Ann Arbor Restaurants & Dining
165 articles
Restaurant openings and closings, seasonal guides, profiles, and other reported stories from across Ann Arbor.
VinBar Poured Only Michigan Wine at 111 West Liberty. Nothing Has Replaced It.
Three Leelanau Peninsula wineries ran one downtown room under three separate tasting-room licenses. Current Magazine reported the closing in March 2019.
VinBar spent about five years at 111 W Liberty pouring wine from three Leelanau wineries and nothing else. Current Magazine reported the closing in March 2019.
Michigan Blueberry Season Starts in July
The fresh window runs into fall, and southwest Michigan remains the center of commercial production.
Fresh Michigan blueberries are generally available from July through October. Here is how to find U-pick farms, shop locally, and freeze the fruit safely.
Tomukun Keeps Noodles and Korean Barbecue Side by Side
The East Liberty operation runs a noodle bar and a separate tabletop-grill dining room at the same address.
Tomukun's East Liberty address combines a compact noodle bar with a separate Korean barbecue room next door.
Zingerman's Deli Is Still the Center of the Zingerman's Network
The Detroit Street deli opened in 1982 and remains the public-facing anchor of a much larger Ann Arbor food business.
Zingerman's Delicatessen opened on Detroit Street in 1982. Its sandwiches, specialty-grocery shelves, and local production network still define the wider business.
Zingerman's Mail Order Connects Ann Arbor Production to a National Catalog
The Phoenix Drive business ships bread, coffee, candy, pantry goods, and gift boxes from one online storefront.
Zingerman's Mail Order brings products from several Ann Arbor businesses into one national shipping and gift-box operation.
Zingerman's Roadhouse Is Built for the Big Table
The Jackson Avenue restaurant organizes its menu around regional American cooking, barbecue, and a full-service dining room.
Zingerman's Roadhouse is the full-service restaurant in the Zingerman's network, with fried chicken, barbecue, macaroni and cheese, and a large Jackson Avenue dining room.
B2A2: Echelon's Smash Burger
The South Main kitchen brings a burger to a restaurant built around seasonal wood-fired cooking.
Echelon's burger belongs in the Ann Arbor conversation, but its current ingredients and price should be confirmed from the live menu before publication.
Ji Hye Kim's Two Kerrytown Restaurants Serve Different Jobs
Miss Kim remains the full-service anchor; Little Kim turns Kim's vegetarian work into counter service and a small market.
Ji Hye Kim now runs two distinct Kerrytown restaurants: the full-service Miss Kim and the all-vegetarian, counter-service Little Kim.
Michigan Peach Season: What to Know in 2026
The state's season can run from July into September. In 2026, timing and crop size will vary considerably by orchard.
Michigan peaches can arrive in July and continue into September. Here is the verified 2026 crop context, where to check locally and how to store or preserve the fruit safely.
B2A2: Grizzly Peak
Entry twelve fills the gap the series has been ignoring. The Ann Arbor brewpub burger is its own category.
The B2A2 series reaches the Ann Arbor brewpub. Grizzly Peak has been at Washington and Ashley long enough to be taken for granted. Entry twelve asks whether the pub burger holds up.
Michigan Wine Country Is Worth the Drive
Old Mission and Leelanau peninsulas produce some of the best Riesling in the country. Ann Arbor is four hours from most of it.
Michigan's two wine peninsulas north of Traverse City are producing Riesling, Pinot Noir, and cold-climate reds worth knowing about. A guide to planning the trip from southeast Michigan.
Michigan Cherry Season, Explained
Fresh cherries run from late June into August, and the 2026 National Cherry Festival ends July 11.
Michigan grows most of the U.S. tart-cherry supply. Here are the verified 2026 festival dates, the difference between tart and sweet cherries, and safe storage guidance.
Ann Arbor's Korean Food Scene Arrived, and It Came With a Point of View
Three restaurants, two chefs, and a cuisine that now has enough critical mass to actually argue with itself.
Miss Kim, Little Kim, and Bori Korean Kitchen & Bar have turned Ann Arbor into a city with a real Korean food conversation. That is a different thing from having one good Korean restaurant.
The Slice: Mid-Series Rankings
Five pizzerias in. Two styles evaluated. One ranking that's going to upset someone.
Five entries into The Slice, the best pizza series has a wood-fired Neapolitan at the top, a delivery kitchen defending its own category, and an argument that is not as settled as it looks.
B2A2: Sava's
Entry eleven asks what eighteen years of Ann Arbor kitchen experience does with a single burger.
The B2A2 series returns to State Street. Sava's has been at 216 S State St for eighteen years. The question: does the full-service kitchen behind one of Ann Arbor's most durable restaurants make a burger worth ranking?
The Slice: Pizza House
Entry six visits the 2 a.m. institution on Church Street. The question isn't whether it competes with Mani. It's whether it does what it does as well as anything in the city.
The Slice entry six covers Pizza House at 618 Church St. The deep dish, the breadsticks, the late-night delivery window. This is not the most refined pizza in Ann Arbor. It is the most reliable.
The Best Vietnamese Food in Ann Arbor
Pho on South Main, shaking beef on East Liberty, and a banh mi shop that sold 1,700 sandwiches its opening weekend.
Ann Arbor's Vietnamese scene is smaller than it should be, but the restaurants here are the real thing. Dalat for traditional pho, Saigon Social House for a full dinner, Paris Banh Mi for the sandwich.
Ann Arbor Farmers Market: What to Buy in July
Cherries are here, blueberries are starting, and the Wednesday market is running.
A current July guide to Ann Arbor Farmers Market hours, payment options, and the Michigan produce coming into season.
Summer Dining in Ann Arbor
Patios, cold dishes, new openings, and the farmers market at its peak. A guide to eating well in the city this summer.
Ann Arbor eats differently in summer. The campus crowd thins out, the patios open, and the farmers market peaks. A guide to where to sit, what to order, and which new openings are worth your attention.
Two Blocks on South Main Are Having Ann Arbor's Best Year
From 200 to 320 S Main St, something real has happened to the city's most concentrated restaurant corridor.
Echelon has a James Beard semifinalist citation. Tabe Fusion runs three floors at 209. Bori Korean Kitchen sits above Jolly Pumpkin, and a tiki bar runs under a fine dining restaurant. South Main is having a year.
