The Dakota Inn and its neighbors are precious because they keep the spirit of Detroit’s German history alive. Even if I have to go home and make my own Fleischküchle to get the taste I grew up with, I’m glad these places still have their doors open and their beer cold.

What do you think? Have you visited the Dakota Inn since the ownership change? Let me know in the comments!

I also went out to find some Döner Kebab here in the Detroit Metro. How successful I was you will find out here.

Hello everyone, and a warm welcome. This is going to be my little project for this year and maybe even beyond. You will find recipes, food, and birding/travel stuff, and somehow I might manage to connect them.

I will have a monthly update starting on my 40th birthday February 13th. Be sure to join before!

For the start I uploaded some recipes for you:

• The Swabian Potato Salad
• Snack Snails
• Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Avgolemono Soup

And also two short trip reports:

• On the not-so-successful hunt for Snowy Owls in the cold of Southeast Michigan
• Summer Shorebirds: A Trip to Pointe Mouillee State Game Area

And if you just want to read a little about my motivation you can do that here.

If you like it, stick around for a while. I plan on posting weekly.

PS: I know, I couldn’t come up with a more silly name.