My friends and I decided to stop by here and were not disappointed! This bar has a very calm feeling and a great aesthetic. I loved the shiny phases of the moon artwork on the wall! It was dimly lit and the lighting was yellow and purple. There are booths to sit in and some smaller circle tables. My only room for suggestion is to add some square or rectangle tables for larger parties. We were able to push some smaller circle tables together because we wanted to play card games and it all worked out. read more

This place is awesome and super cool. Chill vibe throughout, as classic R&B and rock records line the walls, and there is a high-tech audio and screen setup. UFO aesthetic as well. There is also a kitchen in the back called Gladys Nite that serves incredible "Atomic Dogs" in Kimchi and Bahn Mi varieties. Also hamburgers, wings, fries and other fare. Definitely a unique Detroit institution in Corktown not to be missed! read more

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Curious little place, with flavor combos out of this world! Have you ever had a Thai Peanut butter and Ancho-mint jelly grilled cheese and/or hot dog and/or slider?? What about a deep fried hotdog drenched in General Tso's sauce?? Looking for creative flavor combos, hole in the wall/local haunt vibe, drink and drift away into classic funk, rock, and psychedelic music? Well look no further! Come satisfy your late night munchies cravings and all things intergalactic at this niche, nice, and rocking spot. Service was stellar too! read more

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The UFO factory was a pleasant surprise. We walked in and it definitely gives dive bar vibes. The decor is lacking. Staff was friendly and helpful. You have to get menus at the bar and order at the bar. The menus were quite sticky when we handled them. They bring your order to your table when the food is ready. The menu is filled with different versions of hot dogs and grilled cheese, as well as tater tots and fries. There are tons of vegan options on the menu. The vegan bahn mi grilled cheese was very good. It was toasted well and all the flavors were spot on. The Detroit dog was good also. It had vegan chili on a beef dog and for a meat eater my partner thought it was satisfying. The tater tots were smaller than usual tater tots and very crispy. They vegan mayo was a good dipping sauce. All of the food was pleasing to the eye. The UFO Factory also has vinyl and cassettes for sale. It was nice to peruse the vinyl collection. They had an extensive section for Detroit bands. We were intrigued by the menu and the food was good. read more

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You might drive by if you're not looking for this place but it's worth the time to find it. They have vegan and vegetarian options. My friend ordered the mini macs with impossible burgers and the vegan coney dog. He says both were amazing. He described the mini macs as a better version of white castle. I just ordered waffle fries, they have multiple dipping sauces to choose from. I got hummus and the spicy Mayo. Both were great. The fries were fried extra crispy but not burned. I loved them. When you walk in the bar looks like a tiny basement almost. Very dark and has stars on the wall/ceilings. But they have a beautiful outdoor area. There is a ground level courtyard where you can eat or go upstairs to the balcony that overlooks the corner ballpark. It's beautiful and a great place to have an evening drink. I will be back. read more

UFO Factory - View from the upstairs deck - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Finally made it to this cool place. I have followed them for some time and can only imagine how great they were pre-pandemic. Perfect spot for live music, good drinks, and killer vegan hot dogs. We went on a cold Sunday night for good and drinks. The place was a ghost town, but I was grateful for the space. We walked up to the bar to order. They had a few Halloween themed drink specials and we ordered those (see my photos). Both were made well! The things I was most excited for were the vegan hot dogs and tots. They have a very creative menu. We ordered three different dogs (a teriyaki style, ramen, and regular coney) plus tots. I probably could have eaten 5. They are Beyond sausages I think. So good though. We grabbed a booth on the far wall and enjoyed our food and drinks. While I'd like to come back for live music in the future, it's kind of nice not to wait in line or fight for a spot at the bar. read more

One of THE great Detroit music venues with a focus on indie rock. The venue is intimate with a great rooftop deck, great food (Laika Dog), a record store AND one of the iconic Detroit selfie spots (in their bathrooms, I'm not kidding). If you're looking for good live music in Detroit this is one of THE places to go. read more

UFO Factory - The High Strung at UFO Factory - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

What an amazing find! The champagne flows as the bands continue to jam and jam onwards into the night - what a great spot with happy bartenders like Gus who are kind and welcoming and happy to see us as we trapes along our merry way! Always Go here! phenomenally talented musicians play here and its important that we support these talents. Get the pretzel! read more

This review is totally age-driven, I am 62 years Young. I'm sure if I was a lot younger this place might be inviting. However, I am not so with that I would have to say that as a small business, bar, a place to catch lunch it really misses the mark for me. The bartender was very kind but, the clientele was definitely 30 years my junior or more. The menu is very limited again geared towards younger people. The decor reminded me of a child's bedroom. I'm sorry my review isn't more positive. I wish them luck and longevity in their business. Unfortunately, I will probably not be returning. read more

Great drinks, hotdogs and music! Such cool vibes. Definitely visit if you're in Detroit!