The Pour: Mid-Series Rankings
Five bars in. The Last Word holds. Everything else is an argument.
The Pour has evaluated five Washtenaw County cocktail bars. Here's where the rankings stand, what changed across entries, and what the series still needs to settle.
The Grind: All Six Entries, Ranked and Defended
Six coffee shops in. RoosRoast holds. The middle is the argument.
The Grind has evaluated all six Ann Arbor coffee shops in its first round. Here are the final rankings, with the reasoning behind every placement and the live arguments the series hasn't fully settled.
The Pour: Hunã Tiki Bar
Entry 5. The best rum program in Washtenaw County runs in a basement. The series has to decide what that's worth.
Entry 5 of The Pour goes underground on South Main. Hunã Tiki Bar is rum-forward and serious about it, which puts the series in an interesting position: how do you rank a specialist against generalists?
Where to Eat in Ann Arbor Over Memorial Day Weekend
The students have left. The patios are open. The restaurants are not booked solid for once. A short guide to making the most of it.
Memorial Day weekend 2026 lands on May 23-25. Ann Arbor empties out when the semester ends, which means empty bar stools, open patios, and reservations you can actually get. Here's where to go.
The Grind: Argus Farm Stop
Entry 6. Good coffee inside a food market. The ranking has to decide whether that context is a feature or an excuse.
The sixth entry in The Grind visits Argus Farm Stop at 325 W Liberty St, where the coffee is sourced from Michigan roasters and served at a counter inside a local food market. The cup is good. The question is what that means in a coffee ranking.
The Pour: Spencer
Entry 4. The best gimlet in the county comes from a bar that doesn't call itself one.
Spencer is a wine shop first, a restaurant second, and a cocktail bar third. The cocktail program is the best argument for why that order of priorities produces drinks other bars can't.
The Best Sandwiches in Ann Arbor
By bread type: rye, baguette, pita, hoagie roll, and the soft bun. What makes each one worth eating.
The best sandwiches in Ann Arbor, organized by bread: the Reuben on Bakehouse rye at Zingerman's, bánh mì at Paris Banh Mi, falafel pita at Jerusalem Garden, Italian subs at Sottini's, and more.
The Grind: Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea
Entry 5. Thirty-plus years in Ann Arbor, a tea list that runs to over 100 varieties, and the question of whether scale is a credential or a liability.
The fifth entry in The Grind visits Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea, the local chain that Eva and James Amburgey founded in Ann Arbor in 1993. The tea program is the differentiator. The ranking is the argument.
The Fold: BTB Burrito
The taco series returns to Ann Arbor for the campus counter that stays open when everyone else has gone home.
The Fold Entry #6 covers BTB Burrito on South State Street, where tacos are built fast, priced low, and served until the kind of hours that the rest of the series never attempted.
The Grind: Vertex Coffee Roasters
Entry 4. A queer-owned roaster at the edge of campus with a coffee flight program that has no equivalent in Ann Arbor.
The fourth entry in The Grind visits Vertex Coffee Roasters at 1335 S University Ave, where Kara and Mackenzie Soto have built a coffee program around flights, flash-chilled coffee, and a roastery in Milan that supplies everything in the cup.
The Pour: Black Pearl
Entry 3. A seventeen-year-old martini program playing second violin to the seafood is still better than most bars' entire repertoire.
The third entry in The Pour evaluates Black Pearl's cocktail program, where the martini list is the signature and the drinks are built around a kitchen rather than a concept.
The Best Wine Bars in Ann Arbor
Spencer set the standard. Here's the full picture of what the city's wine scene actually looks like.
Ann Arbor's wine bar scene is smaller than you might expect, but what's here is genuinely good. Spencer is the benchmark. Beyond it, a Spanish sherry list, a vinyl listening room, and a wine shop that carries bottles you can't find anywhere else in the county.
The Grind: Comet Coffee
Entry 3. In Nickels Arcade, a counter, three roasters on rotation, and the best cortado in Ann Arbor.
The third entry in The Grind visits Comet Coffee at 16 Nickels Arcade, where Jim Saborio has spent sixteen years proving that a short menu and a small room are an advantage, not a concession.
B2A2: Grange Kitchen & Bar
Entry ten visits the farm-sourced table on West Liberty. The burger is made like the rest of the menu: with the full weight of where everything came from.
The tenth B2A2 entry visits Grange Kitchen & Bar at 118 W Liberty. A farm-sourced kitchen applies the same sourcing philosophy to a burger. The result is what it should be.
The Best Japanese Food in Ann Arbor
Ramen and sushi are just the entry points. Here is where the Japanese dining scene actually holds up.
Ann Arbor's Japanese food scene is small but real. Slurping Turtle's izakaya format, Tabe Fusion's omakase counter, Azalea's Nikkei approach, and the long-running restaurants that don't get enough credit. All of it, honestly assessed.
Everest Sherpa: Ann Arbor's Only Nepali Restaurant
The only kitchen in town doing momos, thukpa, and dal bhat -- open in a strip mall off Ann Arbor-Saline Road since 2017.
Everest Sherpa at 2803 Oak Valley Dr is Ann Arbor's only Nepali restaurant, serving momo dumplings, thukpa noodle soup, and dal bhat alongside familiar Indian dishes since 2017. Nothing else in town does this cuisine.
The Grind: Espy Cafe
Entry 2. On-source roasting, handmade ceramics, and an espresso pulled on a $6,000 machine. The newcomer makes its case.
The second entry in The Grind visits Espy Cafe at 404 W Huron St, where the roasting program, the room, and the no-tip labor model all have something to prove.
The Pour: 312 Underground
Entry 2. The strongest seasonal program in Ann Arbor runs in a room most people don't know exists.
The second entry in The Pour goes underground. 312 Underground on South Main runs a seasonal cocktail program that changes fast enough to punish inattention, in a room that the street-level foot traffic has no idea is there.
The Best Lunch Spots in Ann Arbor
Counter service and sit-down, quick bites and long tables, under $10 and over $20. The midday meal, covered.
The best places to eat lunch in Ann Arbor, organized by what you're actually in the mood for: fast counter service, proper sit-down, international options, and spots worth the walk.
