Detroit Food Influencer Detroit Dar Tells His Story

Detroit Dar has taken the Detroit food scene by storm. He is able to showcase restaurants and food trucks around the city that make followers wanna visit IMMEDIATELY. In this interview, he shares the deeper meaning behind his videos, what drew him to make Detroit food content, his favorite dishes and his delicious plans for the future.

Why did you start making videos about Detroit on TikTok and Instagram?

So I grew up in the area and then headed out to live in Brooklyn, NY after college for about 6 years. I then came back home to Detroit in 2020 after seeing all the change happening and wanted to be a part of it in some way. Downtown Detroit has so much beauty but I noticed that not everyone here saw all of the beauty that I did. I started posting videos of cool places around the city like Riverside Park, which is right by the Ambassador Bridge, on TikTok. This is where my joy for making content got its spark.

Where does the name “Detroit Dar” come from?

When I started getting the love from Detroiters online, I started doing more types of content like cool spots to get photos and food videos. The idea to do food videos stemmed from seeing people like @chowdowndetroit but I wanted to do it in my own way and really highlight the great restaurants in the city of Detroit specifically. People online started REALLY liking the food content so I did more of those and Detroit Dar was born. In wanting to focus on the city itself and close surrounding area, I also coined the phrase “what’s up my Detroit fam” which I say at the beginning of my videos.

@detroitdar

Checked out Melt N Dip located in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. They use all fresh ingredients. This place is perfect for my sweet lovers. Also a good place to take a date or take your kids/family. The Éclair Pyramid was definitely my favorite item 😋 #dearbornheights #michigan #detroit #restaurants #restaurant #eat #food #downtowndetroit #dearborn

♬ original sound – DetroitDar

We notice you visit a lot of food trucks around Detroit. Do you have a favorite?

There are so many good ones! I would say Bistro Box 313 is one of my favs and they serve Italian food. It’s one of the only trucks around that serves this type of food so I like it a lot for that reason.

It also surprised me because based on the name, I wasn’t exactly sure what kinda food they made.

Any plans to open up your own food truck?

You actually read my mind! That’s definitely a dream of mine. I wanna open up my own food truck.

What food would your dream food truck serve?

Definitely Jamaican food. I love it so much and feel there are not a lot of places around Detroit to get it.

And what would you call it? Something including “Detroit Dar”?

I would definitely separate it from my Detroit Dar name. I don’t know though right now so you’ll have to wait and find out.

What’s the best food item you’ve had in Detroit?

Since Jamaican food is my favorite, Caribbean Kitchen on the west side of Detroit has my favorite dish, the Curry Goat. I could drive to eat that dish every day of my life. 

Tell me a bit about the process you have when going into a restaurant or stopping by a food truck? You always look like you’re having so much fun.

Initially, I would just select a couple items off the menu and then record the experience and highlight my favorite dishes. But now, I like to come to each establishment and talk to the owner about their story, their food and get their reco on menu items. They sometimes suggest something that I would never have thought to try.

I can share some insight with them too about dishes folks have liked most or least in my videos. Ensure they get the proper spotlight they deserve. For example, everyone was all about chicken sandwiches when I first started making content and now everyone is more into smash burgers! I then will really only highlight food items that were my favorites in the videos. Gotta set my bar high!

@detroitdar

@Theburgertruck I got a brand new spot in Ann Arbor ! Food was fire! The Nacho was definitely my favorite burger, I ate that thing soon as I jumped in my car lol would yall try the juicy heart attack? It sounds crazy but it wasn’t as overwhelming as I thought ! I almost finished that one too 🤣🔥 #foodtruck #annarbor

♬ original sound – DetroitDar

We know you already have the “Dar Combo” at Detroit’s Shell Shock’d Tacos, but what would your perfect food dish include?

I would make a dish that mixes Caribbean and soul food. Maybe this can be the first item I serve at my food truck in the future.

What does the future hold for Detroit Dar?

I wanna keep making videos because I love doing it and I think I wanna start doing more social media management for restaurants. Thinking that could come with some brand and food consulting as well. Getting more into the development side of things.

Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us! Where are all the places folks can find you online to see all this amazing food content?

You can follow me at @detroitdar on Instagram and TikTok.