Came here on a Saturday night for some drinks. There was a cover charge, which was a little annoying, but I wanted to check out the place due to its fun social media posts. There was a DJ spinning some house music, and they had some very cheap drinks at the bar. It was pouring outside when we happened to be there, so that prevented us from checking out their backyard area. My friends had come the night before for a live show and they said the vibe was funner then, so I'd be willing to come back here if I ever find myself in Detroit again. Also not a bad place to check out some local talent and get some cheap drinks at. read more

UFO factory is a very interesting place and worth going once for the experience. The hot dog I got had garlic hummus on it and it was excellent. But the music was very loud techno/electronic and a little overwhelming but not a lot of people in there. There are plastic chairs and tablecloths and a $5 cover on a Friday night. The back patio area is nice for some fresh air but a lot of people are just smoking cigarettes back there. The drinks were pretty good and service was average but I would go back to try more of their unique hot dogs. read more

been coming here for years for live music and delicious hotdogs! Everyone is friendly and the food menu is excellent, you can't pick a bad thing. I especially love the bahn-mi hotdog and the tater tots! Also love that they have vegan hotdogs, it's rare to find a bar with so many vegan/ vegetarian options! read more

One of the few places that you can get food that tastes great for under $10 with tip. The Bánh Mì Spam slider was unexpectedly nice and filling for $6.50. Honestly, I feel bad taking off two stars for poor service. It might be too hip for a Chad/Stacy or anyone above 28 yrs of age. Bartender serviced every person at the bar, and 3 new (obviously familiar) parties before coming up to me and proclaiming "Hello Sir!! It is finally your turn!" I mean I get I am no longer that fashionable and shop at Nordstrom's but damn if you aren't wearing an up-cycled onesie-turned sundress, vintage Yves Saint-Laurent or stained shorts and a 1960s satin high collar-button down you might be waiting. read more

Funky little shack in corktown. Has a rooftop and fenced in back patio. A eclectic selection on the jukebox and friendly bartenders. Try to catch the kitchen open they offer some really cool and creative combinations. I recommend the general Taos or pbj hotdogs, don't judge until you tried them. This bar is a different experience every single time.always laid back and a interesting time. read more

Ambiance is B-. Bartender is friendly but oversharing about her adventures. Hot dog was excellent.

Some one form Yelp suggested this place, I guess I expected a too much from this place. St. Patrick's day (Friday) Lunch. First the Place, felt rundown, spooky, sticky and stinky (the wet trash can with flies was right next to the bar) seriously, Food inspectors don't visit this place or what???, anyways we changed the spot. but still that sight and odor did not go out of my mind. they do have enough Parking, street parking as well as a small lot. but make sure you lock it up. the big screen projector idea was good, but when you got there its useless. And it was actually irritating to a point because the image was not clear and you cant hear the audio. the old and not working Pinball tables added to the useless décor. they were selling some nice and also obnoxious paintings for very cheep price, starting at about $100. The service: Meh! no complaints nor compliments. the guy at the bar was like "whatever man". but did his job. slowly. The FOOD! Laikas hot dog, They did have few Vegetarian options. I had "Make your own Veggie dog with vegan chili, kimchee and fried egg". the Veggie hot dog tasted good compared to my previous veggie dog experiences which generally tastes like card board. the veggie chili added to the flavor. but the Bun got super soggy and I had to knife and fork it. I should not have got the fried egg. my friends like their meat hotdogs, they mentioned it tasted good, but nothing special. The Price was bit to the higher side for the quality of food?... you have the option of picking only one sauce. if you want extra pay extra. even for ketchup. even beyond the $6 hotdog and $4 tater tots (regular frozen, deep-fried). I might not go here again. the sight of the trash can killed it all. read more

