Dearborn, MI — There aren’t many food halls around Metro Detroit, but over the past year or two, a couple have opened their doors to quite the welcome and positive response. Spurred by social media excitement and desire to have more options in a community outside of the typical chain establishments, we’ve been blessed with recent food markets such as the Watcha Wanna Eat Food Hall in Detroit and the Canteen at Midtown in Dearborn. These food halls are great spaces where we can support local small business owners who are embedded within our communities, serving their passion for food one container at a time.

The Canteen at Midtown, Michigan’s first fully halal food hall and food truck park, opened in Dearborn in August 2024. The Canteen at Midtown is located off Evergreen Road just north of Michigan Avenue, right between the Fairlane Town Center Mall and the University of Michigan’s Dearborn campus. Since it first opened, I was eager to check it out. I was familiar with some of the vendors who operated at some of the indoor kitchens and the food trucks parked outside, so I added the food hall to my list of adventures for Dearborn!

Although Dearborn is only about a half-hour drive away, I don’t make it to that side of the Metro as often as I’d like. My first “official” foodie adventure out to Dearborn was about five months ago to Tuhama’s in East Dearborn to meet my friend Hassan for lunch, and I absolutely loved the food and the chicken shawarma I devoured. Ever since, I’ve been determined to make more frequent adventures out to Dearborn to check more eateries off my list. So, about a week ago, when Hassan and I decided to catch up over lunch again, I enthusiastically suggested the Canteen at Midtown!

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Several food vendors were on my radar; I wanted to place an order with multiple so that I could experience and discuss various options at the food hall for this adventure. After researching several of the different eateries and cross-referencing vendors’ Instagram accounts to see visuals of their creations, I eventually decided to place orders with So Cheesy, The Terry Melt, Amo Sami’s Shawarma, and Abu K’nafa.

Hassan and I decided to meet up at the Canteen at Midtown on Monday (3/3) afternoon, whereas, per usual, I would just head to work after lunch. I was excited for my first visit to the food hall and thrilled to be back in Dearborn for a foodie adventure!

I pulled into the parking lot for the Canteen at Midtown a few minutes before 12:30 p.m. and coincidentally parked right next to Hassan. As I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed several large enclosed tent spaces set up behind and alongside the food hall, with several additional food trucks staged around the perimeter. I remembered from when I visited the website that the establishment is hosting this year’s Ramadan Nights, a very popular night market held during Ramadan in Dearborn.

This year’s vibrant hub for all things food, connection, and community spirit throughout the holy month has evolved into Ramadan Village 2025. The Canteen at Midtown is hosting more than 55 vendors, offering a variety of food, desserts, handcrafted goods, and merchandise from folks around Metro Detroit. Ramadan Village is happening every weekend in March, starting at 10 p.m. and continuing until 3 a.m., from the 7th through the 30th! And yes, I will definitely be dedicating another adventure out to Dearborn later this month to check out Ramadan Village 2025 to experience more of the wonderful food vendors!

Some construction and setup were still taking place, just days out from opening night for Ramadan Village. Hassan and I met and chatted with the Canteen at Midtown’s owner, Hassan Chammi, as we walked inside. Chammi was very busy with all of the planning and moving parts for the night market, so we kept the convo brief and sat down at a table. One of the cool aspects of the food hall is that you can choose to either physically walk up to a food truck and place an order or scan a table-designated QR code to place an order with any vendor (or multiple) and have your meal(s) brought straight to your table!

As my buddy Hassan and I perused the various vendors and their menus, we realized that not all of the vendors were available to order from due to their Ramadan hours. It had totally slipped both our minds that some of the food trucks and kitchens might have different operating hours during the holy month. For those unfamiliar with Ramadan, it is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and one of the most important. Muslims worldwide observe a strict fast from dawn until sunset, so it made sense that some of the eateries would be closed during most of the daytime, with some not opening until after 5 p.m.

Unfortunately, this meant that Hassan and I wouldn’t be able to enjoy Amo Sami’s Shawarma during the lunch hour, whose Ramadan operating hours began on that very day. Amo Sami’s Shawarma is open from 5 p.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday and will be open during Ramadan Village from 10 p.m. until 3 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Nonetheless, we continued on, both eventually landing on the Patty Melt & Fries from The Terry Melt. I placed a few more separate orders to sample more of the vendors, aware that I would have plenty of leftovers for dinner and lunch the following day!

When I was looking at the menu for The Terry Melt, I was torn between the Patty Melt, Steak Melt, and Chicken Parm Melt (a winter special). Those who know me or have been following this blog long enough would know I have a weakness for a good Patty Melt, so I went with the classic.

