Antihero is the Unique Space We've Been Hoping For Without All the Bullshit

Photo from Antihero's Facebook page

Six years ago, the Working Class Outlaws brought So-Cal style tacos and well mixed margaritas to Ferndale with Imperial. A few years later, they expanded their empire and opened Public House, a comfort food restaurant with a twist. Now, after a long rocky four year road with a lot of obstacles, they opened up a third restaurant last week called Antihero. This laid back or Izakaya style space features Japanese and Korean comfort food with an eclectic menu that showcases a variety of options, including those that cater to raw, vegan, and vegetarian diets. With the opening of their third location, the Outlaws have proven that they can flawlessly execute any concept that they take on.

Antihero cooks up unique Asian inspired cuisine that's somehow more approachable then many of the spaces that have tried to take on this type of concept in the past. They push things to the limit and mix a lot of interesting flavors together, but they do it in a way that welcomes every palette to give it a try. Their menu features noodles, dumplings, and rice buns, alongside single order skewers that you can cook over a personal hibachi right at your table. Everything on their menu is meant to be shared and the portions and prices line up very nicely. It is easy to get enough food to feed any size group without breaking the bank!

 

The head chef, Nick Erven, recently relocated to Detroit to help create the menu and open the space. His influence and talent was vital to getting this project off the ground. His background in vegan cooking and Koren BBQ helped him create a unique dining experience that is just as cool for plant based eaters as it is for more traditional diets. In fact, we would argue that the "chicken fried" tofu is the best thing on the menu, whether you're plant based or not. We liked it so much that we had to order it twice! 

Antihero is open from 4 p.m. daily. The layout is simple and the walls feature art from local artists like Glenn Barr. This is the most interesting restaurant to open in the Detroit area in a long time. The atmosphere is cool, the experience is awesome, and the food is on point. At the end of the day, you can have the hippest place in town, but if you can't make a good meal you won't last. Fortunately, Antihero is a lot more than a pretty space, it's a one of a kind food based experience that we think everyone should try. Watch your hands on that hibachi stone! 

~S