The Best Things to Eat in Michigan

Life

The Best Things to Eat in Michigan

Life

cups of freshly picked cherries lined up besides each other on a red table surface, famous in Traverse City Michigan

The Best Things to Eat in Michigan

Life

a restaurant setting in Detroit, Michigan with a bar seating arrangement and a pizza oven

From mesmerizing landscapes to flavorful cuisine, there’s a lot to enjoy in Michigan. It’s home to various fine dining establishments, championship golf courses, serene lakes, and luxurious ski resorts, meaning it’s an all-season destination. The Midwest is famous for its comfort food, and Michigan exemplifies that. Expect delicious pizzas, warm fudge, and local delicacies, such as coney dogs and Traverse City cherries.

After you’ve enjoyed a meal at one of the state’s heavenly restaurants or market squares, you can enjoy the luxury of playing online poker and various other online casino games. Read on to find out more about the best food in Michigan.

What Food is Michigan Known For?

So, when in Michigan, what food should you look out for? Here’s a list of the state’s most popular food:

Detroit-Style Pizza

Famous for its baked crust, soft dough, and crunchy exterior, a Detroit-style pizza is a deep dish masterpiece. While other states and countries try to replicate its taste and texture, many argue that there’s no tastier alternative to Detroit’s.

Unlike Italian pizza, Detroit-style pizza — a lunchtime favorite with city workers — is served as a square and can be bought at many on-the-go pizzerias.

Coney Dogs

Homemade Detroit style Coney dogs on a wooden board

Unique to Michigan, a coney dog comprises a beef hot dog topped with diced white onions, yellow mustard, and a special chili sauce. It’s usually served in a warm-soft bun. 

Many experts believe that Macedonian and Greek migrants first created coney dogs in the early 1900s. Although it’s traditionally from Michigan, the recipe has spread throughout America, most notably to New York. 

Frankenmuth Chicken

As the name suggests, Frankenmuth Chicken originated in Frankenmuth, Michigan. What makes it so special is its tenderness; the juicy texture of the chicken comes from it being coated in an egg wash, flour, and cracker meal. From here, it’s placed in a fryer, where it’ll cook for a few minutes.

For those wanting to try it, you’ll only find it in Frankenmuth, Michigan. 

Pasties

homemade Upper Michigan cornish pasty meat pie on a wooden board with a small dish of ketchup

Similarly to Cornwall in the United Kingdom, Michigan — specifically the Upper Peninsula — is well-known for its savory pasties. Within the state, there’s a variety of pasty restaurants. 

When choosing a pasty, you’ll usually have three meat options: beef, chicken, or pork. Each one is filled with potatoes, carrots, and other hearty fillings. 

Because they’re easy to transport and filled with much-needed nutrition, pasties were popular with miners. From there, they spread throughout the state and are now enjoyed among blue and white-collar workers alike. You can easily find Michigan pasties throughout the country state in venues such as Toni’s Country Kitchen situated in Laurium, Michigan.

But it’s not just in Michigan where you can enjoy a pasty. Many bakeries from New York to New Jersey (NJ) boast them on their menu. For instance, Dot’s Pastry Shop in NJ, regarded to be one the most popular places to eat in Ocean City, offers fresh and delicious pasties that never disappoint.

Mackinac Island Fudge

If you strolled through the mesmerizing Mackinac Island, alongside its stunning beaches, you’d discover an array of boutique cafés, restaurants, and fudge shops. The aroma of warm fudge will leave your mouth watering.

The island has a variety of fudge shops, all offering a wide range of options, including pistachio pecan, chocolate mint, peanut butter, and Michigan cherry chocolate.

Traverse City Cherries

When thinking of Michigan and food, few will envision cherries as one of the state’s delicacies. Although, within Michigan, one place has become renowned for its divine and dark-red cherries — Traverse City. With most of the state’s cherry production based in the area and neighboring farms, you can only find them in the city.

Fresh, sweet, and full of flavor, many restaurants in Traverse City offer unique and exciting ways to eat them, and they often feature in salads, chicken dishes, hamburgers, and baked goods. 

Top Restaurants in Michigan

Although Michigan isn’t home to any Michelin-star restaurants, there certainly is no shortage of fine dining options. The best restaurants in Michigan are in the Detroit area and include Besa, Oak and Reel, Mabel Gray, and Forest Grill.

Play Casino Games at Borgata Online

Once you’ve done the rounds of the best places to eat in Michigan, why not sign up with Borgata Online and gamble online? Register today and enjoy a selection of skill games, themed tables, social games, and live dealers. From baccarat, poker, and bingo to roulette and blackjack, play from anywhere, at any time.