Do you want to learn about the greatest Michigan cuisine? You’ve arrived to the correct location!
There is no question that Michigan residents like eating. Of course, the harsh winter months have a lot to do with it, so it’s no wonder that many people are attracted to eating robust and delectable foods.
It’s as though they need the additional food to stay warm when the weather becomes severe.
Whether you are planning a journey to Michigan for a road trip or to catch a football game, there are many dishes you should not miss.
But, the same may be said about relocating to Michigan. You can’t call yourself a local until you’ve tried all of the city’s delicacies, and there are many!
The Top 5 Restaurants in Michigan
With so many options, deciding on your own must be difficult. That is why I have compiled a list of five Michigan restaurants that you must visit!
Let’s get this party started!
Zingerman’s Delicatessen is a deli in New York City.
Ann Arbor, 422 Detroit St., 734-663-3354
Zingermans is certainly worth the journey if you don’t mind waiting in line for your cuisine. This Ann Arbor institution has long been regarded as the city’s most renowned dining establishment. Moreover, University of Michigan graduates from all across the nation have been known to order meals from Zingermans.
Hence, whichever kind of meat, cheese, and topping combination you prefer, Zingermans has it on the menu.
- Special Diets: Vegetarian-Friendly, Vegan Options, Kosher, and Gluten-Free Options
- Cuisines: American, Deli
The Pegasus Taverna
313-964-0869, 558 Monroe St., Detroit
A journey to Detroit must include a trip in the city’s famed Greektown, which is called after the numerous Greek immigrants who made Detroit their home in the twentieth century, bringing all the delicacies with them.
Pegasus Taverna serves lamb chops with rice and potatoes, as well as Greek classics such pastitsio, spanakotiropita, and moussaka.
- Special Diets: Vegetarian-Friendly, Vegan Options, and Gluten-Free Options.
- Cuisines: Mediterranean, Greek
Mabel Gray’s
Hazel Park, 23825 John R Rd., 248-398-4300
James Rigato’s modest Hazel Park eatery has received both local and national acclaim. The best way to enjoy the little place, however, is to sample its cuisine, allowing Mabel Grey to transform local Michigan ingredients into passionate and tasty storytelling.
Empanadas with red chile and beer-braised Michigan deer, sweet potato, pecorino and chive, octopus a la plancha with mangos, avocado, macadamia nuts, and pickled ginger are among the options. The daily handwritten menu changes, enabling this eatery to build a menu around its abundance of ingredients.
- Special Diets: Vegetarian-Friendly, Vegan Options, and Gluten-Free Options
- Cuisines: American
Voyager
Ferndale, 600 Vester St., 248-658-4999
Just a few miles outside of Detroit, in the Ferndale district, is a quiet, low-key seafood restaurant.
At Voyager, you’ll discover amazing cuisine (try the oysters!) and outstanding service!
- Special Diets: Vegetarian and Gluten-Free Options
- Cuisines: American, Seafood
Cocktails & Chartreuse Kitchen
313-818-3915, 15 E. Kirby St., Suite D, Detroit
This beautiful restaurant near the Detroit Museum of Art is named after the green liqueur of the same name and boasts seven-foot garden installations and an abundance of fresh, local vegetables that fill the menu, from a vibrant Burrata to winter’s soothing squash soup.
The chef at Chartreuse Food And Drinks makes extensive use of items from nearby urban gardens and farms. For the ideal date night, pair these delicious dinners with well selected wines and beverages.
- Special Diets: Vegetarian-Friendly, Vegan Options, and Gluten-Free Options
- Cuisines: American
Michigan’s Finest Cuisine
The Midwest is known for its comfort cuisine, and Michigan is no exception.
From cheesy pizza and sugary drinks in Detroit to fudge and meat-filled pasties in the Upper Peninsula, here’s what to taste when you visit!
Pizza Delivery in Detroit
If you like cheese, this Detroit-style pizza will quickly become your new favorite meal.
Its square, deep-dish, cheesy pizza, first launched in 1946 by a little establishment named Buddys Rendezvous, can now be found all throughout the state.
Coney Island
Coney dogs aren’t unique to Michigan, but like pizza, Detroit puts its own stamp on them. They’re created with a beef hot dog, chili sauce on top, with mustard and onions on the side.
Coneys, which were first introduced to the city by immigrants, are now accessible throughout Detroit and its neighboring suburbs.
Burrito Wet
The wet burrito is well-known on the west side of Michigan but remains a mystery in other areas of the nation.
To make this, take a tortilla and cover it with enchilada sauce and heaps of shredded cheese, resulting in a fantastic wet burrito.
Pasty
Any Michigander will tell you that their wonderful pasty is a state staple. Students eat it for lunch, parents cook it for breakfast and then freeze the leftovers for later, and it is offered at gatherings.
A pasty is a pastry filled with various fillings. Beef, pig, or chicken cooked with carrots, onions, and tomatoes are some of the most popular fillings. Locals also prefer to top their pasties with gravy or ketchup.
This dish, like the pizza I described before, is available almost anywhere in Michigan.
Rye Bread with a Double Bake
In Michigan, double-baked rye bread is as popular as bagels in New York. This form of rye bread is unlike any other and was initially made in the 1950s by Jack Goldberg, proprietor of Stage & Co. Deli. Steven, his son, carried on the family heritage.
The seedless rye bread is cooked for approximately 80 percent of the way, then finished with a golden, crispy surface and a soft, but firm middle. It’s often combined with corned beef and other deli meats.
