It Should Be Illegal To Drive Through St Ignace, Michigan Without Stopping At Lehto’s Pasties
The Great Lake States has plenty of regional favorites like Mackinac Island fudge, Detroit Style Pizza, and Frankenmuth’s famous chicken dinners. But arguably the most classic Mitten State cuisine are pasties in the Upper Peninsula. You get order one of these tasty treats at this delightful Pasty Shop in St. Ignace, Michigan.
Just over the Mackinac Bridge, you’ll find Lehto’s Pasties in the Upper Peninsula.
One of the original pasty shops in Michigan, Lehto’s Pasties opened in 1947 by Mr. Lehto after serving in WWII and being honorably discharged from the army.
The shop is still family owned and operated and is the perfect place to stop on your way up north. Many locals love this joint and visitors to the Upper Peninsula make it a yearly tradition to stop here.
Pasties are a quintessential Michigan food that everyone needs to try. The pasty's portable nature makes it the perfect road trip snack! In the peak summer months, make sure to arrive earlier in the day before the shop sells out.
Lehto’s pasties consist of chopped beef sirloin, onion, potatoes, and a bit of rutabaga for flavor. Then the pasties are wrapped in a delicate pastry and baked to perfection. You can order them hot, cold, or frozen.
There is no indoor seating but there are plenty of picnic tables outside so you can enjoy the great outdoors. Whether you’re visiting the Upper Peninsula for the first time or you’re a local resident, Lehto’s Pasties is a must-try.
Emily Tieman is a lifelong Michigander and has a love for locally owned small businesses. She is a freelance writer for Only In Your State and has her own vintage content creator business.