Gluten-Free Dining in Ann Arbor
A practical guide to restaurants that actually do it well, not just restaurants that happen to have one GF option.
From Korean rice bowls to Palestinian mezze, Ann Arbor has more genuinely gluten-free-friendly restaurants than most people realize. This guide separates the solid options from the token gestures.
Where to Eat Near the Michigan Theater
Pre-show and post-show dining on Liberty, State, and the blocks in between.
The Michigan Theater anchors one of the best dining corridors in Ann Arbor. Here's where to eat before and after the show on East Liberty and the surrounding blocks.
The Cellar Is Gone
Grizzly Peak's basement bar was underutilized and a little eccentric. That was most of the point.
The basement bar under Grizzly Peak on Washington Street has been replaced by The Ranch Honky Tonk. The frosé is gone. The particular kind of afternoon it made possible is gone with it.
Best Steakhouses in Ann Arbor and Detroit
A guide to the steaks worth driving for, from South Main Street to the metro.
Ann Arbor has two dedicated steakhouses that have nothing in common except good beef. Detroit's steakhouse scene is thinner than its broader dining reputation. Here's where to eat.
Where to Eat for Ann Arbor Graduation 2026
Reservations are gone if you wait another week. Here is what to book, what to walk into, and how to feed a table of ten without a plan.
University of Michigan commencement weekend fills every reservation in Ann Arbor by late April. A practical guide to the celebratory dinner, the family lunch, the drinks after, and what to do if you waited too long.
B2A2: Zingerman's Roadhouse Burger
Entry eight goes to Jackson Avenue, where fried chicken is king and the burger is made with beef from regional farms on a Bakehouse bun.
The eighth entry in our Best Burger in Ann Arbor series visits Zingerman's Roadhouse. The $21 burger uses beef from regional farms, a house-made Bakehouse bun, and a kitchen philosophy built on ingredient obsession.
Michigan Morel Season: Timing, Safety and Buying
Michigan's morel season can run from late April into mid-June. Identification and food safety matter more than any recipe.
Michigan's morel season is longer and more variable than a three-week window. Here is what state agencies say about timing, identification, buying, storing and cooking them safely.
The Grind: RoosRoast
Entry 1. Twenty years of roasting in Ann Arbor, and the Lobster Butter Love is still the one.
The first entry in The Grind visits RoosRoast at 1155 Rosewood St, where the Lobster Butter Love espresso sets the benchmark and the room earns every return visit.
Best Breakfast Burritos in Ann Arbor
Where to find a burrito worth eating in the morning, and one reason to wait until 11.
A guide to the best breakfast burritos in Ann Arbor, from RoosRoast's small but serious morning option to the BTB counter on South State. Plus one burrito worth delaying breakfast for.
The Grind: Best Coffee in Ann Arbor
A running series evaluating Ann Arbor's coffee shops one at a time. One drink, one room, one honest read.
The Grind is a new Plate & Press series: one coffee shop, one drink, one honest evaluation. Starting with RoosRoast on Rosewood, working through every serious coffee program in Ann Arbor worth arguing about.
The Best BBQ in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County
Ann Arbor is not a BBQ town. But between Chelsea, South State Street, and Packard, there's more smoked meat worth knowing about than most people realize.
Best BBQ in Ann Arbor: from Smokehouse 52 in Chelsea to Zingerman's Roadhouse pit ribs to Biercamp's smoked meats and Ricewood's brisket bowls, Washtenaw County has a BBQ scene worth navigating.
B2A2: Jolly Pumpkin
Entry seven takes the burger to a wood-fired kitchen that has been making its own sour ales since before the brewing boom made everyone feel good about it.
The seventh B2A2 entry visits Jolly Pumpkin on South Main. The wood-fired burger is better than it has any right to be given everything else this kitchen is known for.
The Best Seafood in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor is a long way from any coast. Here is where to find fish worth eating anyway.
A landlocked college town is not where you expect to find serious seafood. Ann Arbor has a few places doing it right anyway, from Japanese sushi and Nikkei ceviches to halibut, fish tacos, and miso-glazed fish.
The Pour: The Last Word
Entry 1. Why the bar that started this series is still the one every other bar has to answer for.
The first entry in The Pour visits The Last Word on West Huron, where the namesake cocktail is the best version in Washtenaw County and the room delivers the speakeasy idea as craft instead of costume.
Ann Arbor Wasn't Invited to the Michelin Party. That's Not the Whole Story.
The guide went to Detroit, not here. The reason matters more than the outcome.
When Michelin announced its Great Lakes edition, Ann Arbor wasn't on the list. The reason is less about the food and more about what a Michelin guide actually requires.
Azalea Brings Nikkei Cooking to South Main Street
The restaurant beneath the Blue Llama combines Japanese and Peruvian traditions in a contemporary dinner format.
Azalea at 312 S Main St is a contemporary Nikkei restaurant blending Japanese and Peruvian traditions beneath the Blue Llama Jazz Club.
The Pour: Best Cocktail Bar in Washtenaw County
A running series evaluating the county's serious cocktail programs, one drink at a time.
The Pour is a new Plate & Press series: one bar, one drink, one honest evaluation. Starting with The Last Word on West Huron, working through every cocktail bar in Washtenaw County worth arguing about.
Where to Find the Food Trucks: A 2026 Season Guide
The trucks, the lots, the lunch windows. Everything you need to eat well on four wheels this spring and summer.
A practical guide to Ann Arbor's food truck season. Where the trucks park, when they're open, what to eat, and how to track the rotating lineup.
Afternoon Delight Has Fed Ann Arbor Breakfast Since 1978
Pan-grilled pancakes, muffins baked throughout the day, and a no-freezer policy on East Liberty Street for nearly fifty years.
Afternoon Delight has been at 251 E Liberty St since 1978, nearly fifty years of pan-grilled pancakes, made-to-order omelets, and a rotating muffin selection baked fresh each day. Ann Arbor's longest-running breakfast spot, and mostly uncelebrated.
Where to Take Mom: A Mother's Day Dining Guide for 2026
Nine restaurants across Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Chelsea. Call this week.
Mother's Day is May 10. The best tables in Washtenaw County will fill within weeks. Nine restaurants, one guide, no time to wait.
