Imperial

We’ve been to this Ferndale hipster taco spot a few times now, and we’ve settled into a routine worth copying: grab a seat at the bar, order whatever the taco special of the day or week is, and let the room do the rest. Imperial has been slinging LA street-style tacos on Woodward since 2012 — plus Sonoran hot dogs and a whole section of vegan tacos — backed by a genuinely great liquor selection where tequila and bourbon get top billing. The specials have never let us down; whatever the kitchen is riffing on that week is the move. The front dining area has two roll-up garage doors, so on a beautiful day the whole room opens up and the patio out front along Woodward blurs into the sidewalk scene.

The location is the other half of the charm: you’re a few steps from the corner of Woodward and Nine Mile, in the heart of all the Ferndale action — Rust Belt Market is right across the street and Howe’s Bayou is a few doors down. Park once, make an afternoon of it.