Metro Detroit: Clarkston’s Honcho
This week our adventure takes us back to Clarkston to Honchos. Honcho’s is a Latin street food inspired restaurant and coffee house. It is part of the “Union Joints” which started in 1995 when they opened their first place, The Clarkston Union. Today, they have expanded and are behind The Fenton Fire Hall, Union Rec in Ann Arbor, Vincetta’s Garage in Royal Oak and Union Assembly and Mom’s Spaghetti in Downtown Detroit to name a few.
We (more like I) have been on birria kick for the last year. It started when we found the Antojitos Southwest food truck in Detroit that serves only birria. Since then, we have been trying to find the best birria around. So when we see a place that has it on their menu, we want to get there to try it.
If you are not familiar with birria, it is a slowly braised or roasted beef used in Mexican cooking. It is usually served with the rich and delicious braising broth or consommé for dipping. Birria’s origin goes back to Jalisco Mexico, where goat meat was stewed with peppers and spices, Guajillo peppers are key here, they give the bright red color to the broth. We are not here to talk just about birria, that will be a blog for another day.
This was not our first trip to Honchos. They have been around for around 7 years and we are huge fans of anything the Union Joints are involved in. The restaurant is an old service station, which combined 2 separate garages to form the restaurant and coffee house. One side has the bar and coffee shop, with dining tables, and the other side has a bar that overlooks the open kitchen which is where we have sat the times we have been there. The atmosphere is fun and exciting and the people who work there are polite and welcoming. The service has always been great!
Their menu is kind of what you would expect from a Latin or Mexican restaurant: tacos, burritos, nachos etc. However, they also have cappuccinos, lattes and fresh made doughnuts. Their choice of fillings for tacos and burritos range much further than beef or chicken, with choices like Korean pork tacos, brussels sprouts or battered cod burrito.
They have a guacamole that is made with avocado and English peas for a unique flavor and texture. While it may not be for everyone, we found it to be quite delicious. Their burritos look fantastic as well. They are crusted in cheese, and like most their entrees, they are served with Jasmine rice and black beans.
Of course, as with all the Union Joints, they have their signature Union Mac & Cheese on the menu. It is what they are known for so…Why not!
While we haven’t tried everything on the menu, we have tried a good sampling. A couple of favorites are their birria taquitos, Fuego flight of salsas with chips. Next time back, we have to try their Salchipapas, which are hand cut fries topped with a Union Woodshop hot link sausage, jack cheese and Peruvian chili sauce and a sunny side up egg. Sounds kind of like a Latin poutine to me. The Honcho Nacho also looks fantastic with Detroit 313 tortilla chips, jack cheese, pickled chili peppers tomato, onion and chili sauce.
And if you have room for coffee or desert, check out the coffee shop.
Honcho is located at 3 Church Street in downtown Clarkston. The coffee shop hours are M-Th 7AM-9PM, F 7AM-10PM, Sat & Sun 9AM-9PM. The restaurant hours are Sun-Thur 12PM-9PM, Fri-Sat 12PM-10PM
Until next time . . . live well, eat well and enjoy life!
-Keith & Teresa Becker