Best Ramen in Ann Arbor (2026): Where to Eat Noodles in Town
Three noodle bars, one Thai institution, and the case for eating with your head down.
Ann Arbor's noodle scene is deeper than most people realize. Tomukun's tonkotsu, Slurping Turtle's chef-driven bowls, No Thai's pad see ew: ranked and reviewed by someone who has eaten at all of them. Updated 2026.
Bori Korean Kitchen & Bar Has Been Waiting for You to Notice
Chef James Park's restaurant on the second floor above Jolly Pumpkin is four months old and worth your attention
Four months in, Bori Korean Kitchen & Bar above Jolly Pumpkin on South Main is one of downtown Ann Arbor's best recent additions: dakgangjeong, japchae, and a noraebang in the back.
Hunã After Dark
The tiki bar underneath Echelon centers rum in a fully built-out basement room.
Hunã Tiki Bar at 200 S Main St in Ann Arbor is a rum-forward cocktail bar below Echelon.
The Essential Ann Arbor Food Guide
A current starting point for destination dinners, everyday meals, and long-running local institutions.
A source-led guide to Ann Arbor restaurants, organized by the kind of meal you want and linked to current menus where possible.
Little Kim Eight Months In
Ji Hye Kim's fast-casual vegetarian Korean cafe in Kerrytown has found its rhythm. Here's what the menu looks like now.
Little Kim at 403 N Fifth Ave opened in July 2025. Ji Hye Kim's all-vegetarian Korean cafe and mini-market offers bowls, kimbap, and prepared foods.
Restaurant Openings in Washtenaw County: 2025-2026
A sourced, non-exhaustive running list of new and announced restaurants, cafes, and bars.
Verified openings and announced projects in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dexter, and Chelsea during 2025 and 2026.
The 8 Best Cocktail Bars in Washtenaw County
From a speakeasy on Huron to a tiki bar in somebody's basement.
Eight bars where the drink in your hand is the point of the visit, sorted by the kind of night you're trying to have.
Late-Night Eats in Ann Arbor: What's Still Open After 10 PM
The kitchen closed an hour ago at most places. Here's where to go when it hasn't.
Where to eat in Ann Arbor after 10 PM: the spots still serving when most kitchens have closed. Some run until 2 or 3 AM. The most useful list for late nights in town, updated 2026.
Three Closings in Eleven Months
Red Hawk, Blue Leprechaun, Zamaan Grill. Ann Arbor lost three restaurants between May 2025 and March 2026. What's the pattern?
Ann Arbor lost Red Hawk, Blue Leprechaun, and Zamaan Grill in under a year. The closings share a pattern that says something about the city's restaurant economics.
Best Coffee in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
Seven roasters and cafes that take the cup seriously. No drive-through chains allowed.
Seven coffee shops across Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti where the beans are sourced with care, roasted with intention, and served by people who actually drink the stuff.
Echelon Named a 2026 James Beard Semifinalist
The South Main restaurant joins the national Best New Restaurant field after opening in February 2025.
Echelon Kitchen & Bar at 200 South Main Street is a 2026 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant.
The Best Bakeries in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County
Five places where the bread is real, the pastry case matters, and someone showed up before dawn to make it happen.
A guide to the best bakeries in Ann Arbor, Dexter, and Chelsea. Sourdough, croissants, bagels, and the ovens behind them.
Hunã Tiki Bar Ann Arbor: Rum Cocktails, Menu and Hours
The team behind Echelon takes the basement and bets it on rum.
Hunã Tiki Bar is open beneath Echelon at 200 S Main St, with a rum-focused cocktail list, a food menu, and public hours Thursday through Saturday.
The Best Desserts and Ice Cream in Ann Arbor
Three ice cream operations, two bakery counters, and the honest truth that the list should be longer.
A guide to the best desserts and ice cream in Ann Arbor and nearby. Blank Slate Creamery, Sanilac Creamery (formerly Zingerman's Creamery), Dexter Creamery, and the bakeries that double as dessert destinations.
Zamaan Grill Closed After 15 Years on Eisenhower
The Colonnade restaurant closed in early 2026 after owner Ali Hijazi sold the business.
Zamaan Grill closed in early 2026 after 15 years at 865 W Eisenhower Pkwy.
Zingerman's Roadhouse Reopened After a Six-Week Renovation
The Jackson Avenue restaurant returned in February 2026 after work on its kitchen and dining room.
Zingerman's Roadhouse reopened in February 2026 after a six-week kitchen and dining-room renovation.
Espy Cafe Opens on West Huron
A new local cafe at 404 W Huron St with a serious espresso program and single-origin sourcing.
Espy Cafe opened at 404 W Huron St in early 2026 with two Decent espresso machines, coffee roasted at Anthology in Detroit, and a democratically managed workplace.
How Espy Cafe Shares Decisions and Profits
The West Huron cafe pairs a no-tip model with equal base pay, democratic management, and profit sharing.
Espy Cafe at 404 W Huron St is owned through an LLC and run with unanimous staff decisions, equal base pay, and profits allotted by hours worked.
The Best Mediterranean Food in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County
A current guide to Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Spanish menus across the county.
A source-led guide to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Dexter, with live links for menus and hours.
The Best Bars in Ann Arbor
Not just cocktail bars. The full spectrum: dives, beer bars, sports bars, wine bars, and the places where the drink is the point.
The complete guide to drinking in Ann Arbor, from the speakeasy on Huron to the sour beer program on South Main to the tiki bar in the basement.
The Chop House Does Not Need to Reinvent Itself. It Hasn't.
On South Main Street, a steakhouse in the classic American tradition still does what steakhouses are supposed to do.
The Chop House on South Main Street is a proper American steakhouse: dry-aged beef, white tablecloths, a wine list with depth. In a city obsessed with the new, it endures by being exactly what it is.
Spencer Made USA Today's 2026 Restaurants of the Year List
The Ann Arbor wine shop and restaurant was one of 39 selections nationwide.
USA Today included Spencer in its 2026 Restaurants of the Year list, one of 39 selections nationwide.
The Best Indian Food in Ann Arbor
A solid scene that deserves more attention, even if it can't match the Korean or Mexican depth.
Ann Arbor's Indian dining runs from a tablecloth-and-cocktails spot on Plymouth Road to a cash-friendly lunch counter on South Main. Here are the restaurants doing it best.
