Great vibes, great service, great drinks! Only stopped by here for a quick drink and snack before dinner, and I had a great time. Despite a busy time, service was never delayed and the drinks came out at a great speed. I'll definitely be back for a meal and drink again soon! Also great prices for cocktails like this! ($11) read more

Imperial - Imperial Swizzle - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

If you haven't been to Imperial, you're seriously missing out. This place is a whole vibe -- bold, vibrant, and full of energy from the moment you walk in. Between the colorful décor, the upbeat music, and the buzzing crowd, it just feels like somewhere you're meant to have a good time. I ordered the street tacos, and they absolutely delivered. Packed with flavor, perfectly balanced, and served on soft tortillas that held everything together just right -- simple, authentic, and done really well. Every bite had that fresh, crave-worthy taste that makes you immediately plan your next visit. And the service? Top-tier. Friendly, attentive, and fast without ever making us feel rushed. The staff really kept the experience flowing and made sure everything was on point. Imperial isn't just a taco spot -- it's an experience. Great food, great service, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay for another round. I'll definitely be back. read more

The thing that really stood out to me tonight was the service. We were seated right after we walked in, and our waitress gave us plenty of time for the rest of our party to arrive. She was really attentive to everyone the entire night, and she even split the bill for us at the end of the meal without us having to ask. Imperial is a great date night spot. It has intimate lighting and is quiet enough for conversing. It's nice without being so nice that a dress code is required. The food was great! I really enjoyed my tacos which were all well-curated. I thought all of the toppings and salsas matched the proteins of the tacos I chose perfectly. They were also not too dry or saucy, so it was easy to pick up and enjoyable to eat. Of the 3 I tried, I liked either the Al Pastor or Adobada De Pollo the most. The Camaron was a bit too smokey for me, but I could see other people really liking that. I also got the Sinners Savior cocktail which was lacking in tomato flavor and spice, but it was still a decent drink. Overall, I would come back if I'm in the mood for more elevated Mexican food or looking for a place in Ferndale to dine in with others. read more

Imperial - Sinners Savior - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

I've been eyeing this place forever and finally went on a sunday at 7 for two and walked right in. When i've tried before on busy weekends it's been a longer wait. The tacos had great flavor and many vegan/vegetarian options! We also tried cocktails which were delicious. Everything was worth the price to me with the food, drinks, and great service. read more

Imperial - Vegan Chorizo Vegan Al Pastor - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

Can't stop thinking about the Detroit Tart. Service and food was great, but that drink...

My fiancé and I come into imperial every Monday. They have the best margaritas, chips and salsa and Sonorans. The service is amazing, especially alex. I was a big fan of March's special hot dog, it's the best one they've ever had, it should be on the menu! read more

I've been to Imperial a handful of times now, and each visit has been consistently enjoyable. It's always bustling with energy, which creates a fun, lively atmosphere--though it can mean slower service at peak times. That said, the staff is always friendly and accommodating. Seating can be a bit unconventional; you might find yourself sharing one of the long communal tables with other parties. If you're looking for something more private, it's worth asking to wait for an individual table. We always start with The Flight--a trio of house-made salsas served with fresh tortilla chips--and we usually add a side of guacamole. The salsas aren't just great for dipping; they're excellent for drizzling over tacos too. Don't forget to ask for their house-made sauces as well--they add a great extra layer of flavor. The tacos are consistently excellent. Our favorites are the Barbacoa and Carne Asada tacos--both packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. We tried the Adobada De Pollo once but didn't enjoy it quite as much. The Bakersfield Sonoran hot dog is our top pick from the Sonoran menu and seems to be the most popular, too. My personal favorite item on the menu is the Imperial Tostada with shrimp. It's perfectly balanced and loaded with fresh flavor. While they don't offer shrimp tacos, you can ask them to serve the tostada ingredients on a tortilla instead--it's less messy and just as delicious. One thing I don't love is that they only offer corn tortillas. I personally prefer flour tortillas, so that was a bit of a letdown for me. Still, the quality of the food makes up for it. Everything tastes fresh, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully prepared. Imperial is easily one of the best spots in the area for Mexican food, and we'll definitely keep coming back. read more

See all

Imperial was great! They offer a lot of vegan options and they also have mocktails. The atmosphere is cool. They are open late. The people are nice. We had a great time. I look forward to going again. read more

Imperial - Whisky and steak nachos - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

I have been loyal to this place for a very long time but I think that's ending. It used to be I got amazing service at the bar but the employee working yesterday seemed to either be high out of his mind or just not paying attention at all because we basically had to yell to get him to come and take our order. I got my usuals, and one of the tacos had a long hair in it. I didn't say anything because I already had to flag the bartender down and make a plate to eat off since they didn't give us one (took the salsa flight apart to make a plate). I figured I wouldn't even be able to get the guys attention. Never checked on us once even though we were sitting directly in front of him. At the end, 100 bucks. With all of the competition out here, I suggest stepping it up. read more