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The inside of the bar is decked out in black and silver, reminiscent of the interior of a UFO. The service is quick and friendly. I had the Detroit coney and tots. They were both cooked well and tasted great. I've never ordered complex cocktails here and I don't get the vibe this is right place for that. If you are looking for a Corktown classic dive bar and a coney that isn't American or Lafayette this is your place. read more

UFO Factory - a row of liquor bottles on a bar counter - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Reports of their demise may have been accurate, but UFO Factory and Laika Dog are back! Nothing is different, but everything has changed. j/k, everything is pretty much the same - the jukebox, the arcade machines, the tesla coils and rotating Schlitz globes and magical animated Hamm's sign behind the bar, the beer and liquor selections, the short but extremely compelling Laika Dog menu. Even some of the wonderful former staff are back! My wife and I came here for a Sunday late lunch. We split vegan waffle dogs with savory pb&j and cayenne maple sauces, the hot dish, tomato soup, and spicy slaw. The waffle dogs were waiting a long time - we had intended to get them for brunch the week the construction damaged the building and forced its evacuation. The waffle dogs (Sundays only) were AMAZING, and worth the long wait. The savory pb&j dip was the definite winner, but the cayenne maple was really good too. The hot dish (tater tots with... lots of stuff) was just as good as it always was. The tomato soup was probably best used as a side for a grilled cheese - it was very reminiscent of Campbell's made with very little diluting agent. Which I still have a soft spot for, but your mileage may vary. The spicy slaw was a small serving, befitting its $2 pricetag, but made a nice accent to the meal. On the liquid side of the menu, we had Perrin Black Ale and a decent pour of Grass Widow bourbon from Two James. It was a really great lunch with a really great soundtrack. I'm so happy to have the UFO Factory and Laika Dog back in the land of the living. If you want to experience an authentic Detroit original, don't miss it. read more

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Parking: plenty of street parking! Service: You fill out the food you want at your table & take it to the bar to put the order in & then they'll bring out the food to you. Food: got the "Detroit grilled cheese" with vegan chili & avocados with tomato basil soup. This was phenomenal!! Very inexpensive for the quality. Tastes homemade. They were showing an international movie last night called the "Condom Killer" and then around 10pm... disco night started haha. What a great venue! Highly recommend if you're looking for inexpensive good food & dive bar vibe. Very casual & chill! read more

UFO Factory - Veggie grilled cheese & tomato basil soup - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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The hot dog is pretty good for it's price. The bum a d hotdog is crispy. The sauce on the hotdog is good but not too much to make a mess. The place is cozy but the setup make you feel really comfortable. read more

UFO Factory - General Tso hotdog - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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THIS PLACE HAS THE BEST STAFF AND MUSIC. 20/10 stars. They have great music always, the food is fantastic. Absolute Detroit staple.

After researching the area a bit, I'm really glad this is where we found ourselves. Super chill, but vibrant bar with ample room for entertainment. While there was no live music this eve, I can imagine the place with a full band. Great vegan options! I tried out the paradise margarita with habanero syrup added for a kick. The vegan dogs are divine and a great value for the price. I tried the Detroit and báhn mì style vegan dogs with a side of waffle fries w/ vegan chili (ordered tots w/ vegan chili, but didn't care about the mixup--not pictured). Also not pictured, Norm's Raggedy Ass IPA (it's a new fav) and a little bit of bourbon. ALL DELICIOUS! Great vibes and experience. Don't miss the outside patio area and upstairs rooftop bar. Highly recommended. read more

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My boyfriend and I came here on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. I ordered one vegan nacho dog and some tots. To order, you have to fill out a form indicating what kind of dog or grilled cheese you want, and it explicitly said one dog or sandwich order per form. My boyfriend didn't want anything so we only submitted one form. The order took awhile getting to us and when it did, we were surprised to get two hotdogs instead of the expected one. We were also confused because only one of us submitted the order, but the place was pretty empty so the waitress probably saw us and assumed we both wanted a dog. I ended up eating both of them because they had jalapenos on them and my boyfriend doesn't like spice. The hotdogs were good. By the second one my mouth was on fire with the jalapenos. I don't know whether they were worth $5 but I'd eat them again. The tots were standard tots, so they were delicious. The atmosphere was interesting and strange. The bar was really dark since the windows were covered and they had an old horror movie projecting on the wall with the sound off while eerie instrumental music played. The waitress was also nice and chatted with us about the area. read more