The Best Happy Hours in Ann Arbor
Where to drink well for less on a Wednesday afternoon. A guide to the deals worth building your schedule around.
Ann Arbor's happy hour scene ranges from hotel bars with serious cocktail programs to neighborhood pubs with $3 drafts. A guide to the ones worth building your week around.
The Best Thai Food in Ann Arbor
A short, current guide to Thai and Thai-inspired menus in the city.
A source-led guide to Ann Arbor's current Thai and Thai-inspired options, with live menu links for hours and availability.
Bev's Bagels Plans an Ann Arbor Shop
Max Sussman's Detroit bagel shop is targeting fall 2026 for 115 E Liberty St.
Bev's Bagels plans to open a 1,500-square-foot Ann Arbor location at 115 E Liberty St. The announced target is fall 2026, but no opening day has been confirmed.
Zingerman's Deli vs. Zingerman's Roadhouse: Which One Do You Actually Want?
One is a counter-service deli on Detroit Street. The other is a 200-seat full-service restaurant on Jackson Avenue. Both say 'Zingerman's' on the sign. That is where the similarities end.
Zingerman's Deli and Zingerman's Roadhouse are the two sit-down restaurants in the Zingerman's Community of Businesses. They share a name, a sourcing philosophy, and a commitment to overdelivering on ingredients. They share almost nothing else.
The Best Mexican Food in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti
A current guide beyond the taco rankings, with menus and locations readers can verify.
A source-led guide to Mexican and Mexican-adjacent restaurants in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and nearby Washtenaw County.
Knight's vs. The Chop House: Ann Arbor's Two Steakhouses, Compared
One is on Dexter Avenue with onion rings and wood paneling. The other is on South Main with dry-aged beef and a wine list. Both are good. They are not the same.
Ann Arbor has exactly two serious steakhouses: Knight's on Dexter Avenue and The Chop House on South Main. They serve different purposes, different crowds, and different ideas about what steak night means. Here's how to choose.
Where to Eat with Kids in Washtenaw County
Twelve restaurants across Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dexter, and Chelsea where children are welcome and the food is still good.
Finding restaurants that work for kids without boring the adults is harder than it should be. Twelve spots across Washtenaw County that thread the needle.
Jolly Pumpkin Ann Arbor: The Sour Beer Standard, Downtown
Ron Jeffries' sour brewery moved into 311 South Main and gave the block a beer program that most cities would kill for.
Jolly Pumpkin's Ann Arbor taproom on South Main brings oak-aged sour ales, wood-fired pizza, and a rooftop that fills fast. The beer is the draw. The food keeps you there.
Fine Dining in Washtenaw County: Where to Spend the Money
Seven restaurants where the check is high and the food justifies it.
From a James Beard semifinalist on South Main to a tasting menu inside a wine shop, here are the restaurants in Washtenaw County where spending more gets you something genuinely better.
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week 2026 Ran January 18-23
The official lineup included more than 40 participating restaurants.
Ann Arbor Restaurant Week 2026 ran January 18-23 with more than 40 participating restaurants.
Ann Arbor's Restaurant Closure Problem Is Real, and Getting Worse
The closures keep coming. The replacements keep getting more expensive. Something has to give.
The closures keep coming. The replacements keep getting more expensive. Something has to give.
Comet Coffee Is the Smallest Great Coffee Shop in Ann Arbor
In Nickels Arcade, a sliver of a room with a few seats and an espresso machine proves that less is more, as long as the cortado is right.
Comet Coffee in Nickels Arcade serves precise espresso drinks in a room barely bigger than a hallway. The cortado is the best in Ann Arbor, and the size is the point.
The Best Sushi in Ann Arbor
How to choose between sushi-forward counters and broader menus that also serve raw fish.
A current, source-led guide to sushi and sashimi in Ann Arbor, from seafood bars to omakase and pan-Asian menus.
Blue Leprechaun Closed After 17 Years on South University
The campus bar at 1220 South University ended service on December 13, 2025.
Blue Leprechaun closed December 13, 2025, after 17 years at 1220 S University Ave. No reason or replacement tenant has been publicly confirmed.
The Pretzel Bell Carries a 1934 Name on South Main
The current restaurant uses the name of an older Ann Arbor institution, with pub food, cocktails, and a downstairs bar.
The Pretzel Bell at 226 S Main St takes its name from an Ann Arbor restaurant that opened in 1934 and closed in 1984.
The Best Italian in Ann Arbor
Handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and a tapas bar that learned from Spain. Three restaurants worth knowing.
Ann Arbor's Italian dining runs from handmade pasta on East Liberty to late-night pizza on Church Street. Here are the three restaurants that matter.
ZingTrain Sells the Thing That Can't Be Shipped
The ninth stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. At 3728 Plaza Drive, a small team teaches other companies how to run like Zingerman's.
ZingTrain at 3728 Plaza Dr is Zingerman's training and consulting arm, founded in 1994 with $1,000 and a desk in an attic. The ninth entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
Bar Lupulus Is the Best Beer Bar in Ann Arbor. You Might Not Know It Exists.
On the ground floor at 311 South Main, a sour beer cocktail program and the deepest Jolly Pumpkin tap list in the state operate under a name most people walk past.
Bar Lupulus at 311 South Main is technically the bar at Jolly Pumpkin's Ann Arbor taproom. In practice, it is its own animal: sour beer cocktails, a deep tap list, and one of the better micheladas in Michigan.
Monahan's Has Been Selling Fish in Kerrytown for 46 Years. Mike Monahan Is Still Behind the Counter.
The co-founder of Ann Arbor's most enduring seafood market hasn't missed many days since 1979.
Forty-six years in Kerrytown. Mike Monahan is still behind the counter.
Slurping Turtle Wants You to Make Noise. So Make Noise.
Chef Takashi Yagihashi's ramen-and-izakaya joint on East Liberty is loud, casual, and better for it.
Slurping Turtle on East Liberty brings ramen, takoyaki, and izakaya energy to downtown Ann Arbor. Chef Takashi Yagihashi's menu is casual, bold, and built for enthusiasm.
BAKE! Puts the Flour in Your Hands
The eleventh and final stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. The teaching kitchen on Plaza Drive that turns customers into bakers.
