If you’re anything like us, your plans are motivated by one important detail: food. Sure the sights are fun to check out, yes nature and historical landmarks are wonderful to immerse yourself in. But if you aren’t tantalized by the new and interesting cuisines you encounter, then the travel experience is just, well… lacking.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled the ultimate Michigan foodie road trip. Some spots are critically acclaimed, while others are local hidden gems that you need to taste for yourself before you can say you’ve actually been to a place. Meant to be completed over a three-day course, we’ve got your dining itinerary covered all over the Mitten. To get to the complete map, click here.
Google Maps
- Rose’s Fine Food, Detroit
Photo By Serena Maria Daniels Start your day off right with a hearty and healthy breakfast. You’ll find just that at Rose’s Fine Food, a tiny diner on the city’s east side. You’ll be enticed by garlicky greens, fresh, house-made bread, and delectable pastries. Plus, you’ll rest assured that by eating here, you’re supporting a living wage for the servers, who earn well above the minimum wage.
- Al Ameer Restaurant, Dearborn
Edsel Little/Flickr You haven’t had a true Michigan dining experience without trying some authentic Middle Eastern food. And you haven’t had the quintessential Middle Eastern cuisine if you haven’t stopped in at the James Beard Award winning Al Ameer. It’s a true Dearborn legend.
- Frita Batidos, Ann Arbor
Jes P./Yelp Mmmm, burgers. Better yet, burgers with a Cuban twist. Add a little spice with chorizo, a little flair with black beans, and a sweet Carribean treat with a tropical milkshake, made with coconut milk.
- Roxy Cafe, Jackson
Roxy Cafe/Facebook Get into the small town charm of Jackson with a breakfast at old school diner, Roxy Cafe. You’ll find a variety of egg and omelet platters and even veggie-friendly options for the vegetarian in your life.
- Food Dance, Kalamazoo
D K./Yelp Cured meats, artisan cheeses, scrumptious comfort foods, and chef-driven American dishes… All a good combo for a power lunch while you power through the state.
- HopCat, Grand Rapids
Jon R./Yelp Because you’ve been hearing about all the Michigan craft beers that are making waves, go to HotCat, where you’ll get to sample a huge mix of them. Top it off with a number of gourmet bar bites and, better yet, the spot’s famous Crack Fries, and your dinner is complete.
- Bungalow Inn, Manistee
Bungalow/Facebook It’s a steakhouse, but it’s so much more. Considered one of the best breakfast joints around Manistee, you’ll be guaranteed a nice variety of daily first meal specials, no matter what day you go.
- Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay
Black Star Farms/Facebook You can’t travel to northern Michigan without taking a wine tasting detroit. And at Black Star Farms, you’ll find the perfect balance of wine tasting, dining, checking out the meticulous grounds, and chilling out on its terrace patio.
- The Cook’s House, Traverse City
The Cook’s House Make sure to plan ahead and make reservations at this special place. You won’t regret it. The vegetables are always super fresh, the presentation is exquisite and guests have a chance to get a sampling of all the culinary goodness from the tasting menu.
Now this is a trip we can get behind. The best of both worlds, travel and food! We know we still have a lot of ground to cover though. Tell us though, what should we add to our list next time?
Google Maps
Photo By Serena Maria Daniels
Start your day off right with a hearty and healthy breakfast. You’ll find just that at Rose’s Fine Food, a tiny diner on the city’s east side. You’ll be enticed by garlicky greens, fresh, house-made bread, and delectable pastries. Plus, you’ll rest assured that by eating here, you’re supporting a living wage for the servers, who earn well above the minimum wage.
Edsel Little/Flickr
You haven’t had a true Michigan dining experience without trying some authentic Middle Eastern food. And you haven’t had the quintessential Middle Eastern cuisine if you haven’t stopped in at the James Beard Award winning Al Ameer. It’s a true Dearborn legend.
Jes P./Yelp
Mmmm, burgers. Better yet, burgers with a Cuban twist. Add a little spice with chorizo, a little flair with black beans, and a sweet Carribean treat with a tropical milkshake, made with coconut milk.
Roxy Cafe/Facebook
Get into the small town charm of Jackson with a breakfast at old school diner, Roxy Cafe. You’ll find a variety of egg and omelet platters and even veggie-friendly options for the vegetarian in your life.
D K./Yelp
Cured meats, artisan cheeses, scrumptious comfort foods, and chef-driven American dishes… All a good combo for a power lunch while you power through the state.
Jon R./Yelp
Because you’ve been hearing about all the Michigan craft beers that are making waves, go to HotCat, where you’ll get to sample a huge mix of them. Top it off with a number of gourmet bar bites and, better yet, the spot’s famous Crack Fries, and your dinner is complete.
Bungalow/Facebook
It’s a steakhouse, but it’s so much more. Considered one of the best breakfast joints around Manistee, you’ll be guaranteed a nice variety of daily first meal specials, no matter what day you go.
Black Star Farms/Facebook
You can’t travel to northern Michigan without taking a wine tasting detroit. And at Black Star Farms, you’ll find the perfect balance of wine tasting, dining, checking out the meticulous grounds, and chilling out on its terrace patio.
The Cook’s House
Make sure to plan ahead and make reservations at this special place. You won’t regret it. The vegetables are always super fresh, the presentation is exquisite and guests have a chance to get a sampling of all the culinary goodness from the tasting menu.
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