Small, Hot and Steamy neighborhood favorite for over 25 years. The best breakfast....... Salmon, eggs and rice with fruit punch Kool-aid. The staff grew up serving the neighborhood and Jay refuses to leave his original building. The neighbors are glad. Love, love this place.
(5)
Kent B.
Came in here last Thursday afternoon on the recommendation of a local. Little neighborhood diner that offers soul food dinners and breakfasts. I ordered the fried perch (No smell and fried perfectly). You cant ask for a tastier piece of fish. Sides: Collard Greens and Potato Salad. Greens could have used a little more seasoning but they were tender and cooked just right. Potato Salad was surprisingly good (I make a good one myself so im always leary of restaurants making this home favorite). The place is pretty bare bones but the most important factor is the food and they do it right. Next time im in Detroit i will make a trip out west for some home cooked food at J's! **PS The service was very good too.
(4)
Vanesska H.
Good food Tawanna was very friendly and helpful. It was my first visit I will definitely revisit again. The rib tips were tender with good sauce, the fried okra just plain mouth watering. So glad I stopped. They were closing but served me anyway and the food did not taste old as if it had been sitting out long. I wouldn't stay inside in the summer because it was hot in there. But the food and service were greatly appreciated.
(5)
Dennis K.
Don't wanna cook but, want a home cooked meal? This is as good as it gets. Cozy greasy spoon that takes you back in time when everybody knows your name.
(4)
Anna S.
If you want soul food, come here. Not fancy, gourmet soul food; but greasy, homemade, old family recipe, collard greens pot liquor spilling into the carryout bag on the way back to work SOUL FOOD. This is the place. It's a little shack on the corner, maybe 200 sq/ft inside and full of neighborhood people. The jukebox is full of R&B hits that I (as a boring white girl) have never heard of, and the staff fly around the shop at the speed of light keeping tabs on the in-house guests and the non-stop bevy of carry-out calls. The place was packed and they do a super busy business. Between my coworkers and I, we had fried catfish, fried perch, baked chicken & gravy, mac & cheese, greens, pinto beans, green beans and cornbread. EVERYTHING was great. The catfish had a crispy breading, not entirely cornmeal, which pleases me all the more because I'm not a fan of 100% cornmeal breading. Mac & cheese was baked, not the Velveeta style, greens were hand-cut, pintos were, well, pintos, and the green beans were flavorful but not overdone. The portions were large; two fish filets each, and a half chicken. I wouldn't say super cheap (about $11 each meal), but for the quality it's a real value. We unanimously agreed at work that we'll be back. It was a definite winner and I recommend to all! *order ahead to avoid a long wait
(5)
Ranetta A.
My uncle brought me here when I was a kid. I still love this place so much, now I bring my kids here. I have had just about everything on the menu. From the delicious breakfasts to the absolutely scrumptious dinners! One of my favorite meals is smothered pork chops with Mac n cheese and cabbage. Yum yum yum. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I LOVE to cook and most people think I'm pretty good at but I can't for the life of me figure out how their pork chops stay crispy after the gravy is poured on top! Their fried chicken is great and my kids even love their meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The green beans, black eyed peas, pinto beans and greens are to die for! Even the huge hunk of cornbread is delicious with the buttery top. My husband loves the salmon croquettes with soft scrambled eggs and rice. Their eggs are always perfectly cooked every time we have ordered breakfast here. Then we have to order a catfish dinner or a side of catfish with every meal. It's seasoned to perfection and so good and crispy. Now it does look like a hole in the wall but grandma used to always say it ain't the size the place, it's the quality food. Just look at the lines they have everyday. Make sure you get there early enough because they do run out of food. They even have a jukebox that plays all of my old school favorites. Motorcity soul food ain't got nothing on J's Cafe! I'll see y'all real soon for another fabulous meal.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Carolyn W.
Small, Hot and Steamy neighborhood favorite for over 25 years. The best breakfast....... Salmon, eggs and rice with fruit punch Kool-aid. The staff grew up serving the neighborhood and Jay refuses to leave his original building. The neighbors are glad. Love, love this place.
(5)Kent B.
Came in here last Thursday afternoon on the recommendation of a local. Little neighborhood diner that offers soul food dinners and breakfasts. I ordered the fried perch (No smell and fried perfectly). You cant ask for a tastier piece of fish. Sides: Collard Greens and Potato Salad. Greens could have used a little more seasoning but they were tender and cooked just right. Potato Salad was surprisingly good (I make a good one myself so im always leary of restaurants making this home favorite). The place is pretty bare bones but the most important factor is the food and they do it right. Next time im in Detroit i will make a trip out west for some home cooked food at J's! **PS The service was very good too.
(4)Vanesska H.
Good food Tawanna was very friendly and helpful. It was my first visit I will definitely revisit again. The rib tips were tender with good sauce, the fried okra just plain mouth watering. So glad I stopped. They were closing but served me anyway and the food did not taste old as if it had been sitting out long. I wouldn't stay inside in the summer because it was hot in there. But the food and service were greatly appreciated.
(5)Dennis K.
Don't wanna cook but, want a home cooked meal? This is as good as it gets. Cozy greasy spoon that takes you back in time when everybody knows your name.
(4)Anna S.
If you want soul food, come here. Not fancy, gourmet soul food; but greasy, homemade, old family recipe, collard greens pot liquor spilling into the carryout bag on the way back to work SOUL FOOD. This is the place. It's a little shack on the corner, maybe 200 sq/ft inside and full of neighborhood people. The jukebox is full of R&B hits that I (as a boring white girl) have never heard of, and the staff fly around the shop at the speed of light keeping tabs on the in-house guests and the non-stop bevy of carry-out calls. The place was packed and they do a super busy business. Between my coworkers and I, we had fried catfish, fried perch, baked chicken & gravy, mac & cheese, greens, pinto beans, green beans and cornbread. EVERYTHING was great. The catfish had a crispy breading, not entirely cornmeal, which pleases me all the more because I'm not a fan of 100% cornmeal breading. Mac & cheese was baked, not the Velveeta style, greens were hand-cut, pintos were, well, pintos, and the green beans were flavorful but not overdone. The portions were large; two fish filets each, and a half chicken. I wouldn't say super cheap (about $11 each meal), but for the quality it's a real value. We unanimously agreed at work that we'll be back. It was a definite winner and I recommend to all! *order ahead to avoid a long wait
(5)Ranetta A.
My uncle brought me here when I was a kid. I still love this place so much, now I bring my kids here. I have had just about everything on the menu. From the delicious breakfasts to the absolutely scrumptious dinners! One of my favorite meals is smothered pork chops with Mac n cheese and cabbage. Yum yum yum. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I LOVE to cook and most people think I'm pretty good at but I can't for the life of me figure out how their pork chops stay crispy after the gravy is poured on top! Their fried chicken is great and my kids even love their meatloaf and mashed potatoes. The green beans, black eyed peas, pinto beans and greens are to die for! Even the huge hunk of cornbread is delicious with the buttery top. My husband loves the salmon croquettes with soft scrambled eggs and rice. Their eggs are always perfectly cooked every time we have ordered breakfast here. Then we have to order a catfish dinner or a side of catfish with every meal. It's seasoned to perfection and so good and crispy. Now it does look like a hole in the wall but grandma used to always say it ain't the size the place, it's the quality food. Just look at the lines they have everyday. Make sure you get there early enough because they do run out of food. They even have a jukebox that plays all of my old school favorites. Motorcity soul food ain't got nothing on J's Cafe! I'll see y'all real soon for another fabulous meal.
(5)