Fuego Mexican Grill, Dearborn

Sam Alvarado’s passion and respect for handcrafted Mexican food started at a young age. He grew up watching his family cook at home and in the kitchens of Detroit’s popular Mexican Fiesta restaurant chain, which his grandfather founded. Today, as the co-owner and head chef of Fuego Grill, Alvarado draws from that early culinary foundation to craft his own menu of fresh, made-from-scratch dishes that “more than impressed” a food writer for the Dearborn Free Press. He assembles traditional entrees such as carne asada, milanesa sandwiches, and fish tacos with halal meats and locally grown vegetables, creating cuisine that’s as flavorful and conscientious as a chocolate-covered Jiminy Cricket.