BAKE! with Zing is Zingerman's hands-on teaching bakery at 3723 Plaza Dr, tucked between the Bakehouse and the Creamery. The eleventh and final entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
The Best Korean Food in Ann Arbor
Five restaurants, two philosophies, one city that quietly became one of the best places to eat Korean food in Michigan.
Ann Arbor's Korean dining scene runs from a James Beard-nominated chef's seasonal kitchen to kimchi fries on North University. Here are the five restaurants that define it.
The Last Word Earns Its Name
On West Huron, a cocktail bar built around the speakeasy conceit actually delivers on the promise. The bartenders know their history, and the drinks prove it.
The Last Word on West Huron Street is a cocktail bar named after one of the great classic drinks. The bar program is organized around eras of American cocktail making, and the execution is the best in Washtenaw County.
Miss Kim Is the Zingerman's Business That Didn't Need the Name
The tenth stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. Ji Hye Kim's Korean restaurant on Fifth Avenue rewrites what a ZCoB business can be.
Miss Kim at 415 N Fifth Ave is a Zingerman's Community of Businesses restaurant serving seasonal Korean food with Michigan ingredients. The tenth entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
Frita Batidos Opens a Brooklyn Location
Eve Aronoff's Ann Arbor-born restaurant opened at 334 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg.
Frita Batidos opened at 334 Kent Ave in Brooklyn on October 29, 2025, bringing the Ann Arbor-born frita and batido menu to New York.
Knight's Steakhouse Is Ann Arbor's Oldest Restaurant. It Doesn't Care If You Know That.
On Dexter Avenue, a wood-paneled dining room has been serving prime rib and hand-battered onion rings since 1959.
Knight's Steakhouse on Dexter Avenue has been family-owned since 1959. The prime rib, the onion rings, and the wood-paneled dining room haven't changed because they don't need to.
Biercamp Is a Butcher Shop That Happens to Make Great Sandwiches
South of the stadium on State Street, a charcuterie counter and deli where the meat is the message.
Biercamp at 1643 S State St is Ann Arbor's best argument for knowing your butcher. House-cured bacon, handmade sausages, smoked meats, and breakfast sandwiches that justify the drive south of campus.
Zingerman's Candy Manufactory Turns Sugar Into Something Serious
The third stop on our tour of the Zingerman's universe. On Plaza Drive, a small team makes candy by hand, and the Zzang! Bar is only the beginning.
Zingerman's Candy Manufactory at 3723 Plaza Dr makes Zzang! Bars, toffee, brittle, and caramels by hand. The third entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
Venue Puts Five Restaurants and a Coworking Space Under One Roof. Somehow, It Works.
Chef Thad Gillies brings a Zingerman's-to-Union Square Cafe resume to Ann Arbor's most ambitious dining experiment.
Five restaurants, one coworking space, and a chef with a resume that starts at Zingerman's and runs through Union Square Cafe.
Zingerman's Coffee Company Roasts Quietly and Means It
The fourth stop in our Zingerman's Universe series. On Plaza Drive, a small roasting operation takes single-origin beans seriously enough to make you rethink your morning cup.
Zingerman's Coffee Company at 3723 Plaza Dr roasts single-origin beans in small batches. The fourth entry in our Zingerman's Universe series.
B2A2: The Rankings After Six Burgers
Seven entries from a cocktail bar to a Corktown slider joint. Here's how they stack up.
Six entries into the Best Burger in Ann Arbor series, it's time for an updated scorecard. From Raven's Club to Green Dot Stables, ranked and reasoned.
At Sanilac Creamery, Formerly Zingerman's, the Cheese Is Still the Easy Part
Next door to the Bakehouse on Plaza Drive, the operation once known as Zingerman's Creamery turns Michigan milk into some of the best fresh cheese and gelato in the state, now under its own name.
The Creamery on Plaza Drive left the Zingerman's Community of Businesses in fall 2025 and now operates independently as Sanilac Creamery, with the same team and recipes. The fromage blanc alone is worth the drive.
Blank Slate Creamery and the Case for Seasonal Ice Cream
At 300 West Liberty, a small-batch ice cream shop makes flavors that rotate faster than you can try them all.
Blank Slate Creamery at 300 W Liberty St in Ann Arbor makes small-batch ice cream with a rotating seasonal menu. The salted caramel is the constant. Everything else is a moving target.
Zingerman's Bakehouse Has Been Ann Arbor's Bread for 34 Years
On Plaza Drive, a mile from the airport, the most important bakery in the Midwest keeps doing what it does. Plus: the baking school you should have tried by now.
The Bakehouse has been supplying Ann Arbor's bread since 1992. On Plaza Drive, far from downtown, it remains the quiet engine of the Zingerman's universe.
Sava's and the State Street Trick
A restaurant that looks like it was built for Instagram has quietly become one of Ann Arbor's most reliable kitchens. The brunch is the draw. The range is the surprise.
Sava's on South State Street draws crowds with its dramatic space and broad Mediterranean-American menu. The brunch is the draw, but the dinner menu is the stronger argument.
Vertex Coffee Roasters Takes Single-Origin Seriously
At the corner of South University and Washtenaw, a roaster doing quiet, serious work with seasonal beans.
Vertex Coffee Roasters at 1335 S University Ave roasts its own beans at a facility in Milan and rotates single-origin offerings by season. The cold brew and pastries are strong, and the room sits right on a campus corner.
Pita Kabob Grill Serves Shawarma and Kabobs on East William
The counter-service restaurant is at 619 East William, with wraps, platters, dips, and vegetarian options.
Pita Kabob Grill at 619 E William St serves shawarma, kafta, falafel, hummus, and vegetarian platters near the University of Michigan campus.
No Thai! Is Not Kidding Around
On North Fourth Avenue, a counter-service Thai kitchen has been quietly winning the noodle argument for years.
No Thai! at 226 N Fourth Ave serves some of the best pad see ew and khao soi in Ann Arbor. The prices are low, the wok is hot, and the name is the only joke in the building.
Where to Eat Near the University of Michigan
The complete campus-area food guide: quick lunch, study spots, dinner with parents, late-night fuel, and the coffee that gets you through finals.