Great tacos! Great salsa flight with fresh chips! Great sauces! It can get busy during peak hours. It's community style with your groups tacos served flat on a big dish for everyone to reach in and grab. Hip spot in Ferndale great for dates or friends. I imagine it would be difficult to navigate with a family and young children that need push chairs. read more

The appetizers are great. Very tasty way to start a meal or a wonderful night of cocktails and hotdogs. I was surprised that it wasn't terribly crowded that night. The servers were all wearing ugly sweaters from a variety of alcohol brands. It was perfect because we had a surprise sitting in the back at a cozy table for two, which I have never managed to get here. What a pleasant surprise. read more

Imperial - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

Came here on a rainy day to enjoy an early lunch and everything was amazing! Our server was so sweet and friendly and the food was delicious. We tried a little bit of everything and the chips and queso w/ chorizo added went down too quick before i could take a photo! Environment is fun and inviting and the drinks are way too good, i can't recommend enough! read more

See all

Have been here before, but came today especially for a special vegan menu: Viva Vegano. Small yet more substantial than any vegan offerings they've had previously. We arrived for lunch shortly after they opened. They were fairly crowded which was great. Decided to sit at the bar for faster service. Ordered the coconut washed margarita. Good but really pricey for the small ice filled portion. For food ordered vegan tamales, chilies rellenos, vegan Sonoran and lions mane tacos. Everything was full of flavor and delicious. Lions mane tacos were on the greasy side which we were sad about because we love lions mane mushrooms. Overall, very tasty and reasonable pricing for the special menu. Executive chef Kelsey came by mid-lunch to see how our food was. That was very cool. He explained that they dabble in the vegan place and was looking for feedback. We expressed our gratitude and thanks. read more

See all

Lively night life spot to get some drinks and tacos! I appreciated the variety on the menu with very reasonable prices!! Service was so kind in getting our orders and keeping us updated. Our waitress also split our check without us even having to ask which was so kind. It's got a lot of mood lighting inside and outdoor seating which was great for the weather at the time. read more

Imperial - tacos, loaded fries, nachos - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

Since people always ask us if we've been to imperial every time they hear we live in Ferndale, we finally stopped by on a Sunday afternoon for linner. We were told it was a 20 minute wait for a table, so we opted to sit along the wall. It's loud and dark. The music was decent. The bar stools and smaller tables have chairs with backs, communal seating doesn't nor do the seats against the wall. There are also booths, and a back patio. Restrooms are gendered with stalls and air dryers. There are high chairs available, if for some reason you want to bring a baby to this very over stimulating spot. A server came to us quickly with a jug of water and glasses. She was able to answer all my questions about the vegan proteins. I appreciated and enjoyed the wide range of vegan tacos, I had 3 different kinds. The vegan elote was lackluster, just... seasoned corn on the cob. Their regular elote looks more like a 'true' elote. Husband loved the seasonal wrapped hot dog, but said the el pastor tacos were "alright if you've never had a real el pastor before". And that he much prefers the el pastor of his beloved taco trucks in southwest Detroit. Would come back to try more of their plentiful vegan options, the food was ok, the service quick... but overall imperial didn't blow me away. Maybe they will next time. read more

Walked into this restaurant in Ferndale, Mi and felt like we entered a fancy Mexican restaurant in the SF Bay Area :) Tacos are a hit ! Cocktails are brilliant ! Decor is very well done and handsomely brazen :D We will be back :) read more

See all

Imperial is a great ambience and good vibes. All of the food is pretty good, very tex-mex, but meets some Detroit in some dishes. The nachos are packed with ingredients that work together to get a great bite per chip. Even the hot dog is s great go-to and that's where you get some of that Detroit influence. read more

Imperial - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

A small place with good vibes! The salsa is unlike a traditional Mexican salsa and it is super amazing and the bacon wrapped hot dogs are to die for! The service is great and the staff is friendly! read more

Imperial - Chorizo taco - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

Been here a couple times with large parties. The family style food delivery can make figuring out who gets what tricky, especially with how dark this place is lit at night. We literally had to have our phone flashlights on to see the menu and look at the food to give it to who ordered it. This last time I ordered: - 8am Conference Call mocktail: would order again - Papas con rajas taco: fine, wouldn't prioritize - Pastor taco: good, would order again - Carnitas taco: disappointing because this is usually my fave but this was bland and had no texture Tacos are small, so definitely order 3 if you have a normal appetite, potentially more if you are ravenous and have space. Or do a side/app along with 3 tacos and you'd probably be perfect. read more

Imperial - 8am Conference Call. Tasty N/A option. - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

