[HOT LIST] Corned beef sandwiches

Hygrade Deli, Detroit (via Facebook)

Detroit is corned beef country. From Sy Ginsberg to Wigley's to Grobbel's, from the Dinty Moore to the Reuben, you want corned beef – the brined brisket of the gods – you got it, kid. There are many places to buy it and plenty of ways to eat it; let's start off with five great places for a sandwich, right now.

#1 Hygrade Detroit

Kick it way old school at this V-is-for-very-and-vintage Michigan Avenue coffee shop, located just around the way from the United plant, home of the Sy Ginsberg label. (Sy Ginsberg corned beef is, of course, served.) Get the "meal" sandwich – corned beef, swiss, coleslaw and dressing -- on an onion roll. The pickles come from Detroit's own Topor's, also in the 'hood. Tell Stuart hey (3640 Michigan Ave.).

#2 Louie's Ham and Corned Beef Detroit

Where do you get corned beef in Eastern Market, home to Wigley's and Grobbel's? You get it everydamnwhere. Or so it seems. And while we're inclined to be creatures of habit and run straight for Russell Street Deli, lately it's Louie's, out on the topside of the 'hood, that's calling our names (3570 Riopelle @ Mack).

#3 Stage Deli West Bloomfield
A legacy that began in Oak Park fifty or so years ago lives on in this OaCo staple, where you can order wines by the glass with your big ass platters and sandwiches. This place feels like like those famous New York delis, complete with luck-of-the-draw service, but much cleaner. Also, fewer European tourists (6873 Orchard Lake Road). (Read more about the Stage in a Metromode article Nicole wrote back in 2009.)

#4 Mudgie's Detroit

It's almost all sandwiches, almost all the time at Greg Mudge's chill spot on a sleepy Corktown corner. Dig the Barrett sandwich – meat (Sy Ginsberg in the hizzouse), house made coleslaw, swiss and thousand island on an onion roll, served warm. A Downtown expansion is in the works (1300 Porter St.).

#5 Star Deli Southfield
One of Detroit's more illustrious contributions to American cuisine has been the Dinty Moore sandwich, a layer cake-style stack job of meat, cheese, coleslaw, lettuce, tomato and dressing with some bread in there, somewhere. At this firm Southfield fave, it comes triple deckered, on white toast (24555 West 12 Mile). 

Bubbling under Jimmy Dee's (Clinton Twp.), Russell Street Deli (Detroit), Avalon Bakery (Detroit), Onion Roll (Royal Oak), Lou's (Detroit / Southfield), Steve's (Bloomfield Hills), Bread Basket (Livonia), Zingerman's (Ann Arbor)

How the list works Each week, Eat it Detroit chooses a different category (if you can eat it or drink it, it's in the mix) and conducts a search for the best in class, beginning at our Downtown Detroit HQ and working our way outward until we're happy (and / or full). Got a suggestion for a future hot list? Shoot a note to info (at) eatitdetroit (dot) com.