UFO Factory - Menu. lots of vegan options! - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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They keep em clean at this UFO factory. These bathrooms are vibrant examples of how to spunk up the ever-present 1 (this particular one has space for friends) person can. I'm surely not the only one who would love to see more instagram worthy restrooms. read more

I want to love this place, but they just don't have enough business to make it a fun stop. I've visited a few times for a quick drink, but it seems I'm always the only one there. I went one night where there was a "DJ", and he just played the weirdest, most obscure music. I mean, I don't need Top 40 at a bar, but come on. It was just odd. Also, they don't have Jim Beam. Ummmmm. Prices are pretty cheap for the location. $10 minimum to use a card. There are arcade games but most of them are unplugged. And there are way more tables and booths than any dead bar in Detroit needs. This place would likely benefit from a facelift/renovation and a specific idea of what they're trying to be. They need drink specials or SOMETHING to get people in the door, because it's never fun being the only person sitting in a bar on a weekend evening. read more

Don't bother no vibe no drink menu just a no altogether. Plenty of others bars you can go to in the area feels like a wannabe night club.

I went here with my boyfriend for brunch and we had completely mixed opinions. I enjoyed my 'build your own' omelette with 3 cafe-free eggs with ranchero sauce, vegan nacho 'cheese', grilled red pepper and avocado. I thought it was pretty good but my boyfriend got the maple french toast and he said it was far too fried to the point that it had lost all of the flavor and just tasted like grease. I felt bad because he didn't even want to eat it. The interior is super dingy and I could see it being a popular hipster hang out. The prices are cheap and you go up the bar, fill out a piece of paper with your selections and turn it in to the bartender. You also pay at the bar. I gave them three stars because of the concept, but I think they should stick with their dinner menu. I'll be back to give that a try. read more

UFO Factory - Build your own omelette with ranchero sauce, vegan cheese and avocado - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

We went here on Friday for happy hour - I wouldn't recommend it for that, but I do think it would be a fun music venue later in the evening when there might actually be other people there. There's interesting art on the walls and a jukebox. The free popcorn with seaweed, curry, old bay seasoning and lemon pepper options is cool too. read more

The place is chill, it would be my neighborhood bar if I could walk there. The drink choices were varied and they offered free delivery from Rub if chowing on their popcorn isn't enough. You have a choice of cumin, pepper, and other delights to sprinkle on, so enjoy. The movie playing caught my eye as well as the CLEAN pink ladies room. The bartender was cool, chill, and quick with the drinks and check. read more

UFO Factory - Interior of bar - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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I had to try the vegan dogs at Lakia Dog here. The PBJ dog was yummy and really different in a good way. I loved the vegan chili cheese tots too. The place is nice and we sat at a booth. Great servers at the bar. Will be back. read more

UFO Factory - PBJ vegan hotdog. So good! - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Yum, Yum and more yum. I am no longer a gazpacho virgin! It is official, ol girl has grown up! Grown up into tomatoes, onions, garlic and the tiniest hint of lime. This will be my go to summer soup. Hot days be gone. I am armed with gazpacho. The side salad that I am currently finishing is topped with the most fragrant and delicious and socially unacceptable but totally acceptable ketchup vinaigrette. UFO. I am a true believer. I will leave the real world of Trumbull and Michigan and join in your unidentified flying object at anytime. I cannot wait to come back when I am in a carnivorous mood. For now goodbye.. but not farewell to the secret on the corner. read more

UFO Factory - My first gazpacho... PRETTY GOOD and this ketchup vinaigrette.. YEP! - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

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Don't know what kept us from coming here for so long. We drove past the UFO numerous times going to Corktown. Today they had Batch Brewing Co. "Nearly Noble" IPA on tap-- BONUS!! I had the Tomato Basil soup and a grilled mozzarella cheese sandwich. Very tasty. Spicy cole slaw was an added treat. read more

UFO Factory - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

This place has a casual atmosphere. The hotdogs options are good, they carry vegan, which is great for vegans. I love the different ingredients that's incorporated into the dogs. My favorite is the banh mi dog & nacho dog. Definitely a hidden gem if you don't know about it. Their cocktails ain't so bad either read more