I have to say that this is now my favorite vegan Mexican restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised when I was walking down Woodward and for this place and saw that they had many vegan options on their menu. The place has a very good vibe and was hopping when we went in. We didn't want to wait so we took a seat at the bar area and were still able to order off the menu. The place is big and is very open and they also have what looked like a nice patio area off the back. Our server was awesome! She was very friendly, and even though she seemed to be covering a lot of the restaurant she was very attentive. The food also can't out in a very timely manner. We had the tacos de papa, and vegan carnitas nachos. Both were vey good (sorry no pics we were hungry and just got to eating). My only thing would be that the nachos were a tad salty but not too overpowering especially if you like salty. I will definitely be stopping by here again and if you're vegan and looking for something Mexican I suggest you stop in for a bite! read more

See all

Tostadas are sooooo good!! The cocktails were also delicious. The place was cray busy on the weekend - patience is a must! Vibes are awesome with music & good food flowing. Big tables that can be shared by a few small parties or one big one. I will definitely return! read more

Imperial - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

A good vibe and nice atmosphere. I've been to Cancun and this reminds me of a resort there. Nice long tables with garage style environments that is open to the outside which in our case was nice and shiny and warm. I read lots of reviews and it seemed like I had to try the tacos, the hot dog, and the chips and salsa flights along with a guac. Everything was okay tasting but I don't know why I had the expectation that the portion sizes were going to be a lot larger. It was a bit disappointing to see the tacos as small as they were, although tasty, we're not with the price. The hot dog was surprisingly good with a nice blend of flavors that I would get again. The chips and salsa surprisingly was not that unique and I certainly wouldn't pay for the guac again. The chips were crunchy but overall just an average appetizer. Great environment but just so so food for the price. read more

Imperial - Three tacos and a hot dog - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

Very cool and hip taco place that used to be the Golden Star restaurant, where Vincent Chin and his Chinese-Canadian friend Jimmy Choi used to work. Spacious interior and also extremely stylish bar as well. Service also exceptional - prompt and attentive. Highly recommended! read more

Imperial is a hip and trendy place to check out. The service is friendly and sufficient. The seating arrangement is a tad congested. The chips and queso was decent. All 6 tacos I tried were delicious, to the point where I didn't necessarily have a favorite. If you love coney dogs like me, you'll love the chino Sonoran hot dog too, as it's their take on it. It was my first time here and I will definitely be back. This has the potential to be a 5 star establishment. P.S. Make sure to pay for parking. Backing into the parking spot is apparently prohibited. Pay for your spot and park normally to avoid receiving a ticket. read more

See all

Good place to go for both vegans vegetarians and meat eaters! Fast accommodating service. My husband is all about the ambiance which this has. read more

See all

Love the place for sure best vegan nachos and guacamole and chips I've ever had a top vegan cuisine spot for me read more

See all

A real staple in Ferndale. Imperial has always been great and seems to have stood the test of time over these many years. The food, service, ambiance, all 10/10. You can't go wrong with almost any taco. Last time I was here I had the shrimp nachos and chips with salsa, queso and guacamole. For drinks I go to the pineapple margarita and ask them to make it spicy where they'll usually add a few jalapeños. Everything is super appetizing! My only gripe is the seating. In the front of the restaurant it's very much school lunch room style tables meaning if it's very busy you and your party could be sitting right next another party at the table. This doesn't stop me from coming though as you can always ask for a booth or separated table in the back. They have bar seating as well. But overall well worth the visit if you're in Ferndale. read more

See all

Food was amazing and the drinks were strong! We ordered the carne asada tacos and the November taco special. We went on a slower day and definitely will go again! read more

There's a huge Virgin Mary (Our Lady of Guadalupe) picture on the bar, not only is it a weird spot for the picture but underneath the picture there's a guy flicking you off. As a Catholic this is extremely disrespectful and disgusting. Catholics hold a deep reverence for the image of the Virgin Mary because she represents purity, compassion, and the divine motherly figure. She is a symbol of love, hope, and intercession between humanity and God. Catholics, including myself, look to her for comfort and guidance, and her image is associated with feelings of peace, protection, and faith. For this SAME image to be displayed in a bar is disrespectful, inappropriate and completely unnecessary. Even if I didn't agree with another's persons religious beliefs, I would never blatantly disrespect them. I'm sure if it were any other religious figure it wouldn't be tolerated. read more

See all

These were the most favorless tacos I've ever had in my life. Came here on a first date and I was extremely confused. It seems as if all of the flavors of Mexico were removed and replaced with something bland. I could tell that the ingredients were fresh in some ways but just really lackluster flavor profile wise. The bathrooms were clean and the vibes inside are well intended but the food being not it really was a shocker. read more