Chicken Almond Boneless
While Americanized Chinese cuisine is not traditional Asian fare, one specific dish has become a favorite Michigan Chinese meal.
Almond Boneless Chicken is a deep-fried, crispy boneless chicken dish topped with a rich, dark brown mushroom sauce, crushed almonds, and scallions atop iceberg lettuce.
While the dish’s origins are uncertain, it has been a mainstay on most Chinese restaurant menus in southeastern Michigan for decades.
Whitefish
Michigan, surrounded by the Great Lakes, offers an abundance of tasty fish. Whitefish is a popular local catch in Lake Charlevoix. This wonderful semi-seasonal destination is located in the northern section of the state, where many Michigan residents spend the summer.
Freshly caught whitefish may be eaten in a variety of ways, including fish-and-chips, pan-roasted, and even as a dip. Yet, locals believe that smoking the fish is the finest way to savor it.
Dinty Moore’s
It’s no surprise that Detroit has a deli sandwich named after it. This massive triple-decker sandwich is piled high with corned beef, thick Russian dressing, crisp shredded lettuce, and juicy tomato.
It’s wonderful and filling, and it’s worth a try!
Chipati
Those outside of Ann Arbor may not be as enthusiastic about the Chipati as the locals. Yet, this straightforward salad of lettuce, mushrooms, cheese, and peppers wrapped in a thick, enormous, freshly baked, and still-warm pita is a must-try.
The key lies in the sauce, which is used as both a dressing and a dip for the bread. Nobody has verified that the sauce is a combination of spicy sauce, ketchup, and ranch dressing.
Salad with Greek dressing
The Greek immigrant community in Detroit is so large that it’s no wonder that Greek eateries, sometimes known as Coney Islands, are packed everywhere in the state. They mostly provided hot dogs, chili, and fries, but they subsequently added another Michigan specialty, the Greek salad.
The Michigan favorite toppers are freshly cut lettuce with crumbled feta cheese and beets, peperoncini, cucumbers, garbanzo beans, olives, and tomatoes, as opposed to the no-lettuce version found in Greek restaurants.
Michiganders add grilled onions, gyro meat, or grilled chicken to their versions. In addition, each Coney Island makes its own Greek dressing.
Sandwich Cudighi
Cudighi sausage is mostly made and served in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, despite its origins in northern Italy. Ground pork shoulder is seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, red wine, garlic, allspice, and red pepper flakes, and then black pepper is added to enhance the tastes even more.
The sausage is often served in a sandwich with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella on a bread roll. These excellent sandwiches are available at most pizza establishments and restaurants in the neighborhood, and are occasionally served with fried onions, sautéed mushrooms, or roasted peppers.
Surprisingly, it was Italian immigrants who initially made the sausage, which was originally named gudighi, and the story says that they derived it from cotechino, a fresh Italian sausage.
Pinconning
Pinconning is an American semi-hard Colby-style cheese. It was called after Pinconning, Michigan, where Dan Horn invented it in 1915. Pinconning cheese is kept for up to 120 months, giving it a distinct savory taste.
It’s prepared from cow’s milk and comes in mild, medium mild, medium sharp, sharp, extra harsh, and super sharp flavors.
The texture varies with age, but it is often creamy, rich, and open. It’s best used in meals like mac and cheese and soufflés.
Burger with Olives
The olive burger is a sort of American burger that originated in Michigan. Ground beef, oil, white buns, mayonnaise, and pitted green olives are used to make it. The beef patties are fried, then coated with an olive and mayonnaise combination before being put in a burger bun with no additional condiments.
Some people prefer to add a little olive brine to the olive-mayo mixture, while others spread the mayonnaise on a bun and top the patties with olives.
Several individuals argue about the origins of this burger, with some claiming that Olympic Broil in Lansing created the first olive burger in the 1960s. Some claim it was created much earlier at Grand Rapids’ Kewpee Hotel Hamburgs.
Cherries
Every summer, this Cherry Capital of the World has a national cherry festival, with a week filled with festivities commemorating this delectable red fruit.
Michigan produces more than 75 percent of the nation’s tart cherry harvest. There are several cherry orchards in the neighborhood, and various stores specialize in cherry-based goods such as marmalades, sweets, and salsa.
Poutine
Poutine is a delicious combination of fries and fried cheese curds covered with brown gravy. Despite its Canadian origins, this wonderful and very flavorful meal is a comfort food that can be found across Michigan.
Poutine has evolved into an upgraded dish that can be cooked in a variety of ways, including toppings and taste combinations. As a result, Poutine is becoming its own food category.
Conclusion
When it comes to unique cuisine culture, Michigan has a lot to offer. From deep-dish pizzas and burritos to all types of sweets, the state is home to numerous distinct cuisines known for their originality and deliciousness.
Visitors may enjoy much more than a dining experience because to the many festivals and cultural distinctions. Instead, these meals are an experience in and of themselves, making Michigan savory cuisine renowned across the globe.
Have you ever tried any of the above-mentioned dishes or restaurants? Please share your thoughts in the comments box below, and don’t forget to check out the articles I’m going to recommend!
Chelsea, Michigan’s Top 5 Restaurants.
The 5 Best Restaurants in Holland, Michigan.
7 Lansing Restaurants You Should Try.
11 Upper Peninsula Restaurants and Bars You Must Visit.
The Top 7 Traverse City Restaurants
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10 Must-Try Restaurants in Grand Rapids
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The Finest Pizza in Holland, Michigan
The Greatest Sushi in Holland, Michigan
The Best Thai Food in Holland, Michigan