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STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — For restaurateur Maria Aldana, opening Raíces Mexican Cantina was about more than serving authentic Mexican cuisine. It was about creating a space where guests could experience the culture, traditions and flavors that shaped her life growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Located at 44805 Mound Road in Sterling Heights, Raíces opened in May 2025. Eater Detroit later included the restaurant in its roundup of notable new metro Detroit restaurant openings, highlighting its authentic Mexican menu, tequila flights and handcrafted margaritas.
The restaurant’s name, “Raíces,” translates to “roots” in Spanish and, according to C&G Newspapers, reflects Aldana’s mission to honor her Mexican heritage through the food she creates in her restaurant.
“Mexican gastronomy is a beautiful process that comes from our seasonings, our herbs and the vegetables we serve,” Aldana told C&G Newspapers, adding that many of her peppers and other spices are imported from Mexico.
According to the restaurant’s website, Raíces offers a menu centered on traditional Mexican cuisine, including tacos, fajitas, burritos and quesabirria, along with a wide selection of tequila, mezcal and handcrafted cocktails. The restaurant also hosts happy hour, private events and catering services.
The restaurant has also gained attention from local food writers. MI Foodie Adventures highlighted Raíces’ colorful dining room, traditional menu and authentic flavors.
Aldana has also shared the inspiration behind the restaurant on social media.
“Food is more than what we eat,” Aldana said in a recent Facebook Reel. “It’s how we celebrate, connect and remember where we come from. … Recipes nourish the body, stories nourish the soul.”
In an interview with the City of Sterling Heights earlier this year, Aldana said those roots are reflected throughout the restaurant, from its décor to its cuisine.
“It’s seasonings, it’s herbs, it’s music, it’s art, and it’s all kinds of things,” Aldana said. “Everything comes from the ground, comes up, it gets real, and it goes back to a seed.”
She said that philosophy is also reflected in the restaurant’s logo, which features two upturned hands meant to represent the hands that transform those ingredients into the food served to guests.