Imperial always makes me happy. Their food is amazing - packed with flavor and freshness. They serve street tacos, elote, nachos, chips and salsa, margaritas, and so much more. Since the tacos are on the smaller side, it's a great place to try a little bit of everything. The atmosphere at Imperial is great too! They have plenty of communal seating, but they also offer private tables and booths for a more intimate experience. Even if there's a wait, it never seems to take too long. I've been here so many times, and the service is always top-notch. It's the kind of place I love bringing my friends to, because I know they'll have an incredible time. read more

See all

The Imperial had some of the best food I had while visiting Detroit. They had so many vegetarian options! We ordered guacamole and chips to start, which were very fresh. I ordered the Taco de Papa upon recommendation from the server on the best veggie taco and the vegetarian sonoran because I had never had anything like it before. I also ordered the elote as a side. Everything was delicious. My friends also ordered a cocktail and mocktail, which I tried, and both were very good. Our server accidentally threw away our order and had to come back to get it again after we had been waiting a while. Then he forgot my elote and it came out way after we had finished all of our other food, but he was very nice and ended up taking it off the bill, which we appreciated, so it was still a 5 star experience. The food was also so good that we didn't mind the small snafu. The ambiance was fun, and it's clearly a popular spot. There's paid parking on the street or the lot behind the building. Afterwards, we walked around outside because it's a nice area. read more

Imperial - Taco de Papa and Vegetarian Sonoran - Bars Near Me - Ferndale, Michigan

See all

Food, drinks, staff were all amazing. Loved my tacos and elote corn! Was disappointed when we received the check and noticed a $5 up charge on each tequila served "on the rocks." From $15 to $20/drink. Not mentioned by staff or printed anywhere. When asked, the GM said standard bar practice b/c larger pour. Not one in my party had ever heard of this, so I asked ChatGPT and it says occasional and usually $1-2....heads up if you plan to try it out. read more

Jesus take the wheel. Do not eat this food. Keep your hard earned money and don't even drink the drinks for it is all crap. Service good. But wow I'm appalled at the flavor and price of these tiny bland af tacos. More ice then you could ever need in one drink even on the hottest of days. read more

Love the food here! I don't love that there's always a wait for a table and the communal style seating but otherwise a great dining experience. We started with chips and guac and chorizo queso. The chips were fresh and warm. The Bakersfield hot dog is always my favorite. The potato and chorizo taco was just ok. read more

See all

Well I can't say enough good things about Imperial... I just love it!! Food is great and reasonably priced. I definitely recommend the salsa trio and guac to start, they kill it. There is something for every appetite and dietary restriction on the menu. Drinks are super creative and service is always amazing... kind people work here! Perfect place to bring any size group and with the weather getting warmer they have the front and back deck open which is cool for either watching the cars on Woodward or chillin at the back garden in the fresh air ily Imperial, I'll be back soon!! read more

See all

Imperial is the perfect spot for a delicious cocktail & a fresh taco. The whole menu is yum. The tacos are fusion, my favorite! The margaritas are unique & tasty, with a seasonal menu changing monthly. The seating is cafeteria style, which makes it fun- you just may end up besties with the people sitting next to you! Imperial is great for large groups, date night, or girl's night! The staff is on point, friendly & upbeat. I love hitting up Imperial while in Ferndale. Go check them out! Located on Woodward & 9 Mile. read more

See all

My friend was craving tacos so she wanted to come here. I have never been here before, but I was willing to try the food. We had to park in the back and pay the meter but we were quickly seated. This restaurant had plenty of seating for large groups and a full bar. it was just the two of us so they set us at one of their shared tables. Our waitress came by and explained the menu since it was my first time there and offered a few suggestions. I ordered the pineapple margarita and it was very, very good. For a Mexican theme restaurant to sell hotdogs was crazy to me but the Bakersfield Sonoran is how all hotdogs should taste lol. So much flavor in a bacon wrapped hotdog. my friend tried chicken vegan taco. And she said it tasted juicy like chicken. I will definitely return to try more menu options next time!! read more

See all

This spot is frequently on 45+ minute waits for a very good reason. The menu of tacos and hot dogs is so unique with tons of great vegan and vegetarian options. Don't miss out on the salsa trio appetizer and the amazing cocktails. There's a vast selection of tequila drinks and I had an awful time choosing. I wasn't disappointed with the original margarita. Staff was super friendly and prompt with great recommendations. Seating style is communal, so be prepared to be social if you want! read more

See all

I was here in December for the first time with a group of friends. I can't believe I did not leave a review because I absolutely loved it!!!I know we had a "special ". I believe it was either a fish or a shrimp taco. Quite a few of us had it and it was amazing!!! The place wasn't real busy- only a few tables- we had a great server. Especially, considering there were seven of us. Great service. I will remember to post what I had next week because I also had a cocktail- I believe it was with bourbon- that was also amazing. Maybe I can blame my bad memory on that bourbon! EDIT: Just looked on their drink menu, and what I had was called a lavender sidecar!!! Try it!!! read more