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the best restaurants near the University of Michigan campus. State Street, South University, Liberty, Main Street, and beyond.
Where to Eat on Michigan Football Game Days
The Big House holds 107,000 people. The restaurants hold fewer. Plan accordingly.
A dining guide for Michigan football game days in Ann Arbor. Where to eat before and after the game, how to avoid the crush, and which restaurants are worth a reservation.
Sweetwaters Started in Ann Arbor in 1993
Wei and Lisa Bee opened the first cafe at 123 West Washington Street.
Wei and Lisa Bee founded Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in Ann Arbor in 1993. The original cafe is at 123 W Washington St.
The Slice: Mani Osteria's Wood-Fired Pizza
The first entry in our Best Pizza series comes from a pasta restaurant. That tells you something.
Mani Osteria is known for handmade pasta, but the wood-fired pizza from its East Liberty kitchen deserves its own spotlight. Our first entry in The Slice.
Vegetarian and Vegan Guide to Ann Arbor
Eight restaurants where the plant-based food isn't an afterthought.
Eight restaurants in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti where the vegetarian and vegan options are the reason to go, not a consolation prize.
312 Underground Puts a Cocktail Bar Below South Main
The basement bar at 312 South Main adds a compact, walk-in cocktail option to one of Ann Arbor's busiest dining blocks.
312 Underground is a subterranean cocktail bar beneath 312 South Main Street in Ann Arbor. The drinks are serious, the room is small, and you have to know to look for the stairs.
The Slice: Best Pizza in Ann Arbor
A living series tracking the pizza worth eating in this town, one pie at a time.
A living guide to our Best Pizza in Ann Arbor series. We're eating through the arguments, from wood-fired Neapolitan to Detroit-style deep dish.
RoosRoast Liberty Is the Downtown Outpost That Earns Its Block
At 117 E Liberty St, the smaller, busier half of Ann Arbor's independent roaster.
RoosRoast's Liberty Street shop at 117 E Liberty St is the downtown cafe of Ann Arbor's independent roaster, smaller and busier than the Rosewood roastery, on a block that keeps getting better.
The Zingerman's Effect: How One Deli Shaped an Entire City's Food Culture
In the mid-1990s, Ari Weinzweig and Paul Saginaw made a decision that changed Ann Arbor. They chose to stay.
In the mid-1990s, Zingerman's chose to stay local instead of franchising. That decision shaped everything.
Pacific Rim Has Been Here the Whole Time
A pan-Asian restaurant on West Liberty that has outlasted nearly every trend in downtown Ann Arbor.
Pacific Rim at 114 W Liberty St has served pan-Asian food in downtown Ann Arbor for years. The pad thai is reliable, the sushi is competent, and the longevity tells its own story.
The Fold: The Rankings After Five Tacos
A mid-series comparison from Ann Arbor's west side to Southwest Detroit. Here's how the entries stack up.
Five entries into The Fold taco series, it's time for a mid-series scorecard. From Dos Hermanos to Taqueria El Rey, ranked and reasoned.
Little Kim Brings Vegetarian Bowls and a Mini-Mart to Kerrytown
Ji Hye Kim's counter-service restaurant opened on North Fifth Avenue in July 2025.
Ji Hye Kim's third concept: all-vegetarian bowls, kimbap, and an Asian mini-mart in Kerrytown.
Tmaz Taqueria Beyond the Fold
The Packard Street taqueria earned its spot in our taco series. Here is everything else on the menu.
Tmaz Taqueria at 3182 Packard St serves tacos, pupusas, tamales, and enchiladas until 4 a.m. The full profile of Ann Arbor's best late-night taqueria.
Pizza House Keeps Ann Arbor's Late-Night Kitchen Running
The Church Street restaurant has operated since 1986 and currently advertises dine-in and delivery until 4 a.m. daily.
Pizza House at 618 Church St has served Ann Arbor since 1986, with pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and delivery advertised until 4 a.m. daily.
Black Pearl Has Been on Main Street for 17 Years. It Still Surprises People.
Ann Arbor's seafood-and-sushi stalwart defies easy categorization, and that's the whole point.
Seventeen years on Main Street. Black Pearl still defies easy categorization.
RoosRoast Roasts Coffee on Rosewood Street
The Ann Arbor company runs cafes on Rosewood and Liberty, plus an Ann Arbor Farmers Market stand.
RoosRoast operates cafes at 1155 Rosewood St and 117 E Liberty St, plus an Ann Arbor Farmers Market stand.
Where to Eat During the 2026 Ann Arbor Art Fair
A current list of nearby restaurants, reservation options, and places outside the fair footprint.
The 2026 Ann Arbor Art Fair runs July 16-18. Here are practical restaurant options near and beyond the fair, with current links for hours and reservations.
BTB Burrito Feeds You for Under $10 and Does Not Apologize
On South University, a burrito counter built for the budget and the clock.
BTB Burrito at 1140 S University Ave serves customizable burritos, bowls, and tacos at counter speed. The salsas are made in-house and the habanero has real heat.
The Fold: Tmaz Taqueria
The taco series comes back to Ann Arbor for a Packard Street spot open until 4 a.m.
The Fold Entry #4 returns to Ann Arbor proper for Tmaz Taqueria on Packard Street, where tacos run $2.50 when you buy two and the kitchen stays open until 4 a.m.
Argus Farm Stop Is Not a Grocery Store
At 325 W Liberty St, a retail model that puts local farms directly in front of local eaters.
Argus Farm Stop at 325 W Liberty St in Ann Arbor works with hundreds of local farms and producers to sell produce, meat, dairy, eggs, baked goods, and coffee under one roof. It is a distribution system disguised as a storefront.
La Serre Is a Hotel Restaurant That Actually Earns the Reservation
Inside The Vanguard on Glen Avenue, chef Michael Polsinelli is running a 125-seat French brasserie at brasserie prices and brasserie standards.
Inside The Vanguard on Glen Avenue, a French brasserie with a display kitchen, raw bar, and full-service menu.
Ann Arbor Has a Food Truck Scene. Why Does Nobody Write About It?
The trucks are out there every day, feeding the lunch rush, taking the risks. The coverage hasn't caught up.
Ann Arbor's food trucks feed thousands of people a week and get almost zero coverage. The economics are different, the risks are real, and the food deserves attention.