Hassan and I discussed the latest happenings in our jobs and lives, and a few minutes after placing the order, one of the food hall employees arrived with our meals. I loved the size and thickness of the melt, on top of the fact that the sourdough bread was nicely toasted. The Terry Melt utilizes Creekstone beef, which was cooked very well. There was a generous amount of caramelized onions throughout, which infused a bit of sweetness into the rather savory melt.

FULL SECTION: MI Foodie Adventures Food Truck Series

My first hearty bite erupted the melted American cheese from within, which had coalesced with the zesty Terry burger sauce, making each bite more addicting than the last. Hassan and I didn’t say much as we chomped away at our Patty Melts, as great food sometimes demands. The fries had a nice exterior crisp, goldened just enough while still being rather soft and great for dunking into ketchup. I ate as many as possible while prioritizing the Patty Melt — the main attraction. I was already full after consuming nearly all of the Patty Melt and a good chunk of the fries! While I couldn’t manage another bite of anything until much later, the foodie adventure didn’t stop there.

In place of Amo Sami’s Shawarma, I decided to order two things from The Chicken Coupe. A fun food truck focused on two things: chicken and waffles! I was obliged to try a chicken sandwich but decided to spice things up (literally) and ordered the Firebird Chicken Sandwich, which also came with fries. When I circled back to consume this order later on for dinner while at work, I found myself speechless from how amazing this chicken sandwich was in every aspect. I also ordered a Chicken and Waffle Slider because I couldn’t NOT try the chicken and waffle from an eatery known for specializing in those food items!

The Firebird Chicken Sandwich maintained its crispiness, and I was shocked when I picked up the sandwich and felt its sheer weight. A true two-handed clucker, that sandwich had two gigantic chicken fillets protruding from every side of the sandwich. There was a perfect amount of lettuce, mayo, dill pickles, and The Chicken Coupe’s signature coleslaw and Firebird sauce. The Firebird sauce oozed from underneath the top bun and really packed a solid heat and flavor that complemented the chicken impeccably. The sensational and overflowing sauce really stood out, smothering the perfectly cooked and quantifiably sizeable chicken fillets. The fresh pickles and bite from the slaw added some tremendous textures, twang, and crunch to a truly exceptional hot chicken sandwich. I highly recommend ordering that sandwich or checking out The Chicken Coupe!

While it would be hard for anything to follow that Firebird Chicken Sandwich, sure enough, the Chicken & Waffle Slider came surprisingly close. Quite literally just a massive chicken tender between two of the most delicious waffles I may have ever tasted, this slider was a great spontaneous addition to my order. The waffles were a perfect golden brown, firm on the exterior, while the interior remained soft, with a crispy and well-seasoned tender chicken sandwiched in between. This was a real joy to eat after the Firebird Chicken Sandwich, and it almost felt like a nice little bonus meal. Next time, my order will include the signature Mama’s Chicken & Waffles for the full experience!

The last food order I placed was for the Truffle Smash Burger from So Cheesy. This particular food truck had been on my radar for some time after seeing several collaborated posts on social media by other foodies. Also, there’s been some recent hype for So Cheesy after Chef Ameera competed on an episode of Guy Fieri’s Grocery Games on January 15th! As a true cheese enthusiast, I had to check this food truck out!

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I looked through the various options offered by So Cheesy. I narrowed my choices down to either the Brisket Truffle, Hot Cheesus, or Truffle Smash burger and ultimately decided on the latter. The Truffle Smash came stacked with two smashed patties, which were seared nicely, with copious amounts of caramelized mushroom and onions. The Swiss cheese and its sharp taste were nuanced by the pungent truffle profile from the aioli, which cascaded its way down throughout the burger, blending with the cheese. The sweetened onions balanced the salty beef bacon strips and tasted so delectable. While I would definitely order this burger again, I’m keen on trying the Hot Cheesus next from So Cheesy for my next adventure out that way!

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After Hassan and I had finished our initial meal of the Patty Melts, which he also greatly enjoyed, we parted ways since Hassan had to return to work while I still had some time before work. I utilized this time to take photos and take in more of the experience at the Canteen at Midtown. Although I saw a less busy version, I enjoyed the space and found it well-managed and kept tidy. The Canteen at Midtown even has a selection of board and card games you can borrow to enjoy at your table with friends or family!

Whether you’re able to visit the Canteen at Midtown for Ramadan Village or stop through for lunch or dinner during the week, you have nothing but fantastic options to choose from (depending on individual store hours, always double-check before heading out!) for any occasion or cuisine type. I can’t wait for my next visit to try one of the famous shawarmas from Amo Sami’s Shawarma. From the incredible food options, stellar service and upkeep, and community environment that it provides, the Canteen at Midtown is an outstanding, must-have adventure for any foodie!

For more information about the Canteen at Midtown in Dearborn or more details regarding the Ramadan Village events every weekend through March, click here.