The UFO Factory is a small hole in the wall bar that always has something cool going on like live music performances or movie showings. It's definitely more of an alternative/hipster/indie/a little weird but in a good way, hang out spot for all the cool kids. So if you're a cool kid, this is the place for you! There's always people here day or night, and I hear it can get pretty busy and packed some nights but I've never had to experience that... I guess I'm fly like that. They also have a kitchen that's called Laika Dog that serves mainly hot dogs (beef and veggie), grilled cheeses (with real cheese and vegan cheese) salads, fries and tots. They have a weekend brunch too! I haven't been here for brunch but I'll be sure to update this once I do. So let me tell you why the UFO factory is basically heaven on earth. Two reasons: Vegetarian coney dogs AND vegetarian chili cheese fries. I know, say whaaaaaaaat?! Absolutely amazing! I didn't even know I missed coneys that much until I went here and had one... Then ordered another one to go home with. The veggie dogs that they use are superb, they're by Field Roast and taste so good, I literally buy them all the time. I love the ordering process as well! You can sit anywhere you like and at every seat there's a stack of little paper menus and tiny golf pencils. Then you can pick whatever you want by filling in the bubbles like you would on a test. Genius! Order exactly what you want and HOW you want it. They have a whole "build your own" section for the dogs and grilled cheeses but they also have a toppings section for the french fries and tots with different cheeses and toppings like pinot grigio mushrooms and spicy slaw! Like I said, heaven on earth, now all I need is some brunch in my life and I'll be set! read more

UFO Factory - Veggie coney and veggie chili cheese fries! - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Sorry. Went there once and once was enough. (Will probably be persecuted for this). Friday night. The bar seats weren't filled nor were the booths, and no one was standing. DJ "playing" music in 90's crop top sweatshirt. (Setting the mood) Sat at the bar. Asked for crown royal and ginger ale. Received eye rolls. Not available. Okay?? Able to help their regulars first. And by regulars I mean the most pretentious Detroit hipsters you will ever see in your life. Save your self some time, patience, and dignity and go next door to McShanes. read more

The UFO Factory is painted silver on the inside. When bands play there...it looks as if they are standing at the entrance of E.T's UFO. Why does this matter? It matters because if I'm in a band that plays at the UFO Factory, we're going to look great! You should take your band photo on their stage! Besides being great for bands performing...UFO Factory also serves hot dogs and tator tots during the day a la Laika Dog Detroit, who don't seem to mess around (they have a PB and J hot dog). Throw a few quarters into their arcade games for some quick action, or into their brilliantly curated jukebox which plays grade A music from collections that took years of blood and guts to build. I'd give this place a million stars for just being the kind of place I can take my friends from out of town and brag to about. read more

UFO Factory - Colleen Green on stage at The UFO Factory! - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

I don't know why I've avoided this place for so long. I admire the flying saucer sign every time I drive by. Also the neon "cocktails" sign hanging right next to the "hotdogs" one. It always makes me chuckle. The place was all but empty on a Saturday around 5pm, which I thought was funny, but the jukebox was going, so that was cool. The bartender was very friendly and warm, something I wasn't expecting. She explained the food menu, and there were a handful of things that sounded tasty, but we weren't hungry. We got two pours of call whiskey, a pint of PBR, and a rum and pineapple - $17 total, if I recall. Not dirt cheap, but I'd say that's pretty respectable for Detroit. I could see this being a fun place to hang out, especially on a night with live music. read more

So this review is actually for Laika Dog, located inside the UFO Factory. I occasionally find myself craving veggie dogs and veggie chili cheese fries. I mean, it's actually fairly often that I'll crave them, funny as it sounds. Laika Dog offers really tasty dogs (the veggie is a Field Roast Frankfurter) with all kinds of tasty toppings, Get a pre-made option (that general Tso's dog? So good!) or build your own. You really can't go wrong. I only wish they were closer to home. read more

UFO Factory - Selection of veggie dogs and the hot dish side - Music Venues Near Me - Detroit, Michigan

Great lil bar! Great staff, shows, etc. you can tell that a lot of heart and soul went into this place. IUFO factory! It's a small place though so if you're going to a show that's sold out, it can get crowded. read more