B2A2: Raven's Club Smash Burger
Our search for Ann Arbor's best burger starts in a dark cocktail bar on Main Street.
The first entry in our Best Burger in Ann Arbor series. Raven's Club serves a smash burger with a deep sear, excellent fries, and a garlic aioli that ties the whole plate together.
Red Hawk Bar & Grill Closed After 33 Years on State Street
The Ann Arbor pub served its final customers on May 3, 2025.
Red Hawk Bar & Grill closed May 3, 2025, after 33 years at 316 S State St.
Ann Arbor Has a Natural Wine Problem (the Good Kind)
How a college town became one of the best small cities in the Midwest for natural wine.
How a college town quietly became one of the Midwest's best natural wine destinations.
The Fold: Dos Hermanos Express
The Ann Arbor taco series starts on a commercial strip in Scio Township.
The first entry in the Best Taco in Ann Arbor series. Dos Hermanos Express pairs a broad meat selection with house-made tortillas and salsas.
The Fold: Best Taco in Ann Arbor
A living series tracking our taco contenders across Ann Arbor and the surrounding area.
A living guide to our Best Taco in Ann Arbor series, including methodology, current contenders, and how we judge what makes a great taco.
Tabe Is Open at 209 South Main Street
The multilevel Ann Arbor restaurant serves sushi, omakase, and a broader Asian menu.
Tabe is open at 209 S Main St in Ann Arbor with sushi, omakase, and a multilevel dining room.
Dos Hermanos Express Is a Family Tradition Made Fresh Every Day
Brothers Alex and Hiram Arreola are carrying on a family legacy with from-scratch Mexican food on Jackson Industrial.
Two brothers, a family tradition, and from-scratch Mexican food on Jackson Industrial Drive.
B2A2: Frita Batidos
Entry two in our burger series isn't technically a burger. That's what makes it interesting.
The second entry in our Best Burger in Ann Arbor series. Frita Batidos serves a Cuban-style frita that challenges what 'burger' means in the first place.
Hyperion Coffee Connects Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor
The independent roaster now operates cafes on North River Street and West Liberty.
A source-linked profile of Hyperion Coffee's Ypsilanti roastery and its Ann Arbor cafe.
B2A2: Blimpy Burger
Entry four goes to the counter where you've always built your own. No chef's vision. No cocktail menu. Just a flat-top and your choices.
The fourth entry in our Best Burger in Ann Arbor series. Blimpy Burger at 304 S Ashley St is the populist counterargument to everything we've eaten so far.
Best Burger in Ann Arbor (B2A2): The Running List
A living series tracking our current contenders, notes, and repeat-order recommendations.
The B2A2 running list: best burger in Ann Arbor rankings after 13 entries. Current top three: Frita Batidos, Echelon, Grange Kitchen & Bar. Updated April 2026.
Aventura and the Table That Started Everything
At 216 East Washington, a Spanish tapas restaurant built on an old building and a trip to Spain is still the best argument for sharing.
Aventura brings Spanish tapas to downtown Ann Arbor with enough authenticity to satisfy and enough personality to stand on its own. Thirteen years in, it's still the best date-night format in town.
Cardamom Takes Indian Food Seriously. Ann Arbor Should Return the Favor.
On Plymouth Road, away from downtown's foot traffic, a kitchen is producing Indian food with ambition and attention to detail.
On Plymouth Road, a kitchen is producing Indian food with the kind of ambition and care that deserves more attention from downtown diners.
Hola Seoul and the Case for Kimchi Fries
Korean-Mexican fusion on North University that gets the balance right.
Hola Seoul at 715 N University Ave serves Korean-Mexican fusion with kimchi fries that justify the concept. The Korean fried chicken is the other reason to go.
Isalita Closed in December 2024
After nearly twelve years on East Liberty, the restaurant closed to make room for Mani Next Door.
Isalita Cantina Mexicana closed December 23, 2024 after nearly twelve years at 341 E Liberty St. Owner Adam Baru planned to turn the space into Mani Next Door.
Mani Osteria and the Case for Handmade Pasta in a College Town
At 341 East Liberty, a kitchen rolls its own pasta every day. In a city full of good restaurants, that still matters.
Mani Osteria makes its pasta by hand every day. In a college town with no shortage of Italian options, that commitment still sets it apart.
Seva Has Been Vegetarian Since Before You Cared. It's Still the Standard.
On Jackson Avenue, a restaurant that's been doing plant-based cooking for over fifty years doesn't need your permission to keep going.
Seva has been serving vegetarian food in Ann Arbor since the early 1970s. Over fifty years later, it's still the standard for plant-based dining in Washtenaw County.
Best Breakfast and Brunch in Ann Arbor
Eight current starting points, with menus and hours that readers can verify before they go.
A source-led breakfast and brunch guide for Ann Arbor, from an all-night diner to weekend service at established restaurants.
Budget Eats in Ann Arbor: Nine Great Meals Under $15
The affordable middle is disappearing. These places are still holding the line.
Nine Ann Arbor restaurants where you can eat well for under $15: Dos Hermanos, Frita Batidos, Fleetwood Diner, Jerusalem Garden, Tomukun, and more. Updated April 2026.
Saturday Morning at the Ann Arbor Farmers Market
The building is gone. The market isn't. Why that matters more than you'd think.
The Ann Arbor Farmers Market lost its office building in 2025 but continues to operate in its 107th year. A Saturday morning visit and a case for why this market matters.
The Fleetwood Diner Is Not Nostalgic. It's Just Still Here.
Seventy-seven years of hash browns, feta, and the flattop grill at 300 South Ashley.
The Fleetwood Diner has been open 24 hours at 300 S Ashley St since 1949. The Hippie Hash made it famous. The consistency kept it standing.
This City's Restaurant Scene Is Booming. Its Food Media Isn't.
James Beard semifinalists and a USA Today pick. So why is nobody writing about it properly?
James Beard semifinalists and a USA Today pick. So why is nobody writing about it properly?
Angelo's Closed After 67 Years on Catherine Street
The family diner ended service December 23, 2023, after the University of Michigan bought the property.
Angelo's operated at 1100 E Catherine St from 1956 through December 23, 2023. The University of Michigan bought the property for $4.5 million.