These 11 Amazing Michigan Restaurants Will Make Your Taste Buds Explode
Michigan restaurants just might be the unsung heroes of the food scene. Known more for greasy Coney Island hotdogs or Detroit-style deep dish than farm-to-table fine dining, it’s easy to overlook the Mitten State’s culinary offerings. But don’t let that fool you. Michigan has some of the best-kept food secrets around and it’s worth uncovering them. Here’s a list of spots you may or may not have heard of that make Michigan special.
11) Zingerman’s Delicatessan in Ann Arbor is a top-rated sandwich shop that feels like so much more. Could be because President Barack Obama has made it a regular stop while he’s in town. Maybe it’s the famous Reuben. Or the endless array of meats and cheeses behind the deli counter. You decide.
10) Sleder’s Family Tavern in Traverse City has been around since 1882, even during prohibition, reason enough to check out this storied establishment.
9) Michigan is home to the largest Middle Eastern population outside of the Middle East. So it should come as little surprise that the state would also be home to some of the best such cuisine around, with menus strongly influenced by the flavors of Lebanon. One of the most beloved Middle Eastern restaurants can be found in at Al-Ameer Restaurant, with two Metro Detroit locations.
8) Pick a team – American or Lafayette Coney Island. No matter which of these institutions you pledge allegiance to, you’ll be fueling a generations-long rivalry for best Michigan-style Coney Island hotdogs.
7) There’s always a long wait to get seated at Slows Bar BQ, the iconic Detroit barbecue joint but it's worth it for the ribs, signature sauces and mac and cheese. Plus, a huge selection of Michigan craft beers.
5) Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger Ann Arbor is quite possibly home to Michigan's best burger. Better known simply as Blimpy’s, this place has been flipping patties for more than 60 years.
4) Chef James Rigato has in many ways put Michigan’s modern dining scene on the map with The Root Restaurant & Bar in White Lake. The menu is locally sourced from Michigan farmers, brewers and more.
3) Pizza at The Ambassador in Houghton is an Upper Peninsula icon and noshing a pie from there comes as natural as stopping in at region’s many pasty shops.
2) Frankenmuth, Mich. is a German-themed town famous for its Bronner's 365-day Christmas store. While you're in town, make sure to stop at Bavarian Inn, famous for its all-you-can-eat fried chicken and, what else, German beer.
1) Speaking of pasty shops, Lawry’s Pasty Shop is one of the Upper Peninsula's most popular and can be found in the town of Ishpeming. For the uninitiated, a pasty is a hand-formed, dough crescent filled with beef and other savory goodness that’s a specialty of locals in the UP.
As you can see, Michigan restaurants are chock full of diversity. But this is, by no means, a complete list of all the tasty goodness the Great Lakes State has to offer. Tell us what are some of your favorite restaurants unique to Michigan.
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Serena Maria Daniels is an award-winning freelance journalist in Detroit, by way of Chicago, by way of the West Coast. She writes about Michigan for OIYS. Serena enjoys learning about language and culture and taking road trips with her beagle Ralph.
